It looked so simple at first!

[GySgtFrank]

Rear suspension .. done, Brakes .. done, Exhaust .. done. Have to get in some road testing and it should be ready to roll. I'll get on the front suspension sometime after DGRR.


completed rear suspension 1 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr


completed rear suspension 2 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr


completed rear suspension 3 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr


completed rear suspension 4 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr


completed rear suspension 5 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

[GySgtFrank]

Oops! Forgot to post up the photos of the '93 Ford Cobra brake master cylinder install. It's a 1 inch bore (25.4mm) master cylinder.

It worked out extremely well. I only needed to elongate the mounting holes (and lose the top and bottom bolts on the SA booster) to make it fit. I had to use the SA booster as both the FC and Ford boosters would have hit on the clutch master cylinder. I got rid of the stock spacer and the center dropped right into the booster. Adjusted the length of the operating rod a little bit and I was in business.

I used the Ford proportioning valve and rear line pressure adjuster that came with the Mustang conversion kit. Replaced all the brake lines with new. The stock SA (drum brakes) emergency brake lines dropped right on the Ford calipers, as if they were made for them. E brake is mucho better than stock.


Cobra brake master cylinder 1 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr


Cobra brake master cylinder 2 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr


Cobra brake master cylinder 3 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

Even though I only have the large discs out back, with the stock SA discs up front, the braking is a VAST improvement. Can't imagine what it's going to be like when I get the 13 inch discs up front.

P.S. Took my previous nemesis corner today, full throttle through first and second. No more going sideways when the tires give up.
The things some people won't do for a little entertainment.

[infernosg]

How did you adjust the booster push rod to match the MC? Did you just go by feel or "eyeball" it? I'm curious because I'm doing a 929 booster/MC swap into my FC and this is something I'll likely have to do. There's a whole spiel in the FSM about setting the proper push rod length but it requires a number of SST's that no one has access to.

[GySgtFrank]

Originally Posted by infernosg

How did you adjust the booster push rod to match the MC? Did you just go by feel or "eyeball" it? I'm curious because I'm doing a 929 booster/MC swap into my FC and this is something I'll likely have to do. There's a whole spiel in the FSM about setting the proper push rod length but it requires a number of SST's that no one has access to.

Trial and error mostly. I just set the master cylinder plunger cup against the booster rod and kept adjusting the length until the master cylinder sat flush against the booster without any pressure against the plunger and no slop from being too loose. It seems to work fine, I have good brake feel and no drag.

It's a good thing they used a rod that can be screwed in or out for adjustment, someone was thinking when they designed it.

[infernosg]

Originally Posted by GySgtFrank

Trial and error mostly. I just set the master cylinder plunger cup against the booster rod and kept adjusting the length until the master cylinder sat flush against the booster without any pressure against the plunger and no slop from being too loose. It seems to work fine, I have good brake feel and no drag.

It's a good thing they used a rod that can be screwed in or out for adjustment, someone was thinking when they designed it.

That's what I figured. I've convinced myself the booster push rod position changes slightly when vacuum is applied so there would have to be some kind of initial clearance. That's the only way I can justify why the FSM says to check everything while under vacuum. I guess I'll measured the clearance on my stock booster and MC and start with that.

[GySgtFrank]

Originally Posted by infernosg

That's what I figured. I've convinced myself the booster push rod position changes slightly when vacuum is applied so there would have to be some kind of initial clearance. That's the only way I can justify why the FSM says to check everything while under vacuum. I guess I'll measured the clearance on my stock booster and MC and start with that.

I worried about that at first as well. I suppose you could always use a vacuum pump to put the booster under vacuum before fitting, if you really wanted to. I got lazy and just fitted it straight up with no vacuum. I figured I'd give it a try and see if it needed more adjustment after it was running. Doesn't seem to.

[GySgtFrank]

Well sheet. Didn't make DGRR as things came up at the last minute that prevented it. Bummed me out, had been planning for it all year. Good part was that it allowed me to FINALLY get the shop cleaned out and organized. Almost finished with cleaning and then onto the next step.

Still have a few bugs to work out on the rear suspension. Also been measuring and eyeballing how to shoehorn this under the front.

front suspension_new by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

Well, except the tires, those are from the Mustang widebody project I'm stealing parts from. Plan to run 235/40 17s up front. Those should be enough of a challenge. The 285/30 18s would look pretty cool though, if I didn't have to actually turn.

[WE3RX7]

Excuses.. excuses... 2GSLSE didn't bring his silver FB either. Next year being the 10th anniversary, would be appropriate to have the most bad-ass cars there. We expect you'll be in attendance..

[GySgtFrank]

Not so sure about bad ass, insane..., not quite right..., needs his head examined... maybe. Planning on it. I NEED some Dragon time.

[GySgtFrank]

Results of my month long sojourn of cleaning and organizing the shop. Still not completely done, but I'm flat out of motivation to do anymore for a while. Have to organize a few more tools, go through a couple of small boxes of fluids, and get the FC front suspension out of the back of the truck and onto a shelf. (at least until I can get them to Chris [RedR1]).


shop1 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr


shop2 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr


shop3 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr


shop4 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

considering the disaster area I WAS working in, pretty proud of myself.

P.S. for those always saying pics or it didn't happen, I HAVE PICS!

[WE3RX7]

That's actually a nice look shop. Good floors and space... twice the space I have lol.. I'd like to build a 30x40 someday...

[GySgtFrank]

Originally Posted by WE3RX7

That's actually a nice look shop. Good floors and space... twice the space I have lol.. I'd like to build a 30x40 someday...

it's a 30X30 space. Building all the benches and shelving took up most of the time. Put in the wiring and lighting previously. Plenty of 110 and 220 outlets. I should get off my butt and run piping for my air compressor around the ceiling, with drops and traps, one of these days. More future projects.

[JL1RX7]

Need a roommate? God I would love for that much space. That is bigger than my apartment by far for what is probably half the cost! Looks good Gunny!

[GySgtFrank]

Originally Posted by JL1RX7

Need a roommate? God I would love for that much space. That is bigger than my apartment by far for what is probably half the cost! Looks good Gunny!

It's the upside of living in Kansas. Roommate would be good, bring beer.

[WE3RX7]

Yea - that's the downside of the northern VA area. Land is a premium. Some day we're getting out of this rat race, lol.

Not to turn this into a shop build thread, but... is your compressor in the shop or in it's own outbuilding?

Maybe we all just come to KS and raid the shop space