I went down to the local tire shop looking for a sparefor my daily driver needed a wheel and tire. The car came without a spare. I'm headed on a trip next week so I wanted a spare for piece of mind. Any how while I was there I was talking about rims for my 84 Turbo coupe. I would kinda like to keep it 4lug so I could use my pimpin factory spare. But they have a set of 17" Cobra 5 stars in the Gray finish $180. I have the 93 stang spindles with 11" five lug rotors. I also have a complete 95 ranger 11" drum 5 lug 7.5 rear. If I converted using these parts would I be able to bolt up the 17" cobra wheels? I know I need more parts but those are a warranty away just need another 5 lug axel shaft. So what do you guys think? Those 17" cobra 5stars would look good, but would they work with what I have?
Yep it is me again. Need to get my butt up and work on the body work. I know I've been busy doing leather work and wheel polishing but I need to do it. So here I sit late at night needing something to help. I plan on starting on the Hardest part first then tackle the rest. You guys know wash and give the car a really good cleaning then strip all the trim and everything else that needs to come off. Then Work on cutting out the left rear lower quarter panel. There is a rust whole down there when a pretty nasty rust area around it. The panel behind it seems fine. I've got a replacement piece from a 85. I plan on cutting the panel in the middle of the trim area. That way if my body work isn't the best I can hide it behind the trim. Any one have any pics of this being done on a 83-86 T-bird. I know the trunk area on the left is different in the 87-88's that I've seen. Also nice pics of bad ass painted T-bird and cougars would help for added motivation to get my work done. So post up help info or pics of hot birds and coug's
Well you guys know that I've been working on making leather interior items. So yesterday I pulled the center armrest and did some work.
Here we go.
Gonna start on both door arm rest.
Also in the 2nd pic you can see the padding that I bought for my steering wheel. It needs something.
This is with a test fit of the new cover. Needs the padding.
I think they are looking good. What do you guys think? Once again I could do this for people but with the armrest you would have to send me the parts to cover.
Yep thats what I'm looking for.No not the weather the wheels. I Might as well find them before I have to buy tires. I know I'm polishing out the 10 holes but does anyone have some decent snowflake wheels if so what kinda of good deal can you give me.
Yep, I'm at it again. I'm off work and I've been getting more tools and such to make my leather work look more professional. These are Hot of the digital camera. I'm on a break. Here we have the new shift boot in the making. I like the look of this better than the first. I know the one piece isn't attached yet. They are temp glued before sewing on the machine.
Now as in the first post about my other shift boot I talked about making a steering wheel cover well here you have it. This is made to fit the A-frame steering wheel 83-86 I think. The staples on the old cover are where it was to long and I cut it to fit tight when taking it off. Gotta check the fit when I'm done. Here some pics.
I think I'm gonna have the wife embroider the emblem on the boot and the wheel cover. She love that type of stuff. I'm gonna use the older non-firebird T-bird emblem.
I could also make these for any member here. I'm not sure what kind price range just yet. Right now I have black leather on hand but I could get other colors also. Still in the works for now. So what do you guy think about my work? Good, bad, or Ugly?
I just noticed how in the banner when Fila's car pops up it says BANNED in big white letters. I just refreshed the page and BAM there it is! Sad but Funny all at the same time. Fila if you are reading this nothing personal. If I was the one that got hurt you know you would be laughing too.
Yes thats right I'm making a leather shifter boot for the 84. Took a spare Vinyl one and stripped it apart. Peeled it off the metal ring at the base. Got the basic pattern made out just need to cut them and trace them to the New leather. Then cut and stitch. I was looking at the one in the car and it is different than the one I took apart. The one I took apart was a full machine stitch with the stitches hidden under the leather. Then the one in is real leather not fake stuff. It has the front half in machine stitch and the rear half in hand stitch. Is there a difference in what year got what shifter boot. Leather or Fake? Or was it more of an option package. I know both of the 84 shifter boots I have are Fake leather not real so maybe just the early ones got the fake stuff. Any one know. I bought 10 sqft of black pebble grained leather to make the boot and some other items for the car. Gonna have a nice leather steering wheel cover and maybe even some leather armrest. I'll get some pics up as soon as I get more done on this. I still have 3 more wheel to start on and one to finish with yet.
Here is some pics of the leather that I got for this
I took off on wheel on my car and cleaned it all up. The plan is to see if I can do a good job of sorta polishing it out to get and Idea how long it will take me.
1st it did basic clean up before the tire and valve stem were removed.
Then I had the tire and stem removed. That made the unit much easier to handle so I Did more cleaning on the inside of the wheel. I used some steel wool to get rid of the nasty baked on brake dust I even found a chunk of Grape gum stuck to the back side. Then I used a steel cup brush in the Dremel to get the 10 holes clean quick and easy. Here are some pics of where I'm at on them right now.
Now it is time to start working on bringing out the Shine in the wheel. I've got a plan on how if it works I'll tell you how and show you how I did it.
I know its about time right. So here we go. I cleaned some on the engine bay not that is was bad or anything. Her are some pics of what is looks like so far.
Then I started to clean up the wheel I'm going to try to make it look better.
Gonna get the tire taken off tomorrow sometime then need to make a tool to clean up that surface. You guys always seem to like the pics especially Stfu.
I worked 9-6 today at the good ole parts store. After we closed and we had the computers running the day end stuff. We are about to walk out the back door and it opens an a old guy walks in. We starts rambling on about getting the wrong plugs yesterday. I start to help him but the computers are off because of day end. So I go to the books and look up his plugs. Then I go get the plugs and tell him that I can't make a ticket because of the computers. So if we own him he is out or if he owes us we are out. He tells me he will come in Tues and settle up. I tell him that if he wants to do that then he can bring those other plugs back on Tues and get these plugs. So he gets mad and says "OK" and leaves. Then some lady is out side trying to get in so I lock the back door so they can't get in. I think this is . We were closed the OPEN sign was off and the front door was locked. That means sorry buddy see you tomorrow. Right? Am I wrong for what I did? To me it is like this Mc'Donalds isn't going to fix you another burger if this one is wrong. If they are closed and you walked in the back door you might get the cops called on you. So what to do?
As any good car owner I feel the need to make improvements even though this is the DD car and it only cost me $200 not including the work I did to put it on the road. So I read about the CAI for the 94 Cougar 4.6L and they want lots of money for there I say. So I set out to make my own. To start of the factory part is Huge and doesn't flow very good. Here is a pic to give you and Idea. So that had to go. I went and bought some supplies and worked it out. so here we go. Now the car takes off way better. It sounds like a V8! What do you guys think? It only cost me about $30. I removed the air silencer before this.
I took the dash pad off my 84 today. Behind the clock there are 2 more plugs. Would these be for a Trip Meter? IF not what are they for? Here is a pic. Also I found out that the dash pad was made on Jan 20 1984. They must have been running tight production. The build date on the car is Feb 84
Today I was talking to William Waters up in Versailles Mo. I hadn't talked with him in a couple of years so I figured since I was in the area I'd stop by. He was home and now all his 30 or so T-bird's are all lined up in rows. He took me for a tour since it had been so long. Well in all the the stuff he has laying around he found a brand new in the plastic Ground effects kit for 87-88. He has the front, rear, and side skirts. He side he knows others want them so I was talking about taking them and making some molds so we could have some fresh pieces. So is anyone interested?
Yes the time is here. Today after I get off work a 4:30pm I'm on VACATION! I'm not going any where just taking off from work to chill with the Kidos and such before School starts Wed! Then it is time to finish cleaning the Shop and start working on the body prep. Since I have the 94 cougar on the road It is time to start stripping Da Bird. Anyone else getting ready for some time off from work.
emblem on the boot and the wheel cover. She love that type of stuff. I'm gonna use the older non-firebird T-bird emblem. 
