Freakin' MONEY Pit!!!

[The Dan]

I need to vent to those that can relate...My fellow Stangnetters.

Here's the deal. I took my 65 FB in last week to get the AFR's and a cam installed as well as a TCP rack & pinion. No biggie right, wrong! I had most of the parts they would need, so I thought I had spent all I needed for parts, and what I spent was really all I could afford, my last hoo rah for the next year or two. Since last Friday it has gone like this. My mechanic found a cracked timing cover. Mine is an early 289, so I searched the entire US and couldn't find an original, so I opted to upgrade to a later 65/66 style, which also meant I had to buy a compatable water pump, as the earlier style is different. That was an extra $230. Then, yesterday he tells me the stock fuel pump will not deliver the psi needed to feed this combo. Bam, another $100 on a fuel pump. Today he calls with the push rod measurements and to let me know that the horsepower this is going to produce will soon eat up my stock harmonic balancer. So, $500 later I have a set of push rods and a new ATI balancer on the way. I really hope I have finished buying parts for a terribly over budget project . He is giving me an insane rate on the labor, but I still don't need this nickle and dime crap. I had a set amount to spend, and now I've had to tap my savings, with no choice, as the car HAD to have the parts in order to be put back together.

To top all that off TCP still doesn't have the shaft kits for the R&P. I ordered this kit over a month ago! They made it sound like everything shipped last Thursday with the R&P. When I got the box it was just the R&P unit. I called them and they were like oh ya, the shaft kits are still out of stock, like it was no big deal.

Anyways, when, or if, it ever gets finished here's what it will read like.

289 w/
Ford Racing Timing Cover
Flow Kooler Water Pump
AFR 165's
Comp Magnum Roller Tip Rockers
Comp Magnum Push Rods
Comp Magnum Hyd. Lifters
Comp Xtreme Energy 262 Cam
Weiand Stealth Intake
Holley Street Avenger 570
ATI Harmonic Dampner
Flowtech Long Tube Headers
Flowmaster 50 Series, True Dual Exhaust
TCP Power Rack & Pinion

So if you have endured this read, I have one question for the engine guru's. For all the dough I have spent, what kind of power should I expect at the wheels???

C-4 Tranny, 2.89 Rear End

Thanks Fella's, and Fellette's

 

[302 coupe]

with a stock C4 and 2.80 gears you won't be feeling much of the power. It will be faster than before, but.....maybe a converter and some gears can be next years projects.

Anyway, thats the way it goes when modifying a car, usually when you buy one part you have to buy two others to get it to work properly. Good luck, sounds like you should have a fine running engine.

 

[BAD67FUN]

Maybe we should clarify that answer.... you'll have PLENTY of power. And depending on how you drive it... you'll feel it. What he probably meant was that the stock C4 is lousy and the rear gear are way too short. Also... more than likely you have an open diff... so you're gonna spin that one wheel for a long time. Don't sweat it though.... a few more grand and you'll be just fine....

 

[Cobain03]

a classic car is a money pit anyways..I baught mine with no idea of how much time and money was involved with "restoring" it. now 7 months later im pretty much done and now adding all the goodies...ordered headers today !!

 

[302 coupe]

Maybe we should clarify that answer.... you'll have PLENTY of power. And depending on how you drive it... you'll feel it. What he probably meant was that the stock C4 is lousy and the rear gear are way too short. Also... more than likely you have an open diff... so you're gonna spin that one wheel for a long time. Don't sweat it though.... a few more grand and you'll be just fine....

yeah, I guess I worded that kinda poorly. The power will be there, and you'll be able to tell its there, but you won't be able to fully/optimally use it.

 

[jbsteven]

you have to pay to play.

 

[notny41]

At least most of the body and interior parts are cheap through the catalogs for these cars (unless you need to go all original).

 

[Cbarton]

I feel your pain, I've had it happen so many times that I am almost used to it.....gonna be a great car tho!

Chris Barton

 

[dmoody]

>He is giving me an insane rate on the labor

No doubt he has mentioned this to you several times? I imagine he is making money somewhere. Generally the more someone says something, the less likely it is to be true.

d

 

[Ozsum2]

I don't think the mechanic is scamming you. There are many unknowns when you start a project, and when you rebuild and engine to unstock specs, the are even more variables. I think you could have come up with a cover, but time wasn't on your side. Sounds like you needed to do a little homework on the upgrade to get a bigger picture of the total cost.

 

[Max Power]

Gears will help you immensly. You won't believe the difference. You could even run more cam with those heads.

I am using a new stock balancer on a hotted up 393 and it is fine.

 

[The Dan]

Thanks for the replys guys. I know that this happens when you get into these kind of projects. I don't care how much homework you do, something ALWAYS comes up. I think it was the dampner that put me over the edge. $400! 50 here a 100 there sometimes isn't so bad, but $400 is a lot when your check book looks like mine!

I did have money set aside for a set of 3.25 gears. I'll have to put that off for about 2 or 3 months so I can save up. I have a quote of $1,200 to rebuild the rear with 3.25 posi, all new seals, bearings and gaskets + labor. Didn't think that sounded too bad, as I know the parts aren't too cheap for a rear, if you get the good stuff.

Anyways, thanks for sharing. Misery loves company!

I'm sure it'll be all good once it's back on the street!

 

[1320stang]

Dang, it sounds like you ought to order a built 3rd member and install it yourself.

BTW, Posi is a GM term, you won't get a posi for your Ford. Tru-trac, Trac-lok, Limited Slip, Detroit Locker, Auburn, these are the terminology your looking for (I'm sure there are others) and the price varies as well. Do you have an 8" or a 9"?

 

[69fb00GT]

if your engine was stock before all these parts went on, you will notice a HUGE difference, even with the stock converter and gears.

What kind of ignition r u running?

 

[The Dan]

1320, I have an 8". What is a good way to go as far as the set ups you mentioned? I've heard the Detroit can be noisy, and over kill for a street car? I'm not very familiar with rear ends. I just know what they do, not how there built.

69, I'm running stock distrib. with a Petronix elec. ignition.

 

[Max Power]

Sorry to say, but I don't think you needed to spend $400 on a harmonic.

 

[jikelly]

You will feel the power. I had a 302 with not too far off components and it pulled like crazy. Not a whole lot of low end but loads of top end. That helped with traction though so I was smiling all the way to the bank where I once had money in a savings account, but my old stang took care of all that.

 

[allcarfan]

You spent:

$500 on pushrods and a balancer, $100 on a fuel pump, and $230 on a waterpump and timing chain cover? Do all those prices include the labor your mechanic is charging to put them on?

Those prices are REALLY REALLY high.

 

[Pakrat]

As good ole SD used to say, figure out how you want the car set up first, then plan a budget, then before you start, double it! It almost never fails, and if you don't plan first then plan on spending even more money re-doing things. That's why I chose to follow one of SD's other rules, buy the best car you can afford up front, it's cheaper in the long run.

Sorry to hear she's tapping you out, but don't blow thru all your savings if possible as a rainy day could be right around the corner, and having to sell your car for harder times will certainly lead to a loss of investment. Unfinished projects just don't fetch the sum of their parts, and the car mags are unfortunately full of these kinds of stories. I know living above your means is a popular way of life these days, but if the project ends up taxing you this badly so far, maybe now is not the right time in your life for it. Just be smart is all I'm saying, I'd like to see this end as a happy story for you, and chasing after bad money with good never ends happy.

Good Luck!!!!!

 

[Ozsum2]

As good ole SD used to say, figure out how you want the car set up first, then plan a budget, then before you start, double it! It almost never fails, and if you don't plan first then plan on spending even more money re-doing things. That's why I chose to follow one of SD's other rules, buy the best car you can afford up front, it's cheaper in the long run.

Sorry to hear she's tapping you out, but don't blow thru all your savings if possible as a rainy day could be right around the corner, and having to sell your car for harder times will certainly lead to a loss of investment. Unfinished projects just don't fetch the sum of their parts, and the car mags are unfortunately full of these kinds of stories. I know living above your means is a popular way of life these days, but if the project ends up taxing you this badly so far, maybe now is not the right time in your life for it. Just be smart is all I'm saying, I'd like to see this end as a happy story for you, and chasing after bad money with good never ends happy.

Good Luck!!!!!

SD would be proud. Often, a thread comes up and I find myself remembering back to one of his "wisdoms." He knew (knows) more than just stangs.