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Thanks for the great pictures Bill. Wish I could have been there.
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIDone, I’ve enjoyed monitoring the forum every couple days for about six years now. Still driving and enjoying the replica I built. Thanks for all the good work.
Don
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MII built my FiberFab Ford kit on the FiberFab frame about 7 years ago. The ride height in the front was too low with the original Ford coils that had two coil turns removed. I replaced with 275 lb Heidts springs from Summit Racing shortened by 1 1/4 coil turns. If I had it to do over, I would shorten the coils an additional 1/4 to 1/2 turn to set the ride height lower by about 3/4″. The ride is great for normal street use, I don’t do hill climes or autocross.
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MII have a 16’x7′ enclosed cargo trailer with a rear drop down ramp that I use for hauling and storing my front engine Ford MGTDr. I installed four recessed D ring anchors through the wood floor and bolted to the trailer frame. I use 2000lb straps to tie front A frames and rear axle to the anchors. I set the parking brake and leave in gear as you suggested and has never found it to move even with some hard stops.
I also installed a 2500 winch with remote control to pull my car into and to control roll-out from the trailer. This is a big help since the 7′ width of the trailer doesn’t leave much room for error. I created a spreadsheet to calculate “weight and balance” to estimate tongue weight. I found that backing my Ford MGTDr into the trailer provided near ideal balance.
My first trip with the trailer loaded was 500 miles to Carlisle Pa. from Michigan and back.
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all from Michigan.
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIWelcome. It’s great to see we have another member in Michigan. I too have a Ford FiberFab TD that I finished about three years ago. A friend that owned a green Ford based TD in Sterling Heights passed away last year and I’m wondering if that is the one you now have. I live in Rochester and spend summers in Jackson so I hope we will get a chance meet in person when the weather turns nice again.
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIHappy Thanksgiving to all!
If traveling today, be safe.
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MII like Bill’s access hatch over the peddle mount area. Instead I mounted the ignition module and voltage regulator in that location. Now I have to be upside down to work on the peddle cluster. This picture is of the back / underside of the Battery Box where the peddles and master cylinder mount.
Probably more than you ask for but I hope this helps.Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MISecond picture I ment to send.
Picture of Battery Box before modification.Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIMine is a Ford FiberFab and I had to modify the “Battery Box” to make it fit on the firewall / peddle mount frame. I slit the horizontal surface of the “Battery Box” from the drivers side end almost to where the battery sits. I opened the gap more than an inch to make it fit and then filled the gap with fiberglass. The pictures show what the “Battery Box” looks like and the modification that was done.
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIPayPal on its way.
Thanks Paul, I view the forum daily and would be lost without it.
Don
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIRoy, I guess my options are still open. My hood (Fiberfab) is flat, no raised section or bump. 🙂
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIAnother point of reference is the the Hood “Strip”, available from MG Magic Inc., S/S Finished ends 44 1/4″ with fasteners. My kit did’t include a hood strip and i’ve been thinking about adding one. At 44 1/4″ it should fit my 44 7/16″ hood.
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIMine is a Ford kit and I’m quite sure it’s a Fiberfab.
The length of the hood measures 44 7/16″ center, 44 1/4″ right edge and 44 1/8″along the left edge.To get a good fit I had to leave the remains of a crude scribe line 1/4″ at the front edge of the hood.I recommend you always measure and test fit each panel before making a cut. It will take a lot more time to add back later.Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIEddy, I made my seats like Dale (Schu) described in General Discussion “Seat Fix” posted March 17 2011.
I used more webbing than Dale, 5 across and 3 fore to aft. Foam used was 3″ thick “Luxury Foam” topped with 2″ “Memory Foam”. Descriptions of the foam can be found at http://www.foamforyou.com/Foam_Specs.htmFor the seat back I used 3″ thick HD23 foam covered by 1″ thick Loose Dacron. I found all the materials at a local foam store.I’ve driven over 500 miles so far and couldn’t be happier with the seat comfort. Thanks to Dale, no “dead butt syndrome” (DBS).
Top of seat bottom.
Bottom of seat bottom.
Seat back.
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIMine is a Ford based late FiberFab and I had the same problem. The splash pan came a little over one inch short of reaching the tub (body) when fully forward and against the bumper mounts. With the rear cover in place against both the tub and spash pan, there was also a gap where the rear cover didn’t cover the cutout in the splash pan.
The the frame extension to bumper mounts is a welded assembly with no provision for adjustment. I decided to shorten the bumper mounts by cutting out a section of the tube and rewelding to obtain the length that allowed a good fit of tub, rear cover and splash pan. I guess that means the car is about 1 1/4″ shorter than intended.Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIThanks Paul!!! I feel allot better now.:-) The withdrawal was getting to me.
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MII will be sending the book (The Red Car) to Kent since he was first to request.
Kent, be sure to sign and date the book before sending it on. Enjoy!Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MII am embarrased
to admit that I just found “The Red Car” book that was circulated last spring. I had signed and dated it in April and remember intending to take it to Carlisle hoping to pass it along. Never Happened. 🙁 Anyone that wants to read it should send me a PM with your address and I will happily get it back in circulation.Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIHappy New Year everyone!!!
12 Degrees and snowing here in Michigan.Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MII’m on my way by myself. TD close behind in the trailer. My wife Barbara was looking forward to comming but decided the trip would be to hard on her back. Spending the night just west of Cleveland. Expect to be at the hotel by mid afternoon. I’m looking forward to meeting you all in person.
See you all tomorrow.
Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIWell, the past couple weeks didn’t work out the way I planned but it still looks like I will make it to Carlisle. Monday before last I installed a hitch and brake controller on my conversion van. The night after I finished the van and all the tools and other stuff that was in it was stollen. I will now be using my wife Barbara’s GMC Envoy as my tow vehicle which means installing still another brake controller. Unfortunately Barbara’s back is not doing well and the trip in the Envoy would be a bit much so I will be making the trip solo.
Still plan to arrive Thursday afternoom and to attend the cook out Friday and the cruise in town.Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MIGabor, Thanks for the link.
The Speedway part looks just like the one I need to replace. The measurements they give are slightly different than what I measure. Angle 52 deg. vs 45 measured, threads to stop shoulder 2 3/8″ vs 2 1/4 measured, hole to end 16 5/16″ vs 16 1/2″ measured and hole to bushing shoulder 12 3/4″ vs 13 measured.
The difference can likely be accounted for by adjustment of bracket that mounts to the frame. Might also require a new fornt end alignment.Unless there is other input, I will order the Speedway parts.Don Loveless
Ford Pinto Fiberfab
Rochester, MI
