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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Progress Thread Finally got my first Fox Body - 1988 GT

  • Thread starter Thread starter DudeStang
  • Start date Start date Feb 7, 2020
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    fox body 5.0 grater mustang gt white fox
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DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
5 Year Member
Apr 30, 2017
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Mar 17, 2020
#161
  • Mar 17, 2020
  • #161
General karthief said:
Have you tried to bolt the bracket to the frame rail and bolt the horns to the bracket?
Click to expand...
I didn't see an easy way of doing that when I was under the car last time but I had the front driver side wheel still on this weekend (car was on ramps). I will look again next time I have the wheel off and see if I can make something like that work.

My plan for the next reasonably warm day is to focus on cleaning up everything underneath to better identify the leaks and also work on the front driver side frame and shock tower rust.
 
Last edited: Mar 21, 2020

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
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Mar 17, 2020
#162
  • Mar 17, 2020
  • #162
That bracket should line up to a couple holes on the frame rail
 

DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
5 Year Member
Apr 30, 2017
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Mar 21, 2020
#163
  • Mar 21, 2020
  • #163
General karthief said:
That bracket should line up to a couple holes on the frame rail
Click to expand...
I think I gotta find a way to get this out though...


 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
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Mar 21, 2020
#164
  • Mar 21, 2020
  • #164
Some heat and a pair of vise grips.
There is a couple different things to keep in mind, the nut is 'captured ' by a thin piece of metal so care must be taken or the nut can be torn from bracket.
You can try blaster or similar product and vice grips and just wiggle, wiggle, wiggle till it comes out. Take a file or a small grinder and hit it on the broken side so none of the broken side of the bolt is exposed, may make it easier.
 
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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,260
17,944
224
Massachusetts
Mar 21, 2020
#165
  • Mar 21, 2020
  • #165
Grab that nib with some vice grips, heat up the backside, and twist it out
 
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DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
5 Year Member
Apr 30, 2017
659
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Mar 21, 2020
#166
  • Mar 21, 2020
  • #166
New video is up. Disregard my goofy ass face close up. I need to create a custom thumbnail or something, lol.

 

DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
5 Year Member
Apr 30, 2017
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Mar 21, 2020
#167
  • Mar 21, 2020
  • #167
Steel1 said:
Regarding the crusty seal on the back of the stock air box, I would go to a home improvement store of your choice and
purchase some new adhesive foam weatherstripping. They sell it in many different sizes, you could even get some
in a neoprene rubber.
Clean off your old stuff really good , wipe it down with some paint prep, rubbing alcohol etc. and stick down the new stuff.
I'll be taking a trip down to southern VA from CT this weekend , I'll honk on the way by.
Click to expand...

I picked up some weatherstripping from a hardware store close by but I didn't feel confident it could be manipulated to make the right shape without cutting it and gluing it together a bunch so I just ended up returning it and ordering the replacement seal from LMR. It took me probably close to half an hour to clean off the old stuff but I got it done eventually and got the new seal on the air box.

Old


New - pretty happy with the quality and fit


 
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DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
5 Year Member
Apr 30, 2017
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Mar 24, 2020
#168
  • Mar 24, 2020
  • #168
Noticed this when I was poking around again. Based on some quick googling it looks like maybe it’s a proportioning valve?




Also got a couple of other pics...

Wondering what used to go in this fire extinguisher looking strap, lol



Also. Hard to see a lot of detail on this but looks like some moisture/oil pretty high up, wondering if maybe this is an indicator of a leak somewhere around the intake manifold or the head gaskets?
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,260
17,944
224
Massachusetts
Mar 24, 2020
#169
  • Mar 24, 2020
  • #169
Proportioning valve for the added rear disk brakes.

The bracket used to hold the ac accumulator for the air conditioning system, which has been deleted.

Can’t see the last pics, but valve cover gaskets are a common source of leaks
 
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General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
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polk county florida
Mar 24, 2020
#170
  • Mar 24, 2020
  • #170
That 'fire extinguisher strap' is for the ac hose, it has a big can on it, can't remember what it's for.
Or what he ^^^ said.
Yeah, kinda slow on the keyboard
 
Reactions: DudeStang

DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
5 Year Member
Apr 30, 2017
659
373
83
Mar 25, 2020
#170
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • #170
Mustang5L5 said:
Proportioning valve for the added rear disk brakes.

The bracket used to hold the ac accumulator for the air conditioning system, which has been deleted.

Can’t see the last pics, but valve cover gaskets are a common source of leaks
Click to expand...

Thanks

General karthief said:
That 'fire extinguisher strap' is for the ac hose, it has a big can on it, can't remember what it's for.
Or what he ^^^ said.
Yeah, kinda slow on the keyboard
Click to expand...
Thanks

RE: head gaskets - I was thinking that I had head gaskets in the spare parts that came with the car. Upon closer look it seems what I have are the intake manifold gaskets...




This is pretty small but I made a short video of replacing the air box seal and adding the K&N filter.
View: https://youtu.be/V-jAf_gWlfY


Also ordered a few random small hardware pieces...the hardware for the fender splash shield, so it’s easier to put back in when I get it all cleaned up, also the battery tray hardware kit, and the hood rubber bumper kit.

I’ve got some other stuff on my list but trying not to be irresponsible with money given the current situation...and also need to make sure I’m not forgetting the rust and leaks.
 
Reactions: General karthief

DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
5 Year Member
Apr 30, 2017
659
373
83
Mar 25, 2020
#171
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • #171
General karthief said:
Some heat and a pair of vise grips.
There is a couple different things to keep in mind, the nut is 'captured ' by a thin piece of metal so care must be taken or the nut can be torn from bracket.
You can try blaster or similar product and vice grips and just wiggle, wiggle, wiggle till it comes out. Take a file or a small grinder and hit it on the broken side so none of the broken side of the bolt is exposed, may make it easier.
Click to expand...
Mustang5L5 said:
Grab that nib with some vice grips, heat up the backside, and twist it out
Click to expand...
Thanks for this input. I tried a little bit with the drill/wire brush to file it down. I was able to see a little bit of progress but it seems heat and or an actual grinder would be more sufficient.

My wife has this wood burning art kit thing with a pen that supposedly will get up to 900ish degrees Fahrenheit. I was wondering if that might work but I’m guessing I might need something hotter/more heavy duty..
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,929
10,573
203
polk county florida
Mar 25, 2020
#172
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • #172
You need fire
 
Reactions: DudeStang

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,260
17,944
224
Massachusetts
Mar 25, 2020
#173
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • #173
Yup. Head on down to Home Depot and head to the plumbing aisle and buy yourself a MAPP gas torch

Has paid for itself saving me time while freeing stuck brake rotors, or heavily locktited bolts




Edit: there are cheaper kits. I just like the igniter torch head
 
Last edited: Mar 25, 2020
Reactions: 90sickfox and General karthief

TexasFireman

15 Year Member
Jun 12, 2008
220
150
64
Beaumont Tx
Mar 26, 2020
#174
  • Mar 26, 2020
  • #174
Just ran across your channel on YouTube. Always glad to see new REAL WORLD Fox content. Welcome and good luck!
 
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DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
5 Year Member
Apr 30, 2017
659
373
83
Mar 27, 2020
#175
  • Mar 27, 2020
  • #175
Added a little bit more color to the fox

Before

After



Also found a possible better use for the ac accumulator bracket thing


Was planning to replace the fuel filter this weekend but realized the filter I received from American Muscle didn’t include the retaining clips so had to order those. Filter will have to wait until next weekend.
 

Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues
5 Year Member
Dec 29, 2017
3,955
2,937
153
Long Island, NY
Mar 27, 2020
#176
  • Mar 27, 2020
  • #176
DudeStang said:
Added a little bit more color to the fox

Before

After



Also found a possible better use for the ac accumulator bracket thing


Was planning to replace the fuel filter this weekend but realized the filter I received from American Muscle didn’t include the retaining clips so had to order those. Filter will have to wait until next weekend.
Click to expand...

Red lettering looks good!
Don’t waste you’re money getting parts like that filter at AM. They’re probably charging you double what the local parts store has it for (and they come with clips).
I bet you could trade those wipes for several fuel filters
 
Reactions: General karthief and DudeStang

DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
5 Year Member
Apr 30, 2017
659
373
83
Mar 30, 2020
#177
  • Mar 30, 2020
  • #177
Rdub6 said:
Red lettering looks good!
Don’t waste you’re money getting parts like that filter at AM. They’re probably charging you double what the local parts store has it for (and they come with clips).
I bet you could trade those wipes for several fuel filters
Click to expand...
Thanks man. Interestingly, I found that the oil filter was actually quite a bit cheaper at AM than LMR but I was already ordering some small things from LMR anyways. I won't make the mistake of ordering things like fuel filters from AM again though...I'm just trying to be responsible given the current epidemic situation and order things via mail rather than going to the store in person.

I made progress on a few more small things Friday and got a new video up:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvCdEzuFm-A


Another thing came up today...I went to start the fox body and got a fast clicking sound. I did some googling and apparently that is usually a sign that the battery isn't holding a charge(?). I found this thread from 2011 to help try and trouble shoot: https://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/threads/clicking-noise-when-trying-to-start.843501/

First thing I did was attempt to jump start the fox with my other car. Fox fired right up. I was thinking about what it could be that caused the battery to drain or die. I'm not sure whether this seems like a feasible explanation but figured I'd run it by you guys. So on Friday, when I was working on the fox, I had one or both doors open for at least a couple of hours. Is it possible that the dome light being on could drain the battery that drastically? I assume that there's probably some other issue like battery wiring or bad connection somewhere but maybe the light being on for a while contributed to the draining of the battery. What do you guys think?
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,929
10,573
203
polk county florida
Mar 30, 2020
#178
  • Mar 30, 2020
  • #178
That or the battery is losing power from just being old, get your volt meter out and check the battery voltage.
 

DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
5 Year Member
Apr 30, 2017
659
373
83
Mar 30, 2020
#179
  • Mar 30, 2020
  • #179
General karthief said:
That or the battery is losing power from just being old, get your volt meter out and check the battery voltage.
Click to expand...
I should have clarified, it's a brand new battery that I picked up a few weeks ago.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,929
10,573
203
polk county florida
Mar 30, 2020
#180
  • Mar 30, 2020
  • #180
Leaving the doors open for a couple hours should not have effected a new battery as long as the battery was fully charged. Do a voltage drop test on the cables.
You may have a bad connection.
 
Reactions: DudeStang
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