GrabberGT Ev. 5

Update-

I got the Mav out this weekend for its first cruise with the new motor, hydraulic clutch, new front suspension, e-fan/radiator, and brakes. Everything went well. The motor idles strong and pulls pretty good. I've more break in time needed before I open it up. I'm not getting the torque I expected but I'm also running open shorty headers at the moment and there is more timing I can put into it.

The suspension is smooth and crisp but still wanders on the road a little. I need to modify the upper c/o mounting brackets to allow for a lower ride height. I'm currently adjust as low as possible on the c/o and its still not quite low enough. Once I make this change and a few adjustments, it SHOULD result in better road manners.

The clutch works well. I need to remove my clutch pedal one last time so that the modifications can be reinforced.

Brakes are nice but need to be bled again to get a better pedal feel. That can wait till the rear brakes go on.

The cooling system works great. It was in the mid 90's here this weekend and the fan kept it at 190 while idling and when cruising the fan never had to come on. The rad kept it at 190.

I take it to get the exhaust put on today. I'm going with 2.5" pipe, H-pipe (maybe X if the exhaust guy thinks we can make it fit), duel Flowmaster Super 40's and dumps for now. I'll work on getting it out the back after the rear suspension is done.

I plan to shake out the motor and front suspension this week and next and then its time to put it back up to install the new rear suspension. With some luck, it'll be easier than the changes made to this point.

 

Sounds great. Too great. Don't bring it to Waco, some of us want prizes too you know. j/k!

 

What's the inside of your car look like? For some reason I never did notice to see if the inside is s pretty as the outside. Also, what kinda taillights you got?

 

I hope to see this car in person one day. Its one of my favorites!! Talk Doug into hosting a Roundup!!!

 

I dont know if I'd use the term pretty but it is a decent 10 footer. I never got around to taking pics of the interior. I'll just describe it as comfortably functional. Its a blast to be in.

That would be great. I'll bring up the subject at the Mini-meet next month. Lots of cool places here in Maverick Town (Fort Worth (AKA Cowtown to the locals)) to have some fun at.

 

I agree 100%

 

3 Core Alum. Radiator

I read ur post on the radiator. I have what I think is the same radiator for my 73 Comet GT (Champion Radiator). I got the car 2 months ago.
I have not installed it yet because I don't think I am going to cut/modify the crossmember. I set the radiator in an it was not exact fit as advertised. I removed it and put the old one back for the moment.
I bought the elec. fan but I think I am going to return all that stuff and try one from Radiatorbarn.com.
My questions are what kind of fan are u using? Does the rad. work a lot better than the copper units?
My engine is mildy modified and the rad in there now does the job, just have a few leaks.

Thanks for any information.
Mojo

 

Its a Lincoln Mark VIII fan

This Rad works great for my combination so far. still testing everything with the new motor.

 

what year of lincoln did you take the fan from?

 

Dont know for sure what year it is. I bought it on eBay. The Mark VIII was produced from 1993-1998 and is likely the same fan from all years. It is essentially the same as the Taurus fun just a different housing and blade design. Same exact motor.

 

Im beginning to wonder if IM going to any of my dates now. I've got the new (rebuilt) motor in with a new radiator and have found out that the reason I am overheating is likely all the rust the machinist failed to remove from the block. The new radiator is now clogged. Should I flush the system and trust that the rust will no longer be a problem? Any ideas. This was an old Mexican block that I had machined and it was machinist also assembled the long block.

 

Damn! It's hard to believe a machine shop would do any work on a block and not flush it out. I think I'd take the thermostat out and remove the bottom hose and try flushing it with a water hose to see what comes out. You should be able to buy some coolant flush from the parts house that may work okay to finish cleaning it when you put the hoses back on. Hopefully the radiator can be flushed out fairly easy too. I would think so with it being new.

 

You should install an inline coolant filter

 

I agree. I had the same problem on my '73. I made an inline filter and installed it on the upper inlet. I cleaned it out a couple of times after I got the radiator flushed. I still keep it in there and it collects a few pieces here and there. I clean it about once a year.

 

Please provide some detail on this. It sounds like a great idea for me considering I might have to live with this rust stuff for a little while longer.

The machinist claims they did the job thoroughly and that additional rust must have broken loose as a result of the engine getting hot. The rad shop is hot-tanking my radiator and reverse flushing it as we speak. They said there is obvious blockage. I'm hoping they can work it out. That rad wasn't cheap and the custom fan and shroud has literally weekends of time in it.