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I picked up AlphaCat from my buddy's place a couple of weekends ago, but I haven't touched it since. It has been tooo freaking cold out to do anything since then.
Terry did a fantastic job of welding in the needed patches and repair panels. The rear fender aprons, floor panels, trunk drop-offs, driver's side front frame rail, front strut rod crossmember and trunk floor all recieved attention. The last thing (try locating one!) was the trunk weatherstrip channel across the back edge of the trunk opening. He's getting so good at MIGging, he hardly has to 'clean-up' grind afterwards! He even gave all of his work a coat of epoxy primer when he was all done. Whatta guy!
He also installed a set of homemade subframe connectors out of 2" .120 wall square tubing. He semi-inletted them into the rear floorpans so they don't hang down much. In fact you can hardly tell they're there if you look at the car from the side. This will be a good chassis fundation if I find I like racing again and I decide to go nuts and install a ladderbar/coilover rear suspension. I'll be borrowing a good digital camera to take some pics of Terry's handiwork soon.
Tires and wheels were obtained during the Holidays. I couldn't afford the going rate for a set of vintage 15x7 aluminum slot wheels, so I found a set of like new 16x7 98 Crown Vic handling package wheels. Those are the deep dish lacy spoke aluminum wheels. They even had a set of usable matching tires on them. If I can only figure out some way to change out the Ford oval center cap insert to a Cougar center.... Hmmmm. I think I have a set of the stock 73 XR-7 hubcaps around here somewhere! I wonder if I can take the center from those and....
The new engine parts are all here so now I can dis-assemble my freshly rebuilt (18 years but only 100 miles since rebuild) 351C-4V and upgrade with a bunch of goodies. I found a better cam (.536/.562 224/234 @ .050), bigger one piece stainless valves (2.19/1.71 instead of the 2.04/1.65), Fluidampr harmonic balancer, converting to adjustable valvetrain w/roller rockers, new aluminum water pump... This engine is gonna rock!
Trans is getting freshened up with heavy duty clutches, tightening up the tolerances, improving oil control, etc. I have a choice of either a 3500 or 4000rpm stall converter. I have both laying around and it is just a matter of choosing. Decisions, decisions.....
Rear end is getting a new Detroit Locker and 3.91 gears. Again, the gears are parts I have just laying around. I'm still trying to decide whether to stick with the stock 28 spline axles or get a set of aftermarket 31s.
Oh, and since I'm sure I have forgotten which parts go where or where the parts are anymore since it has been 18 years in the restoration process, I am picking up another 73 XR-7 this weekend to use as an assembly guide and/or parts car. This purchase with the other half's blessing!
Things are looking up!
Terry did a fantastic job of welding in the needed patches and repair panels. The rear fender aprons, floor panels, trunk drop-offs, driver's side front frame rail, front strut rod crossmember and trunk floor all recieved attention. The last thing (try locating one!) was the trunk weatherstrip channel across the back edge of the trunk opening. He's getting so good at MIGging, he hardly has to 'clean-up' grind afterwards! He even gave all of his work a coat of epoxy primer when he was all done. Whatta guy!
He also installed a set of homemade subframe connectors out of 2" .120 wall square tubing. He semi-inletted them into the rear floorpans so they don't hang down much. In fact you can hardly tell they're there if you look at the car from the side. This will be a good chassis fundation if I find I like racing again and I decide to go nuts and install a ladderbar/coilover rear suspension. I'll be borrowing a good digital camera to take some pics of Terry's handiwork soon.
Tires and wheels were obtained during the Holidays. I couldn't afford the going rate for a set of vintage 15x7 aluminum slot wheels, so I found a set of like new 16x7 98 Crown Vic handling package wheels. Those are the deep dish lacy spoke aluminum wheels. They even had a set of usable matching tires on them. If I can only figure out some way to change out the Ford oval center cap insert to a Cougar center.... Hmmmm. I think I have a set of the stock 73 XR-7 hubcaps around here somewhere! I wonder if I can take the center from those and....
The new engine parts are all here so now I can dis-assemble my freshly rebuilt (18 years but only 100 miles since rebuild) 351C-4V and upgrade with a bunch of goodies. I found a better cam (.536/.562 224/234 @ .050), bigger one piece stainless valves (2.19/1.71 instead of the 2.04/1.65), Fluidampr harmonic balancer, converting to adjustable valvetrain w/roller rockers, new aluminum water pump... This engine is gonna rock!
Trans is getting freshened up with heavy duty clutches, tightening up the tolerances, improving oil control, etc. I have a choice of either a 3500 or 4000rpm stall converter. I have both laying around and it is just a matter of choosing. Decisions, decisions.....
Rear end is getting a new Detroit Locker and 3.91 gears. Again, the gears are parts I have just laying around. I'm still trying to decide whether to stick with the stock 28 spline axles or get a set of aftermarket 31s.
Oh, and since I'm sure I have forgotten which parts go where or where the parts are anymore since it has been 18 years in the restoration process, I am picking up another 73 XR-7 this weekend to use as an assembly guide and/or parts car. This purchase with the other half's blessing!
Things are looking up!
