What did you do with your Thunderbird Today?

Grog6 said:
On the sport springs, earl found 1 turn front, 5/8 rear.
Voigtlands were already that short, I thought, 1" drop?
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Vogtlands tend to sit higher in the front, which they definitely did on mine

Earl’s was slammed, that car had at least a 2-1/2” drop with the cut sports, I’m just trying to level the wheel gap with the rear
 
If you put poly spring cups on the rear, that would even it out, lol. I don't think that's what you're going for. was surprised when I did lazarus; it was jacked like a '70 nova, lol.
 
Grog6 said:
If you put poly spring cups on the rear, that would even it out, lol. I don't think that's what you're going for. was surprised when I did lazarus; it was jacked like a '70 nova, lol.
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It does!
 
lazarus settled a bit, after a few months, but I can still tell.
The og ones were in pieces, after 26 years.
I've been trying to get out and put a FP in, and it's raining like pouring piss out of a boot. I have pix of where to cut, I have a nice powdercoated steel plate to make a cover, and a nutsert set, I just cant work in a closed car, in 90 degree, 110% humidity. At 63, I'm now apparently a puss, lol. smh.
 
After 2 years and 4 months I finally drove mine again...tstat is still leaking, installed a brand new gates housing and it had a pinhole in the casting so I putthe original back on and it still leaks...but she ran great, forgot how much fun sideways is...with the new intake she definitely gained some power, the rear nittos don't stand a chance...now it's raining for most of the rest of the day. I am about to go pick up another car I just bought. 97 black on black lsc...been wanting one for years...brakes don't work but I'll get those fixed and back on the road hopefully in the next week.
 
Grog6 said:
I went out and pulled all the stuff out of the red cougar,preparing for surgery. It's really hard to decide where to cut.
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I took everything but the back window out, window trims, front grill, rear lights, everything. But if the back window is fine, leave it. I even brought in a new hood that was green. They did a nice job on the hood.
 
KevinVarnes said:
If those are aluminum keep an eye on them. May not be an issue for you down there, but up here the aluminum corrodes and welds itself to the valve stem. Sometimes you get lucky and you can get it off. Other times you have to replace the valve stem.
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Yep. different metals and moisture are not good. Since I don't drive the car that much, expecially in rain, if I can help it, I think I will be okay. But thanks for the tip!
 
AdamG said:
...but she ran great, forgot how much fun sideways is..…..the rear nittos don't stand a chance...
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I took mine out for a cruise today too, also gave it a much needed bath beforehand(it’s had a 6 month layer of dust on it). I’m blowing my old rear nittos off it too 😆 Got it sideways twice and even did a solid bootleg turn. I swear I’d crash any other car trying such shenanigans but these cars are so predictable. I think I finally got rid of all the wheelhop too 🙏🏻

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We got 3" of rain today, about 2" yesterday; supposed to do this all week. :(
I need to be partially in the back seat to cut a fuel panel access hole, so rain is a showstopper. If I get a couple of hours of dry, I think I'll pull the drivers' seat, then I can get in and work.
 
I could start critiquing the whole cutting a hole into your car thing...but A. I don't want to jinx my fuel pump, and B. I have done so much cutting and drilling on my car that there's hardly an untouched panel left...
 
Hmm, the last time I was under it, working with it partially dropped. That could have been a Large hole lol. I have pix of peoples finished ones, and there are landmarks. I wasn't able to get the rear seat out yet, it started raining, and I had to bail. I realize you do not like the concept, but disabled, I really don't have a choice.
So, pass side, really? I'd have made the first post on the
"dumbassed things I have done to my car thread, by cutting behind
the drivers.
:facepalm:

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Ok, just to be sure, this IS our tank, right?
Thanks!
 
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Picked up and cleaned this junkyard vacuum check valve. First step in identifying the small leak in my HVAC vacuum lines. If this fixes it, good; if not, the next step is to bypass the vacuum reservoir. And if that still doesn't produce a conclusion, the leak is under the dash...

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Front sport brake pads on the Thunderbird were getting low so I replaced them.
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Then, in the ultimate act of betrayal, my racey car 17" turbines do not clear the Cobra calipers. There just isn't enough curve to the inside of the spokes.
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Of course the SVT Cobra R wheels have a mile of clearance.
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Options are:
-continue removing material from the caliper to get them to clear
-grind the inside spokes of the wheels to get them to clear
-wheel spacers

Options 1 I just don't feel like doing. Option 2 isn't going to happen for multiple reasons not the least of which is I'd have to grind all four wheels and I'm not going to take a grinder to these things. I think a 5mm spacer should be enough to make it clear, but I need to see how much it kicks the wheel out relative to the fender. More to come...
 
Definitely don’t clearance the spokes, for both strength and balance considerations.

What’s the offset on the wheels?
 
I don't recall off the top of my head what the offset is. These are those prototype 17x7.5 fan blades with the E9SC part number that never made it into production. They were designed for the MN12 chassis, but obviously not for Cobra calipers.

Grinding the wheels was never a consideration, just listing all of my available options.

I think 4mm spacers would be just right, but the only ones I can find are 3mm and 5mm.
 
KevinVarnes said:
I don't recall off the top of my head what the offset is. These are those prototype 17x7.5 fan blades with the E9SC part number that never made it into production. They were designed for the MN12 chassis, but obviously not for Cobra calipers.

Grinding the wheels was never a consideration, just listing all of my available options.


I think 4mm spacers would be just right, but the only ones I can find are 3mm and 5mm.
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Oh yeah I forgot you bought those unicorns!

If their offset is similar to the 17x7.5” SVT Tbird wheels at +39mm offset, the 5mm spacers would make them effectively like +34mm offset, which is to say you’ll have plenty of tire clearance without sticking out. I run +30 on 9” wheels in the front and even they don’t stick out
 
I simulated a 5mm spacer with some washers on the lug studs and I think I can live with it. It brings the tires out just about flush with the fender. This car will be lowered 1" in the near future, but it looks like I should have plenty of clearance. Now the decision to put it back together with the sport caliper (thankfully I only did one side) or let it sit. Spacers will take a few days to get here.
 
Grog6 said:
We got 3" of rain today, about 2" yesterday; supposed to do this all week. :(
I need to be partially in the back seat to cut a fuel panel access hole, so rain is a showstopper. If I get a couple of hours of dry, I think I'll pull the drivers' seat, then I can get in and work.
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We got rain, finally. It has been months since we last saw rain. And, it has been raining all afternoon! Finally, we have some moisture. Before the rain came a wind storm to flip a Volkswagon over; blowing dust, sand and other crap before it passed and the rain came in.

Yesterday, I was writing on my computer in the garage with the garage door up. I watched as the wind outside all of the sudden kicked up and sure enough, a big dust devil was coming down the street and through my front lawn. I started yelling out "no, no...NOOOOO!!!" and sure enough, the damn thing went right into the garage and disipated. What a mess. I spent another 30 minutes blowing out all the debree that flew into the garage. Cougar needs a wash for sure now!
 
Your luck seems similar to mine.
Several years ago, I was rebuilding the garage, while my BIL was mowing all our yards. So as he's cleaning up, with a leafblower, I got covered. I had to start over from the 'clean everything stage.
 
Took mine out for the first time in about 3 weeks. Went to the liquor store and got some Natural Lite beer. Since I was keeping it classy seemed like the perfect time to do an obnoxiously loud ~30' burnout while pulling out of the liquor store parking lot.

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Ericv8thunderbird said:
Ordered the Sure shift 5/R fork kit from pro force performance, he’s a hard guy to get a hold of.
Hoping to drop the trans this Saturday!
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Yeah I it took a bit for me as well, I bought a synchro set, a whole second gear, bronze fork pads and multilayer roll pins and possibly a bearing or two, it was a piecemeal “rebuild”

You doing it all yourself or bringing the trans to a shop?
 
The last time I went to Fla, I went to panama city beach, and had a great time. I'd forgotten the 3.2 beer thing; I was amazed I could drink all day on the beach, and go back to the room, drink 2 beers from the case I bought at the liquor store and be wasted, lol.
 
XR7-4.6 said:
Yeah I it took a bit for me as well, I bought a synchro set, a whole second gear, bronze fork pads and multilayer roll pins and possibly a bearing or two, it was a piecemeal “rebuild”

You doing it all yourself or bringing the trans to a shop?
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I’m bringing the transmission to the guy I bought it off of, it’s a performance shop.

I’m a little skeptical though, cause he did tell me when I bought it that he went through it and everything looked good.
If he messes this up, I’ll just burn his shop down. 😜
 
Ericv8thunderbird said:
I’m bringing the transmission to the guy I bought it off of, it’s a performance shop.

I’m a little skeptical though, cause he did tell me when I bought it that he went through it and everything looked good.
If he messes this up, I’ll just burn his shop down. 😜
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The thing with the reverse fork double disconnect issue is it’s not really visually obvious if it’s problematic, this mod is basically foolproof. If I’d kept building my first T45 I’d have done it whether it was an issue with it or not, even though it appeared fine to me.

Now if he wants a shit ton of money to install it otoh… it’s literally all accessible with the tail shaft housing off, it’s about an hours labor max.
 
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