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Since this thing just keeps snowballing, I figured it was time to start a build thread.
I bought my 89 RS last August and in the beginning of October, I hit a piece of steel in the road that ended up putting a hole in my T56. Totally sucked!
Looking toward the future and know that I can't seem to leave anything alone ( Funny how that always seems to happen ), I had Jason at Texas Drivetrain build me a Stage 3 Tremec T56.
Knowing the rearend won't hold up to future plans or even the motor that's in it now if I ever hook it up, I knew I wanted something strong. While looking on craigslist this spring, I came across a very low mileage 4th gen Strange S60 that came with a UMI adjustable torque arm, BMR adjustable Panhard bar and a chrome moly driveshaft for a real decent price so I picked it up. The rear has 3:73's, Detroit Locker carrier and 35 spline axles.
Right now I am in the middle of cleaning the floor pans so I can paint the whole underneath and get the subframe connectors in. Hoping to have it painted by next weekend and then start getting the rearend put in.
The snowball effect caused me to buy Wilwood big brake kits for front and rear, bigger sway bars, new shocks and struts ( Car already had Eibach pro kit springs so I'm leaving them), Founders upper panhard bar, Optima battery, Core shifter with 6" arm, C4 ZR1 wheels ( black w/polished lip) 17x9.5 front and 17x11 rear with 315's. I'm sure I forgot some stuff but I'll keep adding as I can.
Not much new to report. Got the Texas DriveTrain Stage 3 T56 put along with the BMR Torque arm relocation crossmember. CE subframe connectors are bolted in and ready to weld. Hopefully get the welding done next week along with getting the rearend and gas tank out so I can finish painting underneath. Ordered a Racetronix fuel pump and Hotwire kit. Racetronix said it's good for 550 whp with stock lines. When I ever get around to the 383 build and more boost, I'll have to add another inline boost sensitive pump but for now it should be a ton better than the stock pump. I'll get some picks up when I can.
Hoping to order the brake cables from Hawks for the 4th gen rear this week. I need to get a braided center brake hose yet but having trouble finding just the one. I have Wilwood hoses for the calipers already.
Finally got the Strange S60 in, new tank and Racetronix fuel system. I really hope this Racetronix stuff is as good as I hear because trying to get instructions from them and even getting a response from them was terrible.
Waiting for my buddy to get the new wheel bearings pressed on with the Wilwood backing plates so I can get them back in. Hoping to have the rear done today except for the axles, then start taking the front apart,
Have new kyb agx struts for it and Founders caster/camber plates along with the Wilwood big brake kit to match the rear, Wilwood master and adj. prop valve. Hoping to actually drive it again within the next 2 weeks.
Got the front end apart. Found both rotors cracked. Glad I decided before this to go with the Wilwood. Rear shocks were collapsed and 1 front strut. Had 1 good one though. Lol.
Rear is all in except for the axles. Hopefully Monday or Tuesday then I can get the rear brakes done. Hopefully get the front control arms off tonight so they can be cleaned, painted and new bushings put in. Still hoping to have it out next weekend.
That car looks like it just came off the show room floor, the under side is immaculate. Did someone restore the vehicle or was this a car that had crazy low miles??
It was about a month long of cleaning and sanding. It's a California car so any rust is very minimal but was still a ton of work. I hate rust and leaks. When the transmission had the hole put in it, it covered the 25 years of grime with trans fluid so it wasn't fun. Lol. Pretty happy with the way it turned out. I replaced most of the bolts with stainless too just in case of any future changes. Looking forward to driving it again.
Making some progress. Got the rear all in and brakes on. Just have to bleed yet. Put the driveshaft in and found out that the yoke was wrong. It was too small so fluid ran right out the tail. Called Jason at Texas Drivetrain since he built it and machined the yoke for it. After I took the measurements of the yoke, he realized they sent me the wrong one. Props to him as he machined a new one and had it to me in 3 days. The new one fit great.
Was able to fill the trans with fluid and put the new Core shifter in. Can't wait to drive it.
Finally all the rear suspension is in and brakes in.
Ever since I bought this car I haven't liked all the black under the hood so I decided to change it to match the rest of the car. Really happy how it turned out.
Modified and moved the radiator overflow can to the drivers side because it was in the way of the battery and just done shabby so I changed it.
After getting the rear brakes in, I just had to throw a wheel on to see how it looks. Can't wait to get it on the ground to really see how it looks. Hoping bt the end of the week.
Shifter in and council all back in.
Had to see how the 17x11's with the 315's would fit. They fit perfect. Not any room to go bigger.......yet.
Making progress . Can't find brake line adapters to go from the metric to 3/16 so ended up taking the front lines out and now replacing with new lines to hook up to the Wilwood stuff. Hoping tomorrow to finally get the brakes all done and bled. Maybe finally get it back on wheels again.
Really hoping to finally drive it again next week.
Like the silver much better.
Nice to finally get the trans buttoned up. The Core shifter is about half the length of the B&M that was in the old t56.
Looking real good. Couple quick questions about the rear wheels. What backspace are those and are they C4 or C5 wheels? Did you use any wheel spacers? Also did you need to roll the fender lip?
I will as soon as I get home. On the back there are no spacers but I do have a 4th gen rearend. The front has 2". Might be able to get away with 1.75 but not sure yet.
Got some pics with the wheels on and finally on the road. Found out that the S60 I bought wasn't broken in right and now I'll have to put a new carrier in in spring. Guess that's the chance you take buying used. Hoping in spring to do a new sound system, fix the S60, aluminum radiator, 4th gen leather power seats( If I can find some perfect), new dash pad or cover and really looking at doing the Megasquirt and meth injection.
Any recommendations on the megasquirt would be greatly appreciated.
I have MegaSquirt 3 extra and am very happy with it. There is a sister version that is built more rugged and might be smaller but looses some of the features.
It's been a while since I've been here. Just put some Founders performance extreme rear control arms in and decided to wipe down the underside for the first time this year. Lol. Found my steering shaft to be very sloppy.
Have any of you used the Detroit Speed shaft? Trying to decide which way to go with it.
I've used the Astro Van steering shaft and have been happy with it.
If you set the car on level pavement and put an angle finder on the panhard bar is it level (or pretty close to) or is the body side lower? The picture makes it look like the body side is lower because of that bracket that lowers the mounting position to gain exhaust clearance. If it is, you might want to look into one of UMI's axle side panhard bar lowering mount.
04-25-2015, 03:51 PM
