Progress Thread Monkeybutt2000's 89 vert build thread- Back on track

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On a side note: Some of the best car advice I've seen from a Fox "Toober" in recent memory:

If you want ceramic coated headers, buy them uncoated, install them, beat the :poo: out of them until they fit perfect and [then] have them coated. :D

I mean, that's usually one of those things you just don't learn until you've done it but pricewise, the out-of-the-box solution looks attractive.
I had considered having the headers recoated,but man it's expensive. I'll roll with the factory "ceramic" for this year (looks like spray paint) and see how they turn out.
 
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Got my LAR performance x-pipe the other day,looks like a nice piece.
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If you have access to a welder, when you install the brace for good I'd weld the nuts to the back side of the strut tower so you can install/remove it all from the top side. I never got around to it and now with the engine swap it doesn't matter on mine as I won't have a brace anymore.
 
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If you have access to a welder, when you install the brace for good I'd weld the nuts to the back side of the strut tower so you can install/remove it all from the top side. I never got around to it and now with the engine swap it doesn't matter on mine as I won't have a brace anymore.
For sure,great idea. These verts' need all the help they can get.
 
Took the Fox down to Mom's for Mothers Day,about 100mi roundtrip. My nephew did an impromptu photoshoot in the driveway,boy technology is amazing :D With the current 3.31s the car loafs along at around 1800rpm@60mph. Could use more gear but I'm not changing anything that don't need attention. With that said,new front seat belts are needed as the pass. belt wont even retract.
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My vert seat belt did that, cleaned the belt material with mild soap and water, worked like new.
mine also had a black plastic lever on the door jamb, IIRC it released (?) the lock mechanism to retract so it would not get caught in the door when closed.
I think...
maybe not.....been a minute
 
My vert seat belt did that, cleaned the belt material with mild soap and water, worked like new.
mine also had a black plastic lever on the door jamb, IIRC it released (?) the lock mechanism to retract so it would not get caught in the door when closed.
I think...
maybe not.....been a minute
 
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Quick note here,had a slight oil leak from the AN fitting on my valve cover. I just used some cheap Amazon stuff,because it wasnt under any actual pressure. Went to tighten it a bit this afternoon and it stripped. Luckily,I had some leftover hose and fittings from when the other side stripped.
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Tacked the seatbelts today,under 2hrs start to finish. Pretty eady job,but had one BIG boo boo. Started on passenger side,after removing the rear seat only 3 trim screws hold the interior 1/4 trim on. T50 torx bit,which is included with the kit for the bolts that hold the belt to the body. The retractor is held to a bracket with only one bolt. It appears there's three bolts,but two hold the bracket to the body. Got the new belt routed,replacing fasteners along the way. Put the torx where it fastens to the body by the seat,and didnt feel right,as in I stripped it. WTF. Pulled it out,yep stripped
Moved onto the drivers side,and took off the torx to body,and found why I stripped the pass. side. There's a rubber bushing behind the belt trim that takes the load of the bolt when it's tightened against the body. So,looks like some invasive repair is in order. Fortunately,I do this at work often,so not real concerned but we'll see.
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