Birddog0347 rescues a Fox

[bird_dog0347]

Over the last few months Kevin (the devil on my shoulder) has been trying to convince me that I need to Terminator swap the car as well. Unfortunately, that's an expensive proposition that basically means I'd be in Coyote swap territory money wise with very little available to recoup the costs.


So ummm, I kinda did a thing today....


This past Sunday I found this 97 Cobra Vert for sale from Whiteboy, already has a built T56, upgraded clutch, COP conversion, Vortech V1 with Aftercooler, supposedly dyno'd at 475 to the wheels (feels right). The price was right, so I made my move and picked it up this afternoon. I drove it across town in traffic with no plates so I didn't get on it much at all, but whatever.


This engine, trans, supercharger is going in my fox and we will sell off the vert roller as well as my engine/trans setup so that my cost overall for the power train upgrade is pretty low, especially compared to a Terminator setup.

[Rick Modena]

Maybe they already have been? I mean, I've had this car for 10 years now. Kevin said he's going to have his buddy try to pull the history from the VIN, maybe there will be a clue as to what clown did all that.

I've seen some pretty bad body work, but I mainly just did newer cars that were insured, but every now and then a 30 or 40 year old car would show up and we would see shit like that, but very rarely.
In the late 80's and early 90's we started seeing Armenian gypsies, middle eastern, etc. Start showing up with and opening shops and really doing hack jobs, some of those guys were still using brass and acetylene torches to do welds on panels and buying bondo by the cases.
Insurance companies started cracking down and them and making them use Mig welders like they were supposed use very little plastic filler.
Most listened and alot of them didn't give a fuck. My son has bought a couple of cars in Hack Job Row in South Ft.Worth on old 287 in Kennedale. He said shops for miles. I can only imagine the bullshit that's going on over there.

[bird_dog0347]

Those hacks need to be shot!

Maybe they already have been? I mean, I've had this car for 10 years now. Kevin said he's going to have his buddy try to pull the history from the VIN, maybe there will be a clue as to what clown did all that.

[Rick Modena]

Those hacks need to be shot!

[bird_dog0347]

Well, Kevin got the quarter panel cut out today and it's the worst "repair job" ever... going to have to replace more of the inner structure too, good thing we have all that stuff from the donor car. Also it looks like we will be replacing the driver's door frame up front as it's got some terrible "repairs" as well and the lower rocker piece too.










This is how thick the bondo was on the top of the quarter near the trunk.







And where they "patched" the quarter.




also the driver's A Pillar/door mount and rocker had some rust issues they tried to "hide" with bondo, that whole structure will be cut out and replaced with the ones from the donor as well.

[Rick Modena]

He asked me, but I still listen to normal radio and it belongs on the car... it's staying. My man has a collection that would make any of us bust a nut. It's likely on par with or more than Grape.

I have a buddy in Tyler that we worked for me and now owns his own shop. He does great work and I can go and shoot anything I want for a song or free, but he doesn't like doing resto's anymore. Hes spoiled on insurance work and I don't blame him. Though if I ever buy something that needs that kind of work, I'm sending it to that guy, hes a true professional in a dying art...

[bird_dog0347]

Kickass progress.

I'd french in that antenna on the fender, if you haven't thought about that already. Also, I want that Fox, thurbo Coyote!

He asked me, but I still listen to normal radio and it belongs on the car... it's staying. My man has a collection that would make any of us bust a nut. It's likely on par with or more than Grape.

[Rick Modena]

Kickass progress.

I'd french in that antenna on the fender, if you haven't thought about that already. Also, I want that Fox, thurbo Coyote!

[bird_dog0347]

Today was a big milestone, no going back now! Also I was able to order the MM K member kit as it was finally in stock at LMR and I wasn't sure how long it would take to order direct from MM.

[bird_dog0347]

I'll be doing this to my t-bird soon, though I look forward to it less seeing all the work you did. I'm to lazy for all this.

LOL, let's be clear... The only body/paint work I did was sand down the rear quarter to find the half ass repairs. Other than that the hard work I do is sending the Venmo for the invoices and waiting patiently while the work happens.

[4bangen]

I'll be doing this to my t-bird soon, though I look forward to it less seeing all the work you did. I'm to lazy for all this.

[Rick Modena]

Making good progress.

I don't miss the hard work, especially in the summer, but I do miss the final product and PAYDAY!

[bird_dog0347]

New pics of the fenders this afternoon, I think we are done with door skins and front fenders as far as prime and block now.

[bird_dog0347]

New bumper cover and support...




Roof measurements for T-Top frame...




New stock style steel hood...

[bird_dog0347]

So it's been a while since I updated this, there hasn't been a ton of stuff to show off as it looks like a lot of the same. Mostly getting the doors and fenders K&K perfect and straight, the doors I think are as straight as they are going to get and the fenders are almost there. The roof is pretty much ready for the T-Top frame and it was disassembled and sent for powder coating. Once Kevin has time to go start to finish on either the roof or the fender those will happen as he will need to complete it in one go once he starts it.


Gonna have to fix some rust on door mount points too.






Doors...














Fenders...