Progress Thread Komo's 1990 GT - Parts Gathering Purgatory & Home Remodel

[nicholase]

The exhaust is a good point, i BELIEVE my current exhaust follows the factory routing but i can't be certain until i check. I didn't have to deal with that before as i had dumps.

What exhaust do you have? If you post a side picture of where it goes over the axle i could probably tell you if it will work. I just went through this.

Flowmaster tailpipes do fit with a panhard bar. Other than that I think it has to be factory exhaust or custom made. I can say Bassani and Magnaflow definitely don't work.

For a drilling just get a center punch, a 1/8" pilot bit and a uni-bit (stepped bit) that goes up to the diameter of the large holes. Home depot has all that stuff. Get good bits or you'll wish you did. Drill slow. It ain't that bad.

 

[AeroCoupe]

Walker 2-1/2” tail pipes work as they are on the factory pattern. It during they make them anymore but that’s what I have.

 

[gkomo]

What exhaust do you have? If you post a side picture of where it goes over the axle i could probably tell you if it will work. I just went through this.

Flowmaster tailpipes do fit with a panhard bar. Other than that I think it has to be factory exhaust or custom made. I can say Bassani and Magnaflow definitely don't work.

For a drilling just get a center punch, a 1/8" pilot bit and a uni-bit (stepped bit) that goes up to the diameter of the large holes. Home depot has all that stuff. Get good bits or you'll wish you did. Drill slow. It ain't that bad.

It’s got AP Exhaust Technologies catback on it now. From my research it’s like summit brands flow masters? I dunno but the routing looks stock, up and over the axle and ends under the rear bumper like a stock GT would… I’ll take a photo.

 

[gkomo]

Since you have the MM SFC's and LCA's, and once you get the PHB installed, eventually down the road I'd say put the TQ Arm on as well and get rid of the UCA's. Up until I got my Cobra that already has all that installed I had only driven a car like yours is now, and an IRS equipped fox, but with the TQA/PHB setup on the Cobra it is amazing. I don't yet know my spring rates as I need to get it in the air and look, but the ride is awesome, firm, but yet somehow still supple. I fully understanding taking it a step at a time and you're going in the right direction, but I seriously recommend putting in the TQA down the road as the ride is awesome.

100% will be putting a torque arm at some point. Not only do I just want one (always wanted to put one on my last Fox but never did)… I should also be way past the power levels of my old Fox as well once (and this could be a while) I get the supercharger on, heads on, and whatever I end up doing to the shortblock. A torque arm will probably be a necessity at that point anyways.

 

[bird_dog0347]

100% will be putting a torque arm at some point. Not only do I just want one (always wanted to put one on my last Fox but never did)… I should also be way past the power levels of my old Fox as well once (and this could be a while) I get the supercharger on, heads on, and whatever I end up doing to the shortblock. A torque arm will probably be a necessity at that point anyways.

My Cobra is pretty much stock engine wise (so like 300), but just the overall ride is better than my 2014 GT was with Ford Racing springs, Koni shocks, etc. and it was 16 years newer. Granted the Cobra has a whole new suspension on it, but still, it is so sure footed and predictable.

 

[AeroCoupe]

Don't forget there are three different torque arms. Some basic questions to answer and you are good to go:

Torque-arm Ordering Questions

 

[gkomo]

Don't forget there are three different torque arms. Some basic questions to answer and you are good to go:

Torque-arm Ordering Questions

Looking at the first table with normal T5 first gear ratio and 3.55 rear gear I’m looking at a Heavy Duty TA for torque levels (projected) above 350 but below 545… but then again I’ll probably blow the transmission at those power levels and be needing something else lol

Reading through the page I have the other suspension bits covered. Looks like exhaust modifications are required on the heavy duty variant, bummer. But these are problems I’ll deal with down the road.

 

[gkomo]

I bought some LMR Smoked Headlights on a whim. My current headlights are 'fine'... but the main center lense shows signs of starting to yellow. I received them and took them out of the box... i think they may be a little too dark for my liking. What are your guys thoughts? I may return and just buy the standard looking ones. I have no idea if the head lights on the car are OEM or not, assuming they are not since they look fairly okay. I did only put one of the smoked lenses up against the car to see how they would look with the red paint in my garage with not great lighting... not sold yet.

I'm not concerned about light output... this won't be driven at night or anything. And i have yelllow Lamin-x coming to cover the fog lights (i just like yellow fogs... have them on my 4runner) so nothing to worry about with the headlights/foglights not matching.

I may keep them as LMR looks to have me pay for return shipping which could be like $20-40 with how big the box is... decisions decisions.

 

[limp]

I bought some LMR Smoked Headlights on a whim. My current headlights are 'fine'... but the main center lense shows signs of starting to yellow. I received them and took them out of the box... i think they may be a little too dark for my liking. What are your guys thoughts? I may return and just buy the standard looking ones. I have no idea if the head lights on the car are OEM or not, assuming they are not since they look fairly okay. I did only put one of the smoked lenses up against the car to see how they would look with the red paint in my garage with not great lighting... not sold yet.

I'm not concerned about light output... this won't be driven at night or anything. And i have yelllow Lamin-x coming to cover the fog lights (i just like yellow fogs... have them on my 4runner) so nothing to worry about with the headlights/foglights not matching.

I may keep them as LMR looks to have me pay for return shipping which could be like $20-40 with how big the box is... decisions decisions.

Old guy says they should make those darkened headlights illegal ...... Just my opinion

 

[gkomo]

Old guy says they should make those darkened headlights illegal ...... Just my opinion

I agree for someone daily driving their car and driving it at night. This is more for looks in my case, but even then i'm not sure. I'll probably return them.

 

[General karthief]

Another 'old guy' opinion (you did ask right?) they look cool from a visual standpoint but functionally ineffective looking out the windscreen and seeing them from on coming traffic, the worst offenders are the 'smoked taillights' aptly named because drivers can't really see em Even in the daylight. Somebody's gonna end up in a ditch. Prolly smok'n.
But they look sooo cool.
I'm not 'cool' so I can't.have any 'smoked' head or tail lights

 

[gkomo]

Ya i've started the RMA process with LMR. In their pictures the smoked definitely don't look as dark as when you're holding them in your hands.

Rockauto sells just the center lense housing by Dorman... wonder if those would be of higher quality. They are $98/ea. I could also just try cleaning my current ones up and spraying some clear on them.

 

[AeroCoupe]

Cut and buff your OEM ones and move on.

 

[gkomo]

Started my drivers side run channel weatherstripping replacement. I think I figured out the pinch point on my passenger side cause I’m having the same issue on the drivers side… it’s the outside window weatherstripping piece, like the one with felt that actually touches the window when you roll it up or down. That piece is too long so it butts up against the run channel piece compressing the channel.

Except on the drivers side it’s pinching the rear, not the front by the mirror. I’m having to cut/trim some of it off (inboard side) so it doesn’t pinch the run channel. I think I know what I need to look for back on the passenger side now. Anyways, long ways to go, figuring that out and trimming took a lot of time.

Ideally you’d replace both at the same time but do the run channel first.., but I’ve already replaced and riveted the window one and I don’t really want to drill out the rivets and rerivet it back on.

 

[gkomo]

Got the driver side run channel in and tested window movement. So much better than the passenger side so I’m going to trim the same piece I did on the drivers side. I ended up having to trim both front and rear of that window weatherstripping piece for best results.

 

[gkomo]

I know yellow fogs aren’t for everyone, but I’ve always liked the look:



Also got my new tires mounted and back on my front wheels. Excited to see if that fixes my bump bump bump issue I’ve been having with those old deadspot tires. Going to clean up the inside of the wheels before putting them back on.

 

[gkomo]

Well I just realized what an idiot I am. I bought 275/40/17’s for the rear wheels…. THOUGHT I bought 245/40/17s for the front but I bought, received and had mounted 245/45/17’s…. Is this gonna look goofy as hell? Should I have them swapped out? I’m sure they would I haven’t done anything with the tires just brought them home and put them in the garage.

Edit: nevermind they are almost identical in diameter, should be fine.

 

[Noobz347]

You won't even see it.

It's 1/4 of an inch total sidewall, difference.

Take a pick of a front and a rear, side-by-side.

 

[gkomo]

If anyone knows a good painter in San Diego, my wife said she would be embarrassed to ride in the car with the hood looking the way it does, lol.

 

[Noobz347]

Doesn't care what color the hood is.