What did you do to your vehicle today?

[LP700-4]

Originally Posted by Akinari

Have you thought about leaving the upper portion of your grille chrome or paint it white to match the hood? I've seen some TL guys leave it, some paint/wrap it black.

I love that neochrome decal

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.

[ijaz_97]

Originally Posted by inv4zn

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

[CCA-Dave]

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

Transmission mounts were welded in:


Made the co-driver seat mounts, and welded those in:


Reservoir mount for brakes and clutch was added:


Frame gussets were added:





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...

[jackp0t]

My unfamiliar-ness with the car failed me

Spoiler!

I discovered with 18x10 et25 275/35 the tire on the inside rubs on the coilover


I put the stock front wheel 18x7.5 and from the getgo there is little room


I even tried to put the rear wheel 8.5 and it wont fit! needs spacers
They weren't kidding when they said the 1 is a squashed version of the 3-series.lol

I put a 5mm spacer and it solved the rubbing issue


BUT now the issue is in the outer side since it was a perfect fitment already and now its gonna be pushed in an extra 5mm.
For the extra kick to the balls i already got a set of 275/35

The setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise (well thats what tell my self to feel better.haha)
I was having a buying remorse with the current tire that i got.lol
But luckily i was able to return the pair and they were having a sweet discount 400$ purchase -100$ off
Grabbed 265/35 for the front to compensate the 5mm spacer


Problem solved!

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

Spoiler!

Its nerve wracking because i only got a one shot to do it right

The flare was not perfect in my eyes.You can see it pointing inwards at the end I hated that because i will have to push wheel to inside moer . That means the front part of the flare will have all that space and that bugs the shit out of me. I had to modify it to my liking


After working my magic,maneuvering ,bending, heating and taking alot of measurement . I felt satisfied with the new fitment
Here is a comparison (2nd piece is how it was intended to be mounted)

Gained more space
Shout out to rohit for the help!

Went ahead and install the rivet nuts




I love this thing! i feel like i can use it everywhere!

Fitment im very satisfied! i eliminate the inward bend


Because of the way i change the way the fender fit the 2nd piece is affected
I have to mod it again which im fine with


After more magic ,manuevering


Got em!



Overall i felt like i am the best person to do it because if i had just gave it to a body shop they would have fit it how it was originally intended to be mounted and i will be out of 2-3k AND BE VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED!
But In a perfect world it would be a bodyman working on it while im behind him coaching him every step on how i wanted it mounted .haha

I am very pleased with the result!

[CCA-Dave]

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.

Spoiler!

Of course, as soon as I arrive, it started to rain. By the time I was done, I felt like a drowned rat. Ahhhh, Squamish. Only place that rains more than deep cove.


New Fuel tank is in. Actually did this last week, but needed to make some changes to the hardware.

New fuel lines are in, and found the wiring harness for the back of the truck in a bin of parts.


Bolted the bumper and trailer hitch on...using all new hardware. It may appear to be a little crooked, but it's just loosely bolted up. The adjustments to make it look straight happen after the box is bolted down. Gotta love working with clean powder-coated parts and brand new hardware...


Box is now ready to go back on the truck for the last time. See, told you it wasn't very exciting :P

[dared3vil0]

Flatbed? :O

[CCA-Dave]

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:

Spoiler!

And build a ramp truck:

Spoiler!

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.

[CCA-Dave]

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

[CCA-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.

Spoiler!

Forget walnut shells, the 'proper way' to clean valves is to yank 'em right out! Needless to say, I've been running it with a rich tune and they're rather nasty.


Cleaned up the cylinder heads and pistons while I was in there. Mmmmm...freshies.



There is something awesome about wrapped exhaust systems. Of course, I have to say that it's a terrible idea. Hides cracks, soaks up oil, makes the system rust. But, in my case I run the oil lines close to the exhaust so it's a necessary evil.


By Saturday afternoon it was ready to go back in...


And by Saturday dinner, it had fired up. Of course, the moment I finished it started to rain...


Sigh...here it sits, undercover, waiting for a break in the rain. Can't wait to add to the stone chips :P

[underscore]

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

[CCA-Dave]

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...

[SSM_DC5]

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

[kchan]

Originally Posted by jackp0t

My unfamiliar-ness with the car failed me

Spoiler!

I discovered with 18x10 et25 275/35 the tire on the inside rubs on the coilover


I put the stock front wheel 18x7.5 and from the getgo there is little room


I even tried to put the rear wheel 8.5 and it wont fit! needs spacers
They weren't kidding when they said the 1 is a squashed version of the 3-series.lol

I put a 5mm spacer and it solved the rubbing issue


BUT now the issue is in the outer side since it was a perfect fitment already and now its gonna be pushed in an extra 5mm.
For the extra kick to the balls i already got a set of 275/35

The setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise (well thats what tell my self to feel better.haha)
I was having a buying remorse with the current tire that i got.lol
But luckily i was able to return the pair and they were having a sweet discount 400$ purchase -100$ off
Grabbed 265/35 for the front to compensate the 5mm spacer


Problem solved!

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

Spoiler!

Its nerve wracking because i only got a one shot to do it right

The flare was not perfect in my eyes.You can see it pointing inwards at the end I hated that because i will have to push wheel to inside moer . That means the front part of the flare will have all that space and that bugs the shit out of me. I had to modify it to my liking


After working my magic,maneuvering ,bending, heating and taking alot of measurement . I felt satisfied with the new fitment
Here is a comparison (2nd piece is how it was intended to be mounted)

Gained more space
Shout out to rohit for the help!

Went ahead and install the rivet nuts




I love this thing! i feel like i can use it everywhere!

Fitment im very satisfied! i eliminate the inward bend


Because of the way i change the way the fender fit the 2nd piece is affected
I have to mod it again which im fine with


After more magic ,manuevering


Got em!



Overall i felt like i am the best person to do it because if i had just gave it to a body shop they would have fit it how it was originally intended to be mounted and i will be out of 2-3k AND BE VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED!
But In a perfect world it would be a bodyman working on it while im behind him coaching him every step on how i wanted it mounted .haha

I am very pleased with the result!

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

[thumper]

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



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 .

[hud 91gt]

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

[thumper]

Originally Posted by hud 91gt

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

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

[CCA-Dave]

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...

[punkwax]

^ Me reading that:

[thumper]

dammit dave... right in the feels

will it be resurrected or will you part it out?

[68style]

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!

[CCA-Dave]

Originally Posted by thumper

dammit dave... right in the feels

will it be resurrected or will you part it out?

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.

Originally Posted by 68style

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!

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

-Dave

[68style]

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

[CCA-Dave]

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.

[underscore]

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.

[Araaadi]

Installed OEM splitters and spoiler