78 Fairmont Project

[O&C Racing]

Well, I've been able to make a little progress on the Fairmont. Here's what we started with. A 24000 mile car from southern California. We added the Welds after we first got it. Looked good pimping around with the original six in the car.



So far I've gotten the car disassembled and painted the engine bay.



The rearend is also assembled and mocked up under the car. I'm putting a Steeda 5-Link rear suspension in the car along with D-spec Tokico shocks and 390-430 MM rear springs. So far everything has fit, except the chassis mount for the panhard bar. I'm going to have to cut the Steeda piece apart and make new bracing to run to the other frame rail. The Fairmont gas tank and straps are in the way not allowing the piece to sit in the proper location.





The Cobra rear brakes fit great on the NorthRaceCars.com brackets. The axles were sourced from them as well and are nice pieces.

The front suspension is made up of mostly Maximum Motorsports pieces. A Mustang K-member was installed along with some MM tubular lower control arms. Next to install are some 94 Mustang spindles and some Cobra brakes. There are Tokico D-spec struts as well as 375 springs on a MM coil-over kit. The stock manual steering rack has been replaced by an 03 Cobra unit and MM steering shaft.



Some Bullits were test fit as well. These have a set of 255/40-17 Kumho's. They are a little too short for my taste.


Tonight we mocked up the front suspension. The MM coil overs worked out fine on the D-spec struts. We also blasted and painted the 94 spindles. Next is a new set of hubs for the car. These are pretty ratty and must have a bunch of miles on them. I apologize for the pics being so dark.



Also tried the 255/40 tire and wheel combo on the front. I think this is the size we're going to shoot for. The fender is just sitting on the car to get an idea of how the wheel looks. It also looks like we may need to get some crash bolts for the strut/spindle to be able to hit ~3* of camber for the track.









Got the Master Cylinder from Napa tonight. It's an 85 Lincoln Towncar unit with a 1" bore. The best part is it's aluminum and only $16. Unfortunately they didn't have the booster in stock. I ordered a 94 V-6 Mustang booster for the car.



Lots more to do. It's looking like the car will also get a TKO600 behind the 347 instead of the FMS World Class box that I was planning to use.

Curtis

[Boyd]

LOVE IT! I've always loved those Fairmonts. Keep us updated...

[Kenova]

Damn, that's lookin' real good Curtis. I'm sure it will surprise more than a few people. I assume this boxy little car has some track time in it's future?
The TKO600 certainly seems to be a popular choice lately. Are you planning on using the Road Race version? Do you have any plans to stiffen the body up? (roll bar/cage, subframe connectors).
Ken

[BRIAN]

That is different and very nice!!

Be careful with those bullit wheels, most A/M wheels have more positive offset that are made for the Mustang. Hard to find for the same offset with tight fender clearances. Been there.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Very cool! This car should be killer when complete. Keep us updated.

[69Nova]

Awsome project. Very cool and well done and very diffrent.

[Steve Chryssos]

That is freakin cool! I agree, the rear tires are too short but the setup looks perfect up front. Pix don't look dark on my screen. The magazines need to know about this project!! Keep up the good work.

[Steve68]

Cool Car, I heard there very light, looks great!!

[O&C Racing]

Thanks for all the compliments. I'm trying to stick to a strict budget with the car so some things will be put off until next winter. The car has some dings and scratches, but I really want to get it running for the Power Tour. So paint and body work will have to wait. I'm also looking at a set of Corbeau GTS II seats for the car as well. Although the budget won't immediately allow matching the back seats to them.

Kenova:
In the next few weeks I'll be running 2x2 box tubing through the floor to tie the subframes together. I don't have any plans for a roll cage of any type though, but I will run some 2x2 outriggers to the rockers just in case. I'm planning to drive this thing to work (52 mile one way commute) quite often in the summer. Climbing in and out doesn't appeal to me, been there. I've got the standard .64 overdrive TKO600. I've thought about the road race trans, but I'm going to eventually put a Viper T-56 in the car. I got the TKO in trade for some other parts I had so it didn't kill the budget. And yes it will see some time at Road Atlanta next year. :icon996:

Brian:
I've got a couple sets of Ford Bullits and that is what the car will initially have. I'm going to borrow a couple 9" aftermarket ones to try in the rear. It would be nice to get at least a 275/40 back there. I also was looking at some custom 17" TTII's with the painted centers. I'm not sure if they will clear the front brakes though.

[wiedemab]

My dad and I have been tossing around the idea of building a Fairmont for a while, but just haven't got around to it (too many irons in the fire). I'm jealous! That should be a fun car. It doesn't look like you could have started with much nicer of a car either. Good luck with the build! Keep us posted.

Brandon

[Little Bob]

Thats awesome, my mom used to have a 78 wagon. It was the first car I ever drove. Keep up the great work.

[O&C Racing]

Well I was able to get a few more things done on the car. The booster is in. It required some "massaging" of the strut tower for clearance. The tower doesn't have the same notch like a later model fox car. So after making one and sanding and repainting the area it's done. The 5-speed pedals are also in the car and I'm still waiting an parts. I think UPS is holding them hostage



I also cleaned the original washer/overflow bottle and it looks like a new one.



I was able to pick up the TKO600 last week and have it waiting for installation. I'm also working on some deals that may make it possible to put an 8.2 deck aluminum blocked 360"+ motor in the car and stay on budget. I should know more in the next few weeks. It's tough because the current 347 is on the stand ready to drop in, but the aluminum motor is kinda

Hopefully there will be more updates in the next couple of days.

Curtis

[O&C Racing]

Well after finally straightening up the shop so it doesn't look like as BIG a bomb went off inside it, I was able to make some more progress. My fiance's family is in town so her dad and I spent the day in the garage. He's a big car guy as well and has a custom interior shop in Dayton, Ohio.

We were able to put the 2x2 frame connectors through the floor finally. Everything went well and pretty quick with two people working on it. Just have to finish welding them in tonight. Then I'm going to order a bunch of B-Quiet sound deadener to put on the floor, in the doors, the roof, quarters, and trunk.

I'll get some pics up this weekend.

Curtis

[Roger Poirier]

I missed this thread earlier. I'm glad it showed back up again. Nice car!
Me like a lot. Simple but sweeeeeet.....

R.P.

[malihoochie]

Wow I love it! I need to discover my garage again.

[wiedemab]

I think you and I have about the same taste in cars! I'm a big fan of the Fox Platform!

Looking forward to taking one of your projects off your hands.

Later,

Brandon

[O&C Racing]

Thanks again for all the compliments. Should be fun for such a simple combination. It's pretty interesting what can be made using later model factory parts.

Time for some new pictures. The car is on all fours and they're not jackstands. Nothing is finish adjusted at this point, I just couldn't wait to see it on the ground.



The rear tires are some 275/40-17 BFG drag radials I had on another set of Bullit wheels. The wheels are 17x8 and give the tires a serious belly. What do you think of them?







Here's a shot of the yet to be adusted panhard bar. Plus the late model aluminum diff cover.



And here's a shot of the subframes before paint. Now just need to order a bunch of B-Quiet Ultimate for the car. Hopefully that will get rid of the econo-box tinny sound the car has.



Well there's a ton more to do. Now I have to finish all the brake lines and figure out a way to hook up the parking brakes.

Plus I'm out of adjustment on the ride hide on the rear LCA's. The springs are MM's 390-430 units. They actually need to be about 1.5" taller.

Then the Momo steering wheel hub MM sent is the wrong one. It's for a later fox car. Now I need to find the correct one for a 79-82 Mustang and I've been waiting on Maximum Motorsports since before Christmas to return my call.

Curtis

[TPI Monte SS]

Wow, Curtis, your Fairmont is awesome! I love the sleeper look too; refrigerator white is the ultimate in stealth. The Bullit wheels look great too, I think you should leave 'em on! Great job so far!

[bowtieguys]

I dig it. I love the sleeper look of those car. That car would look awesome with some 17" or 18" painted to match steel wheels with dogdish caps. Great work!

[67Sally]

Very cool project
W.