Today, we fabricate. A 2-part series:
Through the last few years I've managed to collect (read hoard) random Ford and GM parts. They all get stashed in corners and in boxes and kept for later. Though later usually never comes.
Wandered out into the garage today with no real goal in mind. Waiting on some key parts that are hindering my progress.
Anyways...
I started digging through my boxes of goodies. Just to see what I might be able to use. One thing I found was a throttlebody, identical to the one that I just paid $35 for last week.
With it was an Fbody throttle cable that I had attempted to use on both the 98 and the 03. I recall it being a pain in the ass but not remembering why. So there was my project for the day. Get this damned cable to work.
If you've ever laid upside down under the dash of a mustang you know just how much fun it isn't.
Now put a strategically placed roll cage bar in the way.
So I procrastinate having to pretzel my way in there and start at the throttlebody side.
It's too long. And the other end isn't going to fit through the hole in the firewall.
The whole PITA thing is coming back to me now.
I've still got the 5.0 cable hooked up to the pedal and hanging in the bay. It's ALMOST the perfect length for the car intake. Let's just try and use this thing.
Through luck, or the fact that these swaps were DESTINED by the car gods....
There's this little nipple on the throttle body that will work just fine. Ground it down a little bit and popped the Ford cable right on it.
I've got a Lokar LS1 cable bracket which of course won't work in any fashion. The cable doesn't fit through and the throttle cable ends up at an angle I don't care for.
So back to it again.
I dig around and find a Ford throttle cable bracket
Exhibit A
I also grabbed a few old brackets I got with a shifter a few years ago.
Out comes the cutoff wheel and trusty Harbor Freight Fluxcore welder.
I cut off a huge majority of the ford bracket and tacked the Powerglide(I think)bracket on it. This will make more sense later.
I grabbed a second bracket and hacked it up to extend the slider. This proved to be a waste of time but alas, it provided me a chance to show off some welds my momma would be ashamed of.
This is why we have grinders
This is pre-hack job but post bracket trimming. Sorry, we'll clean it all up in Post. Or whatever you're supposed to say when the frames are all mixed up.
Test fit #1. Now you can see where the slider comes into play. Without being able to move the bracket, the throttle isn't opening to 100%. This will be much easier to fine tune and maybe even make permenant once I've got a way to read TPS signal. But the adjustability is good for now.
Unfortunately it's hitting the fuel rails and laying those over a bit isn't really an option. So I cleaned it up some more and cut off some extra meat.
Test fit #2 (probably 5 but whatever)
Now we're cooking.
More clean up and rounding edges and getting it ready to paint
Pretty serious paint booth setup here, twist tied to a Ranger bumper
Unfortunately my wrinkle didn't wrinkle and gloss is really what I wanted (which it also isn't)
So it'll have to be redone but it works and that's what's important here. I think...