Ownership Verified: CraigB's Merkur XR4Ti - Take 2

[Perc]

Yes, the lower control arm doesn't actually control the front-rear movement at all.

 

[Labcoatguy]

Huh; was it packaging reasons that led them to making the sway bay do double duty as a suspension link?

 

[Perc]

You'll have to time travel back to late 70's Germany and ask the engineers at Ford-Werke AG.

 

[Labcoatguy]

Or I could summon Spectre who is usually pretty good at digging up this kind of information

 

[JCE]

Wait so it's both a sway bar and a suspension link?

I was thinking the same thing...

 

[Dr_Grip]

You'll have to time travel back to late 70's Germany and ask the engineers at Ford-Werke AG.

Wasn't the Sierra designed in Dagenham?

EDIT: Wiki says it was designed (among others) by Bob Lutz, who worked at Cologne back then. You learn something new every day...

 

[93Flareside]

Or I could summon Spectre who is usually pretty good at digging up this kind of information

It's like how MWF summons narf.

 

[GRtak]

You aren't a supposed to summon them both to the same thread in back to back posts! The forums is doomed, DOOMED I say!

 

[CraigB]

So, I took the car down the 1/4 mile today. Even with a different ECU, a bigger VAM, deleted cat and a bit more boost it only managed a 17.94 @ only like 72. This all fairly well confirms what I already knew. Car is lean all the way down the track. Going to order an adjustable fuel pressure regulator here in about 5 minutes, that should solve that.

Meanwhile after driving the car for a couple of days now I'm not sure the brakes are warped, rather the parts Perc pointed out are probably shot. I'll have to get a Mustang out of the garage, it's not mine by the way, and confirm next week after a trip to the Carolinas.

 

[CraigB]

Photo dump!











Gauge check:
Speedo - 5 mph slow no matter the speed
Fuel Level - In-opp
Water Temp - No Workie
Turbo Boost - Reads different than the Auto Meter in the dash
Tach-o-meter - Tacky

 

[93Flareside]

Love that speedometer. :lol:

 

[Spectre]

Love that speedometer. :lol:

He can't be ticketed for more than 85mph.

 

[Perc]

Lovely boost gauge. And a strange brake warning light. For some reason FoMoCo decided they had to replace the universal symbols with english text for the US.

I spent half an hour troubleshooting the handbrake switch once before I realized the light was trying to tell me I was low on brake fluid.

 

[CraigB]

I bought a set of Fox Mustang 10 Hole wheels for the car a couple months ago. Last night I ordered a set of Kumho Ecsta PS31 in 205/55. They should fit very nicely on the 15x7 wheels. I got the old tires dismounted and disposed of today.

So now starts the arduous task of cleaning, stripping, sanding and refinishing the abused 30 year old Mustang wheels.

First step was cleaning the backside:

On to the front. This is some of what I have to deal with:

Some paint stripper will remove the old clear coat:

Then onto the car for "turning":

It's not nearly as bad as it looks. Just keep your fingers clear...

 

[93Flareside]

Bad? It looks really good.

 

[public]

That's excellent! I love those wheels.

 

[JimCorrigan]

+ 3. Dem wheels good, Craig.

 

[JCE]

Doze wheelz...

 

[CraigB]

Thanks guys. Just finished up with the "turning". Gave them a good wash, now to let them dry before a wipe with wax and grease remover. Finally they will get a coat of clear. Nothing fancy, just some rattle can stuff.

Hope to have some final photos later this evening, but tires won't be in until Friday.

As you can see, there's still some imperfections. However for a total investment of about $100 I think they will look fine on a $1,200 car...

 

[Der Stig]

Excellent work, Craig!