Sly's Panthers

[sly]

finally got the trunk to stay up on the Mark. seems the geometry on the lifts needs some adjustment... like the stock location is totally wrong. I made a temp-perm fix and will look at getting a mount point located on the wheel well, which would be better for the mechanical advantage.

The brackets are made of some punched angle steel. I folded it over to give it better rigidity (2 layers are better than one).

pics...









it even holds itself up at lower points too




I'll probably use a universal eyelet style bracket like this one: http://www.autopartsbylou.com/lift-s...item=to-brk285

[marquisman]

I always wondered about the geometry. Because years ago, I replaced mine with new ones and it still would not stay up.

[sly]

Fixed the trunk on the Mark. Changing the geometry to a lower point didn't actually help, but that did allow fitting 2 sets on each side which actually fixed the issue.

Pics first, then vid at the bottom.

[gadget73]

always thought that was a bit of a sketchy design. Seems like it should have had a more powerful shock, or two weaker ones or something all along. I think Ford gave up on them after 82 or 83. The hoods retained the gas shocks but they seem to work on the hood for the most part.

[87gtVIC]

Nice Jason!

[sly]

Thanks. I like it when stuff works.

[Piece-it pete]

Nice!

Are those your stock 'rubber bands' holding your rear speakers in?

Pete

[tjc78]

Certainly looks like it. I was able to reuse them on my 89 MGM way back when as well.

[sly]

yes, stock rubbers.

[sly]

swag


I got the license plate bracket too... but since it doesn't have bottom bolt holes... gonna have to drill baby drill. It's going on the vic.

[sly]

ok... holes drilled and on the vic. Thanks again Ford for the sagging ass aero bumpers... still can see the web address though.

[zoomie]

Nice!

Are those your stock 'rubber bands' holding your rear speakers in?

Pete

i used the stock rubbers on my speakers as well....just barely fit

[sly]

it took some lube for the kenwood speakers in the Lincoln... but they slipped over finally.

[sly]

Being not afraid to redneck rig much of anything... I re-engineered some radiator clips and a hard drive magnet to make a "stay put" for the driver side sun visor.

it requires persuasion to move the visor off the magnet.

pics:

[sly]

Vacuum pump installed to augment the AC system. The relay rats nest will eventually be cleaned up after I source an aero vacuum box and relay sidecar complete with relays and wires. The one I had was leftovers and didn't have enough wires and only had one relay left.

The vacuum pressure switch is mounted to the upper tie bar near the radiator. This controls whether the ground is connected on the coil that supplies power to the pump.


near hose is exhaust and just dumps under the intake can. This is only to keep crap from building up on the hose barb... and a place to tuck the excess hose.


relay mess... fuel pump relay in the aero sled.


The relay that powers the pump. 12v on the coil comes from the red/green (hot in run) line. I may eventually add another relay that switches that line on when the climate controls are on.


AC vacuum reservoir tap