86 Mustang challenger build

In reply to aussiesmg:

thnx, following w/ interest

I got the seat, harness and padding installed today, and we are still working on drilling holes in the bumper.

Made up a template for the bumper mounts, thereby eliminating the 5mph shocks with aluminum brackets.

I think that should be enough

We also got the length of the rear springs cut down and tightened the bottom curve to ensure they stay located in the original mount.

Picked up a scale and weighed the rear bumpers, old steel bumper weighs 32.5lb, Federally mandated bumper shocks weight 4.8lb @ for a total of 42.1lb, front will be very similar.

Perforated aluminum bumper weighs 8.8lb, aluminum brackets less than 1lb. Total 10lb.

Saving, 32lbs at each end.

Yesterday I took the Windshield and Lexan to a local business who powercoats. Not all went as planned.

The oven was great but I made an error and placed the glass directly on the metal at the base of the owner made oven. It has burners under these metal strips similar to a grill.

The heat at the point I placed the glass was just too strong.

Now I have to find another windshield and build a frame to raise the window off the heat source.

We live, we learn

Getting the rear bumper shocks out involved removing the fuel tank to access the driver's side bolt. While it was out we; cleaned the tank, removed the surprisingly heavy plastic shield, removed the fuel return valve and repaired the sender. We also patched the trunk floor.

Is the bumper supporting the cover or something? Seems like the Swiss bumper is pretty pointless, but I can't tell why it still exists (rules, bodywork attachment, stress relief, etc.).

Keep us posted on the lexan forming, I've always wanted to try that. The N600 could stand to lose about 40? pounds of glass, but I sweat bullets pulling and reinstalling the front and rear glass and I'm even more paranoid to try it again...very rare glass and even more rare rubber! Hopefully I can learn the easy way after you're done learning the hard way!

Car is coming along well, keep it up!

Bryce

that weight removal keeps adding up

well done

The aluminum bumper is the only support for the plastic cover, on the front it supports the entire front panel and grill.

I will figure out the lexan, I have an aluminum frame in mind at the local scrap yard I have plans for.

Instead of drilling holes, I cut rectangular sections out of the bumper on our TR7 with a grinder. I think the original TR8 bumper was near 60 lbs (It actually had huge weights added on the ends). The final bumper on the car plus the rubber cover was around 23 pounds.

My point was that if it is just for supporting an outside cover, cutting out rectangles would remove more mass. Like drilling out ever other center section left between the circles.

We are bringing a Mustang to The Challenge this year. I'm just reading through your thread stealing ideas. Thank you.

A few last minute details for $2013

It's not like the Challenge is getting close or anything

Bah you're fine. I still have yet to touch my car since last year, and it's even more broken now than it was before!

You need to start your own build thread Jacob, this one is occupied

aussiesmg wrote: You need to start your own build thread Jacob, this one is occupied

I was wondering what happened there... Just reading thru the updates and paint-prep pixxors, and then BOOM!!!

All of a sudden my eyeballs went all bat-E36 M3 sideways.

grafmiata wrote:

aussiesmg wrote: You need to start your own build thread Jacob, this one is occupied

I was wondering what happened there... Just reading thru the updates and paint-prep pixxors, and then BOOM!!! All of a sudden my eyeballs went all bat-E36 M3 sideways.

+1

Progressing with the paint, no more pics until the Challenge though.

Found and removed another rats nest in the cowl.

Fixed a couple of rusty spots in the sills.

Wiring continues, just a couple more small connections to go, BTW stock loom 26lbs, new loom maybe 2lbs.

We are going to try to run it locally in an autocross this weekend, its a long shot.

A couple more rust repairs and a little gusseting

ooooh, aaaaah, will it be black or dark black

Headlights are done, just one or two little things to go, being held up by the paintjob.

Wheel prep with the new media blaster from Harbor Freight

Yesterday we got the car in paint, removed the tape, lights reinstalled, made trunk bracketry, installed heavier front springs, installed Lexan and sorted a tach problem.

Had hoped to autocross it today, but we didn't notice the massive toe in gain during the spring install until we tried to move the car to load it.

The wheels are done.

Car needs a tidy up under the hood and inside.

Might have one more major job to do if I get the parts in time.

Paint will get a wet sand and buff.

Custom parts FTW, pre cooking

Post cooking

And here I was all proud of the little bracket I made for my exhaust. Nice work Team Razorback!

aussiesmg wrote: You need to start your own build thread Jacob, this one is occupied

Que?

moparman76_69 wrote:

aussiesmg wrote: You need to start your own build thread Jacob, this one is occupied

Que?

There was a lengthy build by a New Reader on this page that was moved by a Mod, at my request, to its own thread.

Now it's just confusing, hopefully this clears it up.

Tidying, cleaning and polishing goes on

A couple of issues arose refitting the custom A arms, they raised the spring seat significantly, we had to shorten the springs to get them into position.

I did manage to powdercoat the springs also.

The car goes in for alignment tomorrow.