The excitement is building

Top work IG, I tips me lid.

 

Now the front studs match the rear studs for length and size, 1/2 - 20. and they all use the same lug-nuts

The lug-nuts are essentially the same OD and length, whether for 7/16", 12mm, or 1/2", . . just drilled and tapped to match the stud size and threading . . . . the hex size and OD are all the same.

 

That's suweeet, Darlene. Way to go, stud-girl!

 

Knocking off problems one at a time. Good on ya Darlene!

 

Hey IG, What rear brake calipers ya running? I like that e brake set up!

 

I don't know . . . . it's what came from Spirit as the upgrade for the 9 inch Ford rear when ordered with disc brakes and E-brake.

I'd look on Speedway, as I bet it came from there.

The cables and lever kit is Lokar..

 

Now that you see what the lug-nuts look like and the original studs, you can see that they were not long enough to even reach the hex portion of the lug-nut, and that the thin cross section area of the "sleeve" below the hex was all that was actually holding the wheels on.

I didn't like that at the beginning and it just sort of ate at me ever since, so now it's fixed right and I can move on to the next thing without having it haunt me.

 

You're smart for playing it safe.

 

..

They come both ways. . . . The original ones I had on the 7/16" original studs were closed

Most tech regs require open lug-nuts and the stud has to extend all the way thru the hex and be exposed at the top.

I think the closed top looks a little nicer, but it can hide a lot of potential failure possibilities.

 

The calipers sure look like Camero. 82/87

 

I’ll bet it’s a Ford 8.8 from an explorer or something. What was the original bolt circle?

 

If you're asking me, Spirit uses John's Industries as their vendor for 9" Ford rears, John’s Industries - Ford 9 inch Rear Ends Housing Axles Caspian, M

They have fabrication options for standard duty up to twin turbo monster . . . . all priced accordingly, lol

When I ordered the 9" option, I already had decided on the 632 BBC, so I optioned the rear with that in mind and for a nominal 1000hp minimum . . it's got all the good stuff.

I already had the wheels, which were 5 X 4.750" Chevy bolt pattern, so that was already set.

I don't know if the disc brake with e-brake was a Spirit add-on or if it's an available option from Johns . .

You'd have to ask Josh at Spirit . . .if anyone knows what caliper it is, . . I'd ask him first

He either knows, or knows who to ask.


Thinking about it, it does look a lot like the ones on my '05 Mustang, so maybe 8.8 Ford is a good call.

 

If it is a 8.8 I am in business as I have an 8.8 in the T and the install of calipers and disks will be seamless. I guess I better look over the 8.8 explorer rear calipers or the mustang ones.

 

Darlene have you heard the motor with zoomies? Just wondering how loud they are.

 

Have not run it with the zoomies yet, it was damn impressive with the headers . . . . . the zoomies should be true buckethead Nirvana

 

Refresh my memory: are you putting baffles in the zoomies? My brother's blown 351 Windsor with zoomies had 'washer-type' baffles, spot welded at a 30 degree angle, and it was not that loud, unless he really got on it.

 

The zoomies come from Sanderson with a set of baffles, time will tell how much they mitigate the sound level.

I'll have to try with the open zoomies and then with the headers with the extension baffles installed. . . . .

It's all a ways down the road . . .

 

So, some rainy weekends have kept me inside and on the porch, so I cleaned up the stainless steel shock mounting plates I rough cut a few weekends back and drilled them to match the templates. Some quality drill bits from McMaster and plenty of cutting oil made drilling the 316 sst easier than I anticipated.

There's still a long way to go getting them shaped up and looking like the templates, but they fit and will do the job. . . I do need to get that ding in the right one welded up though . . .

Getting them drilled did a lot to move me in a positive direction. . . . I'm just not accustomed to having something seem to go so badly, even when it's my first try.

Hoping some time on the bandsaw and grinder next weekend will yield an acceptable aesthetic. .
Or I guess I could always try again . . . .