Finally got it home

[Black Bart]

got the car home. Dave let it run for a long time and no leaks. Glad I took a trailer with me to pick it up not drive it home. We found out after driving it over 10mph that the leak was a missing piece of aluminum on the top of the transmission. Not a big deal though since the condition of the rest of the car was so good and all the new parts on it.
Came with Borla stainless exhaust, new brake calipers, cables and hoses, starter, tirres, multiple front end parts.
What it needs is a atx, strut bearings, y pipe or fix leak, flex pipe, and paint roof and deck lid.
It had been a long time since I have been around these cars and had forgot how good looking a 4door they are. Ford really should have made this car as a 2d.
I picked up a trans in nh for 150, will have to find someone to get it back to me somehow.
My wife was doubtful about buying one of these and kept trying to talk me out of it. Now that it is home and she has seen and sat in it, she can not believe how nice that 19year old car is. She asked me once, if it was a 2003. Then asked, how long are we going to have to waite to drive it?

anyone driving up from mass to northern maine?

 

[boat]

Glad things are turning out well from your purchase. Good luck with the progress to getting back on the street.

 

[Black Bart]

finally got the trans in it last weekend. What a pain in the a$$. I wish I had room for a lift in my shop. Used two jacks and a home made truss over the top to hold the motor.

finished cleaning out the converters as they had only taken one out. The head pipe isn't much but I want to make sure this trans is going to make it before I buy or build a new high flow head pipe only to find out the auto trans is going down the road for a mtx. Should last for the winter, yes, we will drive it in the winter. These cars a dime a dozen now so in a couple years if it rots out, I'll just buy a nother one to replace it if we like it.
still waiting on a shosource flex pipe. Seems like some kind of crime to attach a rusted, welded up and gutted old head pipe to a new flex and stainless borla exhaust.

Hopefully go for a ride monday or tuesday, then will work on painting the top of the car.

 

[Black Bart]

Well, thank you shosource for the flex pipe, would be nice if it was sold with 5-6in longer then you can cut to fit. I am going to need to make up a short pipe to go between later. welded it up for now.

Got a ride in it tonight. It has a miss in it and a bog off the start, it also starts hard. I am going to check out my plugs and wires as well as tps, clean up the iac motor and valve.
Is there a plug that is better in these than another? sure does drive nice though. Nice and smooth, a speeding ticket waiting to happen.

To be continued.

 

[kevinspann]

Any check engine light? I wonder if the cam sensor is dead...

Spark plugs - Autolites work fine, or Motorcraft.

 

[Black Bart]

well, it has gotten worse and I barely keep it running now and it takes a long time to start.
I pulled these codes, some dont show up on the list
533
721
762
221
336
my tach doesn't work, i checked plug wires, they are on correclty, I thought it might have been this before because of how it ran and some backfiring.

 

[Black Bart]

oh , does anyone have test procedures for testing sensors, ohms tests, etc to check some things before I buy new?

 

[lowc]

im not sure on the codes but the dead tach is usualy a sign of dead cam sensor

 

[93rev2sev]

What reference are you using for plug wire routing?

 

[Black Bart]

sho valve clearence worksheet


engine coil
1 2 3 5 1
4 5 6 6 2
4 3

 

[Black Bart]

WOW, installed a cam sensor and seal, got it running, ran like crap for a while then really came alive, this is not your grandmothers taurus. I can not believe how strong this car is. A speeding ticket waiting to happen.

Now if I can keep from craming my foot in it evey chance I get and blow the tranny.

now to fix a couple leaks and then some small details.

 

[Black Bart]

Car is running better. Daughter is driving it now and has learned not to leave the lights on and how to boost a car.
bought an oil pan to be put on later, jb weld is holding with no leaks for now. Installed new brake lines, they were not bad but our state is nuts on inspection now. I feel bad for those who cant do work themselves.
I bought two eatc units, first one came with box crushed and of course, I didnt add insureance when I bought it. Just bought another one.
Had some galvanized rocker moulding brackets bent up at the local metal shop, I was worried about the aluminum sill plate versions lasting up here in the calcium.

Next project will be to paint the top of it.
Owning a SHO is like owning a snowsled, there is always something that needs to be serviced or checked on.

 

[Black Bart]

Since last, I have aquired quite a leaking rear main seal. Dam me for not installing a new one when I had the trans out of it. It didn't leak then of coarse. Now I have to isntall that and a new oil pan that was cracked.
car had a leaking flex pipe ****** again. I was sick of that stupid two bolt ****** so I bought a vband clamp and welded it in place, no more leaks or gaskets to buy. wish all exhaust joints used these, so simple and leak free.
I installed Hid lights for my daughter for christmas, she even told me the day before that she wished she had lights like her mother. That should fix the 90's style lighting, or lack there of.
I now have cured my cold start issue with a new Iac motor but still have an intermittent idle issue.
installed a hard button control and later had to pull the dash half out to install a blend door motor.
after the oil leak issue is fixed, it will be spring and that means on to the ac that dont work. love building a car from scratch.
These cars are so much like the yamaha sleds. The motor is so sweet that you put up with everything else on the machine that is crap.

merry christmas

 

[platoribs]

The motor is so sweet that you put up with everything else on the machine that is worn out.

merry christmas

Fixed! Merry Christmas.:sun:

 

[Black Bart]

Had to pay to have the leak fixed as I had a sled accident this spring and broke some bones. I knew it was going to be months before I would get to it. 600 later and the job was done.
while it was out, had them install new strut bushing mounts as I could hear them rubbing on the inside of the tower. New ones seem taller by about 1/2 in. Now there is no rubbing, but is a small amount of squeaking I need to figure out. It might be something entirely different just the other noise was so loud, couldn't hear it.

The v band clamp I installed is still holding up great and was praised by the mechanic that did the work. I'll use these on many other projects to come.

Fixed the blower door actuator with a used one, hopefully it holds out. I think this car will go through every common issue before I am done. It worked when we got it. Did it with out removing the dash, just pulled it back and hung it from the roof with straps. saves alot of unplugging wire looms.

Installed the updated computer, what a difference in the down shifting and little stiffer upshifting.

Fixed the ac, needed a pressure switch and recharge. I had three vehicles that needed service so I used it as an excuse to purchase everything to do ac work. Tank, vacuum pump, gauge set, scale, etc. costs about 350 to get started unless you want a recovery system.

Still looking for a good rear window before I paint the car. The rubber is deteriorated and looks very rough, more like a sponge. Cant buy new anymore and so many of these cars have been crushed.

I was worried that my daughter wouldn't like the car but she now tells my wife she loves it. She does wish it was louder. The borla exhaust that was on it is not very loud, I might be tempted to remove the resonator some time it is up in the air.

Still have the engine light come on after letting out of it on long runs. I am told this is a side effect of having the cats gutted. It is harder to keep the o2 sensors up to temp???? Not sure how true this is. Any help on that would be appreciated.

Thanks for all the help and parts on this car, If I think of something useful I will post it as I did with the V band fix for the flanges.

Scott

 

[Black Bart]

all Sensors have been fixed, trans leak fixed, radiator leak fixed, and finally after over a year, I tinted the windows. Car is very nice now other than paint. I will paint it this spring some weekend she goes away on a dance trip. I will get together a few friends and beer and pull an all nighter for her graduation gift. A newly painted black, on black on black show for graduation. I still can't believe what a nice car this thing is.

 

[Black Bart]

Well, it is that time. I need to replace the rockers. What are the best versions people have found? Just the ones from ebay or is there a better version? Wish someone made a stainless version, She drives this in northern maine calcium and salt.

 

[Black Bart]

picked up a set of rockers on flea bay for 50 shipped for both. They look decent.

I think I am in need of a power stearing pump. There is a whining coming from the side of the motor that sounds like a power stearing pump when they get low on fuid and you turn the wheel. This sound is constant without turning the wheel. Is there any thing different I should try before this?

I'll post this over in the wanted as well. thanks for any info

 

[Black Bart]

So an update on my car, if not for readers, for myself. This thread and a few others have become a kind of journal I read from time to time to remind myself of the things I have done over the years. So I installed the rockers just in time for winter and an inspection sticker. Car seemed stiffer as they were very bad. I installed them with a combination of air craft stavex rivets and welding. Had to make the dog legs on each side as they were rusted as well. I worked for years running a frame rack, building totaled cars over and making restoration panels at a body shop for several years so it was fun to reuse some old knowledge.

I picked up some studded snow tires for the car and installed them on the stock rims(I have never liked them). Last summer I had my nephew working for me a little. His sled had eaten up alot of parts and I pretty much rebuilt him a free motor so his father sent him up. He installed 4 new struts, a wheel bearing, some brake parts, tie rods, radiator, power steering pump and line, crank sensor and 4 new tires on BBS 17in volvo rims. What a different look with those wheels.

The new struts and springs made the car sit up about an inch higher, if I get a moment, I might lower it back down.

Still to do to this car as I pass it off to my next daughter is to repair the rear quarters that are now rusting through and finally paint the thing.

My oldest daughter is changing colleges and will be going to Virgina in a month, I love the car but she can not take it. I just don't trust the thing.