1979 Pacecar Mustang Pro Touring build.

[Steve]

....

Update:

So it is official, the custom wheels have been ordered. As long as there are no issues they should be here the first part of May. Long wait now. They are going to do their best to get them sooner, but that is the time estimate they gave me.

Oh, I almost had to go to a 19" front wheel as clearance for the 14" brakes was close, but I am just going to sneak by with the 18's. Which is good because I didn't want to have to go to the 19's if I could help it.

Next update is FedEx finally dropped off a box that I have been waiting for. I couldn't afford it last year so I had to wait till this year.


Its my air management system from RideTech. I has the new e3 controls and computer. I also got the upgraded Viairr 400 compressor. Should be a sweet setup once installed. Although I have a little time before I get to this point.

[Steve]

....

Update:

Well I got a few things done this weekend. First thing is I got the rest of the front suspenion bolted up. Just waiting on new sway bar endlinks and my digital caster camber gauge so I can do my own alignment and then tighten everything for the final time.

I also won't be running the plastic fender liners up front. I so sanded and refinished the inner well wheel area on the passenger side, still have to do the drivers side. Came out really good. Sorry forgot to get pics.

Also, got the front calipers refinished in a gunmetal/charcoal and removed the ROUSH lettering and put my own logo on them (could have it say ROUSH anymore). The stainless brake lines should be here tomorrow for the front calipers.

Before:


After:




I also started fabbing up the framework and mounting straps for the 19 gallon RCI fuel cell. When I purchased the cell I got the mounting straps to go with the cell, but fit like crap so I bent up new ones (sorry forgot the picture of them). So here it is, only thing missing is the straps I made that bolt up from the bottom. About have way through the day today the damn power went out so that kept me from getting the holes drilled and bolting them up. Soon I will start fabbing where the fuel fill will come in from the stock location, as I'm not going to be using the fill spout on top as it is shown here.







I think that is about it for now.

[Steve]

...

I haven't made an update yet, but I have been working like a mad man lately.

So here we go. I got word that the rearend should finally be done it a week or so and then I can go pick it up. When the car is at ride height the rear end actually touches the framerail and the cross member just slightly touches the crossmember. So I did few things to make clearance.

First I modified the tunnel so that the drive shaft doesn't hit (sorry no pics). I modified the crossmember with a notch out of it to provide clearance to the pumpkin when it is fully lowered.


Next I fabricated own mini C-notches for each side with adjustable bumpstops so that the axle can tuck up in when lowered.


Rummber bumpstops with a nut welded to the other side to allow me to adjust their height.


Welded in.




Then I prepped and painted everything with expoxy rollbar paint. It isn't as glossy as it shows in the pictures as that is just the flash.


I used the same paint inside the wheel tubs too and then used Eastwood undercoating as well.




You can see the mini C-notches here.




Next I finished the fabrication for the fuel cell mount and installed it.

[silverhatch]

I am a big fan.

[Steve]

....

Since this was a top fill fuel cell, I modified to use the stock fill tube from the side.




I also got the front suspension torqued down and alignment set (execpt the toe). Bolted up the brakes and plumbed up the stainless front lines. I also prepped, painted and undercoated the inner front fender wells (sorry no close up pics)




Now, i haven't talked too much about it but I said I was going to do a custom console. Heres what we have so far.


I also stated before that I will be putting an Ipad in the console. When it was time to buy the Ipad they came out with the Ipad2 so that is what is going in it (being I had to buy one anyway, why not but the newer/better one). It is just sitting in place here for mockup along with the air ride controller. I will be flush mounting both the Ipad 2 and the air ride controller, so bare with me, it will look much better once I get into that. The bad news is that I spoke with my upholstery guy and he said that you won't have time to upholster it before Carlisle so I will have to come up with something tempory for carlisle or I will try upholsterying it myself. We'll see.








Now the Ipad2 is wired into the stereo system so I will have all my tunes through the Ipad as well as navigation. Plus while I am as shows or events it will be removeable so my wife or I can use the internet or watch movies while we are just chilling out.

I will be continueing on the interior mods and also putting in a new booster (93 cobra), master cylinder (1 1/16") and proportioning valve from Wilwood and plumbing up the rest of the brakes once the rearend is here.

[Steve]

...

Update:

So I didn't get as much done as I wanted this weekend, but I did get a few things done.

First I reinstalled the exhaust and get it adjusted perfectedly. For the side you can see that the pipes don't hang below the subframe connectors, just the way it should be.



The next project was to get the floor put back in the car. I decided that I would build a steel frame and then have removable aluminum panels rather then just welding in a steel floor. So we'll see how this works out. So one thing you'll notice is the floor is an inch higher than stock. This was for two reasons, first is because at parked height the rearend needs a little extra room to keep from hitting the floor. Second I took the extra room mounted the fuel cell higher, to keep less of it from sticking out the bottom of the rear bumper.

Some of these pics are in-progress pics.




Pics from below.







Then once the panels were all fastened in and everthing seem sealed, I broke out the FatMat (Dynamat knock-off). Because the panels are made to be removable, once I got the FatMat down I cut a small hole for each bolt head. Suddenly because there is so much light reflection the camera started taking weird pics (usually it is too dark in the garage for pics, now when there is light the camera messes up, LOL).








It is a sad day to finally have to cut up the custom upholstered interior panels, but it had to be done. So here is the start of that project. I should get this one finished and the drives side finished, then I can start working on the custom box that will hide it all, so bare with me here.

[Steve]

....

Update:

Well first off, I have to apologize, my camera has decided to take a crap and the pics just don't turn out. These are the best I could get. Sucks at this stage of the build and I can't take pics with my camera now.

Anyway first off I got the master cylinder and wilwood proportioning valve plumbed up and the brake light switch wired to the proportioning valve.


Next, I found the shifter bezel I am going to use. It is brushed aluminum and matches the contour of the console perfectly. Of all things it is from an Acura MDX.


Interior starting to get modified and cut down for the tubs and installed. Started mocking up the air management components.


My buddy Kris (svt 2000) basically helped out and took over the build of the audio system. This is very early on, but then we will make a cover that covers the air management stuff too. Not shown are Polks for the front, then the Polk components for the box and the Infinity 10" sub.






Then for some reason I decided to rip out all the wiring under the hood and run it in the inner fenders (like I got time to do this or something, LOL). Lengthened some wires, made some harnesses and now this is the "wireless" engine bay. Sorry no before pics, I just started ripping into it.



And finally the wheels. So they showed up today and after opening them I notices that the lips are polished, they are supposed to be brushed. They look great as they are but they don't fit the look I had in mind. This was a huge mistake and I think really degrades the look. But I have to go with it as is for Carlisle, then I have to take them off and send them back to get fixed, WHAT A PAIN.

Also, the forgot to send the center caps (they will be black also) and they forgot the lugnuts. I can't believe all the mistakes, but so is life. I am still pissed but what can you do. Again sorry for the pics but here they are. Centers are satin black BTW, not gray as they look in my crappy camera pics.

[Steve]

.....

[Steve]

...

Some more pics from my phone.

Tried getting some better pics.





I should be focusing on setting up the air management system but I felt like working on the console instead. Cut the hole for the shifter and shifter ring. Still waiting on the boot to get here too. Then I overlaid the center section in carbon fiber to match the rest of the interior.

[Steve]

...

Just got in from prepping and painting the housing, getting ready to go to bed now. Ive never done drugs but I can tell you now I know what it is like to be high. I'm still high on brake cleaner, paint thinner and paint, can't say I like it too much, LOL.

I will be busy tomorrow but here are a couple sneak peaks at the rearend to hold you over till I get more.




Now, I don't think I mentioned it before, but the rearend has been set up to have a degree of toe in and a degree of camber, something trick you won't find in too many straight axles. That is one of the reasons it took so long to do.

[Steve]

...

Well got alot done today. Again sorry for the camera, these are the best I have for now.

Got the rear end painted and the brakes all set up and put in the car. Here is the rear end before going in the car. You'll also notice besides having a degree of toe and degree of camber, the housing has 9" ford ends, rebuilt, reinforced control arm mounts (to keep them from flexing), everything was opened up for 9/16" bolts for the control arms (no sloppy bolts anymore), strange custom axles, 3:73 gears and revised and reinforced Wilwood caliper brackets (the stock Wilwood brackets allowed for way too much flex).




Took a good bit of the day to get everything as I wanted, but to spare you from the boring details I got everything in and decided to get the car off the jack stands and on the ground and see what we are working with.

This is about ride height.





DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!! Here she is a parked height. Believe it or not, the car will go lower, but this is the height she will be parked at.







Tomorrow I have to bleed the brakes, basically everything is new so hopefully I don't have any issues with this. I have to set the toe in the front, tighten the adjustment for the adjustable upper control arm. The I get to start mounting, wiring and plumbing this mess (the air management system).

[80coupe]

i dig it, but pimp my ride interior has to go!

[War Machine]

Holy shit thats fucking gangster

[Steve]

.....

Well I haven't updated in a bit, but here is the scoop. I got the car together and took the maiden voyage Monday night. Well there is something wrong in the rear, I think the backlash might be too tight.

I was really bumming because I don't have the time to fix it before Carlisle. So I reached out to a friend of mine and we decided to trailer it there. Once we are there I will unload the car at the hotel and drive it all weekend. I just don't want to drive it 5 hrs there and 5hrs back in fear of the rear end locking up on me. When its in Carlisle I don't care, I will drive the wheels off it.

So basically Carlisle wasn't looking too good, now it is looking like I will be there. So thanks for all the kind words and we'll see you there.

Now as for the brakes, OMG, there are incredible. I love em!!!

Here are some pics from monday (cell phone) after pulling the car out of the garage (parked height). Love the style or hate it, let me know what you think.

[Steve]

...

Update:

Well the big news is I bought a camera to go to Carlisle with so I could get some good pics. Unfortunately, I think the backlash was setup way too tight in the rear so there is alot of noise coming from it from on decel so I decided to trailer to Carlisle, then once there I drove it around all weekend. I just didn't want to take a chance of locking up the rearend on the 5 hr trip out there. I figured I would diagnose and fix the problem after Carlisle as I didn't have time to do it before we left.

Loaded up and going to Carlisle. For those wondering, this is the car at ride height.


My awesome wife (Stacey) in this shot.


Once we got to the Carlisle show field the response to the car was overwhelming and seemed to be well recieved. I recieved 2 magazine feature shoots while there, so as the sun was going down saturday night we went out to shoot for one of the national mags. The photographer (Jerry Heasley) setup and shot the car, but as he did his shooting I did some too. These are my pics I took, and soon I will post some pics my buddy took too (95opal) as his came out incredible compared to mine. Enough talk, here they are.