My slow build by 87GT Drop Top

By diyauto
( 2 )

10 minute(s) of a 139 minute read

5-13-2010


New mini starter arrived. I'm going into the garage to install it now. No comments about how dirty the carpet it. It's in the garage in front of my work benches.



May 14, 2010


Well I got the interior back together and took it out for a test ride. Luckily nothing fell off. The new transmission it tight! Between the new transmission, transmission mount, clutch, quadrant and aluminum drive shaft it feels like a different car. There is zero vibration in the shifter. When I lay into it, it doesn't jump like it used to. It's really smooth. I'm very happy. 

This thread will probably lay low for a while as I collect the engine and suspension parts. That's unless I find some money somewhere. I've been know to do that on occasion.

I did all of the prep work and lined everything up for the sumbframe connectors. Now when I go to my buddies shop tomorrow all he has to do is weld them on. 

Here are the seat braces bolted up.


Here is the front frame rail grinded and ready for welding.


I notched the stock frame connector plates that come on a vert instead of removing them.



May 24, 2010


OK I had the sub-frame connectors welded in today. It was done at my buddies shop in Lake Worth FL. Custom Exhaust. They do some of the best quality exhaust work anywhere. No dangling tailpipes here. If you go see Don or Doug, tell them Frank from Bennett Auto Supply sent you.

Man I forgot my camera so I had to use my phone. I'm surprised what good pictures it takes.

Custom Exhaust


Here's the car on the rack.

Here's Julio lining things up.




Him welding.



Some of the finished product.


One of the projector headlights had water in it. I was on the fence weather I liked them or not, so that swayed my decision to put back these. If I do get it replaced for free, which I hope I do. They are only 4 months old. I'm going to sell them.


June 26, 2010. I told them i was in no hurry.

Lastly for now. I ordered an engine from Fordstrokers about 2 weeks ago.

Here is the build sheet for the engine.

347 Liberator Complete Longblock -

Roller 302 Machined Block

Scat Cast Steel 3.400 Crankshaft

Scat Forged Steel I Beam Connecting Rods 5.400

Probe SRS 2618 Forged Pistons (Flat, TFS) 4.030

Perfect Circle Moly File Fit Rings

Clevite 77 Main Bearings

Clevite 77 Rod Bearings

Clevite 77 Cam Bearings

Screw in Oil Galley Plugs

Fel Pro Rear Main Seal

ARP Main Studs

Freeze Plugs

FordStrokers Custom HYD Roller Camshaft

SA Gear Billet Timing Chain with Torrington Bearing

Melling Oil Pump M68

Moroso/Canton Oil Pump Pick Up

ARP Billet Oil Pumpshaft

Fel Pro 1 Piece Pan Gasket

Moroso/Canton 7qt Oil Pan - Fox Body

Timing Chain Cover

Mr. Gasket Oil Pan Bolts

Fel Pro Timing Chain Cover Gasket

Fuel Pump Eccentric?? Mechanical Fuel Pump?

TFS Twisted Wedge Fast as Cast 190cc Cylinder Heads

Comp Cams HYD Roller Lifters

Comp Cams Ultra Gold Rocker Arms 1.6

4130 Chromemoly .080 Wall 1 Piece Formed End Pushrods

ARP Head Bolts

Fel Pro 9333 Head Gaskets

Professional Products NON SFI 28oz Balancer - 80006

Professional Products .95 Spacer - 81007

157 Tooth Billet Steel Flywheel 28oz

Block Painted the Color of Your Choice - 

Machine Block 

-OvenBaked

-Shotblasted (Remove scale, rust)

-Magnafluxed for cracks

-Cylinders bored on Kwik-Way Boring Bar and Table

-Finish honed on Peterson Powerstroke Hone with BHJ

Aluminum Torque Plates, Fel Pro Head Gaskets and ARP

Hardware (.0001-0002 Taper MAX)

-Plateau Brushed (Provides Instant Ring Seal)

-Main Bearing Bores Align Honed on a Sunnen CH-100

Hone

-Deck surfaced on a Winona Van Norman CBN surfacer (Ra

Finish compatible with MLS Gaskets)

-Screw In Oil Galley Plugs

-Lifter Valley Oil Drain Backs Chamferred

-Oil Filter Inlet Chaferred

-Threaded Holes Chased

-Lifter Bores Honed

-Crankshaft Balancing done on Hines Dominator XP Digital

Balancer - Balanced to 28oz

June 15, 2010

I just got the new intake that will be sitting on top of my FordStrokers.com 347. It's a Track Heat. I will be sending the lower to Jim @ FordStrokers so he can install it when he builds my engine. I'm getting closer 1 part at a time. No comments on the dirty carpet. It's in my garage.



Oct 17, 2010


I'm getting all so close to having everything I need. No pictures right now, because I still haven't gotten my stolen stuff back from the cops/pawn shops. (My house was robbed on Sept 16, 2010). Here is a list of things I bought since the last update. I plan on putting everything new on the new engine. I won't be using any parts off the old engine.

4" n/a Anderson power pipe.

A9L (rebuilt A1 Cardone unit)

MAF harness

30lb Injectors

Pro M 80mm MAF with big mouth filter

Acufab 75mm throttle body with EGR delete

Acufab fuel pressure regulator

255lph fuel pump

Champion 3 row all aluminum radiator

Performance Distributors Hot Forged distributor

stock fuel rails (the only used part I will be using)

oil pressure sw

temp sending unit

coolant temp sensor

idle air temp sensor

TPS

There might be more but that's all I can think of off of the top of my head. When the parts arrive I put them in the attic so the wife doesn't see all the money I spend. I'm hoping to be able to tear into the car in January or February.

Jan 16, 2011

The beginning of my Fordstrokers 347.





Jan 18, 2011


updated pic from today



Jan 26, 2011


The transformation has begun. The engine is out. We worked on it about 2 hours Monday night and about 2 1/2 hours last night.

The beginning of the tear down



From underneath...still all together



Exhaust removed


Trans next



Engine out

I'm lucky to have access to this kind of a work area at my friends house


Empty engine bay


Car on trailer on it's way home



Jan 27, 2011


FordStrokers just sent me a picture of the finished product before the put it in the crate to ship. I guess I will have to trim the excess gasket material.



Jan 29, 2010


I was only able to work on the car for a few hours. I cleaned up most everything and ran all the nuts & bolts on the wire wheel. Here are the accessory brackets ready to be powder coated gloss black.



Jan 30, 2010


The more I take this thing a part the more I wonder if I will be able to put it back together correctly. I don't have the tool for the A/C spring locks. If I did the condensor would be out. I will get one tomorrow. A few pictures from today.

This is what I started with.



Here's what I ended with.







Jan 30, 2011



I have a PA racing K-member and control arms that will be installed after I finish the engine bay.


Feb 1, 2011


The engine arrived today. I forgot to take a picture before I cut the straps off the box.




Feb 2, 2011


A couple items arrived today.

MM steering shaft



PA Racing k-member & a-arms



Feb 4, 2011


Got some more goodies today.

Distributor, wires & coil.



Feb 10, 2011 


Got more stuff today.


Here's where I'm at now.






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