The Black Pearl - Progress Thread

[Darkwriter77]

Thought you had a 3G already done and a Mark fan sitting in teh garrage.

The 3G, yes, but a Mark VIII fan, no. I have an electric fan that that the prior owner gave me along with the car, but it looks a little bit too small and puny to really do any good, at least with the crappy little 1-core radiator. It would probably need a 3-core backing it up to really be effective, and I probably still wouldn't be able to use the A/C around town even then (but I can now with the super-duper Hoover fan clutch). The 3G I swapped on there more because my stock alt was starting to get a little wimpy (not that it was ever that beefy to begin with) and with nothing but the headlights and radio on at night, the lights would dim a little bit, so it was due for a swap, anyway.

 

[LaserSVT]

Have you tried to do a search on the electric ones part number? I have seen some aftermarket fans in Mustangs that I thought there was no way they could do a better job then the stock clutch version but sure enough they did.
Pull up the part number and see if its a unit that is large enough to support 200 w/AC or 250hp without AC.
The problem I had with my 92 was even with a new 3 core and pump and t-stat and flush the car would still get 2/3 the way on the temp gauge when in traffic during 100*+ weather and the A/C on. I swapped the electric fan in and it never ever hit the halfway mark in traffic anymore. Thats the great thing about ab electric one, if you get stuck in traffic its still moving the same air as if you were doing 50mph thus allowing it to stay nice and cool while sitting still.

 

[Darkwriter77]

Have you tried to do a search on the electric ones part number? I have seen some aftermarket fans in Mustangs that I thought there was no way they could do a better job then the stock clutch version but sure enough they did.
Pull up the part number and see if its a unit that is large enough to support 200 w/AC or 250hp without AC.
The problem I had with my 92 was even with a new 3 core and pump and t-stat and flush the car would still get 2/3 the way on the temp gauge when in traffic during 100*+ weather and the A/C on. I swapped the electric fan in and it never ever hit the halfway mark in traffic anymore. Thats the great thing about ab electric one, if you get stuck in traffic its still moving the same air as if you were doing 50mph thus allowing it to stay nice and cool while sitting still.

True, but a mechanical one should do the same thing when it's working properly. My old fan clutch was worn out, but the new one is keeping things nice n' happy.

I don't have enough dough to spare right now for a relay and fan controller to hook it up properly, anyway.

 

[LaserSVT]

True, but a mechanical one should do the same thing when it's working properly. My old fan clutch was worn out, but the new one is keeping things nice n' happy.

I don't have enough dough to spare right now for a relay and fan controller to hook it up properly, anyway.

Well I dont have a relay but they are under $5. I do have a Flex-A-Lite 30 amp high/low speed thermostat controller. The adjustability broke so I soldeired in a couple resistors so the low speed comes on around 165-170* and the high speed comes on around 210* or when the A/C is on. Its in my pile of crap in the garrage so when I move next week I will search for it and mail it out to you if you want it.
Shouldnt cost me but a buck or two to mail it and I can spare that for a friend.

 

[Darkwriter77]

Well I dont have a relay but they are under $5. I do have a Flex-A-Lite 30 amp high/low speed thermostat controller. The adjustability broke so I soldeired in a couple resistors so the low speed comes on around 165-170* and the high speed comes on around 210* or when the A/C is on. Its in my pile of crap in the garrage so when I move next week I will search for it and mail it out to you if you want it.
Shouldnt cost me but a buck or two to mail it and I can spare that for a friend.

Rock on.

I was thinking, if I do put this fan in there, I was gonna use a starter relay like I have on teh Notch for the fan. Can't get much more heavy-duty than that when it comes to relays.

 

[Darkwriter77]

UPDATE:

1. Swapped out Hoover vacuum cleaner fan clutch for a new OEM-replacement fan clutch. Electric fan idea was a bust, as the fan the PO gave me was fried. Car stays just as cool now as with the monster fan clutch, but no longer sounds like a pissed-off Shop Vac, and doesn't feel nearly as doggy as it did with that one (it had to have been sapping like 10 HP from the poor thing, it was like the fan was permanently engaged);
2. New poly sway bar bushings installed. Car handles MUCHO awesome-o, even with the 15" turbines. Ride is stiffened up considerably. Still needs new outer tie rod ends and an alignment to be spot-on perfect, but for now, it's quite nice.
3. Power steering pump has certifiably HEALED ITSELF. I don't get it. It leaked a bit after the pump swap and the switch to Type F fluid, and then it just gradually became less and less of a leak ... and now the underside of it is bone dry. Doesn't leave a spot at all in the driveway, anymore. Water pump backing gasket still leaks a bit from the top, but even that has somehow managed to slow itself considerably. Unreal. Must be the spirit of Bootstrap Bill trapped within this thing.

 

[Darkwriter77]

Pic of the aforementioned crappy sway bar bushing - ones from the Black Pearl on the left, ones from teh Notch on the right. The passenger side bushing was so-so, but only half of the driver's side bushing even existed AT ALL. The ones I took off teh Notch weren't TOO bad, but they were pretty squashed-out and cracking, so they could've used replacement, anyway. Quite happy with the investment. Cost me less than $30 total for two pairs from Autozone. Teh Notch now handles as well as or better than any car I've ever owned before.

View attachment 250550

 

[aar0s]

new parts ftw!

 

[LaserSVT]

Right arm mang! I just took the Mark out for a spin since I did the new sway bar links and it was unbelievable how much quiker it responded to sterring inputs.
With bushings as shot as that I bet the Stang feels way better now.

 

[Darkwriter77]

Yep. Corners nice n' flat now, almost ZERO body roll. The small amount of play left in the steering still bugs me, though. Once I get some proper tires on there and a set of tie rod ends and alignment, it'll finally feel right.

I think I need to really hurry up and do something about the exhaust to make me love this car again. I don't hate it or anything by any means, but it just feels so bland for being a Mustang that I feel like I might as well be driving something else to justify the compromise. I've got this nagging urge to spring for an S10 pickup/Blazer or even a Bronco so I can haul crap (starting to feel redundant having two Foxes), so I guess I need to stay interested in this car so I don't wind up ditching it in favor of something else.

I know. I'm retarded for even thinking that, especially after all the work I've put into this thing so far.

 

[LaserSVT]

Its what ya do.

But I know what you mean. I want my Mark to have some growl to really enjoy it. Its quick and snappy but its dead silent while doing it and thats no fun.

 

[Darkwriter77]

The Pearl ain't even snappy ... more like sappy.

 

[Darkwriter77]

I can't take it anymore. I'm thinking the Black Pearl is gonna wind up getting listed for sale/trade this weekend. I like the car and all, but I can't justify having two Foxes. Having two 5.0's means I'm just too damned tempted to pour money into my DD for mods, which is a dumb concept because I can't even really afford to put anything into my weekend toy in the first place. I mean, just look at my prior posts. "I wanna do this, this, this, and this..." It's my frickin' daily beater! WTF am I doing? The only things I should be putting into this car are fluids and basic maintenance parts just to keep it on the frickin' road!

I've put a lot of work into the car, yes, but I haven't really sunk that much money into it, actually ... just elbow grease. Most expensive thing I've put on the car is the CD player, and that's coming out before I list it (gonna poke in an old tape deck in its place). I would be tempted to swap the old alternator back in there and keep the 3G I just put in a few weeks ago, but the old alt seemed like it was getting a little weak (headlights were getting yellow at night and it looks to be the 25+ year old original part), and that was before I got the A/C running again. The 3G only cost me like $40 from the 'yard, anyhow, and the mini-starter was only about $20, so ... meh. Everything else has just been pretty much maintenance/repairs.

I'll probably get me another Stinky-type (S10) truck again, or another Chubby (S10 Blazer ... depends on what's available and what tickles me fancy), and since there's only so much you can do with those things for modding, I'll be able to better focus my modding enthusiasm on teh Notch, instead, and I'll have something with enough cargo room to carry home whatever treasures I may plunder from the 'yard or the local ads.

Anyone, please, feel free to kick me in the nards for being such a retard. I'm sure someday I'll regret letting it go, just like I do with almost EVERY vehicle I sell/trade off, but at least I won't be Stang-less.

 

[LaserSVT]

Thought Lynn threatened to kill you if the Pearl was sold?

 

[Darkwriter77]

I guess I'll be dead soon, then.

 

[FrankenStang]

Nevermind.

 

[stykthyn]

well I am sure that if you decide to get rid of it, you could prolly turn a profit since it actually runs and behaves the way its supposed to now. should have kept the vert though

I hate to say it, but just break down and buy a fuggin civic. you wont have any compunction to mod it, and it will still knock down 30+mpg on the way to work. I mean seriously do you need a truck? do you haul anything? do you 4x4 in the snow? trucks as dailys are great as long as you need a truck everyday. if you dont then you will find yourself hating it as they get crappy mileage and for the most part rather uncomfortable. I bought an 04 ram thinking I had to HAVE a truck. in the last five years I have towed with it maybe 3 times and the bed usually just collects empty soda cans and fast food wrappers. the only time it comes in remotely handy is when I break out the kayak and I really dont need a half ton pickup for that. If I could have sold it and not lost my shirt when the truck market bottomed out I would have, but now the thing is paid for so I might as well hold onto it. The Pearl is paid for so whats the rush in putting it up for sale? You have already fixed all the major headaches so why not drive it? You sell it now and some other asshat is going to be riding around enjoying all the hard work you've put into it and then three weeks from then we are going to see a post "I miss the Pearl"
Unless you are trying to fill a void in your life that cant be solved with drugs or hard liquor thats one thing, but swapping vehicles every few months because you cant find one you really like is another.

 

[Darkwriter77]

What you are saying is largely true ... but I'm not looking to pick up a full-size truck, nor anything with four-wheel drive. The last little truck I had, "Stinky" (which Lynn's son now has), used to get 26 MPG on a regular basis ... and that was with the stock 4.11 rear gears and a 2.8L V6, and no mods whatsoever. It was easy as hell to park, rode nice, it was handy as hell having a truck to haul around furniture and rocks and large car parts (seats, tires, hoods, etc.), and aside from some steering and cosmetic work I did to it when I first got it (seats and paint), the only time it got fussy was when that little hose between the fuel pump and the fuel pickup tube got a hole in it and it started sucking air ... ran like crap all of a sudden one day, but it still got me home, swapped out the pump and sock, and never had a problem with it since. Parts are a dime a dozen for S10's and S10 Blazers and they are friggin' EVERYWHERE. Not so much with imports like Civics. Besides, after my last two unpleasant experiences with owning an '88 Accord and '87 CRX Si, I swore I'd never own another damned Honda again.

Not trying to fill a void in my life; it's just that my living situation is constantly changing, it seems. Had I not re-acquired teh Notch, I would otherwise have been happy to continue modding the Black Pearl as my weekend toy and driving the snot out of Stinky as my DD. Now I have two weekend toys and no proper DD, really, sooooooo...

 

[stykthyn]

why not drive stinky? does it belong to lynn's son yet? I know there is probably a thread on it somewhere I just havent seen it.

 

[FrankenStang]

why not drive stinky? does it belong to lynn's son yet? I know there is probably a thread on it somewhere I just havent seen it.

Stinky is mine. I traded Dave his old Notch back for Stinky. I did it to help my son and make Dave happy.

FWIW, I think Dave is making a big mistake selling the Pearl.

How is it not the perfect DD? It has A/C, automatic trans, it's dependable, safe, comfortable, has a decent stereo and he knows a fox like the back of his hand.

... and OMG, it has a hatch!



Why do you think I want it for a DD??

Besides that, we had agreed that I'd buy the Pearl when the '04 sold (the '04 might even end up going to my parents if they lose their '06 then I'll be stuck with only the Capri that Dave is so dead set against me DDing ) or when I got my tax return. I was really excited about buying it.

Oh well, I guess it's a better idea to sell it NOW to some kid that'll romp it to death than wait a few months for someone who loves the car to buy it.