Build Thread My 1986 T-top Build - Lasting Memories

Noobz347 · Apr 19, 2016

Weird things happen if that guy doesn't show near the end.

It's been proven.

Edit: Ok well... spooky anyway.

Davedacarpainter · Apr 19, 2016

Noobz347 said:
Weird things happen if that guy doesn't show near the end.

It's been proven.

Edit: Ok well... spooky anyway.

Near the end?!? Oh gawd!

Near the end of modifications maybe, but Noobz, I do get to start putting it together soon!

RaggedGT · Apr 19, 2016

Davedacarpainter said:
Before you go getting too saucy:

Looking good Dave.
Now that one tub is almost done-was it anywhere as bad as you had thought?

Davedacarpainter · Apr 19, 2016

RaggedGT said:
Looking good Dave.
Now that one tub is almost done-was it anywhere as bad as you had thought?

Jeez Chris, it's gonna be so freakin' hot!

So, with a 2" mini tubbing and a 2.5" narrowing of the rear end, I think that (without measurement) leaves me with a 6" backspacing for wheels! That sure opens up a lot of wheels for me to choose.

Before the tubbing, I had to get a 4" backspacing, tough to find a hot wheel cheap with that.

The tubbing was FAR easier than the engine bay smoothing, glad I'm doing both though.

CarMichael Angelo · Apr 20, 2016

Meh,...That's why I'm saying that Dave has magical powers. He just makes everything he does look easy. (And all while cooking pancakes, and drinking craft beers.)

I'd say that between the two, they both are a huge pain in the ass. The mini tub goes much better in a hatch than it does in a notch because everything has to be done pretty much with your head in the quarter. otherwise. Unless you have a plasma cutter, cutting away all of the old inner structure that is attached to the inner frame rail is nasty, dirty, hot work.

We did have a plasma cutter, didn't we Dave?

Welding the filler/spacer strip into the really thin, galvanized inner tub requires skill with a MIG, and there's a future 3 alarm fire waiting on you unless you completely strip the inner side wheel tub of the old rubberized undercoating first.

Dave did that as well.

Conversely,..Engine bay smoothing is tedious for most of us. Using the stock front aprons, and filling the holes, then smoothing those things out as opposed to just cutting them away and replacing then with "Scott" panels is a bad idea.

I'd say the part of the bay smoothing that causes the most dread occurs immediately right after you put the MIG down, and realize that now all of those welds have to be ground smooth. And then there's the never ending nit picky sanding regimen.....

Personally, If I was handed my choice of having to do both jobs as the lesser of two evils, It'd be a tough decision.

Davedacarpainter · Apr 20, 2016

madmike1157 said:
Meh,...That's why I'm saying that Dave has magical powers. He just makes everything he does look easy. (And all while cooking pancakes, and drinking craft beers.)

I'd say that between the two, they both are a huge pain in the ass. The mini tub goes much better in a hatch than it does in a notch because everything has to be done pretty much with your head in the quarter. otherwise. Unless you have a plasma cutter, cutting away all of the old inner structure that is attached to the inner frame rail is nasty, dirty, hot work.

We did have a plasma cutter, didn't we Dave?

Welding the filler/spacer strip into the really thin, galvanized inner tub requires skill with a MIG, and there's a future 3 alarm fire waiting on you unless you completely strip the inner side wheel tub of the old rubberized undercoating first.

Dave did that as well.

Conversely,..Engine bay smoothing is tedious for most of us. Using the stock front aprons, and filling the holes, then smoothing those things out as opposed to just cutting them away and replacing then with "Scott" panels is a bad idea.

I'd say the part of the bay smoothing that causes the most dread occurs immediately right after you put the MIG down, and realize that now all of those welds have to be ground smooth. And then there's the never ending nit picky sanding regimen.....

Personally, If I was handed my choice of having to do both jobs as the lesser of two evils, It'd be a tough decision.

After watching you guys do the tubbing in coupes and monsters, I have to say it really was much easier for me.

I have sat inside the vehicle for a good portion of the time for cutting, cleaning and welding. That would be almost impossible in a coupe (I'm over the 2'3" height requirement for that).

Still, I'm really not even half done yet. Though what I learned on the left side will make the right side a quicker mod.

I kind of dig the whole getting dirty and cutting, grinding and welding thing. I'm almost getting nostalgic for this build and I haven't even finished the mods!

Davedacarpainter · Apr 21, 2016

Soooo, I've been looking at tires.

I can only find the 325 width on 15" wheels and 19" and above.

Hum?

Anyone have a picture of a fox with 19" rear wheels? Not sure if it would look stupid as sht, or really btchin'.

Thoughts?

B.erazo712 · Apr 21, 2016

http://lenoirphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/20150606-DSC_9525-1024x678.jpg
http://themustangsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/mattfarahthesmokingtireprojectfoxbody.jpg

Not sure on the tire size but those are 19"s

Davedacarpainter · Apr 21, 2016

B.erazo712 said:
http://lenoirphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/20150606-DSC_9525-1024x678.jpg
http://themustangsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/mattfarahthesmokingtireprojectfoxbody.jpg

Not sure on the tire size but those are 19"s

Interesting, but no wide body flairing for me.

I just don't want it to look like this:

jrichker · Apr 21, 2016

19" wheels - do you like the Conestoga Wagon Wheel look?

or maybe this more contemporary look...

Davedacarpainter · Apr 21, 2016

Here's an interesting one (in the right color!): 20" wheels, '86 T-top too!
I want Doby to look like this! Not necessarily the 20" wheels though.

Red mouldings are nice, I would still grey out the headlight buckets as well.

Not to mention those little p*ssy 275's.......

Davedacarpainter · Apr 21, 2016

jrichker said:
19" wheels - do you like the Conestoga Wagon Wheel look?

or maybe this more contemporary look...

Baahaahaahaa!

Well, of course they look like hell on a camaro........

89oem · Apr 21, 2016

Dont look like this guy
17" max with the early wheel wells for sure

Davedacarpainter · Apr 21, 2016

89oem said:
Dont look like this guy
17" max with the early wheel wells for sure

Yeah, well.....I guess my whole "mini-tubbing thing is a waste of time now that I've seen that!

A5literMan · Apr 21, 2016

You could do a stagger maybe? 18 in front and a 19 in back?

Davedacarpainter · Apr 21, 2016

A5literMan said:
You could do a stagger maybe? 18 in front and a 19 in back?

Kind of thinking that way.

If I can have 325's, I WANT 325's!

335's are out, if I want them tucked (and I do).

Boosted92LX · Apr 21, 2016

I think you'll definitely want to stagger them. I have 18s and the front 9" wheel with 265 tire rubs. Haven't set out to fixing that yet..

Anyway, you can get away with it on the rear, but 19" wheels on the front will be a lot on a fox. Especially an early car with small wheel wells.

Davedacarpainter · Apr 21, 2016

Boosted92LX said:
I think you'll definitely want to stagger them. I have 18s and the front 9" wheel with 265 tire rubs. Haven't set out to fixing that yet..

Anyway, you can get away with it on the rear, but 19" wheels on the front will be a lot on a fox. Especially an early car with small wheel wells.

Yeah Allen, I agree.

I was thinking of maybe 255's on the front with 18" as the biggest wheel.

I can fit up to 28" tall tires on the rear, The front is different with the smaller '86 and before wheel openings.

TOOLOW91 · Apr 21, 2016

18s buddy. 19s and up look out of place

Sent from my iPhone using my fingers while my auto correct makes me seem illiterate

CarMichael Angelo · Apr 22, 2016

You actually jarred my memory when you brought up the tire search problem. When I changed the wheels over on the red car, I was looking for a taller tire, because I wanted more sidewall between the road and the rim. 18's were out for me for that reason.

A 315 18 is a very limited size, with most of the offerings being in the 30 height ratio..(read future broken/bent rim) and are mostly either very 'spensive or rated for Xcross or road racing. Hell, for that matter the 315 size is a tough width to fit across the board.
Doesn't matter whether you go 17/18/19.

I stayed with 17's because I found a Nitto that fit my search criteria. (Not gonna apply to you either cause I wanted a really tall, weany assed 275/50/17)

So.....325's? 335's? or fall back to the plethora of "me too" 275's..............What's it gonna be?

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