Build Thread 1978 Mercury Cyclone. The pig is in the pen.

CarMichael Angelo · Aug 26, 2013

CarMichael Angelo · Aug 28, 2013

Gi·la monster
noun \ˈhē-lə-\
[count] : a large orange and black poisonous lizard of the southwestern U.S
Illustration of GILA MONSTER

Origin of GILA MONSTER
Gila River, Arizona
First Known Use: 1877

It came today.

After 6 weeks of waiting, the driver finally pulled up at my door, and offloaded the project I've decided to name after the ugly little dude above.

So that you're on the same page,...Lets compare the car to the lizard for the sake of this thread:

1. A Gila Monster lives in the Southwest,..named after a river in Arizona.
1a: My Fairmont was bought, and lived its life in Arizona.
*check.
2. A Gila Monster is considered a dim bulb, and slow moving.
2a My Fairmont is slow moving, the dim bulb is directly behind the steering wheel.
*check
3. A Gila Monster is considered ugly.
3a. Most consider a Fairmont ugly.
* check
4. A Gila monster is various shades of yellow, orange, and black.
4a. My Fairmont is various shades of yellow, orange, and black.
*check
5. A Gila Monster is venemous.
5a. My Fairmont is not,..........maybe one day?
*

Based on my 4 out of 5 grading system,...I'd say I got a bonafide Gila Monster.

check out my bad assed headliner.

So you're looking,..and thinking another faded yellow car???, ...And to that I'm saying "I know,..Right?"
It seems that every one of these things I get are either this color,..or baby blue,....I'm just glad the thing is as straight as it is,..and is 99% rust free. The only deviations are the hood hinge areas,...but not even the Arizona desert could stop that from happening.

The interior is obviously trash,...the dash is atrocious,...I know all of that that can be easily replaced.
(And of course, it will be) The bench seats are short lived as well,.. but they'll do for now,..I got suspension to deal with first.

So,...Now that you can see I haven't been blowing smoke up your asses for the last month and a half,...here's the build plan:

#1. get the current car running right. This is going to be a "build while I drive it" build.

Chapter 1: Suspension/brakes/wheels-tires/ Cosmetics

I need an 8.8,...front and rear coil overs,...a Cobra M/C, and an adjustable proportioning valve to allow me to convert the car over to the Cobra brakes that have been in the basement for a month now.

The 17 x 9's, and the 17 x 10.5 Bullitts w/ 255/315 Sumitomo rubber will go on after that. (Also currently in basement)
I may have to mini tub the rear wheel wells, and narrow the rear end,..because I'm not gonna do a redeaux of the fast and loud drift car w/ quarter panel extensions.

The factory 4 link will stay initially,...until I decide if I want to spend the time researching, and building, then sorting out a torque arm/panhard bar on what will essentially be a daily driven street car.
That said; all suspension bushings will be upgraded, I'll invest in a good set of control arms.

Cosmetically,...I'll buff existing paint,...black out trim,...and have the windows tinted.

Chapter 2:Interior

If I can stand to wait that long,...I'll replace the dash pad,...and upgrade the factory gauges to the Summit digital units that sit on a wish list in la la land.
Two Summit branded Corbeau wannabes w/ their respective sliders are also slotted.
A pretty serious audio system, made up of two pairs of components speakers mounted in the doors and quarter trim. Two 10" subs,.one 4 channel amp,..and one sub amp will take up the space that used to be the back seat. New carpet,.sound deadening will be included in this chapter.

Chapter 3: Powertrain:

This has been a point of contention for me for some time,...as I want it to be different while trying to keep it Ford. After considering about 4 different paths (one of which was an LS option),...

I think I've decided to do all the work required to make a 4.2L inline six fit the car ( Something that it currently will not do) I have acquired a rare Australian Crossflow head that will allow me to individually port inject each cylinder. Build custom intake and exhaust manifolds and turbocharge the combo. Back it up w/ a manually shifted 4R70w, and complete the drivetraing w/ a disc brake 8.8 sporting a 3.73 reargear.

Chapter 4: Exterior Cosmetics:

We'll have to see how this one goes,...by the time I get to this stage,....I expect that the car will be retired as a daily driver. After the last car,...I will not opt for a buddy deal paint job,..and will more than likely paint it myself.

The plan is to do all of this for a total investment of 6k. The 6 k number is the bail out sell price of the car should I decide to sell it. I've wanted a clean fairmont for so long now,..and this one will make my 6th., so clearly, I have it bad for the body style. No plans to sell anytime soon.

NIKwoaC · Aug 28, 2013

Phuck.Yea. Bring it.

mikestang63 · Aug 28, 2013

Paging Jimmy Carter.....lol And just think for $4000 it could have been all yours back then

HotFox · Aug 28, 2013

Plain and ugly! I like the plans!

Scott

madspeed · Aug 28, 2013

your twin

95BlueStallion · Aug 28, 2013

Woo hoo!

Grabbin' Asphalt · Aug 28, 2013

1/4 window BEAST!!!

Noobz347 · Aug 29, 2013

That interior looks primed to have an 85/86 dash and center console swapped into it.

Crutchfield has the kick panels with the speaker enclosures built into them.

I would keep those door panels and dye them the desired color.

84Ttop · Aug 29, 2013

Nice car, I was the proud/embarrassed owner of a 79' Zephyr.

I know where the car still is, sure you don't want me to source the factory bucket seats and factory 12 watts stereo amplifier? lol
All kidding aside, sounds like it will be a nice project!

hoopty5.0 · Aug 29, 2013

I have a SN BB/MC that I got from Scott that I probably wont use now that Im going manual brakes... Can you use that or does it HAVE to be a Cobra MC?

CarMichael Angelo · Aug 29, 2013

hoopty5.0 said:
I have a SN BB/MC that I got from Scott that I probably wont use now that Im going manual brakes... Can you use that or does it HAVE to be a Cobra MC?

tell the truth Collin I don't know what I need. I thought I needed the cobra mc.

what is a sn bb mc anyway?

hoopty5.0 · Aug 29, 2013

Brake booster/master cylinder from an SN-95 Mustang. @RacEoHolic330 could tell you more about it. I know that's what you need if you have 4 wheel disc brakes.

VibrantRedGT · Aug 29, 2013

Does it play the "Welcome Back Cotter" TV show jingle when you open the door? I'd call that car "Vinny Barbarino". Start tearing into it already.

mikestang63 · Aug 29, 2013

Oh the 70's were so damn funny

The best comment on this video

In space, no one can hear you rust.

95BlueStallion · Aug 29, 2013

Mike, I ran the stock MC on my '95 after upgrading the front to the Cobra brake package with 13" rotors, and it worked just fine. Had a nice firm pedal feel, but not to be confused with manual brake firm of course. The power assist was still there.

CarMichael Angelo · Aug 29, 2013

95BlueStallion said:
Mike, I ran the stock MC on my '95 after upgrading the front to the Cobra brake package with 13" rotors, and it worked just fine. Had a nice firm pedal feel, but not to be confused with manual brake firm of course. The power assist was still there.

so,...that still leaves me wondering,... This car has power brakes already, the booster looks like a freakin flying saucer, not like the one typically on a mustang..

The good side to that is there is a buttload of room between the front of the mc, and the driver's side strut tower for the upgrade.

Noobz347 · Aug 29, 2013

madmike1157 said:
so,...that still leaves me wondering,... This car has power brakes already, the booster looks like a freakin flying saucer, not like the one typically on a mustang..

The good side to that is there is a buttload of room between the front of the mc, and the driver's side strut tower for the upgrade.

You think the diaphragm inside of this relic is larger than the one for the Mustang? If so, it might be worth hanging onto if compatible with the MC you want to use.

CarMichael Angelo · Aug 29, 2013

Noobz347 said:
You think the diaphragm inside of this relic is larger than the one for the Mustang? If so, it might be worth hanging onto if compatible with the MC you want to use.

I don't no nothing about a diaphragm if it isn't intended to stop an unwanted pregnancy.

Just look at my big assed booster:

On a side note: I just noticed the upper rad hose,....whadya spose is going on there?

CarMichael Angelo · Aug 29, 2013

mikestang63 said:
Oh the 70's were so damn funny

The best comment on this video

I'll have you know I lived through the 70's.

I did not find them funny.

and.................. I got no rust.

Build Thread 1978 Mercury Cyclone. The pig is in the pen.

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

NIKwoaC

中國製造

mikestang63

HotFox

madspeed

Colonel Mustard

95BlueStallion

My assy trans to myself

Grabbin' Asphalt

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?

hoopty5.0

mechanicus terribilis

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

hoopty5.0

mechanicus terribilis

VibrantRedGT

"STANGNET'S PENGUIN SMACKER"

mikestang63

95BlueStallion

My assy trans to myself

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

Build Thread 1978 Mercury Cyclone. The pig is in the pen.

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

中國製造

Colonel Mustard

My assy trans to myself

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?

mechanicus terribilis

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

mechanicus terribilis

"STANGNET'S PENGUIN SMACKER"

My assy trans to myself

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

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