37 Ford build--IE: old Header issues thread /37 Ford/5.0/GT40P heads

[34_40]

You wanna buy my plane ticket too??? LOL! I'd love to come guys but just can't swing it this time. I gotta stay here and work on my car!
I'm sure you guys will have a great time!
Thanks for the invitation.

Randy

Well.. I'll see if I can't get a couple of pictures for you then.

[randyr]

Ok, this isn't going to look like I've accomplished much but it is what it is....I decided to weld up the holes for the rearview mirrors so I could use different ones plus I welded in a couple of new fender nuts that had stripped out. I'm limited to doing smaller things for a couple more weeks until I acquire the garage next to mine which will give me twice the room to work...yipppee!!
Anyway, here are a couple of pics of my small progress....

Dave, do you have that car running yet??

Later,
Randy

[IC2]

Hi Randy,
Slow progress is better then none. Looks like you have taken a few more steps forward. The added space - that is great. I'd be 'dead' without my ~24x30 two car garage. My truck has to stay out, but can keep my wife's car and the '31 out of the weather.

My car - it runs , but I still do have some more wiring, mostly clean up stuff left along with a tach adapter for the MSD ignition. MSD originally told me I needed the $28 version - wrong, I needed the $57 version. Thanks to Summit, it was here the next day.

I have the running boards and the LF fender on, with the RF going on today and possibly the rears. I'd like to get it assembled enough to get it to my upholsterer in a couple of weeks and since my wife has twisted my arm, we are going out with the camper 4 days over the weekend, then NSRA Burlington the following weekend, so have put in some more diligent hours. Once the upholstery is in, then I'll put it in the basement shop and finish up the niggling details.

I'll try to post some photos later - I need to take a bunch, just to catch up with my own historical build journal.

Later

[IC2]

Still haven't taken any photos, but soon - I've gotten the wiring all straightened out and everything works except the speedometer. It was connected through the American Autowire loom, but have just found an extra terminal block that will fit the back of the speedo in my box of odds and ends and will try a direct hookup to the Hall Effect sending unit shortly. If this doesn't work, then my guess is that I have a defective speedo - and they are NOT cheap

My latest screw up - I can't find the '32 style center hinge for my hood . I just called Rootlieb and a new one will be on its way later today for another $25. The original will show up - but when!! I need it next week. Looking for it wasn't a total waste of time - I got to do some major shop clean up - amazing the treasures that you find when you are forced to do something like that.

Randy - Any progress? Did you get your second garage stall yet? You've been quiet lately.

Mike - is your back to a point where you can crawl under the dash yet?

[randyr]

Randy - Any progress? Did you get your second garage stall yet? You've been quiet lately.

Hey Dave,

I'm still here. I check the forum every day but haven't had anything to report. Still waiting for the second garage to be vacated so I can move in. I was using my neighbors garage for overflow parts but he moved. Now all my stuff is crammed into my single garage. It's pretty difficult to get much done until I get the second garage. I wait patiently......argh!!

Are you going to get to drive yours before the first snowfall?? I hope so!

Mike, I hope your back is better.

Later,
Randy

[bluestang67]

Glad to see this thread running again .

Randy i like the area where you installed the bear latches will be very help full .

Also you mentioned the Mustang ll was installed in the 80's did you and your Dad put this together from pieces or was there a kit available back then . Do you have more pics of the suspension very interested in its location and how much it dropped the car from stock height .

[vara4]

Dave; How wide is that frame 28in. inside to inside?
Thanks Kurt

[IC2]

I was wondering if we would hear from you Randy - just been too quiet from the Left Coast

I have a feeling that my car this year will be limited to doing the driveway/cul-de-sac runabout while sitting on a milk crate (especially with one of our NY State's finest living across the street). I'm ready - unfortunately the upholsterer is backed up until November.

Bobby - We maintain a "democracy" - all you have to do is post here - one of us will for sure add some babble (BS ?) (just kidding )

Kurt - it's a Stage lll TCI Model A chassis which maintains the original dimensions back to about where the rear 4 bar is welded. Back beyond that, it's different. Then I've added a '32 style gas tank and the supporting framework. If you need particular dims, as long as it's still on jack stands, I can crawl under and get them

[randyr]

Glad to see this thread running again .

Randy i like the area where you installed the bear latches will be very help full .

Also you mentioned the Mustang ll was installed in the 80's did you and your Dad put this together from pieces or was there a kit available back then . Do you have more pics of the suspension very interested in its location and how much it dropped the car from stock height .

Hey Bobby, I'm glad you're finding some of my trial & error process to be helpful... The latches were a challenge because I had to re-modify the previous modification that my dad & I did years earlier. I think it will work and look pretty good when it's all done.

As for the Mustang II, this crossmember came from a '78 Mustang II. There may have been kits available back then but I was uninformed about them. I hired some jokers in OKC to install it after I had already finished the car. My dad wasn't very supportive of the idea at the time and I didn't know how to weld. They had some challenges because of the Ford engine with a front sump pan and I was on a tight bugdet....even then....argh! Thus they mounted the crossmember lower on the frame rails than normal for pan clearance. That created problems with the upper a-arms so they knotched into the upper frame rails to create clearance for those. It would have been sooooo much easier to have found a Bronco rear sump pan but I didn't know about those at the time. All said and done after cutting a coil on the springs I think it dropped the front end around 3 inches. As you can see from the old pics it was riding pretty high. I also put much smaller tires on the front after installing the Mustang II which lowered it a bit more.

In my current rebuild, I put 2" dropped spindles on it too. I'm not exactly sure how much that's going to affect the final ride height just yet. I know that if it goes too low I can always put stock height springs back in and raise it up a bit. With the dropped spindles I had to add tubular upper a-arms because the factory ones would allow a complete right or left turn.

Here's a few pics of the before & after ride height back in the day and some shots of the current incarnation in progress. I can take more if you want to see something specific but personally, I'd totally recommend getting a pre-fab crossmember kit. It's a much cleaner installation and looks better. Mine is solid and safe but there are definitely better ways to do it now!

[34_40]

Hey Dave,

I'm still here. I check the forum every day but haven't had anything to report. Still waiting for the second garage to be vacated so I can move in. I was using my neighbors garage for overflow parts but he moved. Now all my stuff is crammed into my single garage. It's pretty difficult to get much done until I get the second garage. I wait patiently......argh!!

Are you going to get to drive yours before the first snowfall?? I hope so!

Mike, I hope your back is better.

Later,
Randy

Randy & Dave, thanks for the good thoughts and yes, I am on the mend still but I feel good enough to work on the car this weekend. BTW, it was a Painless add-on kit I used to control the fans. I guess this time the brand name ISN'T !!!

Randy, I hope you get that garage soon. Having the extra space will spoil you!

[bluestang67]

Dave the babble and bs is as good as the tech and knowledge so keep it all coming .

Randy great pics it will help in something i just put a deposit on and will pic up next weekend . Same doors and you pics will take alot of the science out of it . I think the M ll kit will be ordered seen them on ebay for as low as $1295 with tubular A arms . Heidts and TCI are at $1695

Mike glad to meet you sitting here with a back ache at the moment myself .

[randyr]

.

I think the M ll kit will be ordered seen them on ebay for as low as $1295 with tubular A arms . Heidts and TCI are at $1695

Smart move, Bobby! If could afford it I think I'd get a whole new frame from TCI. I figure I'll go ahead and rebuild the car on my existing frame and if my ship comes in some day, I'll spring for the fancy new frame and transfer the body onto it.

What car are you getting? I'm sure I have more pics of the latch install if you need them.

[34_40]

Dave the babble and bs is as good as the tech and knowledge so keep it all coming .

Randy great pics it will help in something i just put a deposit on and will pic up next weekend . Same doors and you pics will take alot of the science out of it . I think the M ll kit will be ordered seen them on ebay for as low as $1295 with tubular A arms . Heidts and TCI are at $1695

Mike glad to meet you sitting here with a back ache at the moment myself .

Well glad to meet you here also Bluestang! Sorry to learn of your backache!
I went to the chiro yesterday and I gotta say I almost feel worse today!
I won't let that stop me tho'!!! I just gotta know why those fans didn't come on!

[bluestang67]

Randy im picking up a 37 5 window these are pics from owner a little dark , will get some light ones when its on the trailer coming home this coming sat .

Mike im afraid of the chiro but i have had the shot and it worked for over a year .

[34_40]

Randy im picking up a 37 5 window these are pics from owner a little dark , will get some light ones when its on the trailer coming home this coming sat .

Mike im afraid of the chiro but i have had the shot and it worked for over a year .

Bluestang, I'm just the opposite. Scared of the needle more than I'm scared of the chiro! That car looks awesome! Can't wait to see some better photos.

What happened to get this page so wide? I'm heading to the shop and it's a fine sunny sunday morning! Have a good one guys!