Progress Thread Monkeybutt2000's 89 vert build thread- 408w build in progress

Monkeybutt2000 · Mar 16, 2025

Finished,this Job was a HUGE PITA. Not only did I fight the MM tool, one upper did not cooperate and I had to take a few days off or this thing was getting a hot match.Now,gonna clean the fuel injectors and button this thing back up. Cruising season is upon us

Monkeybutt2000 · Apr 24, 2025

Bled the brakes over the weekend with my new Phoenix reverse bleeder. Pretty simple process and only took about 20mins. Unfortunately my reservoir is stained so still looks like crap. Took her out to get some fresh gas and ran flawlessly. Hope to drive it ALOT more this year.

Monkeybutt2000 · Jun 26, 2025

Had a noise on decel,and wanted to step up the gear ratio as well. 3.55 gear set from LMR,and Amazon special diff cover. Got that done,and needed to address my driveshaft. I had almost ZERO play in the yoke. Local trucking company has a driveline department that specializes in driveshafts. Had an inch knocked off for a better fit.

Monkeybutt2000 · Oct 6, 2025

About to wrap cruising season up,and I decided to finally install the Focus fans I've had for over 2yrs. Fan body fit the radiator pretty well,with about a 3'" gap at the bottom. Was able to secure to the top of the radiator with the mounting bosses on the fan through the top channel on the radiator. Made some simple brackets from thin aluminum stock for the bottom mounts. Used the Davies Craig 0444 to control the fans. I tried to use the factory plug,but the yard cut the wiring for the male plug so short it wasnt happening. So I cut the plugs off and made my own wiring. Word of caution,tried those Soldersticks. Absolute garbage,couldn't get the solder to melt on three different tries. Ended up with bullet connectors with the shrink adhesive,worked great. To note,the red wire with yellow stripe on the drivers side is the easiest one for your ignition. I' m wire tucked so took a bit of digging to find it. Got that done and it was time to power it up. Set my turn on for 199* and started the car. I'll say this,car warms up much faster with no clutch fan,and thats a good thing. Watched the readout and once it hit 199* first fan kicked on,and 10secs layer fan two kicks on. Brought temp down 182* very quick. Let it cycle on/off a few times and shut her down. Now get the wiring cleaned up and figure out a new coolant reservoir bottle.

Monkeybutt2000 · Nov 14, 2025

Took the Fox for a nice cruise today,about 80mi. When I pulled back in the garage I noticed a small puddle of fluid. Looks like I need a new rack after 36yrs. Recommendations?

Mustang5L5 · Nov 14, 2025

SN95 rack conversion??

Willybill32 · Nov 14, 2025

Monkeybutt2000 said:
Took the Fox for a nice cruise today,about 80mi. When I pulled back in the garage I noticed a small puddle of fluid. Looks like I need a new rack after 36yrs. Recommendations?

I just recently learned that the SN95 rack works better with wide tires than the Fox rack, so that's what will go on my '86 when the time comes.

Bill

2000xp8 · Nov 14, 2025

Are you sure it's the rack? Not that i'm against going to a newer rack, but i've had the fittings leak from the hoses.

gkomo · Nov 14, 2025

Just went through the SN95 rack upgrade in my Progress Thread. So far so good for the 1.5 miles I’ve driven it.

AeroCoupe · Nov 14, 2025

Hands down if it is the rack move on to a SN05 rack. Maximum Motorsports steering shaft:

Steering Shaft Assembly, SN95 Power Steering Rack, 1979-93 Mustang

You will need Fox inner and outer tie rods. Remove the SN95 tie rods off the new rack and install the Fox inner tie rods. This is all due to the inner to outer threads being metric on a SN95 and the overall length is too long for a Fox. Fox inner and outer are SAE threads so that will solve the problem. The threads on the rack itself are the same for SN95 or Fox inner tie rods.

The torsion bar in the SN95 rack is stiffer than the Fox rack so the feed back is way better in that you do not have that over boosted feeling.

Monkeybutt2000 · Nov 15, 2025

95% sure it's the rack,as I couldn't see any leakage from the top,but will confirm tomorrow. Sounds like the SN95 rack is the way to go. Might as well do the SN95 spindles I have along with the 5 lug conversion. Good winter project.

gkomo · Nov 15, 2025

Order the MM hybrid steering shaft now… may take months to get. Ask me how I know…

bird_dog0347 · Nov 16, 2025

MM Hybrid shaft, Cardone 22-2000 rack, convert the inner tie rods to fox and enjoy. If you're PS pump is a whiny little biotch, replace it while you're doing it all like I did.

Monkeybutt2000 · Dec 4, 2025

Santa came early

Monkeybutt2000 · Feb 14, 2026

The 408 is back,and I have most of the parts to assemble. Just need rockers,pushrods and the swap oil pan. Now I need to paint this thing. Black,dark grey or maybe a bronze are what I'm thinking,but I'm open to suggestion.

gkomo · Feb 14, 2026

Monkeybutt2000 said:
The 408 is back,and I have most of the parts to assemble. Just need rockers,pushrods and the swap oil pan. Now I need to paint this thing. Black,dark grey or maybe a bronze are what I'm thinking,but I'm open to suggestion.

Of those three I think bronze would look great.

nickyb · Feb 14, 2026

Go black and don't look back.

2Blue2 · Feb 20, 2026

Ford grabber blue!
Yeah I know, not a choice...

Progress Thread Monkeybutt2000's 89 vert build thread- 408w build in progress

Monkeybutt2000

Mustang Master

Monkeybutt2000

Mustang Master

Monkeybutt2000

Mustang Master

Monkeybutt2000

Mustang Master

Monkeybutt2000

Mustang Master

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Willybill32

But at least it's tight!

2000xp8

gkomo

now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

Monkeybutt2000

Mustang Master

gkomo

now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft

bird_dog0347

still married haven't seen testicles in years

Monkeybutt2000

Mustang Master

Monkeybutt2000

Mustang Master

Attachments

gkomo

now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft

nickyb

I gotta say i never painted my nuts, Never Ever

2Blue2

will be trying this sex one when I can find it

Similar threads

Progress Thread Monkeybutt2000's 89 vert build thread- 408w build in progress

Mustang Master

Mustang Master

Mustang Master

Mustang Master

Mustang Master

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

But at least it's tight!

now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

Mustang Master

now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft

still married haven't seen testicles in years

Mustang Master

Mustang Master

Attachments

now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft

I gotta say i never painted my nuts, Never Ever

will be trying this sex one when I can find it

Similar threads

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