Progress Thread Well. That Escalated Quickly. Time To Start A Build Thread....

92Apocalypso

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Mar 7, 2017
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the time has come, where I have spent more time replacing parts than actually driving the car, so I might as well start a build thread to help myself document this. so far I've replaced every piece of weatherstrip (excluding hatch), door lock actuators (already need to replace passenger side again), replaced fuel tank/fill neck grommets, shorty headers, bbk catted H, flow master stainless exhaust, door pins, repaired leaking sunroof, repaired crappy radio install. in Lieu of this weekend's incident where the ball joint washer stripped off the top of the ball joint, I just ordered the moog lower control arms with ball joints, steeda lowering springs, bbk front and rear isolators, koni orange str.t shocks/struts. I'm hoping after I replace all of that, I can enjoy driving the rest of the summer before I do a top-end kit. possibly more. here are some photos of the new goodies. thanks everyone for their advice here. truly.
 

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But look at how much better it is than when you bought it :)
Fwiw @jrichker has a write up on rebuilding door lock actuators with like $5 bucks worth of parts

yup. I saw his write up. it's amazing. and I am 100% going to do it. I just don't have time to even think about thinking about it. with new baby on the way and my toddler son, I don't have any free time to make for it. will probably be one of the first things I do this summer though. and you are correct, it has come a long way. I forgot to mention complete tune up, added fr500 wheels, new ashtray kit, door armrests, door handles, exterior and interior, center armrest with cup holder, speakers, prop rod clip, battery, I'm sure I'm forgetting more. I've only logged like 400 miles in it so far haha
 
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Why do the prop rod clips always break ??? Haha. Right up there with the ashtray door.

hahaha exactly. as soon as I get the car running for at least a couple months without something breaking, and I decide to do appearance stuff, I'll order a cowl hood and get the hood shocks and never use that pesky prop rod again
 
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yup. I saw his write up. it's amazing. and I am 100% going to do it. I just don't have time to even think about thinking about it. with new baby on the way and my toddler son, I don't have any free time to make for it. will probably be one of the first things I do this summer though. and you are correct, it has come a long way. I forgot to mention complete tune up, added fr500 wheels, new ashtray kit, door armrests, door handles, exterior and interior, center armrest with cup holder, speakers, prop rod clip, battery, I'm sure I'm forgetting more. I've only logged like 400 miles in it so far haha
 
"I just don't have time to even think about thinking about it. with new baby on the way and my toddler son, I don't have any free time to make for it."
Wow! Been there, done that. Although you need to make every minute count with your kids no matter the age, I do NOT envy you one bit. That's the reason I'm 45 years old and just now taking on my "project". My kids are 21 months apart. I was exactly your age. Those first three years after my second was born were tough. This along with a 60+ hour per week career. Just literally and physically no time left in the day.
My kids are 13 & 15, so now I have two assistants!!

Good luck on the re-build, but you'll probably be my age by the time you finish and get to enjoy it.

-Kevin
 
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yup. I saw his write up. it's amazing. and I am 100% going to do it. I just don't have time to even think about thinking about it. with new baby on the way and my toddler son, I don't have any free time to make for it. will probably be one of the first things I do this summer though. and you are correct, it has come a long way. I forgot to mention complete tune up, added fr500 wheels, new ashtray kit, door armrests, door handles, exterior and interior, center armrest with cup holder, speakers, prop rod clip, battery, I'm sure I'm forgetting more. I've only logged like 400 miles in it so far haha
Free time is either really early in the morning or late at night when everyone is in bed. This is what I've had to do to get my car done. No sleeping in unless it's because you were in the garage late the night before. Make your time count, have a plan and execute it. A "to do" list helped me out a lot. I have an 8 y/o and twin 4 y/o daughters and I'm a single dad and you just got to find the time to make it work. If your time is truly limited then the best thing you can do is to keep your projects small for now.

Congrats on the pregnancy, it's very exciting! If you balance everything right you'll have your cake and eat it too. My kids love the Stang! Yours will too.
IMG_1881.JPG
 
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Free time is either really early in the morning or late at night when everyone is in bed. This is what I've had to do to get my car done. No sleeping in unless it's because you were in the garage late the night before. Make your time count, have a plan and execute it. A "to do" list helped me out a lot. I have an 8 y/o and twin 4 y/o daughters and I'm a single dad and you just got to find the time to make it work. If your time is truly limited then the best thing you can do is to keep your projects small for now.

Congrats on the pregnancy, it's very exciting! If you balance everything right you'll have your cake and eat it too. My kids love the Stang! Yours will too.
IMG_1881.JPG

wise words! I truly cherish time with my boy, and I won't neglect my kids, so it has been exactly that, super early, or extra late.... sometimes both. it will get done slowly but surely.... and the plan is, have this thing built perfect and hopefully my little man will love it and he can have it when he's old enough. thanks for the advice and well wishes though!
 
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"I just don't have time to even think about thinking about it. with new baby on the way and my toddler son, I don't have any free time to make for it."
Wow! Been there, done that. Although you need to make every minute count with your kids no matter the age, I do NOT envy you one bit. That's the reason I'm 45 years old and just now taking on my "project". My kids are 21 months apart. I was exactly your age. Those first three years after my second was born were tough. This along with a 60+ hour per week career. Just literally and physically no time left in the day.
My kids are 13 & 15, so now I have two assistants!!

Good luck on the re-build, but you'll probably be my age by the time you finish and get to enjoy it.

-Kevin

also thanks for the well wishes! .... I def agree with you, but as long as I get it done, when I get it done isn't as important I suppose. I have to learn patience somehow right
 
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so tonight was fun. started tearing into the suspension at my buddies shop. figured out that the previous owner never installed washers on ball joints to balance out the 94-95 spindle differences for my 5 lug swap, and that's how the ball joints were damaged. ordered moog control arms with ball joints, and passenger side came off with a breeze. 1st bolt on driver side, no problem, last bolt on A-arm was completely seized... took a while to break it, but the sleeve/busing was keeping it from coming out. had to cut that hardened bolt.... it took us close to 2 hours to get that 1 bolt out. went through. couple sawzall blades too. haha. what a nightmare. so have to find an A-arm bolt ASAP. here are some photos. please note how previous owner installed sway bar links without the too bushing. wtf.
 

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so tonight was fun. started tearing into the suspension at my buddies shop. figured out that the previous owner never installed washers on ball joints to balance out the 94-95 spindle differences for my 5 lug swap, and that's how the ball joints were damaged. ordered moog control arms with ball joints, and passenger side came off with a breeze. 1st bolt on driver side, no problem, last bolt on A-arm was completely seized... took a while to break it, but the sleeve/busing was keeping it from coming out. had to cut that hardened bolt.... it took us close to 2 hours to get that 1 bolt out. went through. couple sawzall blades too. haha. what a nightmare. so have to find an A-arm bolt ASAP. here are some photos. please note how previous owner installed sway bar links without the too bushing. wtf.
That sucks about that seized bolt. Sometimes little things like that turn a simple job into a huge headache. At least you were at your friends shop with all the right tools. Just go to a hardware store and get yourself a new grade 8 bolt. Make sure to put some anti-seize on the bolt before you install it. Did you order SN95 ball joints so you don't have to use washers?
 
That sucks about that seized bolt. Sometimes little things like that turn a simple job into a huge headache. At least you were at your friends shop with all the right tools. Just go to a hardware store and get yourself a new grade 8 bolt. Make sure to put some anti-seize on the bolt before you install it. Did you order SN95 ball joints so you don't have to use washers?

unfortunately, I have to use washers. i didn't have access to a press, so i ordered moog lower control arms with the ball joints already in them. i just grabbed hardened washers, so hopefully I dont have any other issues.
 
dropped the car off today for the alignment after doing the CC plates and everything else. man oh man, huge difference. I can actually drive this thing now, but I absolutely hate having any front turning radius due to these 17 x 9 wheels.... it's the worst. regardless, I'm looking forward to putting a ton of miles on this until my shop get built.
 
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