Re: Foxbody Stocker/Bracket Racer
 

You probably already know this ,but other readers may not.
The rear trailing arms are bolted into sheet metal brackets on these cars.
Significant beefing up and bracing is needed in those areas.

Re: Foxbody Stocker/Bracket Racer
 

Are you talking about the torque boxes?

Re: Foxbody Stocker/Bracket Racer
 

I'd call them trailing arm brackets..

Or if you want...... no torque boxes

Re: Foxbody Stocker/Bracket Racer
 

Good luck on this project I remember when you built that nitrous renegade car back in the day that looked like a lot of fun.

Re: Foxbody Stocker/Bracket Racer
 

Yeah, that thing was fun for awhile until we got tired of melting pistons. The switch to a Vortech cured that problem! LOL! I can't take credit for building that one though. That was mainly Dale, the crew chief and brain behind the operation. Pat and I learned most everything we know about cars from him.

This build, however, will be all me. Well, as much as I can do by myself. That's not to say I won't be reaching out for some help from friends or guys on here once in awhile. I don't own a machine shop and I'm a novice welder so machine work and the cage will be farmed out - well, I'm undecided on the cage....I might attempt that one with some supervision and more welding practice.

Re: Foxbody Stocker/Bracket Racer
 

So I went out to the garage tonight with the intention of completely pulling apart the short block.

I took off the oil pan and oil pump and turned the motor over on the stand (right side up). I heard something fall in to the drip pan on the floor and found three items. Can you guess what they are/where they came from? Keep in mind, short of swapping intakes a few times over the years, this long block has NEVER been apart!

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...psb55dc408.jpg

Next I took off the crank pulley and water pump. Then I tried to find the puller for the balancer. I searched allover the place before I realized that I do not own a puller!! Doh!! At that point, I lost my motivation and decided to call it a night. Better make another trip to the store to get one of those.

So here's where I left it:

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...pscdaf402b.jpg

I've got a parts washer ordered and on the way so once I get that balancer off I can take off the timing cover, yank the timing gear/chain and cam, and then pull apart the rotating assembly and clean it up. Typing that reminds me that I still also need to remove the spider and lifters. I will be very interested to see how much wear and tear I find in this 120k mile engine.

Assuming the crank, rods, and pistons are reusable and the block looks OK I'll hone the block (ball hone - no machine shop for me unless absolutely necessary!) and clean/paint the block. Then I'll order up some ARP bolts, new bearings, new rings, new oil pan/pan gasket, rear main seal, and a new high volume oil pump. I've already got all the gaskets, new balancer, and a meziere water pump "in stock" and we'll start putting her back together. Oh yeah, the radiator has seen better days so I'll need to replace that too - which reminds me I'll need to go in the basement and dig out that electric fan.

All that sure was easy to type, we'll see if it actually goes that easy. In my experience, it usually never does.....

Re: Foxbody Stocker/Bracket Racer
 

If you are going to replace the rod bolts you should have the rods resized. I have done it without this step but it is not the right way to go.

Re: Foxbody Stocker/Bracket Racer
 

just how i like them , plain jane simple looking.nice project.have fun should be competitive.....:D

Re: Foxbody Stocker/Bracket Racer
 

Well guys, sorry I haven't updated in awhile. I'm between jobs right now and its taking me longer than expected to find a new one. Therefore, the race car is on the back burner. Wait, let me rephrase, spending money on the race car is on the back burner.

Lots of free and/or low-buck work can still be done but I doubt anyone wants to see pics of me sanding the car. LOL.

Re: Foxbody Stocker/Bracket Racer
 

I haer ya !!!