Hill's 98 Atlantic Blue Project

[Hill x 21]

Back story; For a few months I've been looking for a project. Something to pass time before work as well as learn more about the SN95 platform. For the time being, the goal will be to make it road worthy. Some suspension work, body work etc. Depending on how that works out, then go mods will discussed (either 4.6 4v or 5.4 4v; I don't think it'll be worth it to go 2v).

Current plans
- replace airbags*
- replace pass parking light housing* (thanks Joekd)
- replace pass fender (thanks GreenScobie86)
- replace pass sail panel
- replace windshield
- replace "wiper covering"
- replace all rotors, studs and calipers
- CJPP Aggressive lowering springs and KYB Fox shocks/strut kit*

As of now that's the " to do" list. Anything with an * means I have it.

Spent a few hours today between picking up the car, getting it off the truck and trying to pull the pass fender. Got most of it loose but I'm pretty sure there are bolts in the door jam. Will pick it back up tomorrow. For the mechanics that read this, the steering wheel is fully turned to the left yet the pass rotor is angled as if the wheel was all the way to the right. Any ideas? Will edit to add pics.

- Hill

 

[greenscobie86]

Nice man!


I'm shipping your fender either tonight or tomorrow btw. Excited to see the progress

 

[Hill x 21]

Trying to figure out how to transfer pics from my Droid to the desktop was a PITA.

@ GreenScobie Good to know! Thanks again!

At the yard.

No floor jacks means get creative.

Passenger side rotor w/ wheel completely to the left.

The guy that towed said it might be a bad tie rod.

 

[greenscobie86]

Most likely thats what it is. The K member looks straight, just a new inner/outer tie rod and a rack at the worst end of it.

 

[CC'S95GT]

might have bent the lower control arm too.

 

[Hill x 21]

Spent a few hours on it today. Pass fender has been removed. Cleaned up the interior to some extent. I can't get the pass door to sit correctly though. There's a 1/4'' gap between the window and the weather stripping. Checked to see if the door was sagging and doesn't appear to be. My order from CJPP came in . Also got a slightly better pic of the pass wheel well from a different angle. Came out slightly blurry but I'd like to hear opinions on what's what!

Tomorrows plans; cut driver's bag out, more interior cleaning and figuring out why the hood will latch but not go completely down.

 

[CC'S95GT]

steering rack and tie rod looks straight.
Still might be the lower control arm. or worse yet would be the K member is bent.

 

[188slo50]

Look a the welds on K member and surrounding area if there different in anyway compared to other side than theres your problem. It also could be several small spots creating one big effect.

 

[MustangChris]

ooooo good stuff! :-D

 

[Hill x 21]

Ran into a couple of speed bumps as of late. Namely, trying to pull the driver splash guard in the wheel well and removing the front bumper. I've got the pass side of the bumper 100% off but the drivers side will not budge an inch. Will hopefully have better progress by this weekend.

 

[greenscobie86]

You took of the 2 bolts inside the fender on the drivers side right? Stupid question but had to ask.

How is the right side coming along? Did you try mocking up that fender?

 

[Hill x 21]

Only thing holding the front bumper to the car at this point are the two bolts on the inside of the bumper. I did try to get the pass fender on. Didn't have a massive amount of success lol.

 

[Hill x 21]

Small holiday update;

Passenger spindle was replaced. Just needs inner tie rod, ball joint and ball joint boot. After that, just body work paint and air bags.

Merry Christmas!

 

[greenscobie86]

Sounds good! Pix???

 

[Hill x 21]

I'll get pics up once there is a wheel on the pass side lol. Just ordered two inner tie rods, two outer tie rods, two ball joints and ball joint boots for $55 shipped. I think I did alright! Time to decide whether or not to replace the badges. Hmm.

 

[Hill x 21]

Woo! Got her to start. I don't think I can say how happy I am. No color smoke or any funny noises. There is a hell of a rattle in cabin when the cars on though. Most of the electrical appears to work minus pass rear turn signal and a weird sound when the breakdown lights are on.

Tie rod and ball joint kit will hopefully be here by Wednesday. I'd offer to get a video but I doubt anyone wants to hear a stock sixxer lol.

 

[188slo50]

The weird noise from the 4 ways might be the flasher it self or relay, my fox did it to!

 

[Hill x 21]

Working on getting a few estimates from different autobodys. Will hopefully be able to put the figures up when I get them.

List of work
- minor pull on pass side
- paint/mount pass fender
- replace/install header panel
- replace/paint "A" pillar moulding (Anyone have the correct name? It sits about the door/window and clips to the roof and A pillar on the exterior http://flic.kr/p/dHb1SV)
- Pull dent in rear quarter panel

I originally asked to have my airbags installed but I guess they have to be direct from Ford, nothing that's used because of liability.


Thoughts on pulling this dent *without causing more damage or repainting the quarter? Kind of ****ing huge...

http://flic.kr/p/dHb2pZ


On a good note, the tie rod/ball joint/boot kit turned up on New Years Eve. Will be installed hopefully sooner than later.

 

[atlanticblue98]

nice to see you saved it from a junkyard. please tell me you're keeping it Atlantic blue? i want another one so bad

 

[Hill x 21]

Absolutely. Atlantic blue really is a nice color on the SN platform. I'm probably going to be selling it once the body work is done. I had planned to keep her but I kinda changed paths and want a 1st gen Mustang (67-69).