I've been looking at other people's build threads on their cars and it is inspirational in motivating me to continue on my build. So, here I go with mine.
I have a 1986 GT with t-tops that was originally a red called something like mid canyon red? (What the hell were we thinking in the eighties?) It is getting ready to be painted a red pearl. The color code is from Toyota, but I've mainly dealt with it on their Lexus' vehicles. The paint code is 3R1.
This needs to be done on a budget to just get it on the street. So some things might leave you shaking your head, it does me too. Don't worry though, just because it will drive in six months doesn't mean it will be close to being done. I will be keeping this car the rest of my life and pass it down to my son in my will. I'm 53 now, so I've got about three decades of modifying left in me!
Lots of work has already been done on this vehicle already, I'll post pictures so you can see where it sits right now. I'll give a brief run down of what's been done to it:
Drivetrain
The stock 5.0 was rebuilt with new rods and Pistons (not forged), GT40X aluminum heads with roller rockers and a comp roller cam with appropriate hydraulic lifters. Nothing real wild, just new. Bored .030 over mainly to have clean cylinders. Also an Edelbrock Perfomer RPM intake. MSD distributor. It will have a Quickfuel carburetor 650 or 680 (depending if I want to go manual secondary or vacuum). It has an Edelbrock water pump as well. It turned out to be real close to what FRPP offers as a crate engine, btw. It does have a nice set of March pulleys and brackets as well.
My brother started this build about three years ago and the first thing he did was rip out all of the efi wiring, so I'm going carbureted for now.
The stock 8.8 rear end has been narrowed 1.5" on each side. The tubes have been welded and welded on brackets for coil overs (for a much later mod). I have a set of Strange five lug, 31 spline axles cut to length for the narrowed rear. Still need the differential, probably will go FRPP on this. Not sure where I want to go with the gears, maybe 3.73's. It will eventually have 18" wheels for the back. I can fit 10" wheels with a -4" backspacing. Would like to fit 285 tires back there, already rolled the lips on the quarters. Might need to beat in the inside of the wheel well a little.
I will use the stock T5 after I get it rebuilt with a 2.95 first gear in it. Stock drive shaft, will go aluminum sometime.
Not sure of the clutch, I don't need anything real fancy as this engine combo might only put out 350 at the crankshaft. I will get a new steel flywheel.
BRAKES AND SPINDLES
Cobra Disc front, '95 spindles,. Drums on the rear until I can afford disc brakes. Rebuilt the drums. New master cylinder. Some new brake lines (lines on the differential)
SUSPENSION
Coil overs on the front, MM k-member. Rear has stock trailing arms right now, probably will buy a cheap set from upr until I can get what I want. Want to go with a torque arm and
panhard bar eventually, I might get the
panhard bar early just so I don't tear up the new tires.
PAINT & BODY
All body work is done!! Woohoo! Going to paint it this weekend at my brother's body shop in Stillwater. I'm buddy's with the local Akzo Nobel rep, so it will be Sikkens for paint. He is giving me all the materials, if you have painted your car, you know what that means. And I mean everything was given to me, from sandpaper to the cleaners for the plastic in the interior all the way to rubbing compound (hopefully won't need to rub too much!)
I'm still missing a hatch and front bumper, but I have a pretty good line on that, they'll have to be painted later.
Had to patch in the floor on both sides where it rusted out at the seat mounts.
INTERIOR
Oh dear god! It's red. I will be changing it to a dark grey. I had a brand new carpet given to me, it's light grey. I saw some pictures on line of a dark grey interior with the light grey carpet, it looked good to me, so I'm going with it. I will be painting all of that plastic a dark grey, not sure of the new headliner I will get, maybe go light grey like the carpet? Like I think I mentioned, the car is completely gutted, so, while I have it all out I will disassemble the heater box and put a new heater core in it and clean and disinfect the box. I will put new foam seals on it too.
I want a new steering wheel, not sure exactly which one yet.
Oh how I would like to have a new Dakota Digital gauge cluster too, but at almost $800, it'll probably wait a year or two after it's a driver.
The stock seats are in freakishly good condition! I'm going to pull the covers off and wash them in the gentle cycle of my washing machine.
I want to put Dynamat or some such product at least on the floor, any opinions on this idea?
The door panels are pretty good, I may have to go with them for now, dang new ones are over $400.
I'll be getting all the little kits for the interior from LMR and others.
GASKETS AND SEALS
It's thirty years old, got to get a whole new set, another not cheap buy.
COOLING AND A/C
I'm going to go with an electric fan and a new radiator, any opinions on two or three row radiators? I consider this a must buy.
Not going to have air conditioning next summer, those 105 days next summer will be better with the t-tops off. Next year and I'll upgrade to a brand new system.
GLASS
WOOHOO again, who knew fox glass was cheap? Not me. New glass all around! I feel like a drunken sailor! No offense to you sailors out there, drunk or not.
CHASSIS
Got subframe connectors welded in already, that's it for right now. I like Maximum Motorsports stuff though, I'm bound to do more eventually.
WHEELS AND TIRES
Got scab wheels and tires on it right now. Still choosing this area. What do you all think of Scarollo drift-r wheels, I'm not sure I can get them in the backspacing I need. It would look really choice to me if they do. I sent them an email asking if they offer that.
Tires will be probably whatever I can get in a package deal.
STEREO
Hummmm, not real sure yet. Something modern would be nice. I had an eight track in my first mustang back in '78, maybe a little too retro?
Well, that's enough for now. I'm going to try to figure out how to post what pictures I have now.
I'm shooting for June for a driver. Next thing is paint this weekend. I'll post pictures of it then. It goes to my garage for the build on Sunday.
I plan on taking care of the interior in December, I'm going to order a new heater core for it tonight. I'll post stuff on the heater box clean up and replacing the heater core. Jeez! It's a nasty box right now. Dawn soap and Clorox will be my friend.
January has the new differential and gears and maybe the cheap trailing arms coming.