What did you do to your non-G body project today? [2021]

[ck80]

Did a double upgrade on one of the green mustangs. We had been doing some clean up and out on the garage bay it's spent the last 2+ years basically sitting on a tender next to the buried firebird. Since summer of 2019 its had a total of about 50 miles on it with an obligatory age oil change.

Looking at it while digging out the bird I decided I really ought to drive it more, so, it was also time to buy it new tires. When parked it was going on 5+ yrs old, now they're hitting 7 on the OEMs.

So, I went to order a set of michelin pilot sport 4 for it in factory size... 235/50/18. But most places showed no stock and one showed special order.

OK, upgrade number 2. For an extra 2# weight and $12ea it's going to get 255/45/18s, and delivery is scheduled within 2-5 days. So it wound up with a little extra meat.

Bigger question is if it's better to store the oem tires still mounted on the original rims? Or dismount? I've got extra sets of factory rims I can crack open the boxes on for the new tires if preferable. I always envied the cars at shows rolling on original tires, so I decided starting with the mustangs I would be "that guy" off in the distant future.

 

[Supercharged111]

Did a double upgrade on one of the green mustangs. We had been doing some clean up and out on the garage bay it's spent the last 2+ years basically sitting on a tender next to the buried firebird. Since summer of 2019 its had a total of about 50 miles on it with an obligatory age oil change.

Looking at it while digging out the bird I decided I really ought to drive it more, so, it was also time to buy it new tires. When parked it was going on 5+ yrs old, now they're hitting 7 on the OEMs.

So, I went to order a set of michelin pilot sport 4 for it in factory size... 235/50/18. But most places showed no stock and one showed special order.

OK, upgrade number 2. For an extra 2# weight and $12ea it's going to get 255/45/18s, and delivery is scheduled within 2-5 days. So it wound up with a little extra meat.

Bigger question is if it's better to store the oem tires still mounted on the original rims? Or dismount? I've got extra sets of factory rims I can crack open the boxes on for the new tires if preferable. I always envied the cars at shows rolling on original tires, so I decided starting with the mustangs I would be "that guy" off in the distant future.

I think if you're going to do that you ought to at least bag the tires.

 

[CopperNick]

For those, myself included, who often have difficulty relating what is on the printed page, particularly in a manual, to what the real life item actually looks like, these are two shots of one half of the harness that delivers power to the TCC on a pre-87 Chev/GM van/pickup.
The item with the short section of vacuum hose is the VOES switch. From all that I have been provided by this forum, power to this switch comes from two sources, one being the brake light switch, and the other being a fused circuit that comes from the fuse box. Together they comprise the other half of the harness and there is a two pin plug into which they would connect. May have to ditch the factory plug in favor of a Deutsch connection since this half of the harness seems to be a rare item unless it can be harvested from a hulk. (My joke for the day was learning that my yard sent 4-5 of these hulks to the crusher just a week or two ago as part of their regular thin out the herd process.)

The old TH350 3 speed in all its crusty, leaky glory. Oddly enough this unit actually had the converter lockup provision built into it and the t-shop that had dropped it for me the last time apparently completed the circuit. Don't think it ever did work right; another mystery to chase.

The nice clean replacement unit, and the filthy crusty mill it now has to work with. They may look black, but under that grime is a pair of chrome rocker covers. The top of that mill will get a varsol bath and wipe down before the doghouse gets put back in place but i will almost guarantee that by fall I will have a new case of the grungies to deal with.

A good cherry picker and a stack of baulks or blocking timber; man's best friends when you have none of the two legged variety around.

If you look very hard at the picture, just after the wands for my small vacuum you can barely see the box that holds the passenger's side door skin for my 85. it is still cocooned in its container to keep it from getting dinged or dented.

Just a fast shot of my one winter project, this was the Whee-ler that I posted pics of a few months back during the build. It is still just in raw steel but has made a few of my other projects far easier and safer to accomplish. It may still get another brace or two just for the real heavy stuff.

And, finally, the throttle and TV cable bracket, all bright and shiny in its new coat of GM engine blue. Yeah, I know, the default color was black back then but I like the blue. It makes a good backdrop for the details; those little items that can make or break a good project. The 700R4 got left in raw aluminum finish apart from getting some dremel and hand file love for the purpose of knocking off a lot of the casting flash to make it easier to work on. It's pan did get a coat of blue that I now have to touch up as the transmission jack shaved some of the top coat off in places. Nothing too major, just some masking paper and a fast reshoot.

So the search is now on for the other half of that harness. In all likely hood I can think of two possible sources that might have what I need but with Covid still making everyone paranoid, the odds of getting into either yard or even getting to visit the shops isn't good. I do have enough other bits of this to fiddle with that can kill some of the waiting time but would much rather be using that to drop the 85's rear end off its mounts and use the room to clean and shoot the floor. Last place under there that needs that kind of attention.



Nick

 

[g0thiac]

Tried getting the starter out the 1967 Parisienne, and I did get out one bolt but not the other.

Rounded this b*st*rd off, so I'm getting PB blaster and an impact driver too for help 💯💯

 

[CopperNick]

Ah, a thought here. Were it me I'd be looking for a 6 point impact socket that I could face down with a lathe or grinder to get a full set of flats to grab the head of that bolt.. Second, I would not be looking to encourage it by taking an impact gun to it. For a good bolt with clean edges and surfaces that would be Plan A but this fastener looks like it has taken a beating at some point. Third, think i would test fit the socket to see how tight it is on the bolt. If nice and snug then beautiful, if some slop then maybe root around and test fit a metric socket. #/8ths bolts come with 9/16ths heads so possibly either a 14 or 15 mm socket. BE aware that getting the socket to mate up to the bolt may require a little bit of mark 1 mod 0 ball pein hammer encouragement. Not a step to take lightly but............ Finally, for mechanical encouragement, I would be applying some oomph using the longest 1/2 drive Johnson or power bar that I could get to fit into the location. it's this dumbass science thing called leverage. Also, if you try the liquid encouragement route with the PB Blaster, put the hot red wrench away. Many rust sprays can have the possible effect of generating toxic fumes if they come into contact with heat.

The absolute court of last resort would be to take a 4-1/2 mini grinder with a razor blade cutoff wheel (Or a good dremel tool with either a cutoff or grinding disc on a kwick release mandrel mounted up) and carefully shave the head of the bolt off. Then have a coffee. you lose the bolt but gain the ability to drop the starter down and out. That leaves you with the stump of the bolt which you can then "persuade" to leave the premises. Pain in the A** but, if no other options exist any more then......................... Luck, brotha. Oh yeah, ARP makes a high grade replacement kit for those bolts, comes in 6 point and black finish.



Nick

 

[fleming442]

6 point

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Tried getting the starter out the 1967 Parisienne, and I did get out one bolt but not the other.

Rounded this b*st*rd off, so I'm getting PB blaster and an impact driver too for help 💯💯

View attachment 178472

Might need to torch it.

 

[motorheadmike]

Detailed the outside.

Gotta do the inside next... Lots of random glitter droppings. Probably should take it for some exercise too. Autocrossing (for me) doesn't start until 24 July so it is just sitting here.

 

[ck80]

Detailed the outside.

View attachment 178476
Autocrossing (for me) doesn't start until 24 July so it is just sitting here.

I'd say drop it off here and I'd exercise it for you but the leg isn't up for manual much, even for a hell kitty.

However, I do believe MrSony could come up with some interesting things to do with it for a month, and I bet he would loan you the clapped out tbird.

You may have to deliver though, not sure about the uhaul renting status these days....

 

[motorheadmike]

I'd say drop it off here and I'd exercise it for you but the leg isn't up for manual much, even for a hell kitty.

However, I do believe MrSony could come up with some interesting things to do with it for a month, and I bet he would loan you the clapped out tbird.

You may have to deliver though, not sure about the uhaul renting status these days....

Unlikely.

But, maybe I become a premium Uber driver?