Build Thread '83 T-top Coupe - Welding Holes in My Rear

[Noobz347]

I went through all of that once already as has my better half. We agreed when we got married that neither of us would do it again so we have "The Shovel Pact".

When it gets to that point, one of us smacks the other in the back of the head with a shovel and buries the other. Way less stress, money, and paperwork.

I cannot however, recommend this solution to others as I've not actually tested it.

 

[RangerJoe]

Sorry to hear Dave. If you need me to come get the booger and hide it until the divorce is over just let me know.

Joe

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Sorry to hear Dave. If you need me to come get the booger and hide it until the divorce is over just let me know.

Joe

Lol. Thanks Joe. Most people wouldn't assign much value to Booger right now. I think she'll let me keep it.

Next weekend I'll get the suspension underneath it again and take it to the storage unit for it's immediate future.

 

[JasonRP]

Very sorry to hear! I've been there recently- but somehow worked things out and both of us are in a much better place now.. I only mention this to say, anything is possible- you just have to really think about what you want, and make that happen.. Either way, having an awesome foxbody project is a GREAT way to keep your mind busy and happy.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

I worked on Booger today. I got to get him back on wheels to get ready for the big move.

I started by dragging the K-member back under the front end. I had decided to remove a coil or two from the springs just to make putting it back together to move easier. I started with 1.5 coils.

That wasn't enough, with me and my boys sitting on the front end we still couldn't get the strut bolted back on. So off came another 1.5 coils.

This worked. It's a little much even, but who cares? It's just for temporary mobility.

So I got the small crap done, brake booster, pedal assembly and steering column boot, shaft and column, and I also bolted down the driver's seat. This is the first time Booger has had a third pedal! Pretty exciting, eh?

BTW, this is the first time I sat in Booger with the reconditioned seats and a steering column. I'll need to be a bit lower or I'll have to drive in the winter with the t-top off, lol.

That took maybe a little over an hour.

Next on the list is the IRS. I figured out a way to drag it under the vehicle by myself.

Now I have a question for you IRS guys (Chris, Scott, Nick, anyone?) Do you suppose to move Booger out of the garage I could just get away with doing the side mounts through the frame with no additional support or bracing? I also don't want to do the bottom bolts right now.

Hopefully the money pit (I mean my house) sells quick, it's officially listed. I wish to go on to the next chapter of life. This one sucked and lasted way longer than it should have.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

I figured I would go ahead and try mounting the IRS. It was way easier than I thought it would be. I didn't put a bolt through the upper rear mounts, hence the jack. I'll drill one hole to hold the rear of the mount on Saturday.

Here it is back on wheels. Five lug on the rear!

Here's a picture with my youngest son in the driver's seat. The car is perfectly sized for him. He's 5'10". I'm 6'2". Some adjustments will be coming. I'm thinking those mounts that set the seat back a couple inches would be nice too.

I was expecting this to take all weekend long. It seems I was mistaken. How often do things go quicker than I planned on for this project? lol

BTW, it was kind of neat jacking the car up on the driver's side. I was jacking at the rear of the jacking rail by the rear tire and the front wheel came off the ground at the same time.

 

[droopie85gt]

Sorry to hear this brother! But it's better to cut bait and move on than be utterly miserable. Hookers and beer for life!

 

[90sickfox]

You got a whole lot done man. The IRS should be ok without the bolts through the bottom. Guess you figured that out already.

Hope the house sells quick. The next chapter may end up better than you could imagine. My divorce was rough... but that was 10 years ago. My wife now is nothing like the first. We have a completely different relationship.

 

[General karthief]

I tried those extenders, I'm also 6'2 but the steering wheel was too far away, I don't remember them being any lower.
i still have them.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

I tried those extenders, I'm also 6'2 but the steering wheel was too far away, I don't remember them being any lower.
i still have them.

Yeah JR, I was thinking the wheel might be a stretch then.

The new foam in the seats really boosted how high I sit. That’s something I can figure out at a later time though.

 

[droopie85gt]

I put a Super Coupe (you might know of one) steering wheel on mine. It's much heftier looking than the stock 85 cruise wheel and it sticks at about 1.5-2 inches more. I had to get another turn signal stalk because I couldn't reach it with my left hand on the wheel. That could be an option. There's a whole thread on FEP from someone who did it and even replaced the SC badge on the horn cover with a Mustang logo. I think I posted pics in that thread.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Another big whoop evening. I got the irs rear mounts mushed up to the frame (it helps to remove the sra rubber snubbers, btw).

I drilled one hole and used an old bolt from the upper control arms to hold it. You can see it needs the other bolts or it might want welding instead. I don't care, I can move it to it's new old home now (the storage unit).

On a personal note, I'm going to look at rental homes this Thursday and Friday. I'm going as cheap as I can so I can get rid of the debt accrued with my soon to be previous life.

Which leads into which of the two houses I'll be choosing. Both of the two finalist are three bedroom homes with a one car garage. The better condition one is $750 a month. The considerably nastier one is $850 a month. The two houses are four houses apart in the same neighborhood. The boys will be staying with me, my sweetheart baby girl (16 now) will live with my soon to be ex.

So why is the one house in MUCH better condition a hundy cheaper? No reason other than the murder/suicide there a couple years ago! Seriously. The owner said it wasn't the last renters, it was the renters before them.

It really doesn't matter to me, but I thought my daughter would be too freaked out to ever visit me because of "whatever" with that background for the house.

So I was assuming I wouldn't get that house. Then I told the kids about it...........

Who wants to guess what everyone one of them said?

They all say I have to get it.

So we are affectionately calling it "The Murder House". My new home for at least the next year will be the murder house.

I'll probably be signing the contract for it this saturday.

I told the kids no ouigi boards nor midnight seances.

 

[95BlueStallion]

Damn, not sure I could do it. After I took the class and obtained my conceal/carry permit, I always thought about their info on dont shoot unless the perp is IN your house. And then shoot to kill so you dont get sued... Then I got to thinking, I'd have to move afterword if I ever killed a perp in my house. I couldnt walk over the spot I killed someone every day like it was nothing. Not that you killed anyone in the home, but you know what I mean. I guess just dont ask for the details!

 

[Davedacarpainter]

I've had the opportunity when I was younger to experience things that were fairly violent. I'm a bit desensitized to death. A murder/suicide is relatively tame in comparison.

It's sad that people died in that house, and I really do feel for their families, but it's just a house that I get cheaper.

 

[General karthief]

Not what I expected from the title change. Giving the situation. Comes from growing up with thugs and bikers.

 

[90sickfox]

Wow... atleast you know the history of that house. Nothing like moving into a house and get surprised by the search for human remains in the back yard.

Hope everything goes smoothly for you Dave. If you ever need a round trip to maryland to clear your head the offer is open. I won't put you to work....I promise. Might get some advice.... but that's not work...right ?

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Wow... atleast you know the history of that house. Nothing like moving into a house and get surprised by the search for human remains in the back yard.

Hope everything goes smoothly for you Dave. If you ever need a round trip to maryland to clear your head the offer is open. I won't put you to work....I promise. Might get some advice.... but that's not work...right ?

Thanks Scott. Next summer I might take a road trip to the east coast just to visit with you guys. There won’t be any reason not to take a vacation. It’s been thirteen years since I’ve taken more than one day off.

The first weekend after moving into TMH (The Murder House) I’ll be brewing a nice batch of beer, smoke a brisket and drink substantially while eating bacon. It’s the bachelors life for me boys.

 

[02 281 GT]

Great news! Better than your current house becoming a murder house.

 

[85ragtop]

I lived in a murder house once. Never been the same...

 

[Mustang5L5]

The new foam in the seats really boosted how high I sit. That’s something I can figure out at a later time though.

I've got a solution.....