Progress Thread 83 Convertable Engine swap

  • Sponsors (?)


Nice work. Going against the grain with no “H” in the exhaust I see.

........ And the rear still has the dog-bone. :hide:
Don’t always follow the grain :)
I’ve spent about all I’m gonna spend on her this year.
Next Spring I’ll upgrade the front brakes,
Struts etc.
This is gonna be my daily driver except in ice, and snow.
I’m also gonna keep my eye out for a 8.8 rear end.
Got it about exactly how I want it.
I know that there are better ways of doing everything, but I’ll be satisfied with what I’m doing.
As you might already know, I’m 71 years old, but still like to have some fun.
I can’t afford to do everything to this little Fox that some of you do, and I don’t want to.
Since Barbara passed I have been surrounded by some amazing people here,in my hometown, both young and old that have encouraged me, and have helped it come to life.
All of you on this Forum have been great, and have helped me greatly.
Thank you for that. :)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Don’t always follow the grain :)
I’ve spent about all I’m gonna spend on her this year.
Next Spring I’ll upgrade the front brakes,
Struts etc.
This is gonna be my daily driver except in ice, and snow.
I’m also gonna keep my eye out for a 8.8 rear end.
Got it about exactly how I want it.
I know that there are better ways of doing everything, but I’ll be satisfied with what I’m doing.
As you might already know, I’m 71 years old, but still like to have some fun.
I can’t afford to do everything to this little Fox that some of you do, and I don’t want to.
Since Barbara passed I have been surrounded by some amazing people here, both young and old that have encouraged me, and have helped it come to life.
All of you on this Forum have been great, and have helped me greatly.
Thank you for that. :)

I’ve loved watching this come together, and I love that you still want to “play with cars”. I hope I still have that enthusiasm in 24 years!! I’m sure she’s looking down and smiling at what you’ve done!!

I gotta ask though...... what got you into the Foxbodies? Pretty cool to see. It’s all that was around when I was in my 20’s, so that’s my excuse.

Looking forward to a video of that running.
 
  • Clever
Reactions: 1 user
Some of you might get a kick out this .
Apparently a few weeks back, an ole boy came into the Muffler shop, and ask RamJet about the V6 that was pulled from the car.
Jet told him about it, and that it only had 27,000 miles on it.
This afternoon while Jet was installing the exhaust, he came back in.
Jet sent him over to where I was sitting, and he asked if I would sell it.
Told him how much, and it would be cash only.
Came back in an hour and bought it.
Get this—he’s putting it in a paddle wheeler that he has at the lake.
It will power the hydraulics that runs everything on it.
I Love it. :)
Made enough to pay for all of RamJets labor.
Sometimes GOD smiles on us.
 
  • Like
  • Hell Yeah!
Reactions: 2 users
I’ve loved watching this come together, and I love that you still want to “play with cars”. I hope I still have that enthusiasm in 24 years!! I’m sure she’s looking down and smiling at what you’ve done!!

I gotta ask though...... what got you into the Foxbodies? Pretty cool to see. It’s all that was around when I was in my 20’s, so that’s my excuse.

Looking forward to a video of that running.
Try and make a long story short.
Barb, and I loved to travel.
When I retired she wanted me to buy another Harley, and travel.
So we did.
In 5 years time we put 45,000 miles on it.
Had a blast.
Last trip we made on it was to Eastern Kentucky.
Had a great time with some great people there.
The day before we left to come home she started feeling sick.
Tried to get her to fly home, and I would bring the bike home.
Nothing doing.
Took me 3 days to get her home.
Stopping at motels early to help her.
When we finally got home I told her the Harley was done.
So in 2015 I bought her a new triple Black Mustang Convertable GT Premium to travel in.
Meantime my oldest daughter, and son in Law started asking about the bike.
They couldn’t really afford what I was asking for it, but they had bought this little 83 Fox from their elderly neighbors.
Had 25,000 miles on it, had always been garaged, and covered
I asked them if they wanted to trade it for the Harley.
They jumped all over it.
I brought it home and put it in the garage.
Thought about selling it.
That is how I became a 1983 Fox owner.
So glad I didn’t sell it.
I’m having fun fixing it up.
Now all I have is little Fox, and a 1996 Ford F-150 Short bed 4X4.
It’s all I need. :)
So much for a short story:D
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
Try and make a long story short.
Barb, and I loved to travel.
When I retired she wanted me to buy another Harley, and travel.
So we did.
In 5 years time we put 45,000 miles on it.
Had a blast.
Last trip we made on it was to Eastern Kentucky.
Had a great time with some great people there.
The day before we left to come home she started feeling sick.
Tried to get her to fly home, and I would bring the bike home.
Nothing doing.
Took me 3 days to get her home.
Stopping at motels early to help her.
When we finally got home I told her the Harley was done.
So in 2015 I bought her a new triple Black Mustang Convertable GT Premium to travel in.
Meantime my oldest daughter, and son in Law started asking about the bike.
They couldn’t really afford what I was asking for it, but they had bought this little 83 Fox from their elderly neighbors.
Had 25,000 miles on it, had always been garaged, and covered
I asked them if they wanted to trade it for the Harley.
They jumped all over it.
I brought it home and put it in the garage.
Thought about selling it.
That is how I became a 1983 Fox owner.
So glad I didn’t sell it.
I’m having fun fixing it up.
Now all I have is little Fox, and a 1996 Ford F-150 Short bed 4X4.
It’s all I need. :)
So much for a short story:D
Condolences to you on the wife and simultaneous congratulations on making the best of things.

I used to have a '96 F-150 short bed 4x4 and STILL kick myself for selling it. I'll never find another truck like that ever again for less than a $10,000 asking price.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Still haven’t started it.
All the plumbing is done.
Radiator—Air Conditioner—Heater—fuel lines etc.
I installed a 130 amp Alternator, so he is taking his time checking out all the old wiring (which is a good thing) and needed to be looked at anyway.
I managed to get the transmission Kickdown linkage, and kick down extension hooked up to the Holley, and operating properly.
RamJet is a damn good friend, and has worked this in.
I’m frustrated that it isn’t running yet, but I know for a fact that when it is running it will all be the way it should be.
He just happens to be one of the busiest shops in Northern Missouri, and feel fortunate that he wanted to do this for me.
He leaves me a little list for things things to do each evening that he thinks my old brain can handle, and I enjoy that.
Hopefully I’ll have pictures worth posting tomorrow night :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Started the engine for the first time Thursday
Let it turn over until we knew the Holley floats were full, he plugged the Hot wire back into the ugly as$ed HEI distributor and told me to hit the key.
I wanted to record it but we were all tired, and didn’t do it.
She fired right up and he had to bend the throttle bracket forward as it was reviving alittle too fast.
It settled down and idled with that Cam lobe rumble sound we love.
There were a bunch of friends there to see it happen.
High fives went all around—- I missed the high fives because I couldn’t handle my emotions.
This was something that Barbara wanted me to do.
My daughters encouraged me to do it.
It was done
Now time for a reality check.
Heard em shut it off fairly quickly, and I came walking back in.
Thermostat leaking :(
Everyone frowning, and especially at me.
That was my responsibility.
To be continued
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Hell Yeah!
Reactions: 3 users
Thermostat leaking has happened to all of us. Don't sweat it.
Hate to tell this on myself, but what the hell.
Wednesday after the shop closed I put the thermostat on.
Did some pretty in up on the wiring.
My brother came in and we sit and decided to drink a beer and admire my work.
After about 15 minutes I noticed the thermostat sitting on the bumper.
Blew my mind. I hadn’t put the thermostat into the housing.
So instead of just saying the hell with and fix it right the next day, I decided to get done then.
Tore the gasket in the process.
Found that out the hard way
 
Last edited:
  • Wow
Reactions: 1 user
I remember being instructed about the rules here about photos were a must.
Thought I had better comply.
My dogs hogging my bed.

1332DFDE-AC26-4E78-8930-EAB2633FF4B7.jpeg
 
Got the thermostat , and gasket all replaced today.
Had removed the belt so I would have more room to work on stuff.
Decided to put it back up into the air, double check the torque on everything.
Thank GOD I did.
When I was trying to get the wrench onto the crankshaft pulley bolts I moved the light around so I could see what I was doing.
On one of the bolts I noticed a little space between the head of the bolt and the pulley.
Thought I was imagining it.
My brother was there so I ask him to look.
Sure enough.
I pulled it off and put a bolt through the pulley, pulley spacer. Marked the bolt and ran the bolt back into the Damper.
Sure enough I could still see the mark.
Damn bolts a fraction too long.
When I ordered the pulley spacer from LMR I told them to send the proper bolts, and I thought they had.
Everything snugged down good when I assembled it I thought.
Turned out at least two of them were tight enough when we started it.
I am now so thankful for the thermostat leak.
Things could have went sideways real fast if that engine had kept running.
Going to ACE THE HARD WEAR GUY tomorrow and get 1/4 “ shorter bolts.
To say that I’m pissed at LMR is an understatement.
 
Got the thermostat , and gasket all replaced today.
Had removed the belt so I would have more room to work on stuff.
Decided to put it back up into the air, double check the torque on everything.
Thank GOD I did.
When I was trying to get the wrench onto the crankshaft pulley bolts I moved the light around so I could see what I was doing.
On one of the bolts I noticed a little space between the head of the bolt and the pulley.
Thought I was imagining it.
My brother was there so I ask him to look.
Sure enough.
I pulled it off and put a bolt through the pulley, pulley spacer. Marked the bolt and ran the bolt back into the Damper.
Sure enough I could still see the mark.
Damn bolts a fraction too long.
When I ordered the pulley spacer from LMR I told them to send the proper bolts, and I thought they had.
Everything snugged down good when I assembled it I thought.
Turned out at least two of them were tight enough when we started it.
I am now so thankful for the thermostat leak.
Things could have went sideways real fast if that engine had kept running.
Going to ACE THE HARD WEAR GUY tomorrow and get 1/4 “ shorter bolts.
To say that I’m pissed at LMR is an understatement.

That goes in the “everything happens for a reason” column. Glad you caught it!!!