[ChopperHarris]

road/track

 

[mygasser]

so mini tubs and a second (bigger) set of wheels/tyres with more inset for the strip then.

 

[legendlives]

It's all your fault.....

Well here it is:

Rear independent suspension, subframe diff and calipers from an AU XR8 Falcon.
Being as it's from a V8 car it comes resplendent with an LSD diff (which appears to be working).

It's not the IRS that I was originally interested in, but this one took my fancy as it mounts so simply. Ford obviously didn't want to redesign the Falcon shell for the IRS, so this one mounts to the front trailing arm mounts at the front, and two mounts at the back. Simples!
The Falcon live axle set-up is very similar to the Mustang, just a bit wider so the front mounts need to be brought in by about 160mm and shortened about the same amount.

While I was in the mood to splash some cash I thought I'd better get some nice seats.
Getting aftermarket seats certified here is a ball-ache, plus the fact I wanted leather reclining seats 'cos I'm a tart.
Anyhoo, picked these up:

Nice quality Leather seats from a Mazda RX8 (so kind of from the Ford family).

I know everyone likes to know how little I spend on stuff, but I really splashed out this time. $400NZ (about 180 quid) !

 

[steve1275]

Bloody hell Trevor, that let the moths out! Really like the tombstone seats :tup:

 

[legendlives]

Bloody hell Trevor, that let the moths out! Really like the tombstone seats :tup:

Still feeling feint....

 

[ivanhoew]

nice spendage .

 

[legendlives]

I bought the Mustang just before NZ was locked down with Coronavirus so wasn't able to collect the engine & 'box until today, so here it is!

302 cubic inch of pure power. Turns over OK and feels fine, but there are a set of +0.030" forged pistons on the shelf and it seems a shame not to...
And while we're on the subject of 'seems a shame not to', this appeared under the bench this week:

World class T5 'box. Probably not the strongest from a drag racing point of view but great on the street and for the odd track day.
Not 100% sure it will go in. Need convincing!

As it was a cold-ish day here in NZ I thought I'd work up a sweat by fitting the rear tyres to the 'new' wheels using tyre irons.
275's on 9" rims are fat!

Have matching 8's for the front but no tyres

Not the prettiest wheels in the world, but size and offset are perfect and for $260NZ (including buying the tyres) who's going to argue!
(Oh, and the T5 'box was only $350NZ about 165 quid!)

 

[mygasser]

i'd definately swap in the t5 box, much more fun and better for any track days as you'll have more engine braking going into corners.
neil.

 

[legendlives]

Tea Mr Shifter?

Total rethink....
The T5 has been moved on, and the 302 will have a worked C4 behind it.

To that end the original Ford shifter just won't cut the mustard, so I acquired a Hurst Promatic II which has ratchet 1-2-D shifts and vertical gate N-R-P.

Which is great, but sits (as you can see) quite high off the floor. The base of the shiny bit is approx 35mm higher than the top of the centre console and it's over twice as long as the original as well.

This called for some fabrication work! I removed the original top trim, ash tray and cigarette lighter from the console and made this panel that accurately fits the gaping hole left by my extractions:

Then cut it up a bit:

Bent it and checked for initial fit:

Made up some sexy closing panels:

Then welded and smoothed off the assembly:

Which all fits and still retains access to the factory clock (which I probably won't use).

Looks OK. I can't decide whether to trim it, paint it or polish it.

On another reversal of ideas I'm thinking that the IRS won't be used after all. It's just too wide, and narrowing stuff like that here in NZ gives a massive headache with complying the car for the road (they don't like welded suspension components). So a tougher solid axle has been sourced and will probably end up under the Mustang (though I may keep it as a spare for the 'Reaper). I used to be indecisive but now I'm not so sure......

 

[ivanhoew]

nice plinthnostasticness. LL

 

[legendlives]

Added a couple of tabs to the rear of the panel to locate in the original slots:

Then made a blanking panel to cover the holes left by the alarm panel and clock:

All it needs now is a lick of paint. Or trim. Or polish.....

 

[legendlives]

Lovely colour for a centre console, that red, wasn't it?
Well, after some considerable cleaning and scrubbing, thorough degreasing, a little plastic repair work and a few coats of plastic paint it now looks like this:

That's the first part of the interior make-over done, changing everything from red/cream to......
"It's very dark grey isn't it Katy, in fact it looks...."
"Now now Johnny"
BLACK...BLACK...BLACK...BLACK

 

[ivanhoew]

i WAS JUST THINKING ...of that sketch in the fast show ....well done lol

 

[legendlives]

More interior panels turned from beige to bl...dark grey

And as the car was being very good, I bought it a new intake manifold.

It's going to be nice and economical!

 

[legendlives]

All tanked up.....

This is the reason I decided to modify the 'Fox. A friend said "I've got a racing tank that will fit that. All aluminium and lovely it is. I'll bring it over." Up until that moment it was going to be all original.
So here it is:

Really nicely made tank. Unfortunately the filler and breather are a trifle....well...large!
So off with them! A few days later and a couple of sticks of electric glue and:

While I was at it I fitted a -8AN breather on the other side. This was a secondhand damaged fitting so don't get all precious about me using it :shake:

Underneath is a -6AN feed and a drain. The feed will probably go bigger:

I'm going to use the original Fox filler neck which will enter into the RH side. More of that later.

 

[ivanhoew]

OMG !!! you USED A PROPER FITTING !!!! preciousness function ENABLED ...i dont know , oii vey , sheesh ..etc .etc.....

 

[mygasser]

i know shoulda coulda woulda but you shoulda used the -8 for the feed and the -6 for the breather not hard to swap for a man of your calibre though :tup:
neil

 

[legendlives]

i know shoulda coulda woulda but you shoulda used the -8 for the feed and the -6 for the breather not hard to swap for a man of your calibre though :tup:
neil

Why do you say that? Ideally the breather needs to be the same size (or larger) than the feed. Using a smaller breather runs the risk of a vacuum in the tank on maximum demand which is not desirable. Believe me, I do this for a living.

 

[mygasser]

you won't be using a 'breather' type filler cap then? that was my assumption as lots of cars have a breather pipe and a breather cap.
neil.

 

[Magman]

Why do you say that? Ideally the breather needs to be the same size (or larger) than the feed. Using a smaller breather runs the risk of a vacuum in the tank on maximum demand which is not desirable. Believe me, I do this for a living.

That's interesting cos my Jaz fuel cell comes with -6 breather and -8 outlets, it's the one with the aero style cap that's part of the tank...