Some minor updates:
- Those no-name china fuel rails ended up biting me. The injector bores were way out of spec and I pushed an o-ring out, spraying fuel everywhere. Glad that didn't happen under power. Tried a few different styles and had to return them all, it appears no matter who sells cheap fuel rails, they all come from the same factory. Ended up getting some holley rails which had the correct bore size.
- Torque converter and transmission are mated and ready to be bolted to the engine. I have my SFI blanket ready to install before it all goes in
- Motor mounts installed. The trans crossmember I got secondhand appears to be a factory error with the mount on upside down, so that will have to be modified
Major updates:
- finally finished narrowing the ford 8.8 and adding the ford 9" ends required for axle retention. I have a couple Quick performance axles, girdle cover, and drum brake kit on the way
- I got a TIG machine and was able to make my chromoly 4-link bars. With this done and the housing narrowed, I was able to put everything under the car and check my work on the whole rear suspension. Still need to add the diagonal link, but miraculously it appears I was able to keep everything relatively square. I'm pretty proud of that considering I didn't know how to weld when I started, and here in california the lines on the floor have a habit of moving
Next steps:
- get shocks and springs (we'll have a roller at this point!)
- figure out how I want to cut the floor pan to get the engine and trans in the car
- get the engine and trans in the car
- add frame crossbrace and driveshaft safety loop
- get the roll cage in the car (currently sweating this. I'm pretty okay at welding on the bench but twisted up like a pretzel is yet to be seen)
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(everything else on the car)
I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Need to hit it hard, only 127 days until el mirage tech inspection!