My daily driver Pace Car build up

[Blacksnake]

Like the title says. I'm about to start building a new (to me) daily driver. I found a pretty much rust free car, except a few spots around the sunroof. Original V8 4 speed car with air, 73K original miles. Seats look great for the age. Car runs but the engine has a knock.

I just bought a wrecked 89 LX with a 302 (60K on engine) /5 speed and a 8.8 with freshly installed 3:55's. Drivetrain will be going into the 79. To start off, engine will be left stock except for a sn89 Paxton blower with 36lb injectors and matching Pro M, TFS Stage 1 or Ford E cam, BBK long tube headers and h pipe, and Flowmaster cat-back. Will roll on 16" Enkei's. Pics to follow shortly.

[flinfantryrebel]

Putting a blower on stock heads is not the most cost effective unless you got a super charger anyway... i might suggest you spend money on good flowing heads (ie AFR's) instead initally. And it will be 1000% simpler to stay carbed. but either way pace car+ more power=:D:D

btw you'll need to get the transmission crossmember from the LX's tubes shortened.

[Blacksnake]

Putting a blower on stock heads is not the most cost effective unless you got a super charger anyway... i might suggest you spend money on good flowing heads (ie AFR's) instead initally. And it will be 1000% simpler to stay carbed. but either way pace car+ more power=:D:D

btw you'll need to get the transmission crossmember form the LX's tubes shortened.

This is my first blower car (one I've done on my own) so I'm gonna start out slow. I will probably leave the engine stock, except for the 36 pounders and the matching MAF. I already have a set of Trick Flow heads, Track Heat intake, 75 mm throttle body to go on another engine which will make its way into the pace car one day. The BBK long tube headers have the matching short h-pipe already. Should be a mean lil ride when done. Oh yeah, its fuel injected.

[flinfantryrebel]

sorry, i meant this bit....
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb98/aiello95/t-5-crossmember1.jpg

[Blacksnake]

I already got one, thanks. But it maybe info that will help someone else.

[flinfantryrebel]

i know you got one from the 89, but the tubes I circled in the picture newed to be shortened to fit your chassis.

[Blacksnake]

I bought one of the adjustable ones, so I should be allright.

[Hissing Cobra]

Even though you bought an adjustable crossmember, you'll have to remove the rubber bushings and shorten the tubes so that they'll fit into the brackets on the bottom of the floorboard, which are not as wide as on the later model cars. You'll also have to drill out the spotwelds that hold those brackets to the floorboards, move them toward the back of the car and then reweld them.

I have a '79 Cobra and I had to do all of that to my car in order to make the 5-speed fit correctly. I also used the adjustable crossmember and had to shorten/weld it to fit.

By the way, I think it's really cool that this will be your daily driver. These Pace Cars were ALWAYS looked at as collector cars (even when they were new) and many of them were not daily driven. That's why there's still a ton of low mileage originals out there. I'm sure there will be purists that will be upset that you're daily driving it!

[Ford'sCapri]

Even though you bought an adjustable crossmember, you'll have to remove the rubber bushings and shorten the tubes so that they'll fit into the brackets on the bottom of the floorboard, which are not as wide as on the later model cars. You'll also have to drill out the spotwelds that hold those brackets to the floorboards, move them toward the back of the car and then reweld them.

Wow, I didn't have to go through all of that when I put the 302 and T5 in the Capri. I just cut the tubes on an adjustable crossmember to the length that the old crossmember was, welded it up and put it in the car.

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn290/JTDOVE33/P6150210-1.jpg?t=1215652336 (javascript:void(0);)

[Blacksnake]

Even though you bought an adjustable crossmember, you'll have to remove the rubber bushings and shorten the tubes so that they'll fit into the brackets on the bottom of the floorboard, which are not as wide as on the later model cars. You'll also have to drill out the spotwelds that hold those brackets to the floorboards, move them toward the back of the car and then reweld them.

I have a '79 Cobra and I had to do all of that to my car in order to make the 5-speed fit correctly. I also used the adjustable crossmember and had to shorten/weld it to fit.

By the way, I think it's really cool that this will be your daily driver. These Pace Cars were ALWAYS looked at as collector cars (even when they were new) and many of them were not daily driven. That's why there's still a ton of low mileage originals out there. I'm sure there will be purists that will be upset that you're daily driving it!

Thanks for the info on the crossmember. That will save the neighbors from having to listen to me curse and throw tools all over the yard. I have not started anything yet except start the donor car to make sure it ran.

As far as the purists, they can look at my other Pace Car. At least I didn't do the 4v conversion on the 80 Cobra I just bought, although its might tempting.

[Blacksnake]

Well the 89 LX runs and the engine sounds good. The tranny grinds so the T-5 is out. Guess I'll use the tremec 3550 I just bought, complete with bellhousing and kirban shifter. Hopefully I will get the old engine/tranny out of the Pace Car within the next week.

I just bought a set of 15" BBS wheels, black mesh with the chrome lip. Will have to see which wheels will look better, the BBS or the Enkei's. I'm leaning towards the BBS. Will keep you posted.

[69clark]

Pics too please! lol

[Black 79 Cobra]

Even though you bought an adjustable crossmember, you'll have to remove the rubber bushings and shorten the tubes so that they'll fit into the brackets on the bottom of the floorboard, which are not as wide as on the later model cars. You'll also have to drill out the spotwelds that hold those brackets to the floorboards, move them toward the back of the car and then reweld them.

I have a '79 Cobra and I had to do all of that to my car in order to make the 5-speed fit correctly. I also used the adjustable crossmember and had to shorten/weld it to fit.

By the way, I think it's really cool that this will be your daily driver. These Pace Cars were ALWAYS looked at as collector cars (even when they were new) and many of them were not daily driven. That's why there's still a ton of low mileage originals out there. I'm sure there will be purists that will be upset that you're daily driving it!

you had to move the brackets back ? We didn't we jsut had to shorten the tubes.

[Blacksnake]

Took a few shots of the donor car today. Was actually a very nice LX until it was crashed.

[Blacksnake]

Should be able to get a few dollars from selling off the left over parts, mainly interior.

[Blacksnake]

Here are a few shots of the soon to be daily driver. I put the Enkei's on it. The BBS wheels I bought have a back spacing problem, not enough, by about an 1.5". I liked them better. Oh well. I bought the car out of Chicago, but it spent most of its life in Florida. Car is a V8/manual with air. Interior is not bad, seats look great. Will need a drivers side floor pan due to typical early fox spidering at the seat mounts. Car does run but engine has a knock. Car appears to have 73K original miles. I drove it onto the trailer.

[Blacksnake]

These same pics are in my album but they will change as work progresses. Enjoy!!!

[JTurbo]

Cool project, keep posting updates!

[69clark]

Nice

[mikepn]

In the 4th picture your dash has a wood insert.I thought they were al black as in the one I have.

[Blacksnake]

Somebody replaced both sides with the woodgrain, but I have both sides in black. Probably replaced by the same person who butchered the dash, and replaced the steering wheel.

[gdniel]

Nice pace car. Whats up with the black/green cobra by the wrecked car?

[Blacksnake]

Nice pace car. Whats up with the black/green cobra by the wrecked car?

Future project. Was gonna do a Mark 8 conversion on it, but the car is too complete. Will get a full resto down the road. V8/auto/air car.

[Blacksnake]

Well, I have decided on the final engine combo for the DD Pace Car and have gathered up all the pieces. 306 with used blower pistons, with a basic stock bottom end, Canton oil pan, Crower 15511 cam, 1.7 Cobra rockers, GT40P heads/headers, Street Heat intake, Edelbrock 70MM throttle body,36lb injectors/ matching MAF, Paxton sn89 blower, and an Anderson power pipe. All backed up by a Tremec 3550 and one of D&D's crossmembers. I'm sure I forgot something, but I bet somebody will remind me.

[85Mark2.3Lx]

lucky, how easy is it to find a pace car. V8 or 2.3t

[The LX Kid 5.0]

Awesome project! Gonna do some improvments on my Pace Car as well! Keep us posted! 8)

[Bill&Cindy]

I'm sure I forgot something, but I bet somebody will remind me.

Correct sir! Sell the car to us as it is. :)

[281cammer]

Future project. Was gonna do a Mark 8 conversion on it, but the car is too complete. Will get a full resto down the road. V8/auto/air car.

Is that the car the guy here in NC was selling awhile back?

[Blacksnake]

Is that the car the guy here in NC was selling awhile back?

Yes.

[Blacksnake]

Well I got my new wheels. New to me anyway. You all have seen them on another car on this forum. I had to have a set after seeing them on Tom's car. Tom is actually responsible for letting me know that they were for sale. Thanks Tom, and thanks for letting me show them off so soon, lol. These are mounted on my show car for now, but will find their way to the Pace Car I am building up.

http://vb.foureyedpride.com/picture.php?albumid=150&pictureid=2284
http://vb.foureyedpride.com/picture.php?albumid=150&pictureid=2285

[69clark]

Bout time! lol

I have been waiting to see the pics. Looks good, got any more. Are you happy with them?

Both links you posted are the same BTW.

[Blacksnake]

Bout time! lol

I have been waiting to see the pics. Looks good, got any more. Are you happy with them?

Both links you posted are the same BTW.

Am I happy? Are you kidding? Best money I've spent in years!!! The new look is awesome!!!! Changed the link also. Thanks again Tom!!!!