Progress Thread 1989 LX 5.0 convertible - mild project

These are my OEM 19#’rs:

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Just for reference on a 1990 GT
 
Haha!
I prefaced it with dumb newbie!

We like "dumb newbie" stuff.

It's way better to get it out of the way [before] you throw cash at some garbage you don't need. :nice:

You probably would not be surprised to find folks here that have done it the other way. :D
 
I’m in the same situation. Just living with it for now. I’ll eventually paint the entire interior. Haven’t tried to ‘match’ the center console because I just doubt it’ll match perfectly so might as well do the entire interior at once.
 
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The car is far from perfect, with a few dings here and there. And it definitely needs a wash/buff/waxing. I'll probably rock it like this for a while and then get all the dings fixed and the replacement hood painted.

The underside is in great shape. All sills, jack points, floor pans, etc., are like new and not undercoated.

I noticed something in the passenger wheel well, behind the plastic liner. Is there supposed to be some sort of insulation in there, or have mice made a nest?
Horrible pics, I know, but there's a gray-ish material in there, almost like you'd see under a carpet. Sort of wool-like.

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That is supposed to be for sound deadening. I had my new ‘86 GT “rustproofed” within a week of purchase, and they removed all of that stuff. In the long run, probably a good idea, as that stuff holds water.

Bill
 
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I went with the LMR pistons; a known quality.

And, now I wait .....

Since I was having the car towed home (old tires, off the road for 4 or 5 years), I opted to do title only. No need in tagging and insuring it if I was going to be working on it for a while. But, now I'm sorta all caught up.

- Can't drive to the guy who's gonna help repair the quarter windows until it's road legal.
- Don't want to install the console until he's done and I can take it to the stereo shop and let him see all the wiring under there.
- Can't install Hurst shifter because I don't think the console will fit over the taller handle
- Same situation with body work, fluids, etc.

Now .... I wait.

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I plan on removing this braided hose cover when I do all the fluids (just not my thing, and this one fits kinda loose).
I'm 99.99% sure the hose underneath does NOT have the ribbed protective covering over the alternator area. How important is that protector? Can it be installed over the hose, or do you have to remove the end of the hose and slide it on?
Lastly, if I need it, where can I get one? I can't find it sold separately. I'm not even sure of the proper name for it.
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Ok, I found an original factory upper hose with that plastic sleeve, no slot to remove or install, didn't try to remove yet bt got a pic of what happens after a long time on the road,
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Prolly could slide it off one end but I ain't do'n that..
The hose is 40mm or right at 1.5" and 4 .5" long but you can make it longer.
on a side note the Turbo SD 7.3 has a bracket that holds an upper hose that could be used, no pics of one but 'The Dump Truck' had one, I remember I pitched a fit when I spotted the upper hose getting ate just a few miles after getting work done on it. :doh:
 
Ok, I found an original factory upper hose with that plastic sleeve, no slot to remove or install, didn't try to remove yet bt got a pic of what happens after a long time on the road,
IMG_20250910_121933.webp

Prolly could slide it off one end but I ain't do'n that..
The hose is 40mm or right at 1.5" and 4 .5" long but you can make it longer.
on a side note the Turbo SD 7.3 has a bracket that holds an upper hose that could be used, no pics of one but 'The Dump Truck' had one, I remember I pitched a fit when I spotted the upper hose getting ate just a few miles after getting work done on it. :doh:
 
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Where's the overflow on these things? Mine is a 1989.

Car was parked for 4 or 5 years. It's been in my garage for a little over 3 weeks and no leaks, no gas fumes, etc. I've cranked it and driven it around the neighborhood several times.
Finally got it tagged, so I went and filled up with some fresh 93 octane.
Noticed a gas smell in garage and found this leak.

I put in 11.39 gallons and drove it 5 miles home and it started leaking. I've driven it 22 miles now, so it should have burned off a gallon or so, right? If it's still leaking what should I check next?
Did I just overfill it?


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