TwinTorino

[jackfrost]

just plain awesome fab work. nice job.

[SVTforme]

Got a couple more things done this week. Found a set of nearly new rear adjustable Konis specifically made for the IRS suspension. Just need to make some custom upper mounts.



Also got the pass side upper shock tower piece bent up. Stretcher shrinker combo works miracles with ease. Also got the drivers side upper piece tacked in, and worked on the front filler panel. Most things are almost ready to weld in.. but I ran out of Argon so I have to wait another couple of days to get the bottle filled.

[CruizinKev]

awesome!!!

[SVTforme]

Managed to work on the car a bit over Christmas. Hoping to maybe even get the car back down on the ground soon enough. I got a Longacre caster/camber gauge for Christmas this year so it was time to put it to the test. It is a nice billet piece with lots of bubble levels on it. The only unknown parameter in the mix was the caster that needed to be set for the vehicle (as camber is relatively easy to measure with a digital level). Ford recommends 3.6-4.3 deg caster on the Mustang. We are setting it to approx a min of 4.5 and max of whatever the caster/camber plates allow. The larger number will mainly be used on the track. These numbers are generally agreed upon in the Mustang world, and lower recommended numbers are based on the fact that the Mustang was designed with the "average" vehicle owner in mind. The shock towers were simply slid forward until we saw the measurements we wanted. They are now fixed in place.

Also managed to find a barely used pair of 275/35R18 Michelin Pilot PS2 tires to try out on the car (same size/model as a newer Viper so they are not that hard to find). They were mounted up on the car and we ran through a clearance check and they fit perfectly. The hardest part about getting a tire to fit is while turning the tire when the front suspension is compressed, and they also need to clear the coil-over suspension.




Also moving right along on the front strut towers. Have all of the pieces tacked together on the driver's side and everything fits great. Should be able to weld these in soon. Just need to add a piece in the top corners and they should look factory stamped.

[csx4766]

This is an awesome project. You are both doing grea work, Love the Torino's. Just read the entire thread from beginning to end.

Morgan

[SVTforme]

I bought myself a Christmas present this year. I managed to find a set of barely used Schroth 4-point harnesses. They are the Rallye 4 models. They tie into the stock mounting points on the front, and use the rear lap belt anchors in the rear. They also have a buckle to detatch the shoulder harness so someone can sit in the back which is nice since they are designed to be installed with the rear lap belts still in place. These are actually DOT approved unlike many other racing harnesses out there. Since the cars will be driven regularly on the street and on the track - these seemed to make the most sense.

[PhillipM]

Did you ever get the tunnel finished? I have never done one using the method that you are showing with intermediate cross pieces. I have always rolled one large piece but I'm thinking I could get a more form fitting piece doing it your way. Would love some pictures if you have any.

Also, I have been wondering are both cars coming along at the same speed? Are you guys working on them in the same garage or in different garages?

[SVTforme]

Did you ever get the tunnel finished? I have never done one using the method that you are showing with intermediate cross pieces. I have always rolled one large piece but I'm thinking I could get a more form fitting piece doing it your way. Would love some pictures if you have any.

Also, I have been wondering are both cars coming along at the same speed? Are you guys working on them in the same garage or in different garages?

Tunnel is waiting on the final powertrain positioning. That is waiting on the suspension being welded in. Should be getting back to that point fairly soon.

Car #2 is hanging out waiting for the first car to get off the chassis jig. Should go much much faster now that we have a plan for everything and have collected all the pieces. Both cars are in different garages but will be moving to the same place once the first car goes back down on the ground. Can only fit 2 cars in the garage at a time unfortunately. I'll have to kick my other car out when the time comes.

[SVTforme]

Making some more progress once again. Finished tacking in the rear side of the drivers side strut tower. Just need to make some small pieces to clean up the top of the strut tower and it will be time for final welding. Everything fit together and matched the contours much better than expected.



Made a close-out panel at the rear of the pass side strut tower. In order to clear the air dryer for the A/C and to to mate up with the new firewall, it was just easier to make this from scratch. Once this piece is done, the strut tower can be finished as well.



Decided to put everything together once again and check all the clearances one more time before we start welding parts to the car. The hydoboost unit and the hood hinges clear the new strut towers, so we can now proceed with them as in that location.

[Young Gun]

I am thoroughly enjoying this build

[SDS MACHINING]

I am thoroughly enjoying this build

X2!! I can appreciate the amount of work gone into this build.. Nicely done!

[vdaviemusclecars]

Looks good. Putting that same motor in a 70 Cougar. Dam, a lot of fab work had to be done. Had i known it was going to be that much work i would not have done it. Well i'm not doing it. I had the motor built, Gt40 heads, its supercharged and inter-cooled, stroked ect..But those motors a fat! Working with Ford on the wiring harness, so should have it done in the next few months. The car was in Car Craft before i started...should have just left it alone and saved all the cash!

[fordsbyjay]

Wow, I just finished reading all that and it is truly awesome.

[SVTforme]

Finally have the drivers side tower completely welded and finished up and ready to tack in.. it's about time! Pass side is welded and should be finished up tomorrow night. Just need to blast everything and paint it to get rid of all the contrasting colors. I quickly splashed some black primer on one of them to keep me insired . Also have all of the close-outs done and ready to weld in too. Just need to make a jig to be able to plasma cut a k-member to fit and make it very easy to do more than one. Can't wait to actually get a real motor in there.

[chunger]

Look at that - when you get everything cleaned up and finalized. Your job is going to look like it came from the factory!

Nicely done, my friend.

[torino420]

Look at that - when you get everything cleaned up and finalized. Your job is going to look like it came from the factory!

Nicely done, my friend.

Agreed, unbelievable work!

[CruizinKev]

[Jeffrotech]

Nice!

[SVTforme]

Couple more updates from the past week.

Finally found a steering wheel for the cars.. been looking for a while on this one. Two reasons for this choice: the style is "somewhat" similar to the original with the single horizonal bar, and secondly Sparco has been clearing out some wheels on Ebay cheap so this made them affordable too. We'll see what it looks like in the car I guess. The model is called "Veloce" and is leather with the perforated leather strip at the top.



Moving right along on the front suspension. Pass side strut tower is done and ready to tack in. Next step was to make a perfectly centered and tight fitting k-member. The one we have been using to date is hacked up and really only for setting things up. Time to make another jig for this. As you can see, nothing too elaborate, but it serves it's purpose. We used reference holes on the part used at the assembly plant to locate the jig. Then we made up 2x4's that are the exact width between the frame rails. Finally two pieces of plywood are used to conform to the curves of the part. To use, the jig is placed on a Mustang K-member, sockets are placed in the 4 holes to located jig and then a utility knife blade is used to scribe lines on the parts. After that, we break out the plasma cutter and trim/grind to suit. Works like a charm! Making one for car #2 is now a breeze.




We used it to cut the k-member shown and it fits perfectly. That will make it very easy to weld in. Started on making up pieces to run under the frame rails to clean up the package and add a bit more stiffness. Kinda looks like the k-member was meant to be in there. Just need to make up the rear ones and the k-member will be ready to go in. Only thing left now is to weld in the filler panels and modify the motor mounts. After that, the front suspension is done!!

[chunger]

Awesome progress, it's really coming together now.

One question, given that you've substantially changed the front end, is there any concern that you'll be stressing the remaining framerails/fenderwells way beyond what they were ever designed for? Do you plan on adding additional bracing (such as a bar over the engine & between the strut towers?) or anything else?

Thanks.