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Build Thread Project Phoenix (94 Cobra) Part 2

  • Thread starter Thread starter Labora
  • Start date Start date Jun 13, 2012
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Labora

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2000
1,854
26
69
Dallas, Texas
Jun 13, 2012
#1
  • Jun 13, 2012
  • #1
Thought I would post a update as a new round of upgrades are about to start. In case some people don't remember me/my car check out my original build up of the car.
http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/threads/project-phoenix-94-cobra.766511/

Anyhow I drove the car for awhile was daily driving it at one point because my truck was having some issues. About 7 months ago it started shooting steam out of the exhaust. I suspected a head gasket had gone bad.

So I went ahead and yanked the motor out to see what I could find out.



I tore down the engine and one of the cylinders had water in it, the headgasket had some material burned off around one of the waterjackets and a slight impression on the compression ring. To be honest I'm not sure what happened and it isn't of too much concern. Because, I knew the next time the motor came out I would be wanting to look at my options for a upgrades.

I ended up swapping my motor and transmission with a friends of mine plus some cash. My friend installed this motor in his 67 Stang around 2006 and since then only drove the car MAYBE 100 miles.

(Photo of it when I helped him put it in the first time around.)


The engine is a 351w stroked to a 408 with AFR 185 heads and a fairly large cam (haven't got the specs in my hands yet.) Rotating assembly is balanced and blue printed but not forged should still be good enough for what I plan to do.
Also got his AOD-E with a PI stall converter and a B&M hammer shifter.

So now I have a fairly long parts list to collect, as well as some research to be done on my part. More to come soon, probably post my parts list looking for some feedback.
 

GTPhreak

Founding Member
Mar 16, 2000
5,505
0
77
Rowlett, TEXAS
Jun 13, 2012
#2
  • Jun 13, 2012
  • #2
Not enough mustang in garage!
 

Venom351R

Founding Member
Apr 27, 2002
4,548
41
98
MAINE
Jun 14, 2012
#3
  • Jun 14, 2012
  • #3
351W FTW!!!
 

ProKiller

Founding Member
Apr 26, 2002
3,064
15
78
PA
Jun 14, 2012
#4
  • Jun 14, 2012
  • #4
looks like you're off to a good start so far!
 

JordanB21

Active Member
Feb 6, 2012
804
27
29
Killeen, Texas
Jun 16, 2012
#5
  • Jun 16, 2012
  • #5
Kinda of a random question, in your Phoenix project part one thread where did you get those silver/gray rims from?
 

GTPhreak

Founding Member
Mar 16, 2000
5,505
0
77
Rowlett, TEXAS
Jun 17, 2012
#6
  • Jun 17, 2012
  • #6
JordanB21 said:
Kinda of a random question, in your Phoenix project part one thread where did you get those silver/gray rims from?
Click to expand...

94-98 Roush wheels. Were on the car when he bought it.
 

JordanB21

Active Member
Feb 6, 2012
804
27
29
Killeen, Texas
Jun 18, 2012
#7
  • Jun 18, 2012
  • #7
I knew it. My favorite rims to see <3 haaha. One of these days, a decade from now, ill have a set or roush original rims
 

Labora

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2000
1,854
26
69
Dallas, Texas
Oct 15, 2015
#8
  • Oct 15, 2015
  • #8
So this is still a thing...


Long time coming on this update. I got this motor put in many moons ago due to the oil pan and headers not clearing a stock kmember my progress slowed to a stop. I also got a another car which I have been working on and racing which has taken my attention away from this.


Anyhow onward. I finally got a new kmember, even after heavily notching the stock one it just wasn't going to work. I get a discount from work on QA1 so it is what I went with. I am doing a complete refresh of the front suspension (new hubs, 03-04 Cobra control arms, steeda x2 ball joints etc.) more to come on that later.

I have everything in and fitting now so I plan to take it back out one last time to get all the accessories on and all the gaskets set and everything bolted on and sealed up. I still have to do some work to the adapter plates for the headers and change the pickup.
 

Labora

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2000
1,854
26
69
Dallas, Texas
Jan 5, 2019
#9
  • Jan 5, 2019
  • #9
This car needs a intervention, has been a long time since I posted or worked on it much. I got another race car that has taken up my time as of late.

Anyway spent today working on a few things, and have been stock piling parts I need. Pulled the dash and got new heater core installed, also took the time to clean out all the dead leaves/dirt in the cowl.


The engine is now back in the car for hopefully the last time, I was able to get the water pump and timing cover on. Alternator will not clear my Valve covers, but I have a few ideas to fix that. Had to track down a new flexplate as the one I had was probably not sfi approved. Also got a lightweight romac balancer over the heavy steel one this came with.


Got everything needed to rebuild the front suspension and also the power steering system as well. The small box is microsquirt setup for the stock harness. Will be giving it a shot to run this whole deal.
 
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Labora

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2000
1,854
26
69
Dallas, Texas
Jan 5, 2019
#10
  • Jan 5, 2019
  • #10
Got rid of the 2" drop springs I had for some trick springs also got drag shocks/struts. Cut 2 coils on fronts have yet to install the rears. Should look good curious how much they will help the launch.
And a pic of my shop helper because.
 
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RaggedGT

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT
Mod Dude
Jul 20, 2014
4,734
3,179
203
Taylorsville ky
Jan 5, 2019
#11
  • Jan 5, 2019
  • #11
Shewwee... 7 years is a long time- Welcome back,hope to see some more updates on this car
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2016
27,868
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polk county florida
Jan 6, 2019
#12
  • Jan 6, 2019
  • #12
Nice red doberman, my favorite!
 

Labora

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2000
1,854
26
69
Dallas, Texas
Jan 13, 2019
#13
  • Jan 13, 2019
  • #13
Last weekend I also got the B&M shifter mounted, removed the radio, and airbag + some of the sensors for it.

Working on my lists today, 2 race cars is a bad idea btw...

Next big job is going to be back half of the car.
I already have drag springs/shocks, upper/lower control arms, and a diff cover to install.
I need to find a torque box upgrade kit and also have a pinon seal I need to fix.
Planning to replace the fuel pump since it has had nasty gas in it for so long. Haven't decided what size yet, I have a 340 around which is overkill starting off but would be ok if I plan to run e85 later with nitrous.

After that stuff is done I can start working on getting the engine running next.

 
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General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2016
27,868
10,542
203
polk county florida
Jan 13, 2019
#14
  • Jan 13, 2019
  • #14
Need pics!
one of the dog chew'n on the neighbors leg too
 

Labora

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2000
1,854
26
69
Dallas, Texas
Jan 13, 2019
#15
  • Jan 13, 2019
  • #15
Only other photos I have at the moment, the shifter install fits but is far from presentable will have to DIY some bezels and blocks of for center console, also switching to 99-04 bezel to fit some gauges so it is just a mess at the moment. This is normally how the car sits, makes a decent garage shelf.

I did testfit the skinnies awhile back, but this is without the springs having a chance to settle and car has lowering springs in back so curious how it will sit when it is all said and done, guess will see. Need to figure out what to do with my Cobra brakes, probably going to shelf them and pickup some GT brakes cheap.

Oh and the dog is too sweet to bite anyone, terrible guard dog too.

 
Reactions: 02 281 GT and RaggedGT

Labora

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2000
1,854
26
69
Dallas, Texas
Feb 9, 2019
#16
  • Feb 9, 2019
  • #16
Updated to the list of things to do. Also found out I will have to order a gas tank, dropped mine to put in larger pump and found out the baffle is broke on mine!

Pulled all the parts off the shelf this next project.
FMS Diff cover
Drag Springs
50/50 Shocks
MM Lower Control Arms
Aftermarket uppers
New rubber bits
Upper/lower TQ box upgrades and comp engineering lower plates
New stainless brake lines
Pinion seal to replace the leaky one I have now.
First step was to get housing out to make welding easier and swap parts.
Draining the terrible smelling fluids.Found out I do not have upper axle bushings so just ordered some!
 
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Labora

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2000
1,854
26
69
Dallas, Texas
Feb 11, 2019
#17
  • Feb 11, 2019
  • #17
Got the lower torque boxes cut open to fit in the reinforcement plates.


Next move will be getting everything cleaned up underneath, need to wash out some dirt/grime so will be clean before I start removing paint to prep for weld.

I also need to figure out what to do with these Competition Engineering Torque Box Plates, the are listed 79-95 but they do not sit flat like they do on a foxbody. (Happen to have one in garage so test fit on that too and they sit flush.)

Your can sort of see from this picture how high it is sitting, will probably weld 3 corners and bend the other.
 

Labora

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2000
1,854
26
69
Dallas, Texas
Feb 16, 2019
#18
  • Feb 16, 2019
  • #18
Rear end put mostly back together today. Need some crush washers for the new brake lines. Next step will be the tq boxes.
 
Reactions: General karthief

Labora

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2000
1,854
26
69
Dallas, Texas
Feb 24, 2019
#19
  • Feb 24, 2019
  • #19
Still working on the rear end, got the Upper plates in and painted and the lowers in and welded. Stitch welded the uppers and lowers. Waiting to paint the lowers until I can get the competition engineering plates fitted. Is going to require cutting some spot welds because 94-95 are bastard year cars, will try and explain with better pictures as I do it for future reference.
 

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Labora

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2000
1,854
26
69
Dallas, Texas
Mar 4, 2019
#20
  • Mar 4, 2019
  • #20
Here is a quick update and a tid bit for any future search. I just finished up the install on the Competition Engineering C8015 Torque Box Lower Reinforcement Plates these are listed as fitting 79-04.

I test fit on a 93 hatch and they sit flat and would require almost no work to use, BUT the 94-95 are the red headed step children of the fox platform and the torque box is shaped a little different than other years.

To make these work you will need to cut a notch and slip these plates behind them, hammer flat and weld down. I thought this to be the best option that will turn out the cleanest in the end. The main reason I got these was to allow for a nice flat spot for the subframe connectors to attach to.
 

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