Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13 (Read 2991 times) previous topic - next topic

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Photobucket of this car HERE.

Quite awhile back I ended up with a pretty clean, dent free '84 coupe shell, missing nearly everything but the headliner and interior panels.

The PO threw in some bumpers (F & R) as well as some GT stuff, gfx, nose pieces, etc. I've got a saleen style wing that I may or may not put on it, and I put the priginal rear bumper cover on, as I'm not sure what a 4 eyed coupe will look like with GT cladding on it. And I hate to drill holes in mine to find out that it looks like .

I did put my '89 LX tails on, but I know I'd rather have the older style.

The doors and body are all good solid, dent free, and very very little rust.
I am doing some blasting on the front rails, and on the passenger side where the battery was. It was pretty rusty on the surface, but nothing that needs metal replaced. I hope to have the engine bay all cleaned off tonight, and maybe primer shot on it.

I've got an 8.8 with 3.55 gears that will go in it, and I'm still trying to make up my mind if I want to make it an AOD car, or set it up as a T5 beast. I'd need to locate another V8 T5 bellhousing if i went the stick route.

The convertible Mustang that I'm taking apart is donating a lot of stuff to it, so it's mostly a matter of taking things off, cleaning them up as needed and reinstalling them on the coupe.

It's not a show car, but it's easily the cleanest and nicest car I've had, and I'm not going to have a half-assed, everything-at-once mess like my Sport was a year or so ago.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:



All primered, waiting on paint tomorrow. Going to be satin black, for convenience and aesthetic reasons.


I'm excited about this car, it's a little distraction from the Sport, but there's no pressure to get it in a drivable state...like I said, I want to do things right, the first time, and not have a bunch of things going on at once and lose focus of the more important things.

As far as the Sport, the engine is pretty weak...this fall I'm going to put together a better engine, with P heads and an Explorer intake for it. I do have some stuff to complete the interior, along with a couple small improvements.

:D
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #1 –
Sweet little notch...I wouldnt do the GT cladding...Not a fan...

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #2 –
I've got a GT nose piece from an '85 I may put on. I'll mock it up once I have the suspension under it to see how I feel about it.

Monday I'm going to sand and paint the 8.8 that will be used. Probably just use the smaller drums on it, unless I feel froggy and decide to go ahead and put ranger axles in it. I do have them, and might rob the Sport of the Bullitts when things are done.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #3 –
I have a couple of T5 bells for a small ford engine.
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #4 –
I love notches !!!!!!

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #5 –
Didn't realize you had 85GT nose....that is the good looking GT front in my opinion.

Sweet ride!

Travis

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #6 –
yea gt front bumpers look way better

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #7 –
I do like the black headlight buckets of the '85 style...I know there was a slight hood change in there somewhere, not sure if the '84 hood contour will match the '85 nosepiece. Guess I'll go eyeball it in a few. Been a busy day for me.

Hope all the guys with kids to take care of are having a Happy Father's Day. :)
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #8 –
I've got a set of Mark VII calipers and rotors (front) that I'm thinking about putting on when I get to that point. I've also got some Ranger axles and a 3.55 geared 8.8 to round out the rear. About all I need for the rear is the Ranger drums to finish that end of the car.

Of course the Mark calipers will need to be rebuilt...I've got a lot of other stuff to do before that point though.

I'll toss up some pics of some other goods I have on tap for the Horse with No Name, aka the Nameless Notch. (car basically named itself, wife said; "is that your thunderhawk 3"? I said "no, it's a horse, not a 'Bird, therefore....it's a Horse with No Name". lol)
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #9 –
A little update, the engine bay is painted, but when I got underneath to bolt on a few parts in preparation for the rear, I found some more surface rust. ...looks like I'm gonna some sand in my britches.





I've now got the k member in, although I don't yet have a pic of that, and i need to pick up another SN95 ball joint, as I can't seem to find the other one. I'm going with '95 stuff on the front. More pics later. :)
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #10 –
Quote from: turbotrav;417112
Sweet little notch...I wouldnt do the GT cladding...Not a fan...

Just for kicks, I may mock the side spats on once it's on rubber and outside with the suspension at normal height and see ow I like the look. It's tough to beat a clean coupe without all the frilly shiznit though. I am NOT putting the GT rear valance on. It would spoil the rear, IMO. I'll save that for the hatch car, if I decide to go on with the 460 thing with it. Car is paid for, and I paid less for it than s price, so it's not like it's hurting a dang thing to mow around it lol.

I'm kinda getting the jones to go work on the Thunderbird. Who knows...maybe this evening, there will be an update to it to post here, as well.


Thanks for the words folks. It's a slick little car. I'm planning on having a P headed, HO cam 5.0 in it...unless I can come across a nice low mile Explorer engine to use. I'm leaning to AOD, since the one from the 'vert Stang was serviced by the previous owner, and I have the receipts. It also got new brakes, tie rods, ball joints, bearings, tail pipes, and a couple other little parts replaced. 700 dollars or so in parts and labor. I didn't pay that for the whole car. So I don't feel too bad about gutting it. It needed a top anyway.

More updates before dark, on both cars.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #11 –
the bay looks good .......and I hate rust lol

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #13 –
I didn't get a whole lot done to the coupe today, other than mock up the header panel. Found out I'm going to need a pair of side spats for the fenders to make it look good. , that's gonna be $$, unless I can find some nice used ones.....stang8U...you got any you want to sell? lol

The pieces I need are these, circled in red:
X

When mine is done, it hopefully will look about like the one I pictured, only in black, with bullitts, and the old GT style scoop (maybe).

I also need a driver's fender with no molding holes...the '84 doesn't have trim...and I don't want to hassle with filling the holes in on a newer fender. I looked on LMR.com, their fenders aren't too bad. I might have to go that route.

Forgot to take my camera out with me..I'll get pics in the AM. I've got to go to a wedding...so it will be later on before I can post 'em. Gotta take some wheel pics for thunderjet302, too. Stay tuned. :)
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Beau's '84 coupe Update 6-30-13

Reply #14 –
I could probably find some or my buddy he pulls a lot of stuff for the 4ep guys ...................I do know of a 4 eye gt im going back sat