More Progress--Still Having a BLAST!

Since the rear suspension got done, I've installed the gas tank, brake lines and finished up the rear brakes tonight. Fuel lines are next. Factory Five had a parts sale and I scored front and rear bumpers and the hood hinge kit I've been wanting. They had some great deals!

http://parts.factoryfive.com/newcatalog/body/hoodhinge.html

http://parts.factoryfive.com/newcatalog/exterior/bumpers.htm

http://parts.factoryfive.com/newcatalog/exterior/overrider.htm

Here's a Cobra with the bumpers:

http://www.factoryfive.com/rdsterhome.html

IRS is in!

Mike came over on Saturday and we got the pedal box installed and the rear differential and suspension in. Looks really cool! Everything we well except for step #5 that said that the shock mounts should be on the underside. Had to start over! All's well that ends well. Will most likely order new nylock nuts as the junkyard pieces are about done. Used Energy Suspension bushings on the rear uprights. the differential is HEAVY! Wish I would have used an aluminum case. Factory Five sent the wrong rear springs, to the coil-overs are yet to be installed.

Yeah, Life's Good!

Finally, a new post!

Hi there to anyone that may still be checking this out.

Well, I have the front suspension essentially done. Just have to finish torquing a few bolts. On to the back! the IRS parts I bought were CRAP! So, I've been spending a lot of time (and money!) rebuilding them. The differential is at the mechanics right now having the gears installed. There should be more progress soon! The first picture is me modifying the brake pedal per the build manual. Cut off wheels are fun!

No pictures right now, but I wanted to give a general update on how its going.

I've got the front suspension and steering pieced in at this point. One of the front wheel hubs had rusted, so I replaced it with a new wheel hub assembly. While I had the spindle apart, I bead blasted it and shot some black on it. I just got the steering rack installed tonight. I put the main steering shaft in last night. I'll stop here and go through and torque everything so that I can call the front suspension and steering done.

In preparing for the rear suspension, I'm having all the junkyard IRS stuff rebuilt. That means rear wheel bearings and the rear differential.

I'm really enjoying this! It is so nice to be able to start with a clean slate. I'm taking my time and making sure the donor parts I use are cleaned up and in good working order. So far, the donor parts I've used consist of:

• Front spindles
• Steering rack (Flaming River manual rack that I put on the mustang several years agao)
• new, stock Mustang LCA's

A note about the LCA's (lower control arms): I had several suggestions on www.ffcobra.com/forums to just order and use the Factory Five LCA's as they were superior. Well, I'm sure they are, but at $480 vs the $160 (shipped!), the choice was clear to me. Getting the shock mount to work per FFR's instructions was difficult, but I worked through it and am happy with the results. Yes, the FFR tubular LCA's are lighter, but after lugging around a spindle-hub-rotor-caliper assembly, I'm not sure that the lighter LCA would make that big of a difference. Translation--that wheel end is HEAVY!

Pictures later this week.

The mustang has left the (side of the) building....

Oh, happy day! The mustang carcass is gone!

Two jobs at once...

I shot this picture of Rob working the other day when I came back from running errands. I think it's cute.... if you look closely, you will see the baby monitor hanging on his pocket as he is pulling parts off his donor mustang. We really use naptime to the fullest around here!