DSM noobie needs some advice

[Misterbeechy]

honestly i like the mustang rims.. try to shave the pony on the lug cap and paint them all white.. like very white.. with lots of clear.. they will look brand new and nice.. i dare you!!! ###

 

[brandonwh64]

Hmm my friend brought that up as well. he said he could sand the center caps down with 800-2000 grit sand paper then use some body filler and make them smooth then i would have a blank center cap

 

[brandonwh64]

Ok my suspension stuff gets here in a day or so but i had another question. for the parts that still look good but just need repacked with grease. were is usually the nipple to repack with a grease gun?

ALSO! UPDATE from yesterday!

Ok today when i got home, some parts arrived. My new headlights and a IAC valve, so i go to install the headlights and once i was done i wanted to see them but remembered my alternator had die (or so i thought). So i pull my wifes, moms car in front of mine and hook the jumper cables to it and let it charge for around 30 minutes. Well i come back to find it didnt charge at all! so since the battery looked old, i went to autozone and bought a new one. i came home and installed it and BAM she fired up. well after looking at my headlights i got the idea to test the alternator so i cranked the vehicle and took the positive off the battery and it kept running!!!! so now i have a new alternator on the way that i really didnt need

 

[PieEyedPiper]

I wanted to add my $0.02. Junk those iridium junk plugs. You got bamboozeled. Hornswaggled. You've been duped. Get some stock NGK Copper's NGK BKR6ES. I'm not sure what the part number is on that, but they work the best and are 20 dollars cheaper.

Are you certain you're not assuming he has a 4g63? Those plugs, while a tad on the gimmicky side, should work just fine in his 420a.

+1 for posting pics. That's brownie points.

Your camber is waaaayyy off if your tires are / \. This could be due to the rims. Most likely it's not, but it could be. Just one more reason that rustangs are garbage.

It could not be the wheels. Not a chance. Reading your posts make it seem like your biases against Mustangs influence your technical advice.

OP, those wheels are 17x9 aren't they? Rock 'em!! And good job on the pictures. I was only able to clearly tell there was damage to one of your outer tie rod ends. The rest looked old and dry..and one of your later arms looked as if it wasn't fully seated. I'm lad you're taking this so seriously and taking on such a large project. I too, replaced my entire front suspension. I loved it. Learned so much in those couple of days.

Let me know if you need help/have any questions.

 

[LandoAWD]

I thought only the SVT wheels were 9", but I could be wrong.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

I thought only the SVT wheels were 9", but I could be wrong.

You're probably right. Does that make them 17x8? Still not too shabby

 

[brandonwh64]

Are you certain you're not assuming he has a 4g63? Those plugs, while a tad on the gimmicky side, should work just fine in his 420a.


It could not be the wheels. Not a chance. Reading your posts make it seem like your biases against Mustangs influence your technical advice.

OP, those wheels are 17x9 aren't they? Rock 'em!! And good job on the pictures. I was only able to clearly tell there was damage to one of your outer tie rod ends. The rest looked old and dry..and one of your later arms looked as if it wasn't fully seated. I'm lad you're taking this so seriously and taking on such a large project. I too, replaced my entire front suspension. I loved it. Learned so much in those couple of days.

Let me know if you need help/have any questions.

Thank you so much! the GT wheels i have are 17x8. From my tracking info, i show that my suspension will be here Thursday. I have almost everything loosened up but i see joints and places that need to be regreased with a grease gun. do these have nipples some where that i can use to refill the grease or do i need to order more parts?

I thought only the SVT wheels were 9", but I could be wrong.

I think your right, these are 17x8

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Thank you so much! the GT wheels i have are 17x8. From my tracking info, i show that my suspension will be here Thursday. I have almost everything loosened up but i see joints and places that need to be regreased with a grease gun. do these have nipples some where that i can use to refill the grease or do i need to order more parts?



I think your right, these are 17x8

None of our OEM parts are really serviceable with a grease gun. The balljoints are all sealed units. It's just a maintenance thing, everything has an MTBF (mean time between failures).

Some aftermarket products like tie rod ends have grease fittings.

 

[nemesis7]

No its not hard to change the rack and pinion but if you had a lift it would be so much easyier it sould like you need an allignment bad no you cant fit a 4g63 in a 420a the motor is completely turned around I mean you could but it would be a lot of custom work, and a super 16g hahns stage 2 turbo kit would work great with stock internals and as far as a engine rebiuld im am doing one right now you would have to get with me on that and we can talk.

 

[brandonwh64]

No its not hard to change the rack and pinion but if you had a lift it would be so much easyier it sould like you need an allignment bad no you cant fit a 4g63 in a 420a the motor is completely turned around I mean you could but it would be a lot of custom work, and a super 16g hahns stage 2 turbo kit would work great with stock internals and as far as a engine rebiuld im am doing one right now you would have to get with me on that and we can talk.

Thanks NEM! Yea i guess its 420A for life ive herd good and bad things about the engine but it runs well. Im going to attempt to take the crank pulley off this weekend to see why it wobbles when running. i will also make a short video and post it here before i do to get some feed back.

ALSO!

Well yesterday my new muffler came in! Ebay 25$ special but from the reviews it works great and also has a removable baffle

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[AK Maniak]

Fart cannon ftw!

 

[brandonwh64]

Fart cannon ftw!

it is big but some idoit that owned the car before me tried to cut the muffler off and then when he was unsuccessful he tried to cut a hole in the muffler and it sounds bad. so i seen these on ebay and for 25$ shipped, i couldnt resist.

Here is one on a RS/420A engine, it sounds pretty good IMO


YouTube - N1 Muffler Exhaust

 

[brandonwh64]

Quick UPDATE!

Yesterday was like Christmas! i got home from work and my front porch was filled with the rest of my parts haha. I started by taking off my splash guard on the passenger side and did a quick look over. i then started the car and the got back up under the passenger side to watch the engine to see if there was anything wrong. I knew the main pulley wobbled but when i watched it from below it looked bad. I then stopped the engine and examined it closer. It looks like someone has pried and hammered the main pulley with tools trying to either get it off or put on a belt and it was warped BAD. i found one at autozone and it should be here today. Why would someone do this? i know one thing that makes me mad is some shade tree mechanic using everything under the sun to attempt to fix something but just messing it up worse then leaving it until it causes more damage. I ordered the one in the picture below, it looks exactly like the one that is on it. I am going to rent a tool from autozone to take it off so i should be fine. Is there any precautions i should take? will this mess up my timing?

Also what is the procedure to take apart the tie rods? i was reading that you need a special tool. If so i will hopefully rent one from autozone.

I enjoy this forum and even tho im having to fix up someone elses mess, i am proud to be a DSM owner!!!

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[Shake_Zulla]

Quick UPDATE!

Yesterday was like Christmas! i got home from work and my front porch was filled with the rest of my parts haha. I started by taking off my splash guard on the passenger side and did a quick look over. i then started the car and the got back up under the passenger side to watch the engine to see if there was anything wrong. I knew the main pulley wobbled but when i watched it from below it looked bad. I then stopped the engine and examined it closer. It looks like someone has pried and hammered the main pulley with tools trying to either get it off or put on a belt and it was warped BAD. i found one at autozone and it should be here today. Why would someone do this? i know one thing that makes me mad is some shade tree mechanic using everything under the sun to attempt to fix something but just messing it up worse then leaving it until it causes more damage. I ordered the one in the picture below, it looks exactly like the one that is on it. I am going to rent a tool from autozone to take it off so i should be fine. Is there any precautions i should take? will this mess up my timing?

Also what is the procedure to take apart the tie rods? i was reading that you need a special tool. If so i will hopefully rent one from autozone.

I enjoy this forum and even tho im having to fix up someone elses mess, i am proud to be a DSM owner!!!

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I believe you should be required to pass a test before you are able to work on your own car. No it wont mess up your timing and if someone tried to beat it off then you are in for a fight my friend. Just inspect the shaft when you get it off and use proper technique and toque when installing.

 

[brandonwh64]

I believe you should be required to pass a test before you are able to work on your own car. No it wont mess up your timing and if someone tried to beat it off then you are in for a fight my friend. Just inspect the shaft when you get it off and use proper technique and toque when installing.

What kind of test are you talking about? i don't know if your being sarcastic cause im new to dsm products or just joking around. I have worked on a fair share of vehicles but as most auto enthusiasts will tell you is that all cars are different and to get your directions from the experts that work on these vehicles everyday and that's what im doing here at DSMtuners and soon i hope to gain some knowledge that i will carry on.

i am a Army vet and take learn seriously. I praise people that went through the pain of trial and error just to teach others of there mistakes and failures.

I mean no disrespect to this post, just being honest and want to learn as much as i can

thanks DSMtuners

*edit* im a idoit, i just reread that post an seen you were talking about the previous owner HAHA but anywho im determined to restore this car to good running condition and i want DSMtuners to see it purrrrr. if it helps its only 11AM and ive already had a long day at work

I installed my Ebay airkit today. it was a tight fit but worked like a charm

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[Shake_Zulla]

It's all good, I try not to flame on the noobs. I picked up my 2nd 420a 5 months ago and it too was owned by a retard so I feel your pain. Idoit tried to fill in an easy to fix dent with 2 inches of bondo. Short ram looks good and kudos for actually asking questions and listening to advice given.

 

[brandonwh64]

It's all good, I try not to flame on the noobs. I picked up my 2nd 420a 5 months ago and it too was owned by a retard so I feel your pain. Idoit tried to fill in an easy to fix dent with 2 inches of bondo. Short ram looks good and kudos for actually asking questions and listening to advice given.

Thanks shake!

UPDATE

Ok tonight i got home and went to get my new harmonic balancer/pulley. I went to take the other pulley off and it would not come off. i beat and banged and messed up a couple of my tools. then i hit a dumb moment when i looked at the upper part. it wouldnt come out cause it was up against the frame FML!!! now i have to either raise the engine up or lower it to get that pulley off

tomorrow = take two

 

[Shake_Zulla]

Thanks shake!

UPDATE

Ok tonight i got home and went to get my new harmonic balancer/pulley. I went to take the other pulley off and it would not come off. i beat and banged and messed up a couple of my tools. then i hit a dumb moment when i looked at the upper part. it wouldnt come out cause it was up against the frame FML!!! now i have to either raise the engine up or lower it to get that pulley off

tomorrow = take two

Put a jack under the oil pan, take off the engine bracket on the passenger side, lower the jack. It should clear with no problems.

 

[brandonwh64]

Put a jack under the oil pan, take off the engine bracket on the passenger side, lower the jack. It should clear with no problems.

Thanks shake! i felt like an idoit after i beat and banged around and then my neighbor came out just to show me i was hitting the frame , I ruined one of those loan-a-tools from autozone FML

You live and learn i say

 

[brandonwh64]

*UPDATE - 3/20/2011*

Ok fellas, dropping the engine helped get the harmonic balancer off and i coated the new one inside with axle grease and then put it on and use a small 4x4 square wood block and a hammer to seat it tightly then put the bolt in and torqued it down to its original specs. Now it has ZERO wobble and with the new belts it runs smooth! we took out the alternator and went to install the new one when we noticed the plug for the electronics had 4 pins instead of 2? The alternator was the same everything except the wire plug? how could this be? anybody else seen something like this? I put the old alternator back on (since it still worked... read a couple of posts above.). I just got back from a get-a-way weekend with my wife and i am about to start the suspesion wish me luck

*Update 3-20-2011 9:19PM*

I started today with the intentions of getting one side done today and i did just that!! i took ALL of the suspension out on the passenger side, I installed the bottom two balljoint arms and then took the shock/strut out. it has a rubber/metal thing on the top of the old strut and it wouldnt come out so i cut the bar out of the old strut to get the coil off. Once i got that out i had to beat the metal piece off the old strut cause it was a little rusted. I didn't damage anything but i was worried . i put the new strut on the bottom piece and then put the strut through the coil and then had to use a jack to compress it up until i could put a nut on it in the fender above. Once i got that tighten down all the way i released the pressure and positioned it the way it needed to be. I put all bolts in loose then when i put the wheel barring housing back in and the CV axle i tightened everything down. I also changed my tie rod and end with a new one. everything but the top bar thats is around the strut but that is a easy change if it needs it later. I tried to get the wheel as straight at possible with the steering wheel straight. Once i get the other side done it will be 4-wheel aligned

tomorrow the other side!!@

 

[Shake_Zulla]

*UPDATE - 3/20/2011*

Ok fellas, dropping the engine helped get the harmonic balancer off and i coated the new one inside with axle grease and then put it on and use a small 4x4 square wood block and a hammer to seat it tightly then put the bolt in and torqued it down to its original specs. Now it has ZERO wobble and with the new belts it runs smooth! we took out the alternator and went to install the new one when we noticed the plug for the electronics had 4 pins instead of 2? The alternator was the same everything except the wire plug? how could this be? anybody else seen something like this? I put the old alternator back on (since it still worked... read a couple of posts above.). I just got back from a get-a-way weekend with my wife and i am about to start the suspesion wish me luck

*Update 3-20-2011 9:19PM*

I started today with the intentions of getting one side done today and i did just that!! i took ALL of the suspension out on the passenger side, I installed the bottom two balljoint arms and then took the shock/strut out. it has a rubber/metal thing on the top of the old strut and it wouldnt come out so i cut the bar out of the old strut to get the coil off. Once i got that out i had to beat the metal piece off the old strut cause it was a little rusted. I didn't damage anything but i was worried . i put the new strut on the bottom piece and then put the strut through the coil and then had to use a jack to compress it up until i could put a nut on it in the fender above. Once i got that tighten down all the way i released the pressure and positioned it the way it needed to be. I put all bolts in loose then when i put the wheel barring housing back in and the CV axle i tightened everything down. I also changed my tie rod and end with a new one. everything but the top bar thats is around the strut but that is a easy change if it needs it later. I tried to get the wheel as straight at possible with the steering wheel straight. Once i get the other side done it will be 4-wheel aligned

tomorrow the other side!!@

2GNT.com - DIY_Alignment

Just incase you want to become a true DIYer. Got your back man... plus I'm reallly bored at work today. <--- so bored I spent the time looking for the bored smile.

 

[brandonwh64]

2GNT.com - DIY_Alignment

Just incase you want to become a true DIYer. Got your back man... plus I'm reallly bored at work today. <--- so bored I spent the time looking for the bored smile.

Im working on the driver side ATM, the bolt for the strut bracket wont come out of the ball joint so im having to cut it out with a die grinder going to run to ace hardware to get a new steel bolt

I will look into that!

*UPDATE! 3-22-2011* Ok last night i finished the suspension and was cleaning up, well i found two rubber pieces that were laying in the old parts pile and i was puzzled cause i knew these go some where, well i went to lower the car down and the shock ends stuck out of the finders under the hood!! it was the rubber piece that goes on end of the SHOCK!!! so today after being mad at my self for my costly mistake, i took the shocks back out and put on the missing rubber pieces and re assembled the car. here is a picture of it now, its oily and dirty but after i have it aligned at 2PM Est time i will go quick wash it.

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[brandonwh64]

Ok Update *3-29-2011*

Well i got my camber kit in and im looking around for another wheel alignment shop. the last one charged me out the ying yang to do a simple toe alignment. Once i install the new camber kit, it will drive alot better. Ive also been searching for the best deal on tires for the car. I need P215/50/17s anything above that will scrub when i hit bumps. I also ran into a problem with my power steering pump. when i got it back on the road it started squeaking then in gradually had gotten louder and louder until when i would pass someone or floor the car, it would kick the belt off I have ordered a used power steering pump that was in good condition and has a 90 day warranty so once it arrives i will install it and get a new belt on it.

 

[randypogue]

hey your car is comeing together real nice man oh and how is that intake kit does it give you alot of air flow and have your notice any power ### ive been looking at the same ones on ebay thanks

 

[brandonwh64]

hey your car is comeing together real nice man oh and how is that intake kit does it give you alot of air flow and have your notice any power ### ive been looking at the same ones on ebay thanks

The new air intake gives great airflow! when you rev up past 3K it has deep tone to it and i have noticed slight differences in power and fuel mileage.