Progress Thread 1993 LX Hatch Progress

Some more updates...the interior is all done. I'm pretty happy with the end result. I noticed my driver's side window makes a repeated clunk sound when it hits bottom...I am thinking the lower limit switch isn't working right? It's always something...lol. here's some pics.


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Last night I decided to finally replace the smoked headlights that came with the car...I think it looks so much better now. Took the car for a nice long drive through the mountains today. It really is running great.

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It looks decent in pics but it's a 10 footer for sure. Someday I will repaint it... however, that will be last since it's still presentable. Next major project will be an engine and engine bay refresh. Maybe next month...

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.
Car is looking great! I’ll be curious if the limit switch fixes your issue, my drivers side does that, I thought it was like the window track or motor like skipping a tooth or something.
 
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Car is looking great! I’ll be curious if the limit switch fixes your issue, my drivers side does that, I thought it was like the window track or motor like skipping a tooth or something.
Thanks! Yeah, I'm not sure how motivated I am to tear my door panel apart again to see what is causing it...lol.
 
If it is 'pinging' (spark knock) check your timing making sure the balancer is good and has not spun the outside ring, verify TDC and 0* on the balancer, check the engine running timing (10-14*) then check fuel pressure.
Tell us what you find.
Now I will say that an exhaust header leak at the head can sound like pinging .
 
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Well, it's been a while since I've posted anything. I have just been enjoying the car this summer.
I finally yanked the engine a couple weeks ago. Everything looked good minus a chunk missing from the #4 cam bearing...strange.

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Rebuild has gone pretty good so far. I've replaced the old hyper pistons with some stock forged ones. Piston to wall is .004", which is what I was hoping for. Cylinders only had .001" of taper and .001" out of roundness. I can live with that. I deglazed the cylinders with 240 stones and finished with some 320s since I'm running moly rings.
Here's some pics of the process:

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The old hypereutectic pistons
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Block still had crosshatching when I opened it up.
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Decided to port match my headers...bottom one has been done in this pic.
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Polished the crankshaft myself.
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Checked main and rod clearances...All looked great.
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Checked piston to valve clearance since I'm running a B21 cam. Intake is .100" and exhaust is .240". I'm taking .010" off the heads as well.
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Shimming new trick flow valve springs.
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Assembled short block.
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Been relooming engine bay and cleaning things up since I have plenty of access.
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That's pretty much where I am at. I should be getting my head's back from the machine shop this week. With any luck, I'll have the engine sitting back in the car next weekend.


Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

Jeff
 
Been a while...lots has been happening since last post. Unfortunately, there was an issue with one of my self ported E7 head's (coolant in oil and white smoke). Head gaskets looked just fine...plugs 2 and 3 were wet on the threads. There must have been a crack somewhere. I should have had them magnafluxed before I spent over 48 hours porting them...lol.

Milkshake... thankfully no boys were in the yard.
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Decided to splurge on some TFS170s..
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Back together and pressure tested the cooling system...all good.
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No more milkshake...
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One last tidy up and cruise before last winter.
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Next post will be of things done this year.

Jeff
 
Stuff done this year....
Installed used seats from an 89 GT. Both lumbar bladders still work too. I prefer the headrests and leg adjustability on these seats over the later ones. These seats tie into my door panels too, which is nice. The gray color is a little different, but I can live with that. The picture below makes the colors look more mismatched than in person.

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I had to pull the fabric off the bottom back seat pad from the 1989 and install on the 1993 pad...found out they are different.

I also purchased a Moates Quarter Horse from core tuning. I had one of their tuners help me get it dialed in. Let me tell you, it drives and idles so much better now. Gone are the days of just running 24# injectors and a calibrated mass air. It made a world of difference in the driveability of my car. I have been learning and tweaking things in binary editor...it's been a lot of fun.

Here's a current rundown of my new engine and car specs:

-Stock block/crank from a 1994 mustang with OEM forged pistons and rods from a 1987.
-Sealed power plasma moly rings.
-Trickflow twisted wedge 170 heads with 61cc combustion chambers.
-10.1 compression ratio.
-piston protrusion is between .000" and .005" out of the hole...it was like this originally.
-.042" head gaskets which gives me between .037-.042" quench.
-ARP head studs.
-Anderson B21 cam.
-1.72 scorpion roller rockers.
-6.700" hardened trick flow push rods.
-Refreshed stock lifters.
-Melling factory spec oil pump with ARP shaft.
-Cloyes double roller timing chain.
-24# Ford performance injectors (purple).
-Ported GT40 upper and lower intake.
-Port matched BBK equal length shorty headers.
-75mm accufab throttle body.
-75mm pro M mass air.
-Accufab adjustable fuel pressure regulator.
-Z spec T5 transmission.
-Billet flywheel and Mcleod Street Pro clutch.
-3.73 gears.
-Aluminum driveshaft
-2.5" exhaust, X-pipe, and 40 series Flowmasters.

So far I'm really happy the way this build came together.
Next up is going to be contour fans... I'll post pics of that project.

-Jeff
 
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