My 89 LX Build Thread!
- Thread starter slow90coupe
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ttopstang
Active Member
Nice work. You're gettin it done. You just motivated me to work on mine.
BTW, I remember that nice garage and pretty coupe with the black hood from another thread, aren't you only 15 or 16?
BTW, I remember that nice garage and pretty coupe with the black hood from another thread, aren't you only 15 or 16?
- Apr 25, 2010
- 272
- 5
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- Apr 25, 2010
- 272
- 5
- 18
I have been working on the car a little bit every day this week doing little stuff, like painting moldings and spending some more time with the Porter Cable. I pushed it outside a few days ago to see how the paint looked, and to see if the 97 GT wheels would look good on it. They do! So, it will be going 5 lug.
Heres a pic of the 97 Gt that I have had for a while now. Its 100% original. I love this car so much!
And a before and an after on the molding work...
Before.
After.
I also shaved off the LX emblem. It was in bad shape.
I also painted the door molding.
Heres a pic of the 97 Gt that I have had for a while now. Its 100% original. I love this car so much!
And a before and an after on the molding work...
Before.
After.
I also shaved off the LX emblem. It was in bad shape.
I also painted the door molding.
skunk21
Active Member
Man nice progress! she is looking really sweet. I agree the '97 wheels look really good 
. I'm liking this build.
. I'm liking this build.
- Apr 25, 2010
- 272
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Thanks everybody. I too like the 97 wheels. They just don't look right on coupes. I think they will fit this car pretty well though. I'm not sure if I want to go 5 speed or auto. I will probably go 5 speed just so it's a more desirable car for when I go to sell it. And, I think I will just do a 94-04 rear end. No need for a big 9" in a car thats only going to make 230RWHP!
fivespeedsteed
Dirt-Old 20+Year Member
nice progress. my friend got a glazed up fox four banger that buffed out like that. quite amazing what a buffer will do.
looks like a simple fun build. keep up the good work
looks like a simple fun build. keep up the good work
- Apr 25, 2010
- 272
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trbkrb
Founding Member
Great job! I'm impressed with what you've done so far. When I was your age I was into fixing up bikes & model cars, never even had an idea about real ones, let alone restoring one. I like the 97 wheels also, I wanted them, but settled on a set of 96 painted ones when I did my 5 lug conversion. Ended up changing to the Bullitt ones I have now. I might go back to the polished 97-98 wheels some day if I find a good set cheap.
old pic of mine: http://statefilingsoftware.com/pictures/carw96wheels.JPG
Good luck on the build!
Edit: Oh and for the rear end, you know the 99-04 rear end housings and axles are longer than the Fox housing and axles and won't look right with those wheels. IMO you need a 86-98 8.8 housing and if going disc, 94-98 rear axles and 94-04 brakes & brackets. I have Ranger axles and modified disc brackets right now, but want to move my rear wheels out a bit further.
old pic of mine: http://statefilingsoftware.com/pictures/carw96wheels.JPG
Good luck on the build!
Edit: Oh and for the rear end, you know the 99-04 rear end housings and axles are longer than the Fox housing and axles and won't look right with those wheels. IMO you need a 86-98 8.8 housing and if going disc, 94-98 rear axles and 94-04 brakes & brackets. I have Ranger axles and modified disc brackets right now, but want to move my rear wheels out a bit further.
- Apr 25, 2010
- 272
- 5
- 18
Thanks! I love the 97 wheels too. They fit the lines of a hatch really well. They looked pretty awesome on your car too! I'm pretty sure that I bought my front and rear 5 lug stuff from a buddy today. It consists of 95 spindles, PBR 2001 calipers, and a 98 disk brake rear. So, the wheels should sit really nice with the fender lip. I can't wait to get them on!
Heres today's progress...
I got more polishing done on the passenger side. Later on in the day I finished the fender. Heres some pics of the car outside..
And with the 97 wheels mocked up under the car...
and heres the other side completely polished. I still have to go over the whole car with scratch/swirl remover and a nice wax. I think the color is going to pop with some good wax!
And I'm starting on the quarter windows. They are in TERRIBLE shape. So far I have done 4 heavy coats of primer and sanded in between each coat. This was after the first coat. I hope to finish this one tomorrow.
- Apr 25, 2010
- 272
- 5
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Made a little bit of progress on the car... but not much.
Got my 5 lug stuff. It consists of 95 spindles, 99-up PBR calipers, and a SN95 disk brake rear end.
I cleaned up the rear end a little. I'm going to paint my calipers and stuff silver and black. The rear end cover will be silver as well.
I was planning on swapping out the 3:27s for my 3:55s, but I really don't see a need to. I don't care if this car is fast or not. I just want a good driver.
It looks really good in there. It's only got a few thousand miles on it.
Got one side almost stripped down. The stock struts and all were still on there. None of the bolts have ever been turned. The dang things will NOT come loose!! I ended up having to take out the whole assembly. Springs still scare the piss out of me. They contain a ton of energy!
UMM I think my ball joints are almost done for...
Only one more bolt left on this side. It's wanting to be a pain though.
My parts pile is getting bigger!
And here's the reason I didn't get much accomplished on the car this weekend. I went down to the beach! It was soo nice down there. I also got a good 6 hours of driving experience. I think I may try to drive the coupe or at least the black GT down to MW!!!
Got my 5 lug stuff. It consists of 95 spindles, 99-up PBR calipers, and a SN95 disk brake rear end.
I cleaned up the rear end a little. I'm going to paint my calipers and stuff silver and black. The rear end cover will be silver as well.
I was planning on swapping out the 3:27s for my 3:55s, but I really don't see a need to. I don't care if this car is fast or not. I just want a good driver.
It looks really good in there. It's only got a few thousand miles on it.
Got one side almost stripped down. The stock struts and all were still on there. None of the bolts have ever been turned. The dang things will NOT come loose!! I ended up having to take out the whole assembly. Springs still scare the piss out of me. They contain a ton of energy!
UMM I think my ball joints are almost done for...
Only one more bolt left on this side. It's wanting to be a pain though.
My parts pile is getting bigger!
And here's the reason I didn't get much accomplished on the car this weekend. I went down to the beach! It was soo nice down there. I also got a good 6 hours of driving experience. I think I may try to drive the coupe or at least the black GT down to MW!!!
- Apr 25, 2010
- 272
- 5
- 18
I got the rest of the crappy suspenion out today. This was my first time pulling a rear end out. The biggest problem I ran into was getting the E-brake cables out. They were a pain. Other than that, it was pretty easy.
I also pulled the other side of front stuff out.
I then spent some time cleaning up the major mess I made. I love having that lift!
I was saving these for the coupe, but I might end up putting them on this car since all I would have to do is take out 4 more bolts.
I also pulled the other side of front stuff out.
I then spent some time cleaning up the major mess I made. I love having that lift!
I was saving these for the coupe, but I might end up putting them on this car since all I would have to do is take out 4 more bolts.
smokin joe
Founding Member
I was saving these for the coupe, but I might end up putting them on this car since all I would have to do is take out 4 more bolts.
Hard to believe the paint came back that well. That is the problem with having multiple mistresses!
Decisions, decisions....
1989DropTop
Active Member
Amazing work so far. Very clean little hatch! Love the stable pics!!! Your doing great work keep the pics coming I am following this one!!
Beasty306GT
Active Member
- Apr 25, 2010
- 272
- 5
- 18
Thanks everybody!!! There may be another mistress coming soon... but not sure yet. Mustang5l5, the rear end tag says 01, so I guess its an 01 rear, but you never know. It came out of my buddie's Calypso hatch.
Well heres todays progress...
Just got done taking the control arms out.
I spent most of the day on the rear end. I cleaned all of the parts and painted everything, and put everything back together.
Some of the parts after being painted up...
This caliper gave me hell. It apparently got stuck or something, and didnt want to compress all the way, I spent a few hours trying to get it to work, but I finally got it.
a few shots of the completed rear end...
My coupe looks so sad and neglected sitting outside. :sad1:
Tomorrow I'm going to clean, clean, and clean more on the underside. I want to get it really clean up under there, and then undercoat it really good.
I also may have a really big update tomorrow... We will have to see if it pans out like I hope it will...
Well heres todays progress...
Just got done taking the control arms out.
I spent most of the day on the rear end. I cleaned all of the parts and painted everything, and put everything back together.
Some of the parts after being painted up...
This caliper gave me hell. It apparently got stuck or something, and didnt want to compress all the way, I spent a few hours trying to get it to work, but I finally got it.
a few shots of the completed rear end...
My coupe looks so sad and neglected sitting outside. :sad1:
Tomorrow I'm going to clean, clean, and clean more on the underside. I want to get it really clean up under there, and then undercoat it really good.
I also may have a really big update tomorrow... We will have to see if it pans out like I hope it will...
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