1979 Pace Car build

[MerleHaggard]

I have talked to guys that used the sn95 mc with the 87-93 v8 booster with no issues. I'm going to be changing mine out for the 87-93 v8 booster and sn95 mc. I would use the sn95 booster as well, but on the early foxes like mine, I would need to massage the shock tower. It's my understanding that the later foxes had enough room to clear it.

Are you doing sn95 rear disc, as well? I'm using 87-93 drums (5-lug aftermarket stuff). I just don't feel like dealing with that right now lol! The 79 brakes are pretty much just for looks, so anything is a vast improvement.

Yes I'm using the rear discs off of the 94 as well, And thanks for the info, Also great looking car!

 

[MerleHaggard]

I'm collecting parts now for a 5-lug 4 wheel disc setup as well.
Check out Maximum Motorsports. They have information and all the lines pre-made for the swap on their website.
If you're doing the 4 wheel disc conversion then it might be a good idea to go ahead and use the '94-'95 Booster /Master Cylinder to keep the proper braking pressure and feel.

Ok I'll check them out, thanks for tip!

 

[broncojunkie]

Picked up a set of wheels. I believe this makes the 3rd set I've picked up recently. I'm sure whatever I don't use will go to good use somewhere down the road.

 

[Redtwilight]

They'll look good on the Pace car!

 

[broncojunkie]

Long overdue update to this car. I've spent the winter working my tail off. Dad was sick and had cancer surgery, so what little time I did have was often spent 4 hrs away dealing with that mess. He's back home and slowly recovering, but I'm headed back to Virginia this weekend to help out and do some work to their house. Then, it's back to the boat for 28 (and whatever extra days they'll have me working, since they're short handed as always).

I managed to collect some parts here and there. I also did some much needed upgrades to the garage (heat and insulation). Too bad I hardly got any use out of it this winter.

Now for the pace car. I am almost finished with the 5-lug swap and brake upgrades. They sent me the wrong brake line adapter fitting, but once I get it, the system will be buttoned up and I'm ready to add fluid and bleed. I ended up going with the 93 cobra booster and master cylinder. I can honestly say that these upgrades, although very common and simple for most foxes, is not NEARLY as cut and dry on a 79. There are so many small differences, with this being an early fox. I'm hoping bleeding the system goes smoothly. The last time (before the 5-lug swap and brake upgrades) I never could get brakes working properly. Everything was new. No leaks. Two different master cylinders and pedal would still go to the floor. Possibly air in the system, but I even tried a mighty vac bleeder. I bet I bled it a dozen times, so I'm hoping it was just another bad master cylinder. The early foxes had an odd brake line routing. The rear brake line goes up through the interior just under the rear seat and I'm wondering if it doesn't add to the difficulty of the bleeding process. I should know in a day or two.

 

[broncojunkie]

Had a heck of a time bleeding the system, but finally got it all straightened out. Brakes feel good now. Took the car for a drive and noticed a miss and the steering feels odd. I'll have to dive into it in a couple weeks (work) and see what I can find. Hopefully, it's nothing major. Felt good to get it out in the sun and wash the crud off of it!

 

[Redtwilight]

Great to hear that a little progress (no matter how little) is happening!

 

[broncojunkie]

Received these in the mail the other day. They sure are getting hard to come by.

 

[broncojunkie]

Decided to do a little tuning on the car yesterday, but it didn't go well. Running rough. After some tinkering and cursing, I finally figured out it was a fuel issue from sitting. There's never a shortage of problems with these projects. It takes so long to find time and get things accomplished that the mere act of sitting idle causes even more time and money. So I decided to go ahead and put a better fuel pump in it while it's apart. I did have a basic Carter pump, but replacing it with a Holley blue. Also bought a rebuild kit for the Holley regulator, as there was some gunk in it too. Hopefully, I'll be tuning it this weekend. It looks like I'll also need to buy caster/camber plates and I still need to clean up the wheels and get a set of tires. After that, I'll have to get an alignment done and then install the lower air dam and fog lights. Next will be installing a few aftermarket gauges. Man, the list just keeps getting longer!

 

[broncojunkie]

Still having some fuel issues. The new Holley regulator turned out to be garbage. S small threaded plug started leaking. Threw some sealant on it and tried again. Still leaking. Closer inspection, and it turns out a tiny pin hole opened up right through the middle. Must have been made of chinesium like everything else these days.

My buddy had another one, so we put that in and tried again. Adjusted fuel pressure and had another leak. This time, it was the diaphragm. The design made it impossible to get it seated correctly. I guess I didn't have it lined up when I put it back together. Ordered a new diaphrag, which literally cost only $10 less than a new regulator. It looks like the replacement is made differently. The diaphragm isn't round... it's square and the four bolts go through the corners, keeping it centered. Part just came in today, so I'll try to get this ol gal tuned.

 

[broncojunkie]

Forgot to update after getting the regulator straightened out. Still running lean after a regulator rebuild but the regulator is once again working properly. My friend grabbed a nice 750 quick fuel carb off a project of his. It fired right up and sounded 100% better. But after a couple trips down the road, it started running rough again. This carb is jetted wrong for my setup, so the plugs were fouled out. Same buddy took my old 650 Holley home and went through it. He found the screws on the lower section loose, but everything else looked decent. He gave it a good cleaning. I was able to swap it back on and start tuning it. Fuel mixture screws seem to be working properly now, as the adjustment now shows up on the vaccum gauge. I need to drive it and try to clean some of the carbon out, but I'm now back to work (5 weeks this time) and it will have ro wait till mid June.

 

[broncojunkie]

After more frustration with getting the car tuned, I finally ordered and installed a QuickFuel Brawler 650 mechanical secondary. Got it tuned pretty well. No more backfire... good throttle response. I also had time to mount and balance the new tires on the new black 10th anniversary wheels, install new rear shocks, front struts, and caster/camber plates. A quick 5-minute eyeball camber adjustment and the steering effort on the manual rack is MUCH better!

Here's a short video I shot while getting the carb adjusted...

 

[broncojunkie]

I had to go back to work for 8 or 9 days, but should be back in town just before July 4th. I plan on getting it aligned, mount the new wheels/tires on the car, and get the front lower air dam mounted. The air dam is proving to be a big pain, since I didn't realize I was missing a few important parts. Of course, they're not reproduced and are pretty rare pieces.. I've located all but 1 part so far.

 

[Redtwilight]

If all else fails, would making the final part be too hard to do versus finding one?

 

[broncojunkie]

If all else fails, would making the final part be too hard to do versus finding one?

Probably would be fairly simple, but time is the most valuable thing to me right now and having the right parts saves quite a bit. Anyway, I ordered the part today. One of the guys over at foureyedpride forum found it. Part# matched but no pic. We'll see when it shows up! It was a nos piece.

I have to admit... I'm not looking forward to the install. Doesn't look easy. I have to remove a reinforcement piece across the lower section of the upper/main bumper. It's held on with multiple small brackets with threaded studs. Can't see them, but by feeling them, I can tell they're rusted pretty good. I understand others have to just destroy them and then fab new ones. In fact, I'll probably have to fab or find substitutes for other small parts. The stuff i ordered is just the big parts.

 

[broncojunkie]

I got a few things done this weekend. Front air dam and fog lights installed, new wheels and tires on, more fine-tuning on the idle mix, tweaked the alignment (much better, but still need to get to the alignment shop when possible), and fixed a couple minor leaks. I took it out for about a 45 minute trip. Wiper motor crapped out, so I'm picking one up today. On my short trip, I discovered a few bugs that will need attention. Right rear brake intermittently drags. I'll need a helper to figure it out. Everything looks fine from a quick visual inspection. Fan still works intermittently. I'm going to try another fan controller. Reverse lights not working. Something occasionally rubbing in the rear. Probably a tire, but I can't quite pinpoint where. I will need to figure that out. No marks on tire or fender well. Dash lights also aren't working. I believe it's the dimmer/headlight switch.

 

[broncojunkie]

 

[broncojunkie]

 

[broncojunkie]

I see a set of lowering springs in my future.

 

[broncojunkie]

Not much to update, since I'm back to work for a month. I think my buddy is going to try to install my subframe connectors while I'm gone. I ordered a set of 26x10-15 Hoozier slicks today. Planning on swapping from 3.27 to 4.10 gears when I get home, along with installing a tach and a couple gauges. I'm hoping to get a chance to make a few 1/8 mile passes, if everything works out ok. It would be a lot easier if we had a track closer to the house. All of them are 1.5-2 hrs away.