I installed the battery box and mounted it to the frame to comply with NHRA rules. I also cut through the bottom of the battery box, insulated the holes and run the cables out the bottom of the box so you cannot see any wires.
The protective covering has been left in place for now.
I completed the front and rear brake line and master cylinder. I went to our local O'Reilly Auto Parts and used their free double flaring tool. I needed three reducers from the Baer Brakes to the Ford lines (2 front, 1 rear).
This is the rear:
I also needed two straight connectors one for the rear and one for passenger side.
Passenger side:
I spent a lot of time bending the factory lines to make a neat installation. The 3/16" tube clamps and an #8 x 1/2" self tapping screw made it easier.
The tee and the rear adjustable proportioning valve came from UP. Things are starting to get tight for tools.
designed a relay panel to be hidden under the old battery box. 6 relays: 2 @ 50 amp - Fans, Optional (Stereo Amp), and 4 @ 30 amp - Fuel Pump, High Beams (PIAA driving lights), Low beams (stock bulbs), Fog Lamps (PIAA).
Just a note on wiring, I am using the parking/running lights to power the low beams. That way they are on all the time when the switch is pulled. The original mustang wiring turns off the low beams when the highs are on. I will use the low beam circuit to power the fog lamp circuit, and interrupt it with a switch (probably out of the dimmer switch). You usually never use the fog lamps with the high beams on.
Well I got a surprise. The parking lights do NOT stay on when switch is pulled out to the second position. So... I now have low beams ALL the time the car is started. I don't mind. But all the lights up front and in back work. Those sequential rear turn signals are trick!!
I finished the front wiring. That box below the solenoid is a 50 amp fuse for the mustang main harness. I put wire loom from the starter solenoid...
down through the passenger fender area where the relay panel is (the relay panel will get a splash shield) ...
down under the radiator area (I even wired it for the electric fan underneath in the middle)...
up to the driver side front (BTW, THAT fan is coming off for good, don't need it anymore)...
and under the driver side fender. That set of wires hanging down will get wire loom and then routed inside at that point. Some get hooked up to the coil that mounts on the inside of the shock tower, and the others go to the engine.
Finishing up the wiring (except for the gauges and center console), I checked all the relays and circuits. Horn works, high beams, low beams, fog lights, A/C works (blower 3 speeds and electrical to the switch on the pressure side of the cooler for the compressor clutch), back up lights (with the trans circuit bypassed), starter solenoid (with the neutral switch bypassed), all blinker, interior lights, dome, trunk light (it is always hot, I need a switch and light), fuel pump, and optional relay to stereo amp!
I started work on the gauge cluster. I installed the windshield wiper switch (no new replacement, had to use the old one)
and I will post a schematic of the new Shelby gauge cluster wiring that has to be cut off and adapted to the new Painless harness tomorrow (circuit, Shelby color, painless color). Here is a start
Here is the wiring schematic for using the Shelby gauges from Unique Performance and splicing it to an original or Painless wiring harness. Painless uses the same colors as the original Mustang harness.
I installed the gas cap, fuel filler tube, 1/2' (AN-8 ) breather line, and wired the fuel pump, sending unit and the optional relay wire to the amp (not installed yet).
I finished all the auxiliary wiring that I could. Like wiring the trans tunnel, but from the inside so that there are no wires in the engine compartment.
The center console will cover up any deformities in the carpet, and I cut the hole way forward.
All this work allowed me to start the dash. Everything needs to be installed in this order.
I installed the dash pad from dashesdirect.com and it is very high quality . Fit is excellent, I only had to cut two little pieces off the upper ends (by the windshield) with a pair of scissors to make it fit correctly. This piece makes the inside look better than original!
And the Shelby cluster. Everything works! I checked every circuit. And I mean every circuit!
Then the A/C controls. After that the kick panels so I could install the A/C vents, run all the air tubes (what a PITA ), and cleaned up the wiring a little:
I installed the Hydraulic Clutch Master. But I had to make some modifications to the input shaft and the stock mustang adjustable brake push rod. The stock Mustang push rod adjuster is a bigger diameter/thread than the input shaft coming out of the master cylinder. And the input shaft is too long.
So, in the picture you can see how much I had to cut out of the Clutch master input shaft. How did I know how much to cut off? Fit, measure and mark. And I had to weld on a nut to the end of stock mustang push rod. And putting on that fluid reservoir was a PITA. The O'ring did not want to stay in the groove. I had to heat the plastic resevoir up with a heat gun, and work it many times to get it on without the O'ring slipping out of place. Just one more thing that takes time and patients.
I started fitting the rear seat. If you tubbed the rear end, you must cut the rear seat. The best way to preserve the hinge mounts and end of the first fold is to cut it in the middle. Yeah, that's right. Two cuts. And then weld it together. My fenders measured only 39" clearance and the panel was 41". It now fits pretty good. I am on cloud after today. Everything is coming together!
And I had to remove the floor mounting brackets and re-weld them in by 1" each side.
Edit: I wish that I would have cut the panel off to one side or the other so the mounting holes in the new chrome pieces would line up. But I can alway just drill new mounting holes in the old metal for the one side of the chrome.
I mounted the new transmission crossover. Bolted it in and had to drill out to 1/2" for the new grade 8 bolts to help handle the horsepower. A piece will be welded in place that mounts up to the trans when I get the engine/transmission in place.