1973 Project Pearl

[mbhaddad]

Nice work, great progress!...who's Javier?

Didn't know it at the time but he is the same seller from Duffy's build thread

 

[mbhaddad]

The caps are from a FORD Galaxie Fairlane

 

[diggs00]

The caps are from a FORD Galaxie Fairlane

Thank you, nice find on these, they look brand new!

 

[mbhaddad]

This set is in even better condition if you are looking for some https://www.ebay.com/itm/192725827825?ul_noapp=true

 

[mbhaddad]

Some front end components are shown below waiting on a power steering gear to arrive so nothing is in a final state here

-TBP Heim Steering Linkage - Trail Runner
-Hellwig Front Anti-Sway Bar Kit
-Adjustable track bar

I ran into an issue installing the heim steering where i grabbed the wrong side drill bit and drilled a hole too large in the knuckle that sucked taking everything apart to swap knuckles.

 

[mbhaddad]

I also ran into pretty clear mistake here. Where i didn't know about needing to re-enforce the power steering mounting point before powder coating the frame. So now it looks like i will have to strip some powder coating and weld these on then blend in some paint? Any suggestions here on the best options would be greatly appreciated. I got both plates from BC Broncos and i'm planning to install a F-150 4X4X2 that should be arriving soon

 

[mbhaddad]

Around may of this year the engine arrived so test fitting it here with the BC Broncos motor mounts. Wheels and tires are also on along with locking hubs installed.

 

[diggs00]

These are coy's wheels, https://www.coyswheel.com/shop

They are 18X8 the model is C-33
4.5" backspacing

Most days i wish they had more backspacing. Depending on the angle a picture is taken they can look very different. Same for real life, but they don't offer any moret. They are machined for 10 1/8 dog dish caps.

You plan on leaving an uncut rear fender? Curious if the wheel and tire combo will clear?

 

[mbhaddad]

Yes it will be uncut. I'm planning on a 2" body lift, it will be close for sure. Also i am running the extreme duty Axles from wild horses which unexpectedly to me have an larger offset than factory axles. This also made the wildwood brakes in the rear not fit correctly out of the box. Luckily wildwood sells all sorts of different brackets so it is possible to offset the brakes out a 1/3 inch on their fixed mounting point but took some trial and error.

 

[diggs00]

Wheels came in, one day I'll know if they actually fit

What size tires you running on the 18x8 rims?
Any reason you did not go with 18x7 rims i see on https://www.coyswheel.com/shop?

 

[mbhaddad]

They are 265/70/18

32.6" x 10.4"

At the time of ordering them i hadn't ran into the axle offset issue and besides that with 4.5" of total lift from research and help of other forum members it seems it will be ok. So i figured on risking it to gain the extra backspacing. The wheels start to look pretty weird the less backspacing that exists on them for this style. If it doesn't end up working i guess i will be selling them or raising another inch.

 

[mbhaddad]

Installed a 23 gallon sherman fuel tank from bc broncos and started running fuel and brake lines. At this time i also remembered i broke a bolt off in the frame from the cross member removal so had to drill that out and re-tap it

 

[mbhaddad]

Moving onto the transmission install, i went with an AX15 using advanced adapters bell housing kit. Seems i'm missing some pictures around this time period. Anyways the flywheel and clutch went on pretty easy. In these pictures i'm running a morose oil pan that is lower profile than the stock coyote. Missing the pictures of it actually installed before the bell housing goes on.

 

[bronkenn]

You have been a busy man. Looking good.

 

[mbhaddad]

Here are the post install pics of the AX15. It wasn't the most fun install, as i was trying to fit the bell housing i found the bell housing wilwood cylinder hit the moroso oil pan which is providing clearance for running a 2.5" lift kit. So i ended up swapping back to a stock coyote oil pan to get the tranmission back on. Besides that part it's not as bad. Definitely have to cut down the housing to get the adapter plate onto the front of the transmission but that is pretty well known. In the last picture it seems the motor is sitting a bit off center. I am planning to move the motor forward as far as possible and straighten it out with some tow straps then tighten everything up

 

[mbhaddad]

Question for anyone running the NV or AX transmissions, most would be using this same cross member.


Seems like the fuel line brackets bend the fuel line and puts it at a pretty aggressive angle when the bc broncos clamp is tightened. Should i shim under the bracket to bring it out a bit or do i really need to run along the top of the frame? Or is it ok as is with this setup?

It hard to see in the picture but the second lower fuel line is the one in question being bent.

 

[mbhaddad]

Moving onto the engine accessory side even though i still need to go back and sort out the fuel line situation.

Swapped the oil filter bracket with the BC Broncos oil filter relocation kit.

 

[green61bug]

Lookin real nice so far! I think the bend in the fuel line would be fine but I don't have much experience with fuel injection at all so I can't say for sure. One day I'd like to do a build like this... I park in both my garage spots so there is no room for a major project at the moment.

 

[mbhaddad]

I feel ya on the garage space, definitely takes up room for an extended amount of time

 

[mbhaddad]

This is now up to the current day. I am working on installing the starter from BC broncos. In the pictures i've circled a part of the block that has to be cut into for the starter to fit and an after photo of the cut made.