The engine was more or less running fine when I got this car. All I did mechanically was carb rebuild, header swap, intake swap, and various minor things. The engine bay was hideous though, and I was getting tired of looking at it and wanted to get my T-5 swapped in as well. My goal was to make the engine bay as clean as possible with no clutter, just a showcase for the engine. This is my fair weather fun car, and everything is built to be simple and easy to work on, to include the engine bay. If it wasn't necessary it was removed, if it was necessary it was moved to where I wanted it. Before....ewwww Empty Some of the last remaining cancer I think the previous owner dropped it off a jack, or ran over a warthog. The worst part of this being beat so bad is that its where the jackstands go, and it was difficult to get the jackstands stable with it being so un-even so... A little diamond plate and some welding.... Much better Patching patching and more patching No more rust. The nails are all filler for old bolt holes. More patching This should free up some room for a future 351W Thats gonna need some welding All welded up Mmmmmhh paint.... Engine cleaned up and reassembled minus the ugly cheapo valve covers Previous owner thrashed the trans hump, so away it goes In it goes.... Bolt in, relax, celebrate Factory wiring loom chopped apart into separate sections to go where I want them. headlight bundle under the fender, engine bundle along firewall and bolted to intake, solenoid bundle to shock tower opposite master cylinder. All done to include custom fabbed shock tower braces and monte carlo bar. 1 1/4" thick wall steel tube One more shot of the braces. Little bit more secure firewall mount than the factory stamped steel Champion 3 core radiator and low profile fan on thermostatic switch. One last glamour shot Here's where the solenoid and all the wiring went. Battery holder not fabricated by me. Unfortunately I don't own a water jet CNC machine. Temporary shifter setup until I fab a new one, Lotus Elise pedals. Pinto handbrake w/ Lokar cable kit. A bit more functional than the under the dash factory handle.
I am available next weekend, when can you come over. I already have the motors pulled from 72 Grabber and 72 Comet Gt. On a serious note, Great work !!!:bananaman Rick
Oh I am. Summer is running out, so I just went out and found some back roads that looked like they could use some fresh rubber
Nice work~ Like the hump mount brake setup. Might want to give some more details or a tech writeup. I need to do my em/park sys.
I completely intended to, and then I got carried away on the install and forgot to take pics. I will probably do a write up at sometime but what I can tell you is the Lokar kit is fantastic. I just bought the cables with no handle and modified a Pinto handle to work. The Lokar kit (mine was actually a cheaper rebranded one with the exact same parts from ebay) comes with the cables with ball ends, sleeves, cable guides and mount. Very very easy install.
Awesome job!! Everything tastefully done. Do you know what color you are going to paint it? That engine bay, as nice as you made it, needs color on it, shiney color that is.