All the surrounding trims for the grille are also wrapped in gloss carbon. Not sure about painting it white cause itll just blend in with the hood then.

To each their own. I like it, it's my car.

My buddy Chris came over today, and we continued crossing things off the Escort to-do list.

Transmission mounts were welded in:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1587/...147c722456.jpg

Made the co-driver seat mounts, and welded those in:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1597/...3db68b73cd.jpg

Reservoir mount for brakes and clutch was added:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1586/...4b4facba1c.jpg

Frame gussets were added:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1495/...f99be438b4.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1651/...ce65be1e23.jpg


I also worked on the beginning of the pedal box mounting, and also started on the transmission tunnel sheet-metal work (but didn't take photos of either job). Probably going to get another buddy of ours to make the trans tunnel, he's an traditional-trained panel beater and will make something much nicer than I could. Car is getting closer and closer to paint...

My unfamiliar-ness with the car failed me



Went ahead and did the most nerve wracking mod i have ever done to a car ever!

Proving that my life isn't all fun and fabrication...

We had a nice break in the constant rain this afternoon, and I figured I better go and do some work on the new dually before the rain started back up again. The new truck is WAY too large for my driveway, so it's stored over at a buddies house. Gotta keep working on it so he sees progress and doesn't start billing me for storage :P Especially right now, as we pulled the box off the truck last week...taking up even more of his driveway space.

Flatbed? :O

Not yet. Will finish the truck with the box for now. Probably a year or two (assuming business growth goes the way I planned), and then I'll put a standard classic pickup truck cab on it, and build a ramp truck.

I'd like to use a 50's style cab:
And build a ramp truck:

The whole reason for buying such a ridiculously long truck as I have, is that once the crew-cab and long box are taken off the truck, and a standard pickup truck cab placed on the frame...the bare frame sticking out the back will be 12ft long. A beetle, bumper to bumper, is 14ft long. Meaning I should be able to build a ramp truck without extending the frame/drivetrain on the chassis. The ramp truck conversion is a couple of years out though, there is a LOT of money in steel, aluminum, etc that I'm not able to shell out currently.

Short day yesterday...

Dually Project:
- Bolted the box down for the final time(?).
- Mounted the rebuilt power-steering pump onto the cummins. Worked out the lines, and added more items to the "things I need to buy" list.
- Took many photos for today's "surf the internet and solve ___ question" about the cummins swap.

MK1 Escort Project
- Added bracing to the engine mounts.
- Started the pedal box mounting plate.

Rally Bug
- Decided to pause on the Hydraulic Clutch setup, because I'm running out of time to ensure it's fully sorted before the Hagerty Spring Thaw. Escort and truck will take too much of my time, so back to the cable clutch it is.
- Long block is back in the car...
- About 1/2 way to putting it all back together. Wish I had cleaned stuff before packing it away...would have been faster!

-Dave

I had the best of intentions for getting the Rally Bug out for the Spring Meet, but Wednesday morning it still didn't have a motor installed...guess it's finally time to do some Winter maintenance.

Any reason you wrap the exhaust instead of getting it coated?

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8204/...97731416_c.jpg
See the dents? That's after one RallyX, and a gravel TSD. The muffler takes a lot of abuse, and in the four years I've had the car I think I've gone through four systems. Two due to rally damage, then to a larger system with the new (larger) motor, and I've done some prototype testing for VintageSpeed so the fourth was to try an improved design.

I did consider ceramic coating the current system on the car, but only for corrosion protection...I'd still wrap it. I dunno, there is just something I find satisfying and 'period correct' about it. It doesn't help that I'm usually getting parts on a "just in time" basis, so I'm definitely not waiting longer for coating!

I am very lucky that Vintage Speed supports the Rally Bug project, though. Certainly cost of replacement systems is a factor. It's easier to knowingly corrode the gorgeous stainless steel pipes when you know the next one isn't going to cost you retail...

disassembly in progress. to be continued......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...C5/WRBday1.jpg

down the road get linear spring + a bit more camber will clear that issue you have and run 275 no problem

finally replaced my messed up stock hood. needed a lot of help from others because i couldn't do it alone since it's about the size of an aircraft carrier deck:o

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...34138908_o.jpg

i need to paint that intake inlet grille black(yes the inlet is functional... but i am still running a stock airbox which i hope to change soon).

i also might have washed the car... which is a big deal for me because the last time i hand washed it the calendar said 2015 :facepalm:.

Didn't know we had multiple Mustang owners on here. Nice.

thx. sorry i don't crawl out from under my rock that often :badpokerface:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7298/...b5be9d8d_z.jpg
Yesterday sucked. For "what did I do to my car" day, I went down and inspected the damage on my 1958 Beetle. With the welding and grinding happening on the Escort, I parked the '58 at a buddies for a bit so that the fresh paint wouldn't get damaged. It was going to be rented out to The Man in the High Castle this past week, so I asked him to fire it up and check that it was good to go.

He took it for a couple of laps, and when he went to park it again...motor died. He went for the restart, didn't catch, got out and flames were coming out the vents under the rear window!

Not sure what failed on it, and I can't inspect it thoroughly until ICBC does. All I know is that the fire destroyed the wiring harness, damaged the air cleaner, the paint on the rear deck lid, and the paint in the vents below the rear windows. It looks as though the distributor and carburetor may also have been damaged.

Worst part? When I bought the car I wasn't planning on keeping it long...figured I'd flip it, so I never put it on Hagerty Classic Car Insurance. Was in the process of moving it over onto my Hagerty policy, but hadn't signed the forms yet, when the fire happened. Son of a ****!! For those curious, it's the difference between dealing with ICBC on repairing a classic car and "Sorry to hear Dave, where would you like it repaired? We'll take care of it." Hagerty would have also paid me the same labour rate they pay a shop if I wanted to repair it myself, partially or completely. Stupid.

If you aren't sure about your insurance coverage, make that your "what I did for my car today" thing...

^ Me reading that: FeelsBadMan

dammit dave... right in the feels :(

will it be resurrected or will you part it out?

Sorry to hear Dave... Where do you it your Hagerty's through?

I always kinda laugh at their valuations, they say my 68 Mustang is $28400 average value... I'd be lucky to get half that even with it being in mint condition lol.. But great for insurance!

Oh, it's not that bad. I believe the fire was put out before there was any warping of the metal...but that's for the body guy to determine. The fire inside the rear vents is a problem with respects to repairing it correctly...but I know the shop I'm insisting it goes to will do it correctly, hope the ICBC adjuster can be brought on board for a proper repair. I mean, don't get me wrong...it sucks balls, but it's not a write-off.

Hmmm...wanna try that first sentence again? Not sure I know what you're asking.

-Dave

Get... Instead of it... Thanks iPhone lol

Ah, got it now.

Just do your quote online through https://www.hagerty.ca/ , once you have your quote number follow up on the phone. The system automatically adds a liability portion(?) which you don't need as that's required in your BC registration. I can't recall what it is, but basically anyone in BC will end up paying about $34 less than what the online quote gives you. Once I did the online quote, I ended up on the phone with an agent who has taken care of everything for me. If I add a car, change a car, etc, I just call or email him.

I took the front skid plate off my Cherokee, apparently it did it's job because it got bent enough to start contacting the castle nut on the steering. I'll try to bend it back into shape enough to go back on since apparently I should have one on there.

Installed OEM splitters and spoiler
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...BF5F62BA2E.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...8A164BC66D.jpg