Thanks guys. no pics of the body yet as im still waiting on my RTR front spoiler and side splitters (
www.mustangrtr.com) and waiting to get some paint on these doors and trunk lid as well.
But..... This thing finally has a motor sitting in it!
These things are a pretty tight fit in here once you get the headers on. We ended up having to bolt the headers on to the motor before we put it in. Also had to trim the motor mount brackets a good amount to clear the 04 Cobra headers using the 05+ mount brackets on the Teksid block. For the driver side i used the MMR Mount bracket kit which worked out pretty decent. We lathed the motor mounts down a 1/2" just to lower the engine and its a good thing we did otherwise the headers would have never cleared. The clearance between the firewall and the headers is currently like 1/8" on the passenger side so ill clearance that a little bit and then put some heat reflective tape on it. The trans mount i made work with the T56 using the OEM 05+ trans bracket. Ill get a pic up of that when i take it back off, its super simple.
Here is the passenger side...
....pretty tight up against the firewall there. Luckily we wont have to modify those pretty American Racing Headers.
Here is another brilliant idea that i wish i could take credit for myself. We turned down the oem lower steering shaft from the mustang to fit inside the 3/4" tubing used for the custom steering shaft as done on the ASD Mustangs.
I wanted to stop and thank the fellas at AutoSport Dynamics (
http://www.autosportdynamics.com/) for all the wisdom, tips, ideas, and knowledge they have dropped on me over the course of this build up. Ian especially(the owner/ founder of ASD) is a super smart dude that never ceases to impress me with his knowledge of race car build and setup every time i talk to him. From the core support, the dash bar, steering shaft and countless other things on this car that have been ideas ive gotten from checking out JR and JTPs mustangs and by talking with Ian himself. Im very grateful for having the ASD guys helping me out with my project, and not just with parts like my steering knuckles, pedal cluster bracket, control arms but more importantly with car setup and fabrication knowledge. So again, big thanks to Ian, Dave and the whole ASD team for building AMAZING race cars and letting me pick their brains throughout the process of my personal build. This car just wouldnt be coming along like it is if it wasnt for them!
That worked out great!
Here it is installed...
The stock steering shaft would NOT have cleared with those headers at all, so along with saving weight and simplifying things we are also able to steer the car! sweet right?
I also got the 04 Cobra throttle pedal mounted up. I made a beefy aluminum bracket that bolts in to the stock 05+ pedal studs. I still need to get a throttle cable and sort that out once i get the blower/ plenum/ throttle body on.
Over the past couple nights i have been making these coolant tanks also. This one is for the engine coolant...
I want to try and keep as much as i can behind the strut towers so i came up with mounting one on each side. It is for the supercharger coolant/ heat exchanger. Ray suggested i mount the pump right to the tank and i thought that would be kinda trick so i plated the side of the tank and welded on a 1/2" thick threaded bracket i made for it. I think it turned out pretty good...
Last reservoir will be for the PS fluid and i need to sort out a cooler and -AN lines for that first.
I got the radiator mounted too as you can see and once i get some fans ill mounts the heat exchanger for the blower also.
Finally some progress! Having this motor gives me lots to do, which i need as i REALLY want to drive this thing already.
Oh and also got 4 of my 8 wheels polished...
back at it tomorrow....