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Post by SeanW on Sept 2, 2018 14:52:19 GMT
Finally getting around to replacing the busted original fenders. So. Much. Cutting. And grinding.  |
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Post by jwagner on Sept 4, 2018 14:07:03 GMT
The Ford Exploder master cylinder idea is new to me. I need to increase the pressure level on my pedal and this looks like a cheap and easy way to do it. I'm looking at a '96 Ford part based on what I found via google. thanks. Otherwise, it might be a floor mount pedal set which is $$$.
Where are the fenders from? They look pretty nice. I assume you're using the same dodgy support rod setup? Mine are starting to get pretty ratty and barely fit over the 8" wheels/tires.
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Post by SeanW on Sept 5, 2018 3:35:37 GMT
The Ford Exploder master cylinder idea is new to me. I need to increase the pressure level on my pedal and this looks like a cheap and easy way to do it. I'm looking at a '96 Ford part based on what I found via google. thanks. Otherwise, it might be a floor mount pedal set which is $$$. Where are the fenders from? They look pretty nice. I assume you're using the same dodgy support rod setup? Mine are starting to get pretty ratty and barely fit over the 8" wheels/tires. The Ford cylinder you want came on ‘96 Explores, Rangers, and even F150s. The versions for trucks that had cruise control have two outlets for the front circuit which is kinda nice but not 100% necessary. The cylinder uses an M8 and M10 bubble flare fitting. (M8 for the front circuit, M10 for the rear.) The fender supports that I’m using are built from thick-wall 3/4 steel tubing that I welded to 1/8th thick steel angle stock to form the fender mounts. They’re way stronger than the mounts/supports that Exomotive sold me with the kit. (One of which already snapped on me and nearly took out one of my wheels.) The fenders themselves are custom stamped/rolled aluminum, 1/8th thickness. I’m running a 225/50R15 on a 15x9” rim. The fenders should cover up to a 245, tho. I bought them from www.fendersnmore.com on a group buy. |
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Post by SeanW on Sept 7, 2018 4:22:47 GMT
Smallish update. Remade the oil-cooler lines this evening using high quality Parker Twist-Lock hose and twist-lock -10AN fittings. The original fittings and hose were less than stellar, the fittings themselves had started to weep oil out of their pivots. The new lines are the blue ones. After running the car for 30 minutes to get it up to temperature, no weeping or leaking observed.  |
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Post by SeanW on Oct 28, 2018 4:54:29 GMT
It’s been a while, thought I would throw out a small update
I’ve attempted the installation of the Ford Explorer cylinder but ran into some issues that I’ll document more fully at in a later post mostly likely. The short story is that, yes it bolts up fine thought you need to make a few new hard lines for the prop valve. The cylinder stroke is not quite correct so there are some issues there that need to be worked out. A friend of mine is actually working on this with a little more dedication than myself and may have more information on it by the time that I get back to the States after my vacation.
On the mean time, I’m already moving on to an alternate plan utilizing a the master cylinder form an Integra Type-R. It also has a 1” bore and bolts up to the NA booster but does require a little modification of the push rod. More on that when I get back from vacation.
People have asked me why I’m bothering with all of this instead of just picking up something that’s known to work. Well...Because experimentation is fun and that’s part of why I own this car, to experiment with different combinations of stuff.
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Post by garman on Nov 4, 2018 2:13:03 GMT
People are always asking why. I like that you are pursuing the why not. I’m currently exploring brake options so I’d like to hear how this works out. Keep up the good work!
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Post by SeanW on Feb 25, 2019 18:11:59 GMT
Far too long without updates. Haven’t really done a lot of work on the car over the winter / crappy rain season but I have gotten a few things taken care of, couple of projects that have been simmering on a slow burn in the background. First up, swapped from an NA8 to an NB throttle body to simplify my plumbing life. Reduces the total number of tubes, clamps, and joints in my intake. Also going to back to the much larger intercooler. The swap requires that you use an NB vTPS sensor. The wiring is pretty straight forward once you sort out which pin does what.    Fresh vTPS connector from Ballenger Mototspots makes it a super clean installation. Also decided to do a coolant bypass on the throttle body because why unnecessarily heat into the intake tract after the intercooler? (I live in California, icing is not a big concern.) |
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Post by SeanW on Feb 25, 2019 18:26:17 GMT
With the installation of a new windscreen (outlines in a later post) I ran into a clearance issue with my gauge pod. That became an excuse to design a new pod and refactor the excessive number of gauges in my cluster. Designed it up with SketchUp, printed in ABS, and finished off with rubberized undercoating spray for a bit more weather durability. I’ve published this on ThingiVerse, including an updated version. This version: www.thingiverse.com/thing:3332116Updated version: www.thingiverse.com/thing:3398377    I’ve deleted the oil pressure, water temp, and oil temp gauges out of my cluster. The PerfectTuning CAN gauge can display water temp reported by the ECU’s water temp sensor and I’m feeding oil pressure/temperature into PerfectTuning gauge via its analog sensor inputs. This gets me alarm screens for those inputs and, when I bounce up to MS3 the PT gauge acts as a CAN expander so I’ll be able to log those channels. |
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Post by SeanW on Feb 25, 2019 20:45:40 GMT
Over Christmas I installed a new windscreen into the car making it a lot more livable to drive. The frame was custom made by Kinetic Vehicles and it’s fitted with a 1/4” thick abrasions resistant poly carbonate panel. Over the las week I took it apart to paint the frame black and reinstall the panel with better vibration damping gasket and silicone sealant. Looks a lot better in black, almost disappears into car this way.  |
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Post by hammy3601 on Feb 26, 2019 18:49:35 GMT
love the dash mate, great work!
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Post by SeanW on Mar 7, 2019 5:31:12 GMT
The weather on Sunday was not too bad in the morning, managed to get the car out between rain fronts for some quality driving time interrupted with some coffee.  I’ve also gotten a replacement FDM printer so I can do more dumb things with plastic. Right now I’m printing up a set of 2.5” exhaust templates in various angles to help me fabricate a less bashed to hell down pipe. (Needed to clear the steering column.  |
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Post by Stiggy on Mar 7, 2019 9:27:38 GMT
good work Sir.
Now just an idea but...
How about asking Exomotive for the CAD drawings of the chassis, then you can print a scale model, now that would look cool on your mantel piece.
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Post by wishful4444 on Mar 7, 2019 14:25:41 GMT
Don't you have to fit wipers & washers with a windscreen that high?
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Post by casesensitive on Mar 7, 2019 14:41:12 GMT
Don't you have to fit wipers & washers with a windscreen that high? Steering wheel's on the wrong side, which means no IVA, and I'll stick my neck out... pretty much no regulations of any kind? Sweet for builders! |
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Post by SeanW on Mar 7, 2019 14:46:52 GMT
Don't you have to fit wipers & washers with a windscreen that high? I have a very long, drawn out story about windshield wipers on this car that only makes me angry when I revisit it. The short answer is yes, in California basically all road vehicles are required to have windshield and wipers that comply with Federal Vehicle Safety Standards. Practically speaking though, for the purposes of registration inspection, it literally depends on the weather and the mood of whom ever it is that your application happens to be reviewed by in an office in Sacramento. One day they might not care, the next day they might look out their window to see some drizzle and decide that no wipers is a deal breaker. My first application was rejected because I had no wipers on the car and a short windscreen. Literally a week later another Exocet builder sailed through with no issues without having wipers on his car. (He also had a short windscreen.) The whole long string of affairs recounting the extra $1k I had to spend to throw together an AS1 safety glass windscreen and wiper combination is documented in my original build thread. The summary of the whole thing is that it presently does not have permanently installed windshield wipers. Can it have windshield wipers? Yes, I have a set of windshield wipers that I can clamp onto the frame in event that I choose to drive the car in monsoon conditions. |
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