74 EB Sandrunner under development

[sstlaure]

Not much lately....Too damn cold here in Michigan and too busy with work/life. (Launching numerous programs at work right now & Ski Patrol duty on the weekends.)

I picked up a set of the big Lightforce lights and will be making a lightbar that goes across the front of the cage above the windshield that will house 4 of them. It will hinge backwards & be able to be pinned in a down position so that I can get into my garage (and eventual trailer), and I'm going to use gas struts (like the ones I have for my hood) to serve at the mechanism to flip the lights up and provide stability to the top of the lightbar. I've got a few sketches thus far and haven't put anything to steel yet.

We didn't end up getting my friend's new pole barn built (where we planned on painting this sucker.) so that may delay the finish date a bit. I still have a bit of fab work to finish up:

- Front sway bar (still figuring out where this may go. Possibly between the radiator and the engine tied into the engine cage.)
- Steering linkages
- Front/Rear limiting straps - I need to clean up a front driveshaft and cycle the suspension to figure out where I bind. I'm hoping to get 13" travel out of the front.
- Tube doors for inserts

I'm still hoping (praying) that the guys at WCB kick their fiberglass supplier in the a$$ and get the flared bodysides on the market pronto. I don't want to go out a develop my own, but I have the resources here in Michigan to do that if it comes to it. I know it was a top priority for WCB to get those done last year, unfortunately it doesn't seem to be a top-priority for their supplier.

I'm starting to wonder if I can get the people I know to develop the molds, if WCB would buy them from me and bypass the guys that don't seem to want to get this done. (I'm talking professional clay/fiberglass modelers) I know there are a number on this board that are interested in this product, a shame WCB is missing out on this business due to a supply issue. (I know you're reading this Dusty ) I'd just need a straight body to work from. Last option is build them custom on my truck. A mess and a ton of work, but not impossible.

IF....and that's a big IF, WCB can get those bodysides to me this year, I'll have only paint left for next year and hope to have it out by July 4th weekend 2009. Although I've seen too many deadlines go by to know better than to expect it to be done.

 

[sstlaure]

Just ordered my gauges to finish my dash....welding it up smooth except for the glovebox (which will get a little smaller to clear my cage).

All Autometer Ultralight gauges

• 3 3/8" 120 mph Speedo
• (All the rest are 2 1/16")
• Voltage
• Oil Pressure (also got a large Autometer idiot light & low pressure sender)
• Oil Temp
• Trans Temp
• Water Temp
• Fuel Pressure (in addition to the one on the regulator under the hood)
• Fuel level

I didn't order a matching tach yet as I'm not sure if I want it in the dash or on the cage to the left of the steering wheel. I like the monster tachs, but I didn't feel like spending a fortune getting a 5" Speedo to match a 5" tach. I've already got a 3 3/8" tach I can use on the cage, so I'll probably just go with that for the time being.

 

[sstlaure]

Got all of my gauges in and have started the dash rebuild.

I got rid of the vent to the left of the glovebox and moved the door over 1-3/4 inches. Got glovebox opening moved and the patch panels in on either side of it.

Still need to make the patch panels to close out the radio, ashtray and Speedo cluster holes (as well as a couple of smaller holes from switches/pulls I'm not using.)

Pics coming soon.......

 

[357Bronco]

Holy crap, it must be chop up your dash week, thats what I did the last two nights.;D

 

[sstlaure]

New pics

• Got the glovebox moved over and the dash back in one-piece.
• Cut all the holes for the gauges and installed them.
• Moved the radiator forward another 1/2" or so giving me 5" between the front of the motor and the radiator

Pics of the lights in a rough placement and of the new electric fan mounts coming soon....

 

[sstlaure]

A few more.....1/2 of the fan mount is done.

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

Lookin real nice! Keep it up

 

[Todd66]

Sand runner

Thats going to be a sweet ride when its done, Good work. ;D ;D Todd

 

[sstlaure]

More progress pics

• A couple of the driver side seat mounts, allowed me to get the rear of the seats as low as possible and still have them kicked into a comfortable position.
  
• A few pics of the steering box brace I fabbed up. (1/8" plate stacked, 1/4" top)
  
• A pic of the fan shroud mock-up with the finished fan mounts
  
• Some of the engine bay and shocks with the bypasses moved up front (starting to figure out the front swaybar and need them in there to check clearance during cycling....I still have to buy my front bypasses.)

 

[brewchief]

Looks good, couple questions, are your shock hoops/front cage tied into the main cage? What are you planning for brakes? Hyrdoboost? Or is there room for the angle braket and vac booster?


Brewchief;D

 

[sstlaure]

I haven't done it yet, but I plan on running some struts from the roll cage to the engine cage.

I'm also planning hydroboost. Fairly sure it will fit (I was going to go with the JBG kit, straight away from the firewall, not kicked out), even if it doesn't, it won't take too much modification to make it work.

Where are you located there Brewchief?

 

[brewchief]

Where are you located there Brewchief?

Webberville, it's a map dot between Lansing and Brighton, I talked to you at broncorama a bit, I'm planning something along the lines of what you and Sean are doing, mine will have a lot less power than Seans and a bit less than yours. I'm thinking 3 link w/panard in the front and 3 link in the rear(four link with the uppers converging into a wishbone). You still shooting to be done next year by the 4th?


Brewchief;D

 

[sstlaure]

I'm very familiar with Webberville (went to high school in Okemos, my wife is from Williamston.)

If you're ever in the area and want to take a look, feel free to drop me a line.

Still shooting for next years 4th (as always.)

 

[68ford]

before you make your hydroboost decision, i ran the 15in cnc pedal assembly with dual master cylinders. no power assist but my brake hyd psi will be half again more now. it turned out nice and takes up very little room because the cylinders are side by side. plus the pedal looks cool too.

dont do hydroboost. all that room taken up and all the extra hyd lines to me just looks terrible. plus engine off you brakes will work just as good, safer in my opinion.

http://www.cncbrakes.com/images/214S.jpg
http://www.cncbrakes.com/dcbpa.asp?grp=dcbpa&subgrp=sm&series=214&subseries=ST

 

[sstlaure]

New motor

Just picked up a new motor

4.6L 32V Modular V8 from a 99 Cobra....plan is to Supercharge it via 03 Cobra parts.....Anyone want to buy my now useless to me brand new small block?

Pics coming soon.

 

[csangster]

Wow

Just picked up a new motor

4.6L 32V Modular V8 from a 99 Cobra....plan is to Supercharge it via 03 Cobra parts.....Anyone want to buy my now useless to me brand new small block?

Pics coming soon.

That is going to be SUPER sweet.............

 

[sstlaure]

Pics as promised

Some pics

• Clean 1999 Cobra Motor w/Teksid Block
• Cobra Oil cooler (w/mystery bolt, must have been installed in the hole and the ass'y pressed together.)
• Modified x-member to clear Supercharger pulley (still to add more material to the front side yet)
• Engine Bay w/no mounts ready for custom motor mounts
• C4/4.6L Adaptor bell housing (Thanks Modman)
• King shocks stacked up @ full compressed
• Bikini top riser

Did a test fit of the motor with the adaptor bell-housing. I modified the trans x-member frame side brackets to allow the motor to sit ~1" fwd to clear the firewall. Cut out the stock motor mounts/towers, the bracing at the front x-member and some of the x-member itself. I'm getting a second x-member from TheBroncoRanch (thanks Tom) to add material to the front side (already checked clearance to the rad support)

I've made the motor side plates and just want to reinforce the inboard sides of the frame before I drop the engine back in to fab the motor mounts. I want to get some nice primaries (1 3/4") in there and it's tight on the pass side, so custom mounts were the way to go. The oil pan will need some modification under the sump baffle to clear the front diff at full compressed.

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

Kenne Bell? That things gunna be awesome

 

[sstlaure]

No...Eaton swap from an 03 and a Lightning pulley set. My friend with the Green prerunner is going Kenne Bell on his 03 Cobra and I'm going to be able to get a ton of parts from him for the swap. (Blower, Throttle Body, Injectors, fuel rails, some pulleys) I'm super pumped about this new powertrain direction for the project.

Still a ton of 03 Cobra stuff to buy to complete the motor (lower intake/intercooler, timing chain cover, all accessories, pulleys, etc.)

 

[dnewman9]

Man our projects are going along VERY similar lines. I did a 4.6 Mark VIII (Teksid Block minus forged internals) swap with a cobra intake. Mine should be good for around 300hp/tq when I am done which is plenty for such a short wheel base. My 68 GT350 runs around 400hp with a Paxton and its fast and my GT500 with around 650hp is dangerous. I could not imagine somewhere in the middle with a ~90 inch wheel base! You better not use the long pedal and the steering wheel simultaneously!

Why did you go with custom mounts, I am using my stock frame with Modman motor mounts and I have at least an inch of clearance at the FW. I have a 5.5 lift with 1 inch WH body mounts and with a HP D44 I still have plenty of room? I converted my Mark VIII oil pan over to a cobra unit and it has plenty of clearance. I am not expecting to jump mine like you but I still think with your bumpstops you should be fine? What headers are you going to use? I also recommend buying a clockable starter so the solenoid does not get so close to the frame.

I am looking forward to following your build!
Dennis