Jules98GT
New Member
First off let me say, you all are amazing. I love this forum.
Shout of to lwarrior1016, it took a couple weeks but I can finally post!
Some of you guys go ALL OUT, makes me motivated haha!
This will be a build/discussion thread of sorts. I love to read, and I can gain a decent understanding of most things I put my mind to. I've always been a car guy. My grandfather raced circle track for over 30 years, sadly he passed away in April of 2016.
Growing up at family gatherings cars were always the subject of discussion and it got me hooked.
I have never work on an American V8 sports car before. I have always had the Nissans and Hondas and my extent of motor work was head gaskets and other maintenance related things. I've never tore into a motor all the way by myself without someone who has done it before standing with me the entire time.
That's going to change, soon
Enough about me, onto the car.
Here she is the day I got her.
It had sat for over 5 years without being driven very much at all.
Spark plugs, fuel pump, alternator, and starter. That all went in that weekend.
Link to the first start:
Previous owner had the car from 2008 to last November when he sold the car to me.
During his ownership he lowered the car, put MM CC plates on, the wheels, and a flowmaster exhaust. He never had the car aligned so the tires that are on it are totally shot.
The car came with a complete urethane bushing hit that he never got around to installing as well.
The paint is rough in spots. It looks like someone parked the car under a bush for an extended period of time so the deck lid is scratched all to heck. There are dings and dents everywhere,
and a couple panels don't quite fit right. All that will soon be fixed.
After all that I got to drive the car maybe 50 miles and winter set in full force.
Then I got lucky in December. It was abnormally warm outside so I decided to take the car out for an easy drive.
The battery light came on during that drive, and the next day was 30 degrees colder than the day before.
Haha. YAY!
I began to read/plan what I want to do to the car during this time.
Fast forward
March 2021, it was "warm" enough to start working on the car again.
The ALT fuse was blowing, so I took the alternator I replaced in November and exchanged it.
Took it home and installed it.
Bam. Same problem.
Frustrated I took it back again, and the gentleman upgraded me to the next step up in quality.
Took that one home, installed it. Same problem.
Here is the diagram for the charging system.
Easy Peasy.
This is right up my ally, I have been an industrial maintenance technician for 10 years. Electrical problems are my bread and butter.
So the charging harness was next.
This harness is actually to upgrade the fox body stangs to the 3G alternator.
It took minor modification but it works perfect for our cars and replaces the orginal fuseable link.
Started it up and the dang fuse is still blowing.
Checked the fuse box. Just to put eyes on it.
I learned a long time ago 99% of electrical problems you can see with your eyes. Be observant.
Haha ignore the old wire, I had yet to remove it during my troubleshooting.
Everything looked alright.
Put everything back together and went and purchased a brand new (not remaned) alternator and the issue has not reared its ugly head since.
Onto the next phase:
I've waxed the car once and tried to fix some of the clear coat. I plan on repainting the car (over the old paint I hope) and then clearing it.
There are multiple little things I need to fix. The deck lid gas shocks are worn out, drivers side window regulator, it needs speakers badly (He LOVES Metallica), the head lights behind the GTO covers are terrible looking. They aren't bolted in correctly or aimed properly.
The intake leaks at the thermostat (or has in the past) there is RTV all around it, and the temp sensor needs replaced (the wires going to it are toast)
The car has a lot of front end noise, the next stage is fixing/finishing the suspension work my father in law started to make sure its all good to go.
This summer I plan on addressing all of those things leading into an engine management install.
I believe I have decided on PRO M Racing's ECM and harness this winter, possibly with a turbo install. That all depends on the monies and if the old lady will give the green light as well as the input here!
Thanks for looking!
Sorry for such a long first post!
Shout of to lwarrior1016, it took a couple weeks but I can finally post!
Some of you guys go ALL OUT, makes me motivated haha!
This will be a build/discussion thread of sorts. I love to read, and I can gain a decent understanding of most things I put my mind to. I've always been a car guy. My grandfather raced circle track for over 30 years, sadly he passed away in April of 2016.
Growing up at family gatherings cars were always the subject of discussion and it got me hooked.
I have never work on an American V8 sports car before. I have always had the Nissans and Hondas and my extent of motor work was head gaskets and other maintenance related things. I've never tore into a motor all the way by myself without someone who has done it before standing with me the entire time.
That's going to change, soon
Enough about me, onto the car.
Here she is the day I got her.
It had sat for over 5 years without being driven very much at all.
Spark plugs, fuel pump, alternator, and starter. That all went in that weekend.
Link to the first start:
Previous owner had the car from 2008 to last November when he sold the car to me.
During his ownership he lowered the car, put MM CC plates on, the wheels, and a flowmaster exhaust. He never had the car aligned so the tires that are on it are totally shot.
The car came with a complete urethane bushing hit that he never got around to installing as well.
The paint is rough in spots. It looks like someone parked the car under a bush for an extended period of time so the deck lid is scratched all to heck. There are dings and dents everywhere,
and a couple panels don't quite fit right. All that will soon be fixed.
After all that I got to drive the car maybe 50 miles and winter set in full force.
Then I got lucky in December. It was abnormally warm outside so I decided to take the car out for an easy drive.
The battery light came on during that drive, and the next day was 30 degrees colder than the day before.
Haha. YAY!
I began to read/plan what I want to do to the car during this time.
Fast forward
March 2021, it was "warm" enough to start working on the car again.
The ALT fuse was blowing, so I took the alternator I replaced in November and exchanged it.
Took it home and installed it.
Bam. Same problem.
Frustrated I took it back again, and the gentleman upgraded me to the next step up in quality.
Took that one home, installed it. Same problem.
Here is the diagram for the charging system.
Easy Peasy.
This is right up my ally, I have been an industrial maintenance technician for 10 years. Electrical problems are my bread and butter.
So the charging harness was next.
This harness is actually to upgrade the fox body stangs to the 3G alternator.
It took minor modification but it works perfect for our cars and replaces the orginal fuseable link.
Started it up and the dang fuse is still blowing.
Checked the fuse box. Just to put eyes on it.
I learned a long time ago 99% of electrical problems you can see with your eyes. Be observant.
Haha ignore the old wire, I had yet to remove it during my troubleshooting.
Everything looked alright.
Put everything back together and went and purchased a brand new (not remaned) alternator and the issue has not reared its ugly head since.
Onto the next phase:
I've waxed the car once and tried to fix some of the clear coat. I plan on repainting the car (over the old paint I hope) and then clearing it.
There are multiple little things I need to fix. The deck lid gas shocks are worn out, drivers side window regulator, it needs speakers badly (He LOVES Metallica), the head lights behind the GTO covers are terrible looking. They aren't bolted in correctly or aimed properly.
The intake leaks at the thermostat (or has in the past) there is RTV all around it, and the temp sensor needs replaced (the wires going to it are toast)
The car has a lot of front end noise, the next stage is fixing/finishing the suspension work my father in law started to make sure its all good to go.
This summer I plan on addressing all of those things leading into an engine management install.
I believe I have decided on PRO M Racing's ECM and harness this winter, possibly with a turbo install. That all depends on the monies and if the old lady will give the green light as well as the input here!
Thanks for looking!
Sorry for such a long first post!
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