Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => General Fox T-Bird/Cougar Discussion => Topic started by: Grumbles on April 05, 2009, 10:34:53 AM

Title: Progress.
Post by: Grumbles on April 05, 2009, 10:34:53 AM
The engine, aside from plugs, wires, a dizzy clamp, and a few odds and ends, is now a finished product.  Here are some pictures of the Proform rockers being installed...

(http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/434/rockers.png)

Valve covers are on, TDC is set, even the dizzy is positioned correctly (albeit not secured), as soon as I get the bell housing mounted and the timing chain cover in place, it'll be ready to fire up for the first time.  Maybe I should make provisions to include the radiator in the deal so I can run it through it's break-in cycle while I have it out of the car.

Any clues on where to get an engine stand, or, failing that, anybody got diagrams on how to make one?
Title: Progress.
Post by: 86XR7project on April 05, 2009, 10:42:29 AM
I hate the fact that you can wear shorts. It started snowing again today.......

I got to work in the shop yesterday before the strom hit. Now its white out and too cold.
Title: Progress.
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on April 05, 2009, 11:16:22 AM
Quote
Any clues on where to get an engine stand, or, failing that, anybody got diagrams on how to make one?


If there is a Harbor Freight somewhere near you you can pick one up there for like 50 bucks.
Title: Progress.
Post by: Grumbles on April 05, 2009, 11:43:17 AM
I'm actually using the harbor freight stand in the pictures above...can't actually run a motor for any length of time on them.

Another question that's plaguing me... Where is the Rear Main seal located?  I've already torqued down all the Main caps...please tell me I don't have to redo it :(

EDIT: Nvm, looked it up on the interwebs, Already replaced it :P
Title: Progress.
Post by: HAVI on April 05, 2009, 12:04:06 PM
Eastwood Co. sells an engine testing stand.  About $400 or so.
Title: Progress.
Post by: vinnietbird on April 05, 2009, 04:36:53 PM
Hey,those look like my rockers..........and I use gloves like that......LOL. Glad you're getting some work  done.My biggest projects are mostly done,it's all the little stuff now.One step at a time,right?
Title: Progress.
Post by: Grumbles on April 05, 2009, 05:54:12 PM
I'm still super-confused about the rear diff tho :/.

The door panel that was supposed to display the information I needed has been blasted off  by something or other...but the wheel test tells me it's no locker.  I asked in another thread if I could just replace the diff guts, but opinions on the difficulty of such a task are all over the place, and Im still tragically under-educated on the subject.

If anybody's swapped a locker in place of a conventional, fill me in, what all did you do? looking for the least modification possible.  Also, how hard is the installation of bigger gears?
Title: Progress.
Post by: 86XR7project on April 05, 2009, 06:03:06 PM
Why not just get a TC or Mark VII rear? I think swapping a rear would be easier than swapping the guts but I'm no pro.
Title: Progress.
Post by: Grumbles on April 05, 2009, 06:05:10 PM
Rear ends apparently cost an arm and a leg though
Title: Progress.
Post by: 86XR7project on April 05, 2009, 06:12:06 PM
I found one by me through http://www.car-part.com for $150.00 with only 85K on it, I always recommend this site because you can search JY's in your state and even see it before you buy in some cases. If I knew your Zip I could search it for you.
Title: Progress.
Post by: Grumbles on April 05, 2009, 08:32:14 PM
Took a peak at your link, has several rears for the Lincoln MKVII but most of them are pretty tough to decipher...and they're all back east :(

EDIT: My Zip is 85226.  LEt me know if you have any luck
Title: Progress.
Post by: 86XR7project on April 05, 2009, 08:46:02 PM
Auto wrecking mall in Maricopa has an 8.8" with 3.72 Trac-Lok for $250 from a Mark VII
All Arizona Ford Parts in Phoenix has an 8.8" with 3.08 Trac-Lok for $300 from a Mustang

Its pretty slim picking out there. I looked at a few different models to find the best options and this is the best I could come up with. Its pretty easy to find stuff like that out here. You must live in a pretty big area in Arizona. Tuscon maybe? My Grandpa used to live in Phoenix.
Title: Progress.
Post by: Grumbles on April 05, 2009, 09:18:31 PM
East side phoenix actually.  Any way you could link me to that auto wrecking mall one?
Title: Progress.
Post by: 86XR7project on April 06, 2009, 08:48:12 AM
Hey for some reason I can't seem to find their website but it you go on car-part.com you just search axle assy. rear for an 87 Lincoln mark series in arizona and put in your zip code it will come up with a few others and this one too. but here is their address and phone number. I hope I have helped.
Auto Recycling Mall
(520) 568-3951

22111 N White Rd
Maricopa, AZ 85239
Title: Progress.
Post by: massCougarxr7 on April 06, 2009, 10:12:41 AM
hey that site is awsome!!!!! thanks!!!
Title: Progress.
Post by: 86XR7project on April 06, 2009, 10:36:17 AM
Hey yeah, no prob man. I love it because i'd like to save some cash and go somewhat fast.
Title: Progress.
Post by: Grumbles on April 06, 2009, 01:28:59 PM
excellent, much appreciated.  I can't afford it this time around (car payment and rent due), hopefully by next paycheck I can swing by and relieve them of it.
Title: Progress.
Post by: massCougarxr7 on April 06, 2009, 01:32:03 PM
hey if tou lived near me theres a goldmine of a jy, only 90s cars yho, but i do get lucky sometimes and see 80s camaros and cougarbirds!!!!!
Title: Progress.
Post by: Grumbles on April 06, 2009, 09:21:24 PM
So I finally cracked down and decided it was time to take the old C4 apart and peek inside, make sure the guts were looking okay.  Nothing looked cooked, in fact, despite the road grime on the outside, the guts look recently rebuilt, and I dont smell anything burnt in there.

Question though, what's the bellhousing-to-tranny gasket called?  The one that sits between the bell itself and the actual guts.