'79 Zephyr ES Build

[ZephyrEFI]

I got some car time today. i spiffed up and installed the tensioner in the stock location, and installed the Ford Racing air pump eliminator. I chose the Ford Racing one because i wanted it to look like it belongs. That would not have been the case with most others because they are basically a rectangular block of aluminum with a chrome pulley on it. Nice if you like a custom look, i guess, but not for me. I wanted to put some pics up of it because i found very few "installed" pics online that were helpful, or you could even tell what you were looking at.

Here's the front:

You can see the bracket looks like an extension of the factory alternator bracket. Nice.

Here's the back:

You can see it's mounted using the stock steel rear bracket that looks kind of like an offset wrench. Not something that's necessarily self-explanatory for someone like me who hasn't had his air pump installed in years. All in all I'm very happy with it! It cost more than some others, but it was worth it to me.

[mustangxtreme]

Looks good Brad. I prefer subtleties in my builds over flashy so that would fit right in.

[ZephyrEFI]

Alright, i've got another "before and after" for you!

Here is my accessory drive Before


And here is after!


See Mike? You can hardly see the nasty water pump now.

[7point5inafox]

Nice work, Brad !! I've been reading a couple pages as I had time and finally made it thru all of them. It's a real bummer these cars weren't in production long enough to be made this way, it's perfect.

Now if I can just find the time to get thru Mike1157's novel I'll feel like I've accomplished something. Lee

[ZephyrEFI]

Nice work, Brad !! I've been reading a couple pages as I had time and finally made it thru all of them. It's a real bummer these cars weren't in production long enough to be made this way, it's perfect.

Now if I can just find the time to get thru Mike1157's novel I'll feel like I've accomplished something. Lee

Thank you! That's high praise coming from you!

Today I mounted the condenser. You'd think Fox body, it's all the same right? The directions for the Hose Wizards kit make it sound like it's remove old one, slap new one in, done. Well, not so much. The old mounting holes for the Zephyr condenser brackets were nowhere near where they needed to be for this condenser intended for a Fox Mustang. I guess i don't know, maybe even Mustang guys need to do this, but i needed to pretty much start from scratch. I hadn't had a condenser on the car in years, but luckily i was able to track down some mounting brackets. I tried to mimic the way the factory does it, using those pinch nut things, so i needed to drill 4 new bolt holes and put square holes next to them so the pinch nuts could be installed. You can see in the pics where the original brackets were and marvel at how far they are from where i needed them to be.





On a positive note, i got to play with my new Eastwood body saw. What a nice tool to have that is!

[Mike1157]

Thank you! That's high praise coming from you!

Today I mounted the condenser. You'd think Fox body, it's all the same right? The directions for the Hose Wizards kit make it sound like it's remove old one, slap new one in, done. Well, not so much. The old mounting holes for the Zephyr condenser brackets were nowhere near where they needed to be for this condenser intended for a Fox Mustang. I guess i don't know, maybe even Mustang guys need to do this, but i needed to pretty much start from scratch. I hadn't had a condenser on the car in years, but luckily i was able to track down some mounting brackets. I tried to mimic the way the factory does it, using those pinch nut things, so i needed to drill 4 new bolt holes and put square holes next to them so the pinch nuts could be installed. You can see in the pics where the original brackets were and marvel at how far they are from where i needed them to be.





On a positive note, i got to play with my new Eastwood body saw. What a nice tool to have that is!

Gotta give it to you,...I always appreciate a thread where the AC is going back ON the car as opposed to the opposite.

And I can still see that pump.

[ZephyrEFI]

Gotta give it to you,...I always appreciate a thread where the AC is going back ON the car as opposed to the opposite.

And I can still see that pump.

Thanks, yep. I want to be able to drive this car a lot. I don't want it to sit because of some compromise I made.

And don't worry, the eventual cam swap is still planned. The nasty water pump will go at that time.

[ZephyrEFI]

Well I wasted a lot of time yesterday unbolting the upper intake and digging through the injector harness and TFI harness looking for the A/C compressor clutch wires I chopped off many moons ago. I later found out, these wires come from the left inner fender near the solenoid. Turns out there's a whole pigtail I'm missing, so I had to jump on ebay and get one coming. I was lucky to find one for a reasonable price only one state over.

I'm attending a show next weekend, so now I need to focus on buttoning up all the stuff I took apart so I can drive the car there. Then I can finish up the A/C and move on to the brakes!

[ZephyrEFI]

Well today i fired it up for the first time this season. Scared the crap out of my 2-year-old. But i got the opportunity to test my 3G alternator swap. Looks like we're all good!



Also got my A/C compressor clutch circuit situation all sorted out. See, you'd think the compressor clutch circuit would be in one of these handy looms right nearby, but not so.



Hello, what's this unused connector way the crap over by the solenoid?



Well, it looks like it might just mate up perfectly to this compressor clutch pigtail i just acquired...



It crosses the divide along with the coil wire. Which i did not know because i tossed it long ago and forgot where it came from. And yes, my solenoid area is a huge mess. That's on my list of projects. Although, i do have a coil cover to cover that up anyway.

[forgotn]

You left before you could receive your award.

[5.0 bird]

Nice progress on the a/c! I've been getting my heater working when I should be getting my a/c going lol.

[ZephyrEFI]

You left before you could receive your award.

Haha, my dad brought it by. I live really close to there. I didn't expect to win, i never have! The kids were getting pretty antsy though.

But yeah, here it is! 3rd place, Lincoln-Mercury class! My first car show trophy!

[ZephyrEFI]

Nice progress on the a/c! I've been getting my heater working when I should be getting my a/c going lol.

Thanks! Yeah, i was into my heater box last year (or the year before?). NOT a fun job!

[grabbergreen84]

Congrats.

[mustangxtreme]

Congrats on your trophy Brad. Well deserved. Stand proud for your fellow Mercury brothers and sisters.

[ZephyrEFI]

Thanks guys! Just a few pretty irritating problems left to sort out this year. Along with the brakes and fuel system, i now have that steering dead spot to diagnose and deal with. Driving the car as is, is kind of scary when you're in that dead spot and a curve is coming up. I think that just moved to the top of the priority list. When I get in a situation like this, i tend to want to spend a lot of money and replace a lot of parts. A full '03-4 Cobra steering setup is sounding pretty nice about now. I'll try and keep my head though and do some real diagnosis.

[mustangxtreme]

Is your ps pump intended for a 15:1 rack? There have been reports of steering issues when using a pump for a 20:1 rack on a 15:1. I think it is truly a different size orifice in the pumps that makes the difference.

[82GTforME]

Is your ps pump intended for a 15:1 rack? There have been reports of steering issues when using a pump for a 20:1 rack on a 15:1. I think it is truly a different size orifice in the pumps that makes the difference.

That may be it but from what I have learned it is typically under quick, almost lock to lock steering when the pump can't keep and you momentarily lose assist. The dead spot you explain Brad is odd I tend to be like you though; start replacing stuff!

Congrats on the award at the show also!

[ZephyrEFI]

The origin of my PS pump is a mystery. I acquired it in a box along with a March underdrive kit and a pre-'86 alternator bracket.

[mustangxtreme]

That may be it but from what I have learned it is typically under quick, almost lock to lock steering when the pump can't keep and you momentarily lose assist.

I'm not sure if it has to be a lock to lock situation or just a very quick and aggressive turn.

Brad, you're running the Mustang rack aren't you?

[ZephyrEFI]

Yeah, the rack is '87 LX 5.0.

[LT-84GTturbo]

3rd place, Lincoln-Mercury class! My first car show trophy!

Congrats! First one of many to come I'll bet.

[ZephyrEFI]

Congrats! First one of many to come I'll bet.

Hope so! I was on a 10 year losing streak!

[grabbergreen84]

Tie rods?

[mustangxtreme]

Yeah, the rack is '87 LX 5.0.

That should be a 15:1 rack. I'm still wondering about the pump. Here is a thread where the differences are discussed.

http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...g+pump+orifice