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

[Noobz347]

You can transfer the title even [without] getting it smogged. There's [lots] of race cars in Cali that never see the street.


The fuel system on these cars is not particularly complex. These are things you could probably tackle on your own without paying Cali prices.

I don't know what work-arounds there are to installing your own exhaust with CARB exemptions.

 

[gkomo]

You can transfer the title even [without] getting it smogged. There's [lots] of race cars in Cali that never see the street.


The fuel system on these cars is not particularly complex. These are things you could probably tackle on your own without paying Cali prices.

I don't know what work-arounds there are to installing your own exhaust with CARB exemptions.

I do need to check the connection from the tank, to the fuel filter, and onwards. That could be an easy one to look at and it probably needs a new fuel filter anyways.

I know installing exhaust is whatever when it comes to CARB, anyone can do it. I'm more curious if Magnaflow would honor the warranty if i do it myself. Will wait to hear back.

And interesting about the title. I just went into AAA to do the Title transfer and he said i had to have the car smogged. I paid the tax and title transfer fee but he said the title would not be transferred until its smogged. I'll go back in today and ask some follow up questions. Car is currently registered until March of 2025 so my tags are good at least.

 

[gkomo]

Ugh, ordered the Magnaflow xpipe... that hurt.

 

[gkomo]

Anyone with emissions knowledge know if bad catalytic converters would fail the hydrocarbon test but pass the CO and NO tests easily? Or would they fail all three together?

 

[Noobz347]

Anyone with emissions knowledge know if bad catalytic converters would fail the hydrocarbon test but pass the CO and NO tests easily? Or would they fail all three together?

I think that teh best way to answer this in the shortest order would be to direct you to Youtube University to watch a short and to the point video on that very thing.

The short answer is "No". They won't all fail together and each is caused by different inputs/circumstances.

 

[gkomo]

Well I figured out why my gas tank wouldn’t hold pressure during the test. I was also reading up why the test is performed. California doesn’t want any fumes escaping the vehicle even when not running.

Anyways, went to the gas station for her first fill up. Got home and some gas was leaking down the passenger rear of the gas tank from the top. So obviously one of the top seals isn’t working. Will have to replace any bad seals before retesting.

Wife wasn’t happy coming home to gas smell in our driveway. Guess she wasn’t aware of what ‘project car’ means. Lol

 

[Noobz347]

LoL... It won't be long before she starts referring to the Mustang as, "The Other Woman" or "The Girlfriend" or just, "Whore!".

 

[nicholase]

^ Ah. That makes sense. There are a few different seals / grommets up there. The sender / pump O-rings and the roll over valve grommet. Also the big filler neck grommet on the side.

Unfortunately it could also be a rust hole. Probably a good time to drop the tank and inspect everything good. Maybe even toss a new pump in there after going through all that. They are actually pretty inexpensive even for a quality one.

LMR sells a stud kit for the tank straps and it works real good. It can be tough to get the tank strap bolts started when putting the tank back in because they are short. The studs make it super easy.

 

[gkomo]

This round of fixes I am unfortunately gonna have to take to a shop. I’m on a time crunch to transfer title and need to get it smogged (still need to ask about that, didn’t get a chance today). With work, a toddler and a wife I just don’t have time right now to dedicate to working on it myself. Once this stuff is sorted I’ll be able to work on things at my own pace, which is roughly 45 minutes of free time at night, lol I bought the car now knowing that will change as my kid gets older and I’ll eventually have more time or work on it with my growing kid.

 

[gkomo]

Until I have more time to dedicate to bigger jobs I’m relegated to small things like tonight’s project:

 

[gkomo]

Out with the old:



In with the new:



Color doesn’t match worth a damn but I think they say it should be painted. Will worry about that if/when I do the entire interior.

Super tight fit but I think my e-brake bracket is slightly off kilter so that’ll need to be adjusted at some point.

 

[gkomo]

Got the wheels balanced today due to my 'bump bump bump' symptom. As i suspected, passenger rear tire has a flat spot. Not in a position to buy new tires at the moment due to all these unexpected SMOG costs that got dumped on me. Car drives fine and its not like its super noticable, but will have to take care of that at some point.

Then I went to get an alignment. Guy calls me over and says the drivers balljoint is defective. Its brand new with the 5-lug conversion, but he said its defective and the wheel has some play in it. There were some other suspension components that need replacing as well, so i said hold off on the alignment until i get those sorted.

On a bright side, a guy at Discount Tire doing the balancing was saying how nice the car is and how he used to have an 88 Saleen. Then the guy at the alignment shop was complimenting how great the car looks. He's the Technician who has a Fox as well that i mentioned in an earlier post. So i got that going for me, lol.

Magnaflow xpipe was delivered today. Magnaflow did confirm that I can install it and it won't void the warranty, so i may try to tackle that this week.

 

[gkomo]

I've been having some gnarly rubbing on the front drivers forward fender/metal piece down by the lower ground effect trim, literally scribing marks on the outside of that tire. There was a bent metal shard like sticking out towards the tire. So i applied some heat and bent that sh*t back 'forward', away from the tire. At least i don't have to worry about a metal shard cutting into my tire, but it still rubs like a mofo. Eventually i'll just cut out the entire part of the ground effect and metal backing for clearance, but this is a good temporary fix.

 

[Noobz347]

For s and s

Look into a set of OEM size El-Cheapo Walmart All Season tires for that car.

You won't set any track records with them but they will probably ride 1000 times better than what you've got without shredding down the highway.


You see... There
was this SHO



@LaserSVT and I ripped the "performance tires" off it before they killed us (true story, well documented on Stangnet ), and tossed on some new cheapos... It was right as rain.

 

[Mac131]

Well, finally took ownership of my 'new' 1990 GT 5-speed after my long winded "Welcome Wagon" post, so i'm going to start this new Progress thread here now that the car is actually mine.

Took delivery 9/22/24










I knew of most of the issues the car had prior to buying it, the seller and I go back many years as I sold him my previous Fox. But, as always, you get in it to drive it an hour and a half home and things pop up. Overall though everything seemed fine, all gauges looked good. Car already has the following mods done to it:

- MM C/C Plates
- FMS Aluminum Driveshaft - this is nice because its probably something i wouldn't have bought myself
- 5-lug with cobra brakes, everything brand new, MM proportioning valve, new e-brake cable
- 3.31 gears
- AP Exhaust Technologies cat back... i think this is like just a Summit brand exhaust?
- JBA headers (mine from my Fox i sold him)
- New tires, i can't tell exactly what they are from the pictures but i can make out "Motive" on one of the sidewalls
- New H&R Springs, he said he took out existing H&R Springs because they were too low, so maybe new springs just not as low
- Koni Shocks
- New McLeod clutch and clutch cable
- New 3G alternator
- New Battery

He also provided me some misc. parts in the trunk which consist of some bushings and sensors, but most notably some 'better' quarter windows. I looked at them, they're not perfect, but do look good.

I've already purchased the following to be put on:

- MGW short shifter
- MM HD Adjustable LCAs (from a member here)
- LMR cupholder center console (the ashtray door is broken)
- New center armrest pad
- LMR weather stripping kit
- LMR door hinge kit (drivers door seems to sag a little)

Need to figure out the following issues pretty quickly:

- Drivers outside brake pad doesn't seem to be making full contact with the rotor (pictured above)
- Needs an alignment
- Needs tire balancing or something, i noticed a bump bump bump when coming to a stop that was rhythmic with speed (even in neutral), and the steering wheel had some excessive shake driving on the freeway
- Cracked fog light lense
- Speedo is off like 10-15 miles per hour fast so i'll need to buy a new speedo gear

Looking forward to getting her dialed in and start the modding process!

That's a great looking Fox!

 

[gkomo]

Right now the car has 245/45/17’s up front and 275/45/17’s out back. Wondering when I do tires if I should just do 255/45/17’s all around?

 

[Mac131]

Right now the car has 245/45/17’s up front and 275/45/17’s out back. Wondering when I do tires if I should just do 255/45/17’s all around?

Got any pics showing the rubbing tires? I remember back in the day we would retard the timing a bunch and dump some alcohol in the tank to make things run "cleaner".

 

[gkomo]

Here’s a photo of where I bent this shard of metal sticking out on the front drivers side. There is still a screw I need to remove that pokes out a little. Eventually I’ll cut out all of it to have total clearance:



And the damage caused to the tire before bending it:



And here’s a chunk missing out of the rear tire:



Fenders are rolled but I think they need more, or a smaller tire. The SN95 rear ended widens the track and although it looks good I don’t think it’s doing me any favors as far as figment goes.

 

[Noobz347]

Yep... Your rear are def sticking out too far.

I wonder what the off-set is on those wheels. I mean... 275s can be done but it's tight.

 

[AeroCoupe]

I run 245/40R17’s up front on a 17x8 wheel with a +35 offset. In the rear I run 275/40R17’s on a 17x9 wheels with a +45 offset. Zero rubbing and the car is pretty low and has a SN95 width rear end. This was with the stock front suspension and now with a MM K-member and zero offset control arms.

The picture you show makes the front wheel look like it’s not centered in the wheel well? Then again it could just be that it’s a taller tire.