Well lets get started. I am 16 and I bought this car and everything you see on it. I am big into cars, my family and buddy's say I was born with a wrench in one hand and a toy car in the other. My car is a 1988 Mustang 2.3L 4 banger, currently it make around 108HP, but its better than the 88HP that came in these cars stock.
I do not have a good job right now, more like a odd job that I only do when it snows (I move snow lol)
I paid $900 for this car at an auction in Regina Saskatchewan (Regina Auto Auction) and I have put about $350 in the car.
Currently I am doing body work, which has a total time of about 350 hours now. This is the worst rust spot on the whole car (that you can see)
The engine has about 65 hours into it and it still needs some work done. (engine swap)
The interior has the least amount of hours put into it about 40 or 43 hours. Currently the interior is all apart waiting for the paint to be finished.
One of the big things that I have broke on this car is the wing (painting gone wrong!) but as you can tell I got a replacement one for free! (Thanks Bob)
One last picture that I have right now is of the brakes that I painted when I was fixing the sway bar links. Looking good.
>UPDATE Jan. 25/2007<
Did some body work and had to move the car out of the garage because parents want to use it. Here are some pictures.
This is a picture of the rust that was behind the bumper, now that is all fixed and painted (shown in next picture)
and here is the car sitting outside waiting till spring for me to start working on it again.
As you can tell I kinda ran out of primer, oh well wait till I get $100 in spring, then I will finish the body and paint.
>Update Feb. 1/2007<
A friend from MustangForums photoshoped my car blue, what do you guys think of it?
This is my car with pony rimes, cleared lights, and a 1 1/2" cowl, what do you think of that?
Thanks goes to ARdoller, XxX, and everyone that is helping me in photoshop.
Update Feb. 20/2007
I got some fog lights and my CD player installed, here are some pictures of them installed as well as my APC peddles and the APC fog lights.
Update March 5/07
Well me being a dumb ass made LED lights for my gauge cluster (make them match the peddles and CD player) and I guess they can't take 12 volts :S so I blow every single one of them and I think I fried my switch that turns the lights on, because, well, my lights don't turn on anymore and its not the fuses (F***!! ME!!) So I'm going to stop buy the junk yard when it gets warmer and grab a 5.0 switch so I can hook my fog lights up to that switch.
DAMN I HAVE THE BEST LUCK EVER!!!!
Update March 6/07
Sold my dads sled, got $50 for helping him sell it so I'm off to buy paint for my car and make it look good. I'm thinking black or blue. I will have no money left over for the switch so I'll have to go and buy that later this month when I get paid. I'll have a write up on how I painted my car for only $50 and how well it turned out.
Update April 9/07
After doing the $50 paint thing 2 times (and still having paint left over) I noticed all the dents in my door that some asshole left so......... Sanding and body work are being done... AGAIN!!! here are some pictures, they will also be in the body work page.
Update April 15/07
Its been a few days without an update. Well the $50 paint didn't go to well so its out the window and now I'm saving for either a 2.3 Turbo or a few mods for this little 2.3 N/A. Also check out this site, it maybe small but a few of my friends put it together and they want to have tons of people join Motorheads
Update April 29/07
Well its been almost 2 weeks and I thought I'd update. I bought a 1989 Ranger Roller Cam for $15 and I installed it in about 5 hours. I have decided to keep the 2.3 N/A and just piss around with it for a while, if it blows then I'll be looking for a better and bigger engine.
Update May 12/07
Well I bought primer, sand paper, and a few drinks (Ummm... orange juice..... yeah thats it...) and set off to work, well let my put it this way, my car looks good in primer, it really does and with the black gloss wing its really special. I also got it registered today and its in my name only now (woo-hoo!!!) so after I put everything back on I took it for a drive. Let me tell you something, TAKE YOUR CATALYTIC CONVERTS OFF! mine is plugged BIG time, and it kills performance (make sure its legal to take it off in your province or state before you remove it though) The car also has a BOG, but I think thats just because of the old gas (since September 30th 2006) and injector cleaner, but well find out later in the week when I get more gas. Anyways here are some pictures for you guys and gals so enjoy!
Update May 23/07
Well, not much is going on right now. I am still looking for a damn engine for the car, but it still driving around Regina Beach and Regina Saskatchewan.
I am seriously thinking about a 351 or even a 460 swap for the car, but that depends on money and if I keep the car or not because it bores the piss out of me because I can't do much more without some money, and jobs are hard to come by at my age. There wont be an update until I either get something major or sell the car.
Update June 3/07
I got some moldings for my car because I destroyed the old ones, spent a whole $10 for everything. Now I have to clean the 2 sided tape off and reinstall them.
The car is going to need a lot more work before I can paint it, I need to sand the whole car down (again, I think this is the 4th time now) with 180, then 220, then 400 and then I can paint it what ever color I want. (I'm thinking a nice metallic blue or something)
Update June 10/07
Well not much to update on, got the molding on and thats about it. Also got a video of the car idling and revving for your enjoyment, have fun.
Update July 17/07
I bought a 2.3 Turbo engine from a 1987 Merkur XR4Ti for $400 with a T-9 transmission. Engine has 150k km's (90k miles)and it looks like the cam, followers, and lifters where replaced, same with the front seals.
I bought a top end seal kit for it, paid $30, then bought a boost gauge, another $30 and now I'm stripping it down and painting the block.
Turbo has a little shaft play but its acceptable.
Anyways, enough talking, here are some photo's of literally 10 minutes after the person dropped it off.
And here i my engine in pieces about 3 hours after getting it
Update July 19/07
Finished taking the engine apart and started to paint the SOB. Paint might chip but I really don't care, its coming out sometime next year for a rebuild (I'll also get the head ported).
So here are some pictures so enjoy (yes that color is CHEVY red, orange
Update July 21/07
Got the turbo and exhaust manifold apart after using a torch, chisel, hammer, and a die die grinder. The E3's (I know, its not an E6 *cry*) crack is bigger than I thought so I had to redrill a hole so the crack wouldn't spread anymore. Just going to get it welded than buy either a bobslog next summer or a stinger header.
Update August 6/07
Waiting for the E6 I bought from a member on stangnet.com. It should be here in a few weeks if UPS doesn't lose it (which I'm betting they will)
Anyways in my boredom I polished the T3 turbo and painted the wast gate silver. I'll get better pictures later because I don't have anymore batteries.
Before
After
The swap date so far is the last weekend in September. I still need to get the T-5, cross member, drive shaft, shifter linkage, pedal assembly, clutch linkage, etc etc etc.
I'll make sure to get video's and ton's of pictures when the swaps done because I'll have my license. lol
Update August 17/07
Well not much of an update but I got bored and installed my boost gauge since it also measures vacuum as well.
I put it by the right knee because its easy for me to see and hard for others outside the car to see. Its the perfect place to put it if your going for a sleeper look.
Update Sept. 14/07
Shit its almost been a month since I updated... Well the jackass I bought then engine from still hasn't given me the computer so I'm in the process of filing a lawsuit against him and get back what I paid for another computer.
Well anyways lets get to the update!!!!! I ordered a 1st gen bobs log for $110 and it finally arrived (:D) so I installed it and everything, so here are the pictures and some dialog *wink*
I wonder what in the package???? It was heavy and from ontario were I ordered my 1st gen bobs log....
OMG, WTF????!!!!! I didn't order this!!!!!!!!!
Oh well, mine as well look inside...
Bolts???? hmmmm
OMG *jumping up and down* Woo-Hoo my day just got better
He even welded and painted the crack
Turbo on the manifold
Had to modify the wastgate acuater because of the messy weld. I only used a drill, fill, and BFH
The manifold and turbo ready to go on
Everything togeather, waiting on computer and VAM now
Custom EGR block off plate bitches lol
My weak ass T-9 that has metal shavings in it because the last owner forgot to fill it
Update Sept. 25/07
Well, got the computer, and vam (vain air meter) today in the mail, all looks good. I'm going to do the engine swap this weekend if I get all the parts and if I find the time.
Anyways, enough talking (reading lol) here are some pictures for you guy's and gal's
I got the PK computer because it has a richer fuel map and the 2.75" VAM makes it easier for me to make a blow through VAM, and when the time comes I can run a PE tune with a J3 chip, and upgrade to a large VAM (3")
Update Sept. 28/07
New info on the project. I can't do it this weekend (my father is to busy to help and there is also no transmissions in the JY) I'm also waiting for the part mg man sent me
But I got my license today. I did it in 9 minutes. She told me to turn around and go back, you have your license
On my out of the parking lot (after I got my license and all that) I hit a curb and ****ed up my tire (it was bald anyways) So I had to walk half an hour to get a jack (I took the one out of my car because I was cleaning it, and forgot to put it back in)
Anyways my car's rear now has P215/75R14, and holly **** these tires are tall!!!!!!!!! But I'm not getting a b-day presnt anymore because the tires took the headlights budget ($153.76) Oh well.
Here are some pictures of the new tires.
Update Oct. 28/07
Well... My swap... is done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Its taken 4 weeks but its done. All I need to do is replace my heater core and it will be good to go over winter ;) anyways here are some before and after pictures. Look on page nine (9) to see all the swap pictures and some video's.
Before
After
(still waiting)
Update Nov. 1/07
Blew up my turbo on Tuesday so its being rebuilt right now by my dad. Make sure to check page 9 for the swap details and tons of pictures (over 100)
Update Nov. 10/07
I got into an accident today... Some asshole decided he would pull and illegal U-turn and run right into my door... Oh well, only damage was to the door, good thing it was only in primer or I would have been really pissed... Anyways, pictures ;)
Update Jan. 24/2008
Ok, cars being kept. Might be taring the engine apart and rebuilding, not sure yet though. Gotta find out why its not liking boost (damnit)
Anyways, keep an eye out, planning a T5 swap and a engine rebuild maybe?
Update March 11/08
Got some parts a few days ago. Car has been in storage all winter and rust is starting to come back so the body work will be started again and then the car will be painted.
Above is a intercooler from a 1987-1988 Turbo Coupe. Got a good deal so it will work till I find out what type of intercooler I want to go with. I'm thinking of a 7.3 power stroke or a custom built 3 core set up.
Picture of all my goodies for $175.
#35 injectors
Large VAM
LB2 computer
and the intercooler above
More detailed pictures of the Large VAM (ID'ed by the 3" tubing)
LB2 computer
Just need to do body work and set the intercooler up. Route piping and see how it runs with 15 PSI.
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Page One - Intro
Page Two - Future Plans
Page Three - Rust Issues
Page Four - Body Work
Page Five - Intake
Page Six - $50 Paint Job
Page Seven - Cam Install
Page Eight - 2.3 Performance Mods
Page Nine - 2.3 Turbo Swap
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