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my 66 restomod convertible

didn't care for the MRAP led headlights and the fog lights as much as I thought I would. Took a step back, and adapted Harley motorcycle LEDs. the headlights were pretty easy, but the fog lights were a PITA, requiring new buckets with some mods to get them to work. But I love the end result. to me they match the look of the car much better. The parking lights were a diff color white from the head/fog lights which drive me nuts. I adapted some signals from customdynamics that were also made for a Harley to the mustang turn signals and the whites all match now, plus the benefit of the parking lights being some bad ass DRLs now. looking at it now I need to paint the chrome parking light housings body color, I'll get to that eventually.

excluding the convertible top, which I will take to upholstery shop to get done, my punch list is very small now... gotta get the 3 point seat belts installed, then on to carpet and seats, and just a few other little odds and ends. the console doesn't fit all that well and will need some massaging once the carpet is in, I have a couple ideas but

I think I am actually going to go get tags for it next week !20180630_103001.jpg 20180630_103034.jpeg 20180630_112202.jpg 20180630_103001.jpg 20180630_103034.jpeg 20180630_112202.jpg 20180630_103001.jpg 20180630_103034.jpeg 20180630_112202.jpg
 
shoulder belts and carpet installed yesterday. trimmed my console to fit, it's in the car for good now. Was hoping to get the seats bolted in but too many odds and ends to get that done and I flat ran out of time. Discovered a few more parts that I was missing, got them ordered this morning.

I'll be gone for almost the whole month of August for work and not sure when I'll get to finish it up. at the rate I am going I may be test driving it in the freakin snow.
 
Horseplay said:
Really would like to hear about the headers and the Borgeson. Haven't bought mine yet (won't need them until next summer) and happy to hear form another on fit, etc. Since I'm going T5 too you are the perfect guinea pig :).
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I'm in the exact same boat, same setup, still looking for good headers with decent size tubes (1 5/8" or larger for TFS TW heads). @steveh326 can you detail what brand and model tri-y ceramic headers you went with, how they cleared your shock towers, your borgeson steering box, trans, bell, clutch (what did you do there too, cable or hydro?) AND how low below the frame they hang down?

I'm going thru one of those summers where it's all work, no play, so I haven't gotten anywhere on my '68 coupe other than collected 90% of the parts.
 
I m almost embarrassed to tell you they are Scott Drake tri Ys. I don't know who makes them for him, and I am sure there are better brands out there, but they were on sale and I thought I would give them a try. and they are worlds better than the cheapo painted headers I ran for a few years. Fitment was pretty good, but I did have to dimple one pipe with a hammer to clear the shock tower on one side. Plenty of clearance around my Borgensen, T5, and hydro clutch setup. Ground clearance is really good they don't hang down at all. the guy that made up my exhaust did an excellent job keeping everything tucked up nice and out of sight. the passenger header came off at a little bit of a wonky angle, but it was no issue the exhaust guy just put a little bend in the pipe up to it to come straight back.
 
OMFG. I finished it tonight. It's down off the jack stands for the 1st time in 2-3 years! BUT... went to take it for a test ride around the block, and WTF is that noise. I lowered the front end too much. tire rubbing fender. Just did a quick search and it looks like Global West has spring spacers in 1/2, 3/4 and 1" sizes that I THINK will be a cost effective solution. I juts need to figure out which one I need, thinking 1/2 or 3/4 (1" or 1.5" lift), and of course then back to the alignment shop.

still no convertible top. I was planning on getting the tags and driving it to the upholstery shop on a sunny day. AS long as I keen the top down and the boot on, no one knows...lol. o and I didn't install the door panels yet, waiting on convertible top so I can final align the windows, then I can put those on.
 
First off, congrats on getting it done (or as done as they get).

As far as a spacer goes lean to the thicker side. The car is going to settle more once you start driving it. Mine dropped at least 1/2", more like 3/4" after just a bit of driving. Better to go conservative and if you want and can, drop it down a bit later.
 
Have you rolled the fender lip? That can help quite a bit of tire space.
 
Horseplay said:
First off, congrats on getting it done (or as done as they get).

As far as a spacer goes lean to the thicker side. The car is going to settle more once you start driving it. Mine dropped at least 1/2", more like 3/4" after just a bit of driving. Better to go conservative and if you want and can, drop it down a bit later.
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thanks for the info... after sleeping on it, I think I will jack the car up to where it doesn't make contact any more and see how much I need. based on your info I will add 1/2" to that number. I just want to end up with the car level and not the gasser look :)



kb3 said:
Have you rolled the fender lip? That can help quite a bit of tire space.
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it's actually not making contact with the fender, although it is very close. the part that is rubbing is from the front fiberglass facia where it wraps around the bottom of the front fender. but the back end is sitting higher right now, a look I liked back in the 70's but now I want it to sit level and as low as possible so the front needs to come up to level it out. I think the combination of the Shelby drop spindles plus the lower springs was a cumulative effect that I did not realize.
 
Post up some pics as it sits now. Another consideration is how the alignment was set-up. They could have pulled the lower arm forward too much if you are using adjustable strut rods. Curious to see how the wheel sits in terms of the center of the wheel opening. The top of my tire is WAY up beyond the lip and I don't have interference. Its close but no issues, yet.
 
Horseplay said:
Post up some pics as it sits now. Another consideration is how the alignment was set-up. They could have pulled the lower arm forward too much if you are using adjustable strut rods. Curious to see how the wheel sits in terms of the center of the wheel opening. The top of my tire is WAY up beyond the lip and I don't have interference. Its close but no issues, yet.
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AHAA on the adjustable strut rods, yes I have them did not think about that. car is at my dads garage an hour away so it will take me a bit to get a few pics... probably won't get back up there until this weekend.

thanks for all the ideas and suggestions and support guys.
 
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I just took a quick shot of mine for comparison. No smart ass comments about the wheel being dirty, {.}. Got caught in a bit of rain on the way home yesterday. Its a 225/45/17 on a 7" rim/4" BS. This matters too in terms of tire position, obviously.
IMG_1997.jpg
 
thanks that helps... what dirt...lol. I think mine looks about the same but pics will confirm that. I think my issue is with the damn fiberglass facia, if I had stock fender lip like yours it may barely clear but it would be really close.
 
Horseplay said:
Post up some pics as it sits now. Another consideration is how the alignment was set-up. They could have pulled the lower arm forward too much if you are using adjustable strut rods. Curious to see how the wheel sits in terms of the center of the wheel opening. The top of my tire is WAY up beyond the lip and I don't have interference. Its close but no issues, yet.
Click to expand...

adjustable strut rods were cranked all the way tight as short as they would go, pulling the wheel forward. I opened them up today as much as I cold, the tires clear now but just barely. the steering seems to be binding now I think it needs to go back to alignment shop and see if they can fix. still on the fence on the spring spacers, I like how it's sitting now but if I have to raise it I have to raise it. snapped a couple pics of AFTER I extended the strut rods. 20180916_132320.jpg 20180916_134918.jpg
 
got it outside and snapped a couple pics today in between all the freakin rain we have had. I know its not everyone's style but I am pretty pleased with it. I still need to chase down a few gremlins on it before it's fully streetable, and get a new top, but I am calling it as cross the finish line after 7 looong years.
 

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Looks awesome! Nice work.

And who needs a top anyway. I leave my top down all summer and only put it up for winter storage.

Sent from my moto x4 using Tapatalk
 
Man that came out looking great.

_____________________________
Never argue with a Moron. They'll just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
 
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