BITCH ASS: A Build of Average Proportions and Modest Income

[Daviticus]

MeatStance is 2012's version of tarmac rally I suppose?

Regardless, digging it.

[cobrawannabe]

looks like hella fun!

It is, it just need smaller tires.

MeatStance is 2012's version of tarmac rally I suppose?

Regardless, digging it.

Hahahaha, apparently. I have definite plans for smaller tires. Thanks for the kind words.

I've been experimenting with new ways to lower the car.

[cobrawannabe]

Some quick fun shots before the car finally goes into the body shop.










I can't wait to get my 195/45/16, the car is barely drivable with the winter balloons on it.

[Chuckdee]

skinny tires= moar low! i am excite!

[cobrawannabe]

O yahp!

[cobrawannabe]

Just ordered an oil-sampling kit from Blackstone Labs. I'll be sending the oil I just put in it out to be analysed after it has reached the end of its 5,000 mile service life. I'll be doing so with the next few changes to see which setup I have used performs best in the car.

Current:
Mobil-1 5W-20 with Mobil-1 (M1-102) filter: 5,000 mile interval

To-Be-Tested:
-Mobil-1 5W-20 with Motorcraft (FL920-S) filter: 5,000 mile interval
-Mobil-1 5W-20 (Extended Performance) with Motorcraft (FL920-S) filter: 5,000 mile interval
-Mobil-1 5W-20 (Extended Performance) with Mobil-1 (M1-102) filter: 5,000 mile interval


If I test all of these setups and see no significant difference, I will consider moving to a 9,000 mile interval with Mobil-1 Extended Performance and testing the two filters against each other in those conditions of use. The car is getting a bit long in the tooth (the odometer briefly showed 81,000.0 miles this weekend!), so I think now is a good time to get very serious about what kinds of fluids I use to keep it running. This spring I will also be swapping out the transaxle oil and having it sent in to be analyzed. I can't believe I have gone this long without changing it.

I also want to get into the valvetrain before Carlisle and put in new HLAs to get rid of the nasty "Duratec tick" the car has had for years. It drives me utterly insane.

[cobrawannabe]

Here's the first good exhaust clip I have of the car. I never realized just how loud the thing is!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaG26GaCbLc&context=C3b19119ADOEgsToPDskJZZsLJcY1WbJYh6S5Ggj3m"]Keegan Komponents Focus - YouTube[/ame]

[Nickgt40]

Matt, update this thread.

[NorCalFocus]

X2 Matt. Unless your still working on Blake ORP, then finish that first.

[manbeard]

curious as to what you're gonna be welding. and why you got splatter protection with some tig parts...unless you're plannin on dipping the tungsten in the puddle a lot haha :P

[cobrawannabe]

curious as to what you're gonna be welding. and why you got splatter protection with some tig parts...unless you're plannin on dipping the tungsten in the puddle a lot haha :P

Hahahaha, That's actually for the MIGs. I like to keep my tip clean.

Next update should be a combination of pictures from after the car got back from the body shop last week (I've been too busy enjoying it to take too many good pics) and some new flock. I'll also be acquiring some new-to-me parts pretty soon, here.

-Centerline Storms
-Metal cam cover (still unsure of what to do for a scheme)
-Goodridge stainless brake hoses
-SVT caliper brackets (front)
-SVT front rotors (I actually have these, I just need to get them turned and put on the car with the caliper brackets)

After that for this year (I hope) will be:
-Smaller tires (195/45./16) for the Borbets. These are a definite
-Centercaps for the Borbets
-Front lip
-Side skirts
-Spacers to make the Borbets flush with the pulled fenders
-Build new exhaust
-Matte silver headlight housings
-Use old bumper for some custom stuff and things
-New factory shift knob
-Finish up the damn pedal project
-New e-brake cables

[Chuckdee]

^^that list looks promising

[cobrawannabe]

Here are some pics from a couple of days ago. The body shop raised the car up

[cobrawannabe]

Couple of updates:

Alright, as promised... Sadly, my phone is a total hunk of junk and lost about half of the pictures I took along the way. Not cool.

So I gave my interior a 3-hour run-through (just a pre-spring detail, nothing major) and cleaned up some stuff along the way.
As I was cleaning the passenger's foot well, I noticed this atrocity:


That is a minor scratch on the lower dash corner accompanied by a BUNCH of molding flash. I grabbed a couple of tools and some sandpaper, and took care of the issue. The close up after shot of this particular shot went missing.

The molding flash inspired me to take a closer look around the entire interior and do my best to get rid of the molding flash and scratches on all the interior trim. Not all of it is gone, as I will need a proper finish to touch everything up, but I got it as well as I could for now.
Here's a good example:
BEFORE:


AFTER:


Next came a re-do of the vacuuming and Meguiar's interior cleaning wipes, since the sanding and such got black dust all over the place. Here's the FP corner all finished. You can sort of see the fruit of my labors on the lower dash corner.


Then came the door jambs, which were an absolute embarrassment. Even a mild NE winter will destroy a black car's finish.
BEFORE




AFTER


Some crazy reflection in this pic.




For the full Spring detail I want to:
-Remove all trim, either respray black, cover in suede, or find a touch-up solution, depending on the piece.
-Remove striker bolts and repaint satin black. May even powdercoat.
-Send the floor mats in to be dry-cleaned.
-Remove seats and carpet, shampoo and steam clean.
-Re-trim my Redline boots, find a new lock collar for e-brake boot.
-Install new trunk liner.
-Cover headliner (probably black suede).
-New OEM shift knob.
-Flock center console and other trim pieces.

Also gave the car a pre-detail cleaning yesterday.

[HooWybrow]

You sir, run a tight ship. I can't wait for those god aweful flaps to come off either.

Also, might I suggest Yokohama S-Drive's for tires when you do drop down to that size. That's exactly the size I'm running on the vette wheels on the front of my car and I absolutely adore them.

They're cheap, too.

Keep it up!