GrabberGT Ev. 5

OK, keep track of the modifications that are needed.

RRS was supposed to be working on a Maverick/Comet kit.

 

That's when Jeff Ford was working with them. He talks very badly of them now. I don't think they ever got the Mav/Com setup finished.

 

I spoke with RRS US group and they mentioned that RRS decided to spend more time perfecting the Mustang kit than have a sub-par Mustang kit AND a Maverick kit. I told them they should at least remove the "Coming Soon" sign from their catalog. If you do a little looking around, there are several instructional photos of the RRS kit being installed and each one has something different about it.

 

Jeff Ford can give you the real story there.

 

I wish I could type what I just said!! That is FRICKING AWESOME!!!!

 

Got a bunch done over the last few weeks. Front suspension is mostly together but I cannot finish it off until the motor is back in and strut braces are back on. The wilwood brakes are on but not without a little bit of a fight. It turns out that the stock bearing retainer washers are too big to use with this kit. The kit was supposed to come with washers that have a smaller outer diameter to fit inside the wilwood hubs. These were not included with the second hand kit so needless to say, there were many hours spent trying to figure out what was wrong. Wilwood couldnt even verify. Finally I told them to just send me a pair, crossed my fingers, and waited. Sure enough several days later, I had the correct part.

I've got the engine back from the machine shop. Its just about ready to drop in. I am still waiting on my stud girdle and windage tray to come in though. After that I can button up the bottom end and work on getting it back in the car. After much many modifications, I think I finally have an oil pan on there that will work. The thing looks HUGE.



Since I had the motor and tranny out, I figured now is a good time to install a hydraulic t/o bearing kit. No more fried shift cables for me. (If anyone wants a good cable kit PM me.)

 

Glad I looked into this thread. Awsome work and upgrades Chris. You should come work on my car sometime, i'll let you.

 

I dont know about that... at the rate I actually get things accomplished, I may need you to toss me a rope on your way down to the mini-meet this year or I'm not going to make it.... again LOL

 

1 step forward, 2 steps back.

I got the Clutch master cylinder installed this weekend as well as the clutch bearing kit. Part of this process for me is scheduling everything on a timeline. You think, 1 day to do the pedal bearings, another to install the master cylinder and reinstall the pedals and all is good right? WRONG! I have now added 2 more days worth of work in reinstalling the center console, kick panel speaker system and most of the underdash. Then figure out how to connect my clutch pedal to the master cylinder. Anyone know where I can find a 5/16 X 24 female threaded heim joint with a 7/16 I.D.? Oh well. Hopefully I can get the motor back in and started this weekend. Its a 4-day'r.

So far to go. The Texas Mini-Meet is only 3 months away. I wont even show you what it looks like inside.



Bottom end looks nice and ready to go.

 

Finally got the motor and rad in. Only days away from starting it back up again.



I didnt think I'd ever get that fan and shroud done. Oh and in case you didnt know, that little aluminum nipple for the overflow tank doesnt bend.

 

What is the fan off of?

 

Its a Mark VIII. Same motor as the Taurus but larger 18" fan blade design.

 

I want everything in this thread for my own car.

 

Bad news. My wonderfully modified Road-race style oil pan doesnt do its job. It seeps out oil from the areas that I welded it. It should do for a week or so while I get the motor started and run it around a little but it will need to come back off and go to a REAL welder to get sealed up properly. I should have just had a pan custom fab'd for the amount of time and money I have in this one.

I did accidentally turn the motor over when I was testing my electrical connections. I had the ignition wires reversed on the starter solenoid. It sounded good.

Plans for the weekend are to start the motor, get clutch working, drive around the block with open shorty headers and annoy the neighbors.

 

Alright. Maybe I didnt get the car running around the neighborhood but this thing is BAAAADA$$$$$. I love the new motor and I've barely even put my foot into it. Its very rev happy. Now let me get it back on the street with the clutch working properly and we'll know for sure.