1979 Coupe-The Tangerine Machine

[82GTforME]

That got me on the tangent of doing a modification that member ChristmasGT did on his project. With the other options being; running new lines back from the front end, advancing the line from the current body line bracket location or doing this modification...this one won out for simplicity.

From his thread post http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...=1#post1727274


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I mocked up the tail pipe by wiring it up to the control arm which shouldn't be that far from where it really will sit. I think it is a brilliant, easy solution. I dont know if I have to secure it to the frame rail or not yet but I will look at it once the weight is back on the axle and when ever that pipe is permanantly attached. I also think that the angle on the axle can be changed if neccessary to change clearances later if neccessary. (Just ignore the rust, crud and undercaoting that we have yet to touch and will be another battle, another day):




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I know that there are other ways to deal with the brake line issue arising from putting dual exhaust on an early car. I am not saying what is the right or the wrong way for other applications and which way anyone else should do it.

Maybe it would have been easier to do the extension on the existing hard line, buy and install the proper ($$) bracket, relocate the flex line on the axle to the other side of the pumpkin plus redo the axle hard lines rather than install this longer hose. This is what I chose to do.

From the pictures above and these ones below, I feel for our situation, this was a practical option. There is sufficient clearance between the flex line and the exhaust pipe plus to all of the suspension components. The way the hose is routed provides no stresses on it through the simulated movement I have done with the axle and suspension travel. In my opinion, the stress and repetitive motions on front flex lines are considerably more substatial from what this should ever see.



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[7point5inafox]

Very nice! That thing sure doesn't sound like a 4-cyl. Lee

[82GTforME]

Very nice! That thing sure doesn't sound like a 4-cyl. Lee

Definitely not Lee! It's the factory 109 hp 2.8 V6 with some extensive porting work (in addition to the added dual exhaust)!

[82GTforME]

Having the car out the other day, I had noticed while testing all of the exterior lights that there was a small issue in the front.

The front indicator lights were being a little fussy. The park lights would come on, but there was an intermittant issue with the signals and hazards. Also intermittantly the left dash indicator light would stay on. When the headlights were on (and the parks were illuminated), the headlight warning light in the console was on! I would get the signals working and then try it again and the parks wouldn't come on!

Bizarre that it was intermittant. One thing would get fixed and then something else wouldn't flash or come on.

I had tried to interchange multiple used 1157 bulbs in, checked grounds, checked voltage and used the test lamp. Nothing seemed really out of the ordinary and I know nothing was altered when it was apart. I could wiggle the ground wire going into the plug and it would flicker a little. What it took was me pulling the tangs out of the sockets to reshape them a little. I also found a two pack of new bulbs to use.

I think we are good now! Just need to get out in the dark to adjust the headlights properly.



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[82GTforME]

I had planned on the alignment shop to torque the FCA's while they had it up on the lift. The one that I had used on my '82 a few years ago had given me a small song and dance about "trial and error" doing an alignment without having the factory specs; that it would be straight hourly etc.

I had asked about some of the specs I had found from various sources in another thread. The replies I got back gave me the confidence that I could easily do this myself. http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...Specifications

I also torqued the FCA's myself while I had it up on the ramps

What I ended up with for starters was the factory caster setting (not adjustable). -1° camber and 1/8" total toe in. It went quite easy actually. You just need to keep checking the steering wheel is straight after each tie rod adjustment! When I had put in the rack the second time and roughly set the toe, I was out of adjustment range (inner tie rod buried all the way into the outer). Thank goodness I had to bring it back in a bit!

For setting the camber, I made my own tool including a digital level attached. This works just as well IMO as a protractor or specialty hand tool.


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Toe-in setting using string lines.


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[82GTforME]

Been on the road for pretty much a couple of weeks now. I snuck the car out last weekend to find a few vantage points to get some pictures with the good camera (you never know if they'll do another calendar ). Jackson likes the option K wheels so he's been driving around on those for now.





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[82GTforME]

I have to point out that this car is quite fun to drive! Throttle response it great!

It is quite reliable for starting although I know I need to play with the choke and mixtures a little still. The little V6 with the dual exhaust actually has quite a unique little rumble to it when idling.

The C3 transmission works quite well but I find the shift points a little conservative unless you have the throttle pinned. Manually shifting helps get a little more out of the power band and gets that exhaust humming. I'm not used to an auto Fox but this car will be real fun with a manual just like Zap said a long time ago!

The exhaust works well I feel and as mentioned sounds good. There is some future minor tuning to happen with the addition of a restriction in the pipe to improve flow. At highway speeds there is a bit of a drone through the mufflers and when accelerating hard, there is some higher pitched, louder sounds flowing through it as a certain RPM range. As xctasy has mentioned in another thread, it really has a European sound! You can kind of think the sounds of a rally car under acceleration on a road course! I need to get a video clip of it to share.

Friday afternoon was the first day I got my SVO out and running this year. Jackson and I went (a little late) to a small drop-in gathering at a local A&W together and then went for a nice hour long cruise




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[Mike1157]

Been on the road for pretty much a couple of weeks now. I snuck the car out last weekend to find a few vantage points to get some pictures with the good camera (you never know if they'll do another calendar ). Jackson likes the option K wheels so he's been driving around on those for now.

The pictures look like something out of a 1979 Ford Mustang Brochure,..that's how close to new this car looks.

With one exception......

Uhhhhh.....Isn't the front plate a Pontiac GTO plate?

[grabbergreen84]

Uhhhhh.....Isn't the front plate a Pontiac GTO plate?

The Tiger? Good bust!

Car looks awesome.

[82GTforME]

The pictures look like something out of a 1979 Ford Mustang Brochure,..that's how close to new this car looks.

With one exception......

Uhhhhh.....Isn't the front plate a Pontiac GTO plate?

The Tiger? Good bust!

Car looks awesome.

The plate was kind of a last minute thought. I vaguely remember them being for GTO's but that is ancient history now. Who really remembers that these days other than the hard cores and old school crowd? Maybe it would have been a big deal when there were GTO's on every corner back in the day but now it's really non-issue isn't it?

The thought process behind it was pretty simple. It went with the car's main colour theme and the Grr goes for the little bit of attitude this car has. The good thing about a vanity plate is they can change on a whim right?

Thanks for the compliments!

[JTurbo]

Man - that car turned out exceptional - that picture with the skyline in the background looks awesome.

Congrats and enjoy it!

[84StangSVT]

Beautiful car....beautiful pictures!

Congrats on the outcome and the enjoyment you guys seem to be getting from the car.

[danco86]

Very nice. Can't believe how quickly time flew through this build.
Glad you put the steel wheels back on. I know I've said it before, I like 10 holes, but dig these wheels more!

[fascat]

Wow! That looks great. That color really pops on those pictures. I can imagine how it looks in person. Congrats on a job well done.

[mustangxtreme]

Oh sure, I have a little internet problem and you go and finish the build without me. The car looks awesome by the way.

[82GTforME]

Oh sure, I have a little internet problem and you go and finish the build without me. The car looks awesome by the way.

Thanks Dave! We are never "finished" are we?

[82GTforME]

I have to say I am happy with things so far. Jackson has been using the car for going to work and pretty much DD it for almost a month!

I've been keeping a close eye on everything due to having that little oil pan drip. Maybe I'm paranoid something is GOING to happen because of my luck. But...nothing catastophic mechanically so far!

There's been the usual having to snug a few hose clamps a little due to little drips spotted.
I had to snug the fuel pump and pull the oil sender fitting looking for a little oil seeper.
I had to snug a fitting on the rebuild rack that started to seep. A PS hose clamp at the pump.
I recently had to replace the factory spring type hose clamps to gear ones due to a newly developed leak when cold.

This past weekend we did the last "break in" recommended oil change at the 1000-1500 mile mark. We were already at 1200 (just under 2000 km)! Now we are good for another 3000!

Even though Jackson has had the car mainly for his uses, I have had the opportunity to drive it here and there It is a fun car to drive but I know already it is crying for a manual transmission (or maybe it's just me ). That will make a world of difference and utilize the power band better

I find the exhaust a bit dronish at around the 3k rpm range which is right at 60 mph so it would drive you crazy on a long trip One day I'll do the tuning restrictor I need to and see if it makes the difference I need.

Here's a quick video for your viewing pleasure. I think it's a bigger ticket here for distracted driving than for speeding hence the quick cut off but it was soon after I shifted to third at around 60mph and then let off a little. This car was just getting going in third too! Shifts were 5500-6000 I think. I'm going to need a GoPro one day soon!

[Travis T]

Sounds good!

[84StangSVT]

Even though Jackson has had the car mainly for his uses, I have had the opportunity to drive it here and there It is a fun car to drive but I know already it is crying for a manual transmission (or maybe it's just me ). That will make a world of difference and utilize the power band better

Here's a quick video for your viewing pleasure. I think it's a bigger ticket here for distracted driving than for speeding hence the quick cut off but it was soon after I shifted to third at around 60mph and then let off a little. This car was just getting going in third too! Shifts were 5500-6000 I think. I'm going to need a GoPro one day soon!

Sounds good and seems to have some pickup for a little 6. I gotta ask though.......Does Jackson know you are out hot rodding his car like a young teenager? Funny how it used to be us lead footing the parents cars but now you are ripping it up in the kids.

[Travis T]

Sounds good and seems to have some pickup for a little 6.

Those 2.8s are surprising little engines, a little work will make one scream. A friend had a German Capri and it would kill a mildly modified 5.0 Mustang when the opportunity presented itself. Of course a little engine shop by the name Holman and Moody was involved with his Capri. Now the Tangerine Machine just needs that four barrel and an Isky cam!

[82GTforME]

Sounds good and seems to have some pickup for a little 6. I gotta ask though.......Does Jackson know you are out hot rodding his car like a young teenager? Funny how it used to be us lead footing the parents cars but now you are ripping it up in the kids.

We had a wicked thunderstorm go through yesterday afternoon and I think Jack just got the car home almost before it hit. He was out last night so I had wiped it down and went for the ride myself. He's not on the forum often so he might not know I was out. By the time he finds out, it will be ancient history right?! He's more conservative of a driver than me, that's for sure! We did put the 10 holes back on and definitely notice a handling difference!

Sounds good!

Those 2.8s are surprising little engines, a little work will make one scream. A friend had a German Capri and it would kill a mildly modified 5.0 Mustang when the opportunity presented itself. Of course a little engine shop by the name Holman and Moody was involved with his Capri. Now the Tangerine Machine just needs that four barrel and an Isky cam!

Thanks Travis! For sure this little V6 has some surprises. I find the C3 is way too conservative for regular shifting and honestly doesn't take advantage of the power band. It is more fun to manually shift it but as I said, it NEEDS a manual in it! While it may seem like it's revving high in second at 2-3K it is just getting into the power which goes to 5-6K for sure. When cruising at highway speed, I sure miss not having OD. It feels like it needs another gear!

While I cannot wait to do the next bunch of upgrades, I need to focus on other things (and cars) for the foreseeable future. I would want to try to do them all at once!

Offy 4 bbl intake and Holley 390cfm carb (have parts)
Custom cam (spec'd by EthylCat already)
SROD 4-speed (have the case, bell and fork - need the rest of the stuff )
Traction loc and a change from 3.08 to 3.73 (have parts)

[84StangSVT]

We had a wicked thunderstorm go through yesterday afternoon and I think Jack just got the car home almost before it hit. He was out last night so I had wiped it down and went for the ride myself. He's not on the forum often so he might not know I was out. By the time he finds out, it will be ancient history right?! He's more conservative of a driver than me, that's for sure! We did put the 10 holes back on and definitely notice a handling difference!

I give you that and can't argue with that sound logic!

[82GTforME]

So I had two main shows that I really wanted to hit this year knowing the car was finally done. One is the IMM#37 (International Mustang Meet) on the Labour Day weekend. This is hosted this year by the local Alberta Mustang Auto Club (AMAC) this year and which we are already registered for.



The other show was for the local club but is their annual "Presidential Show and Shine" held the last weekend of June...the one just past.

It rained all night Friday and a little into the morning It did stop and we did have some sunny breaks. It did keep a bunch of cars away though. I think there were around 85 Mustangs and Fords. Last year I was told there was around 140.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of participation in the non-Mustang, tougher categories. One Shelby, one original GT/CS, one T-bird ('87), one Falcon, one Ranchero and one Maverick.


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My favorite car was the Calypso Coral 70 Mach 1 on the left. Second owner since he was 17 in '74, recently fully restored to "I want a new Mustang" condition in Idaho. Original red interior other than carpet and headliner. Really nice. It won the best of show also.

There is also an orange Fox body there too. See it?


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This was my competition in the 79-93 "Stock" class. An '81 Ghia convertible conversion driver, a '91 GT that I didn't hear coming in but when they left sounded a little more than stock


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It threatened to rain and did spit a little at the very end but I did sunburn my nose so over all it was a good day! I got to talk to some different people I had never met before and see some really nice cars!

This was my result at the show based on participant voting. I received some amazing compliments from quite a few people. That was really nice


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[mustangxtreme]

Well done and well deserved.

[Quicksilver]

Congrats!
Well deserved.
You have a great car there, enjoy it.