1985 GT build thread.

[suicidekings]

Making more progress however it feels like the car gets tore down more and more every time I spend time in the garage. I am going to re route all the wiring inside the car as well as routing the brake lines inside the car. Sooooo I needed to move the dash.

IMG_3882_zpst8lymwwy by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Trying to make sense out of this big ass bundle.

IMG_3883_zpshvq23pgv by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Thinking of doing some LED bulbs for the dash...

IMG_3884_zpsm1hopanq by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Hope you all are enjoying this build as much as I am.

 

[straightliner1]

Small update. Still waiting on the Scott Rod panels :bored:

So I decided to start fitting the 93 cobra brake booster... I have heard mixed reviews if it would fit or not and the verdict is in, it won't!

I removed the driver seat in order to give me more room and comfort getting the nuts off the back of the booster.

I didn't get a pic but I took a BFH to the tower and it wasn't cutting it... I ended up taking the cutoff wheel to the strut tower.

Before anyone says that was dumb, there was no other choice. If I would have kept going with the hammer it would have cleared eventually however I wanted even more clearance because when I go to install it the last time I didn't want to be scratching paint. [/QUOTE=suicidekings;15004721]


Maybe MFE can jump in here but all I had to do on both of my Fox booster upgrades was slot the holes in the firewall with a die grinder. Keep it up, anxious to see the finished product!

 

[suicidekings]

Small update. Still waiting on the Scott Rod panels :bored:

So I decided to start fitting the 93 cobra brake booster... I have heard mixed reviews if it would fit or not and the verdict is in, it won't!

I removed the driver seat in order to give me more room and comfort getting the nuts off the back of the booster.

I didn't get a pic but I took a BFH to the tower and it wasn't cutting it... I ended up taking the cutoff wheel to the strut tower.

Before anyone says that was dumb, there was no other choice. If I would have kept going with the hammer it would have cleared eventually however I wanted even more clearance because when I go to install it the last time I didn't want to be scratching paint. [/QUOTE=suicidekings;15004721]


Maybe MFE can jump in here but all I had to do on both of my Fox booster upgrades was slot the holes in the firewall with a die grinder. Keep it up, anxious to see the finished product!

Through the years clearance got better and better. It changed after 85 and again after 90 I believe. You have to remember the 85 GT had the same brakes the 87-93 4 Cyl cars had. The booster was tiny! I did elongate the holes a bit however I would have had to elongate 3 inches to get this to fit. Like I said, there are a lot do guys who make it work and others who can't. I wanted to make sure I had plenty of room so I could get the booster in and out without ruining fresh paint.

I was really hoping it would have fit without too much massaging but just didn't work for me.

 

[suicidekings]

This week has been so hectic at work and next week won't be any easier so I figured this weekend would be a good weekend to knock out some of this project.

This showed up today. McLeod RST, decided on this one vs the RXT due to recommendations from the people at McLeod based on my build, driving, and expectations from the car.

IMG_3905_zps49wrccqa by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Once I finished gawking I got to work, I pulled out the air box behind the dash

IMG_3907_zps7eb3ukng by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

It was time to start pulling wires into the interior

IMG_3908_zps6htzvedc by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3909_zpsj3dcscml by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

I was able to remove enough wiring from emissions stuff to where I only had 5 wires that crossed from one side to the other that I had to cut and re-solder together on the interior of the car.

IMG_3910_zpsewjcnclo by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Here is how she sits now.. No wires!!!

IMG_3911_zpswshsddoh by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Just created another mess now.

IMG_3912_zpsb7jprtsx by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Next steps will be to drill new holes from the interior of the car into the fender wells. Normally this would cause concern with water leaking into the interior however this car hasn't seen rain in 30 years so its somewhat safe to say it never will.

My Scott rod panels should be here next week which is when I will start my welding practice! I am getting happy with the progress so far but know I have a very long road ahead of me.

 

[suicidekings]

Got the Transmission ordered, so far Tony over at Astro Performance is great to deal with. Quick communication and answers questions fully.

Still working on the final details of the engine right now. Plan to wire the deposit this week!

 

[scottL]

Got the Transmission ordered, so far Tony over at Astro Performance is great to deal with.

Forgot which transmission you're going with and & I'm curious, how did you hear about Astro?

I'm still looking for those interior wire shots. Can't find any good ones & at this rate you'll be finished by the time I do

 

[suicidekings]

Forgot which transmission you're going with and & I'm curious, how did you hear about Astro?

I'm still looking for those interior wire shots. Can't find any good ones & at this rate you'll be finished by the time I do

Going with the astro A5. Originally I saw g force and as I was doing research a LOT of guys had broke their g force and astro was mentioned a lot as a replacement. Astro rarely had people say they were garbage however had what appeared to be a lower breakage rate based on what I read.

No worries on the wires. I'm all set there. I would like to see your end product though.

 

[scottL]

A5's seem right up your alley, light and strong.. Up until you go forced induction on that torque monster stroker motor! Much easier installation-wise than a tko too.
Anytime on the wire review, although it's really nothing special. Cruising weather is right around the corner too.

 

[suicidekings]

A5's seem right up your alley, light and strong.. Up until you go forced induction on that torque monster stroker motor! Much easier installation-wise than a tko too.
Anytime on the wire review, although it's really nothing special. Cruising weather is right around the corner too.

Boost isn't in my cards.... But I certainly plan on testing that limit on the trans in NA fashion. I am assured with my overall combo I'm running, I won't break it, even after my future plans... I can fill you in when you come over, don't want to let the cat out of the bag quite yet but I will tell you it should hurt some unsuspecting feelings.

 

[chao5.0]

I'll be watching this build closely because I may end up doing one. I didn't know about the Astro transmissions and now that I do I will keep them in mind if I do a build.

 

[suicidekings]

I'll be watching this build closely because I may end up doing one. I didn't know about the Astro transmissions and now that I do I will keep them in mind if I do a build.

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have when that time comes!

Anyone with a pre 87 fox using Scott Rod Panels please chime in!!!! Do all these panels fit like absolute shit? They are tight fitting and not even all the way in place. If I force them I feel like the entire panel will bend.

 

[chao5.0]

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have when that time comes!

Anyone with a pre 87 fox using Scott Rod Panels please chime in!!!! Do all these panels fit like absolute shit? They are tight fitting and not even all the way in place. If I force them I feel like the entire panel will bend.

I'm debating that issue right now and weighing my options, I'm getting tired of DD the car I want to track and play with in case it goes down with a mechanical failure or crash if I get it wrong on a track.

did you get the MM max grip package? I was looking at that and a SLA kit from Griggs but the Griggs is 3k more.

 

[suicidekings]

I'm debating that issue right now and weighing my options, I'm getting tired of DD the car I want to track and play with in case it goes down with a mechanical failure or crash if I get it wrong on a track.

did you get the MM max grip package? I was looking at that and a SLA kit from Griggs but the Griggs is 3k more.

I say go for it.

Yes, I had some pieces already so I pieced together the rest of the max grip package except for the TA. 2 months later I now regret not getting it so I will be placing that order after I get the engine bay welded up and painted.

Between the Griggs and MM packages I dont know if there is 3k worth of noticable difference. There could be but here is what I do know. Either option will be night and day from where the car began. My car wont be a serious racer so I didnt want to spend the extra money on the griggs.

 

[chao5.0]

I say go for it.

Yes, I had some pieces already so I pieced together the rest of the max grip package except for the TA. 2 months later I now regret not getting it so I will be placing that order after I get the engine bay welded up and painted.

Between the Griggs and MM packages I dont know if there is 3k worth of noticable difference. There could be but here is what I do know. Either option will be night and day from where the car began. My car wont be a serious racer so I didnt want to spend the extra money on the griggs.

I agree but it just depends on how much I want to spend on the car, if I go the route of a SLA kit then i'll probably go all out and get a Maier 3" fender flares for the car as well. I'm weighing my options right now, tomorrow I'm going look at trucks as a replacement DD so we will see what happens then. what has caught my attention lately is the 80's trans am race cars, but those aren't a viable option even as a replica right now.

 

[suicidekings]

Not much of an update but I got word that my trans is finished and is awaiting pickup by the shipper.

Still having issues working out the details on the engine build as the combination I originally was leaning toward might not produce what I want it to. If I cannot come to a final decision by this weekend I will most likely walk away from the project for quite some time.

 

[Gary101386]

nice build so far. I have to compliment you on how neat clean and organized your work space is! Nice work!

 

[chao5.0]

what are your plans for the engine build N/A, boost, N2O? If its N/A look into the P38 heads from Kaase because those things make some power for a street head, but for racing there are better options. I personally like N/A setups because they sound the best and are usually the cleanest of the 3 builds and with your engine bay being so clean and tidy it would work well together. but I also understand boost and N2O builds because to much power is always a good thing.

 

[MFE]

Not much of an update but I got word that my trans is finished and is awaiting pickup by the shipper.

Still having issues working out the details on the engine build as the combination I originally was leaning toward might not produce what I want it to. If I cannot come to a final decision by this weekend I will most likely walk away from the project for quite some time.

Don't lift off the gas now, you're coming into prime finishing-it-and-driving-it season!

 

[scottL]

Not much of an update but I got word that my trans is finished and is awaiting pickup by the shipper.

Still having issues working out the details on the engine build as the combination I originally was leaning toward might not produce what I want it to. If I cannot come to a final decision by this weekend I will most likely walk away from the project for quite some time.

Don't lift off the gas now, you're coming into prime finishing-it-and-driving-it season!

Yeah man, plus we got FFF next April. Don't let up yet! What's the situation with the motor?

 

[HighTorque]

Great build thread!!!