Project "Monica" 1985 Mustang lx notchback, lq4, th400 build thread
02-26-2015, 09:55 AM
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Project "Monica" 1985 Mustang lx notchback, lq4, th400 build thread I have been a lurker on this forum for a while now, and have not been interested in Gm products until I purchased my 98 WS6. The car's performance potential surprised me, and since then I have been hit with the ls bug. I have always been a mustang guy at heart, and have owned 15, but they have been all powered by Ford engines. This will be my first motor swap. I have recently sold said Ws6 to fund my 1985 coupe project. Originally I planned on boosting the car, but I do not think the funds will allow for it right now. The items that I have already purchased and have consists of:
-Fresh rebuilt LQ4 with 243 heads, G5XB camshaft, Arp headstuds, Arp rod bolts, LS2 timing chain, LS6 oil pump, and LS6 Intake
-Th400 with 4,000 converter, reverese manual valve body, transbrake, JW Ls bellhousing
-8.8 rearend with 9" ends, 3.73 gears, moser 33-spline axles, full spool, lpw rearend girdle
-AJE Ls swap K-member, ls motor mounts, spring perches
-Fresh rebuilt LQ4 with 243 heads, G5XB camshaft, Arp headstuds, Arp rod bolts, LS2 timing chain, LS6 oil pump, and LS6 Intake
-Th400 with 4,000 converter, reverese manual valve body, transbrake, JW Ls bellhousing
-8.8 rearend with 9" ends, 3.73 gears, moser 33-spline axles, full spool, lpw rearend girdle
-AJE Ls swap K-member, ls motor mounts, spring perches
Last edited by stock98ws6; 03-16-2015 at 10:17 AM.
02-27-2015, 09:11 AM
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Sounds like you are off to a great start already. Boost will be around the corner haha
Just axe the suspension parts and cage and build/buy a turbo kit!
Also, post some pics!
Just axe the suspension parts and cage and build/buy a turbo kit!
Also, post some pics!
02-27-2015, 09:58 AM
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I have a STS rear mounted turbo kit laying in the garage floor that I took off the donor car, and I am really debating on cutting it up and using it. 1 its free and 2 the price of long tube headers for the swap are ridiculous.
03-03-2015, 09:13 AM
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Last night my pops was able to weld the front brace onto the rearend. Once the brace was on we decided to clean it up, and shoot it with a can of paint. Sadly the ARP bolts I purchased from Jegs were for a Chevy 10-Bolt rearend, and are too short for the 8.8 differential cover. Next I am going to be switching the bellhousings on the transmission, bolting it up to the motor, and bolting all of the accessories up as well.
03-06-2015, 10:58 AM
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Last night I painted the valve covers for the motor. They didn't come out quite as nice as the intake, but the castings were very rough to begin with. I also bought a new set of shoes for the car. Theyre going to need some drag radials on them, but I couldn't pass them up for $550.
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03-09-2015, 11:01 AM
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I looked into the Dynatech headers, but after much debate I decided I am going to turbo it. I already have all of the parts for the turbo kit, besides the piping. I would rather do it all once instead of further down the road.
03-09-2015, 02:57 PM
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I originally bought the wheels for my 98 ws6, a 70 year old guy bought the car, and didnt want the wheels so I gave him 550 for them. Im getting my axles drilled for chevy bolt pattern, and im going to do the same thing up front.
03-16-2015, 10:14 AM
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Quick update on the project. We were able to get the AJE K-member, spring perches, motor, transmission, and steering rack installed yesterday. The AJE k-member went in without any problems whatsoever. I was impressed with the fit quality based on all of the reviews I read. We did run into two problems yesterday. Since the TH400 has a scattershield it was a VERY snug fit in the transmission tunnel, and since the fit was so tight it made installing the engine a little more difficult than it should have been. I also forgot to install the spring perches when I put the Kmember in, so I had to take the bolts back out and install them perches. We were also able to get the front mounted intercooler mocked up, and needless to say I think the car is going to look pretty aggressive roaming the streets.
03-18-2015, 09:14 AM
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I had the 5 Lug moser axles drilled for a chevy bolt pattern. Hopefully we can get the rearend and suspension under the car this weekend. Once thats done I'm going to send it out to get the turbo piping made, and a 12 point funny car cage installed. I'm still trying to decide on which turbo to use, and I am leaning towards a S480.
03-18-2015, 11:49 AM
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funny, I have 5 lug wilwood's all around and had my 4 lug 10 holes redrilled to the 5 lug pattern and then had the rears widened to 9" from the 7 for that sleeper look.
20 years ago we redrilled the stock 4 lugs to a 5 lug pattern, it was close but can be done.
20 years ago we redrilled the stock 4 lugs to a 5 lug pattern, it was close but can be done.
03-18-2015, 12:23 PM
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I like the idea of widening the stock 10 holes too.
If you wouldn't mind, could you PM me on details of all that?
03-21-2015, 03:05 PM
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We've only made some minor progress since my last post. I was able to get some free time to go to pullapart, and get some 1994 spindles, brakes, and some rotors (which look brand new). Getting the A-arms out of the factory K-member was extremely difficult. In the end I was not able to get them out, so we took a torch to the bolt heads, and some of factory K-member. We ended up melting the bushings, but before I install the A-arms I plan on getting some new bushings, ball joints, and tie rod ends.
I also posted a picture of how the axles were drilled. Now they are a dual pattern, so if someone wanted to go back to a Ford bolt pattern they could. Tonight we plan on getting the factory rearend taken out, and installing the 8.8 with all of the aftermarket rear suspension.
I also posted a picture of how the axles were drilled. Now they are a dual pattern, so if someone wanted to go back to a Ford bolt pattern they could. Tonight we plan on getting the factory rearend taken out, and installing the 8.8 with all of the aftermarket rear suspension.
03-26-2015, 01:20 PM
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I haven't made any progress on the car lately, but would like to make a quick update. After two weeks of waiting I finally received for my UPR caster camber plates. I was going to finish putting the front suspension together, but I went ahead and bought new tie rod ends, ball joints, and a-arm bushings. I'm dropping of the a-arms tonight so that the bushings can get pressed in, and then we will finish putting the front end together Saturday.
I also placed my order with forcedinductions a couple of days ago for a new S480 turbo. They were really good people to deal with, and I am super excited to get the turbo installed. Sunday we are dropping the car off at the chassis shop to have the cage installed, and all of the turbo piping made.
I am also debating on completely gutting the car, and running a VFN fiberglass dash.
I also placed my order with forcedinductions a couple of days ago for a new S480 turbo. They were really good people to deal with, and I am super excited to get the turbo installed. Sunday we are dropping the car off at the chassis shop to have the cage installed, and all of the turbo piping made.
I am also debating on completely gutting the car, and running a VFN fiberglass dash.
06-23-2015, 12:43 PM
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Since my last post we have installed the rearend, gutted the interior, cut out the trunk to prepare it for the new fuel cell, converted the front to five lug, installed all new front end components, installed the VFN fiberglass dash, and mocked up the new front end.
As of now the car is sitting at the chassis shop getting a chromoly 10 point cage, subframe connectors, a tubular radiator support, the seats mounted in place, and all of the turbo piping. It is supposed to be done next Wednesday, and hopefully we can begin to make some more progress on it.
As of now the car is sitting at the chassis shop getting a chromoly 10 point cage, subframe connectors, a tubular radiator support, the seats mounted in place, and all of the turbo piping. It is supposed to be done next Wednesday, and hopefully we can begin to make some more progress on it.