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  1. #26

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    I've found it way harder to get a rear axle straight than a K member. Especially when using adjustable everything on the rear. My 85 took me many hours and a ton of measuring when I installed the Series 1 kit from Team Z. Mocking up, then measuring for the ARB. Welding tabs. Adjusting the uppers and lowers for centering and pinion angle. Then I painted the axle housing, then set it all up again to make sure nothing changed.

    When I installed my aftermarket K-member it went into place and really didn't have any movement/adjustment at all. Dropped a plumb bob. took 4 measurements and it was all straight. I didn't need to do anything other then bolt it on and go.

    I took my old SVO to a high end alignment specialist shop in Albuquerque. He started out checking that the rear axle was centered and aligned properly saying that if the rear axle is not correct, the car will never track straight down the road. My rear axle didn't require straightening but it was still verified. It was never wrecked and only had stock control arms with new bushings. This was after I swapped in an 8.8, all new Koni's as well as some MM camber caster plates. It was tough to argue with his results as the car was perfect when it left his shop.
    Black 1985 GT: 408w, in the 6's in the 1/8 mile
    Bimini Blue 1988 LX 5.0 Coupe 5-speed, Hellion turbo, zero options
    Grabber Yellow 1973 Mustang Mach 1: 351c, toploader
    Black 2012 5.0 GT, 6-speed, Brembo brakes, 3.73's
    Wimbledon White 1966 F-100 Shortbed Styleside, 390, Tremec 3550, FiTech EFI

  2. #27
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    Finally got the tarpaper scraped off the back floor pan, found some more rust, one hole rusted through, but it's minor. All the holes in the trunk and floor pan, probably 20 all together, drilled in the trunk and rear floorpan are going to be welded shut. After that's done POR15, and oil based rustoleum like the front. Not sure if I'll paint it before putting carpet back. That crossbrace that goes to middle of the floorpan hump is flopping around, the spot welds have been broken, so will weld that up while filling the other holes.
    Picking up the headliner and driver's seat tomorrow from the upholsterer.
    Ive still got a long list of things to get done, but hoping to have it rolling on it's own by mid- February.
    Last edited by David Claflin; 01-31-2019 at 09:08 PM.
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  3. #28
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    I was thinking too it would be neat if the maintenance records could be obtained from the FHP.
    Here's an explanation of SSP cars from my buddy Rod, before he got hippy hair...LOL!!!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByAocF2hC90
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  4. #29
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    82GTforME's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by David Claflin View Post
    That looks like dejavu for me except I am lucky and not dealing with any rust.

    I am curious on the interior paint colour for the car. Usually painted body colour so how would this be done? Any different? It looks blue in the picture where the back seat rests. Or is it actually "Cream"?

    BTW nice, quick work! You are on a mission!

  5. #30
    FEP Member bkm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by David Claflin View Post
    I was thinking too it would be neat if the maintenance records could be obtained from the FHP.
    Here's an explanation of SSP cars from my buddy Rod, before he got hippy hair...LOL!!!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByAocF2hC90
    Rod was substandard before substandard was cool.

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

  6. #31
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 82GTforME View Post
    I am curious on the interior paint colour for the car. Usually painted body colour so how would this be done? Any different? It looks blue in the picture where the back seat rests. Or is it actually "Cream"?
    BTW nice, quick work! You are on a mission!
    I guess the cars were actually black and the cream part was painted on at the factory. The floorpan has a gray paint on it in the inside, that's mostly dust on the crossbrace and other areas, with the light on it, it looks cream..LOL!

    I'll be pulling the tank tonight so I can start welding up the holes in the trunk. Swapping the filter sock, and putting a 255 LPH pump in it to support the future engine.
    Last edited by David Claflin; 02-01-2019 at 06:08 AM.
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  7. #32

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    You going to do battle boxes before it goes back together?
    Black 1985 GT: 408w, in the 6's in the 1/8 mile
    Bimini Blue 1988 LX 5.0 Coupe 5-speed, Hellion turbo, zero options
    Grabber Yellow 1973 Mustang Mach 1: 351c, toploader
    Black 2012 5.0 GT, 6-speed, Brembo brakes, 3.73's
    Wimbledon White 1966 F-100 Shortbed Styleside, 390, Tremec 3550, FiTech EFI

  8. #33
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zap's 85 GT View Post
    You going to do battle boxes before it goes back together?
    Yeah, I ordered some from Ebay, supposed to be here Wednesday. I've got a set of double adjustable uppers to put on too.
    Traction lock rebuild kit will be here Tuesday, so hopefully no more one wheel burnouts at the track.

    I got the tank out this morning, found a bad surprise when I pulled the cover off the bottom, looks like someone hit a stump or something at one point. So ordered a new one through Oreillys. Rockauto was cheaper, but after shipping, and the discount I get at Oreillys, I figured it would get here quicker to use them. It did have a 190LPH pump in it, and a new hangar, but I'll just use the pump on the Dugan wagon, and I installed a 255LPH pump on a spare hangar I had.



    Found some treasure in the passenger side rear fenderwell


    I could feel dirt in the bottom of the rear fenderwells, but couldn't get the vacuum tube in there to clean it out, dirt holds water, that causes rust, so wanted to clean them out good. With a little duct tape a redneck can make anything work like they need it to.


    I got a ton of dirt out of the channels, and cubbie holes underneath the car, apparently one of it's former owners lived on a dirt road. Its all cleaned out now, but still would like to wash underneath, the undercoating holds dirt on it. When it goes to paint later in the year it'll probably end up on the rotisserie so the bottom and all the nooks and crannies can be cleaned, and coated properly.
    Still not sure what prompted whomever to ziebart a car that would be used by Florida Highway Patrol.

    This is the forward control arm bolt for rear lower control arm.
    Last edited by David Claflin; 02-03-2019 at 07:18 PM.
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  9. #34
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    Kind of a light day today, did manage to get rear floor pan and trunk cleaned and primered.

    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  10. #35
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    I power washed the bottom where I could last night. Tonight I put POR-15 on the rust spots, and seams. Then I put some paint on the trunk floor, and cabin floor pan. I mixed some almond, brown, and a touch of white to get something close to desert beige. My painter buddy is going to want to kick me in the shins for using rustoleum, and a brush, but I just want something to cover and seal so it won't rust.
    Now that part is wrapped up this turd can finally start going back together.

    Last edited by David Claflin; 02-05-2019 at 09:50 PM.
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  11. #36

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    Do what you gotta do. That thick paint would need a bunch of thinner/reducer to make it sprayable.
    Black 1985 GT: 408w, in the 6's in the 1/8 mile
    Bimini Blue 1988 LX 5.0 Coupe 5-speed, Hellion turbo, zero options
    Grabber Yellow 1973 Mustang Mach 1: 351c, toploader
    Black 2012 5.0 GT, 6-speed, Brembo brakes, 3.73's
    Wimbledon White 1966 F-100 Shortbed Styleside, 390, Tremec 3550, FiTech EFI

  12. #37
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    Been making a little progress, getting closer to this turd being back on four wheels.
    The rearend is nearly all mocked up, have to weld the anti-moan brackets tomorrow. Then clean off the brackets and paint before final assy. In the initial track outing I noticed I had one wheel peel on a couple burnouts, so rebuilt the trac-loc, and ditched the S-spring, so hopefully it'll work better, had never rebuilt one before, but was pretty easy.


    Here you can see where the door jamb is black, but the area where the sail panel is was cream colored.
    Last edited by David Claflin; 02-17-2019 at 08:52 PM.
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  13. #38
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    Torque box reinforcements are in. The others I've installed from UMI seemed a little better than these I got from ebay, even though the material is the same thickness, the UMI seemed heavier duty, maybe it was the metal was better, but next ones will be UMI for sure.



    Most of the interior panels, with the exception of the dash itself have been redone, didn't want to take time to pull that completely out for that just yet. When it goes to paint later in the year then I'll take care of that. This is SEM light buckskin rattle can stuff. I used SEM flexi primer, and adhesion promotor and a green scrubby pad before the primer went on, so hopefully it's durable.
    Last edited by David Claflin; 02-17-2019 at 08:49 PM.
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  14. #39
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    Front brakes are on, new balljoints, new Strange 10 way struts, poly bushings in control arms, have to get weight on the front before I torque control arms, and then can put new steering rack in with new tie-rod ends. Stock springs with a coil cut out of them, and no rubbers on the springs, so should sit pretty low.


    This has been taking way too long, for what was going to be a quick 5-lug swap with some new suspension stuff thrown on. Peeled the onion back and found a lot of ugly stuff I thought best to remedy while I had it in the garage.
    Last edited by David Claflin; 02-17-2019 at 08:59 PM.
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  15. #40

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    I installed the legit Wild Rides Battle boxes in my 85. It was my first exposure to them and thought the steel and hardware was very robust. I help another friend install install some Ebay ones into his car and thought to myself how cheap everything felt in comparison. The metal plates were thinner and very easily bent. So thin that I was nearly convinced that stitch welding around the perimeter of the plates to the floor wouldn't really benefit the strength of the installation.

    One thing I really miss is the access to chemicals in the States. I cant really get anything of known quality for restoration wile here in the UK. SEM paints, regular chemicals that actually work to remove rust, etc.

    I've never heard about ditching the S-spring. Would have thought that's exactly what you wouldn't want to do.
    Last edited by Zap's 85 GT; 02-19-2019 at 05:43 PM.
    Black 1985 GT: 408w, in the 6's in the 1/8 mile
    Bimini Blue 1988 LX 5.0 Coupe 5-speed, Hellion turbo, zero options
    Grabber Yellow 1973 Mustang Mach 1: 351c, toploader
    Black 2012 5.0 GT, 6-speed, Brembo brakes, 3.73's
    Wimbledon White 1966 F-100 Shortbed Styleside, 390, Tremec 3550, FiTech EFI

  16. #41

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    Wow David! This is an awesome coupe. I will be experimenting with POR15 when the snow melts up here. Thanks for sending me this link! I look forward to seeing this build progress! Have a good one sir!

  17. #42
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mark.P.Leclerc View Post
    Wow David! This is an awesome coupe. I will be experimenting with POR15 when the snow melts up here. Thanks for sending me this link! I look forward to seeing this build progress! Have a good one sir!
    Little pointer I learned the hard way. I put alcohol in a zep spray bottle from lowes, so I can clean off the lid, and the little trough around the top of the can before you put the lid back on. If there's por-15 in the contact areas between the lid and can it pretty much binds them together, so you end up destroying the can when you try to get the lid off when you go to use more, unless you use it all at once, then it's a non-issue.

    It's starting to look like a car again. Got the carpet in tonight, and D/S door hung, realize too I'll need to replace the top hinge pin.
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  18. #43
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    Finished up the holder for the battery box, strung and secured all the wiring to the battery. Need to pick up some pushpins to hold the trunk pieces in place.


    We got the headliner in place, only to find it shrunk at the upholsterer's place, for some reason I've got a gap at the back, so I'll have to call him and see what's up. Don't think he'd have given me the wrong one, I don't recall seeing another one there when I got mine.
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  19. #44
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zap's 85 GT View Post
    One thing I really miss is the access to chemicals in the States. I cant really get anything of known quality for restoration wile here in the UK. SEM paints, regular chemicals that actually work to remove rust, etc.

    I've never heard about ditching the S-spring. Would have thought that's exactly what you wouldn't want to do.
    Last can of SEM self-etching primer I got through Amazon.
    There's a few threads on corral about it, S-spring is only for low traction situations, like one wheel on ice, won't be an issue at the track.
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  20. #45
    FEP Member bkm's Avatar
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    I saw this on the dyno in Rodney's video. It put down respectable numbers for the mods.

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

  21. #46

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    Quote Originally Posted by David Claflin View Post
    Last can of SEM self-etching primer I got through Amazon.
    There's a few threads on corral about it, S-spring is only for low traction situations, like one wheel on ice, won't be an issue at the track.
    Amazon won't shop paints to APO's. Nobody will ship liquids to APO's for that matter. Kinda sucks.

    When I used POR 15, I used a piece of Saran Wrap between the lid and can. The wrap acted as a sacrificial layer so the lid could come off easier the next time.
    Black 1985 GT: 408w, in the 6's in the 1/8 mile
    Bimini Blue 1988 LX 5.0 Coupe 5-speed, Hellion turbo, zero options
    Grabber Yellow 1973 Mustang Mach 1: 351c, toploader
    Black 2012 5.0 GT, 6-speed, Brembo brakes, 3.73's
    Wimbledon White 1966 F-100 Shortbed Styleside, 390, Tremec 3550, FiTech EFI

  22. #47
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    After looking at Rodney's car yesterday afternoon it appears the previous owner put a later model hatch headliner in this thing. All the material was hanging off it, so when my son pulled the interior out of it I don't think he noticed what was going on. I've got another bud thinks he's got a coupe headliner in his attic he'll let me use as a template to get one done up for this. I'll still run it around just wont have some of interior pieces for awhile.
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

  23. #48
    FEP Member bkm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by David Claflin View Post
    After looking at Rodney's car yesterday afternoon it appears the previous owner put a later model hatch headliner in this thing. All the material was hanging off it, so when my son pulled the interior out of it I don't think he noticed what was going on. I've got another bud thinks he's got a coupe headliner in his attic he'll let me use as a template to get one done up for this. I'll still run it around just wont have some of interior pieces for awhile.
    You're burying the lead here. One of Rodney's cars has a head liner?

  24. #49

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    I have mine out of the car. LMK if you need a measurement.
    Black 1985 GT: 408w, in the 6's in the 1/8 mile
    Bimini Blue 1988 LX 5.0 Coupe 5-speed, Hellion turbo, zero options
    Grabber Yellow 1973 Mustang Mach 1: 351c, toploader
    Black 2012 5.0 GT, 6-speed, Brembo brakes, 3.73's
    Wimbledon White 1966 F-100 Shortbed Styleside, 390, Tremec 3550, FiTech EFI

  25. #50
    FEP Power Member David Claflin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bkm View Post
    You're burying the lead here. One of Rodney's cars has a head liner?
    True, I was surprised as well, but they're needed here, without it the sun beating on the roof would make for brutal rides in the summer. It has no fabric on it, just the foam and cardboard. I'll take it to the upholsterer and have him make one for me for mine, and see if he's got any tiger stripe material to put on the headliner I'm borrowing from McNugget (hopefully Rod or Pirate don't read this......

    Hadn't done much with the car, was in Wisconsin for the last week, got back at 1:30 this morning, didn't do much with it today. Had ordered new hinge pins and bushings for the drivers door, and oversized bushings too as one of the holes was really wallowed out. I did get those in today, and taillights doctored up. I'll get back after it tomorrow night, has to be running for exhaust shop Friday.
    Last edited by David Claflin; 03-10-2019 at 07:13 PM.
    1985 LTD LX, Mach1 brakes, 17" Mopar police car wheels. 302, T5, 4.10s
    1984 LTD station wagon, with 84GT nose, some might remember it as the old Dugan Racing station wagon.
    1986 FHP coupe, stock shortblock, TW heads, Holley SMII intake, 4.88, T5Z
    1990 Red LX, ported AFR heads, TFS-R box upper, weenie cam, 1 3/4 long accufabs, 3" exhaust, T5, 4.56

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