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Messages - EricCoolCats

5117
Suspension/Steering / Re: Sealed for life suspention components
The "sealed for life" tie rods let loose on my old '84 in 1990. I think only 6 years out of a major suspension component is pretty laughable, especially after all my pampered driving (i.e. not driving like an idiot). Could later sealed tie rods have been manufactured better? Possibly. Could I have just had a bum set? Could be. But as long as I'm alive, none of my cars will have sealed-for-life components again. Losing control of a car just once because of them has taught me a lesson. Grease fittings are cheap, easy to install and I KNOW when they get greased (every oil change).
5118
Electrical Tech / Re: 3G alternator/electric fan upgrade
My conversion was in 2001. The local stereo shop hooked me up with the circuit breaker, wiring and all connectors.

Click on the PA Performance link in my post above. You can upgrade to a 200-amp for what looks like the same price. That makes it $1/amp...the same as the Auto Zone one, sure, but $200 for 130 amps, or $200 for 200 amps: which one's the better deal? Money definitely has everything to do with everything on a car and I'm not saying, "Don't buy parts store alternators, they suck." I'm just saying, be prepared to return it more often if you do. It's quite a hassle. And with the bad luck I've had over the past 2 decades with Ford's electrical systems, I've definitely learned my lesson to always get good stuff.
5120
Electrical Tech / Re: 3G alternator/electric fan upgrade
Well, take it from someone whose 3G alternator just died...avoid parts store alternators like the plague. Mine was from Pep Boys and it's 3 years old, which normally would be a little easier to understand. Except it's on the convertible...driven 6 months of the year, and not daily. It's putting out just over 12 volts. I have to take it back here soon, and see what the goobers behind the counter are going to do for me (yes, it's also lifetime). Thing is, a lifetime warranty is fine and all, but you will definitely use it if you buy the alternator from the Big 3 (Auto Zone, Pep Boys, Advance). NAPA would probably be a safer bet. I've got my eyes on a PA Performance alternator now.
5121
General Fox T-Bird/Cougar Discussion / Re: Weatherstrip..anyone have part numbers?
Mark VII weatherstripping will work. Question is, would it still be available?

Chuck, you're on to something man. This is going to be a hot item because we need weatherstripping available something fierce. I know I personally need some, and can't find good stuff at the boneyard. Don't let the lack of responses get to you...you're doing the right thing, and I'll help all I can.
5123
Drivetrain Tech / Re: sn95 rear end
There were 2 different width SN95 rear ends. The 1994-98 style were identical in width to our cars. The 1999-2004 are wider, approximately the same width as a Mark VII rear end. Either style bolts right up to our cars without any fabbing. Keep in mind that rear discs were the norm on SN95's so that complicates things if you want to keep drum brakes. All V8 SN95 8.8" rears (both styles) had Traction-Lok. I don't think it was an option on V6 cars, which had 7.5" rears. You can figure out speedo gears on various web sites...I'm sure someone can provide a link.
5124
Lounge / Re: ermenuma
I got my first speed density HO computer from an '87 Mustang GT that had a Chevy 400 stuffed in. Not a professional job...but funny.
5125
Lounge / Re: Episode 3
Quote from: Bird351
Books are horrible, huh? I'd rather read the Thrawn books than watch most of the movies. Oh yeah.. books not part of the SW universe? Come play Star Wars Galaxies, a LucasArts/SOE product, where you can do missions for Thrawn.


I just talked to Yoda...he told me to tell you, "Control your anger." ;)

ESB was directed by Irvin Kirshner; ROTJ was Richard Marquand. Weirdest thing about Empire was that the screenplay was a little over half done when the screenwriter (Leigh Brackett) passed away. So here was poor Irvin with a half-finished screenplay, directing the sequel to the biggest movie ever, filming in some of the worst winters recorded in Norway. Yet the film was brilliant. Why? The story. We CARED about the characters. Not so much with the prequels...the effects gave way to the plot. Most of the characters are throwaway. Too bad. I'm a firm believer that if the prequels were being made 10-15 years ago instead of today, they'd definitely have been more story-driven and not so dependant upon special effects. We loved the original trilogy because we loved the characters. We tolerate the prequels because they look good. That's the biggest difference. The movies jumped the shark a long time ago. They're a lot like Metallica's career:

SW = Kill 'Em All
ESB = Master of Puppets
ROTJ = ...And Justice For All
TPM = Black Album
AOTC = Load
ROTS = Reload? We'll see. ;)
5126
Misc Tech / Re: WTF Do these go to?
V6 cars had the EEC testers in different locations in the engine bay, depending on the model year and fuel injection type. Basically the V8 cars had it in the same location (driver's side behind the strut tower) throughout the run of the Fox cars.

Karl, that's the SPOUT connector you're talking about. That will always be by the TFI module (if it's distributor mounted).

As for our mystery connector...it's not coming to mind what it's for. The convertible was pretty much fully loaded when I bought it, and that was not connected to anything. I don't ever recall seeing it connected to anything, in fact. If I were to take a wild guess, maybe for full digital gauges? Perhaps a trip to the shop manuals will reveal its hidden agenda. ;)
5128
Engine Tech / Re: Serious safety problem with my coug
IAC or TPS...those are usually the culprits for surging like that. You can usually clean out the IAC. Have you run any EEC codes on the car? If one of those are bad they'll throw a code.
5129
Lounge / Hello Children...Please Step Inside
Consider this your first 'time out' of the board.

Keep the political and/or religious stuff out of here. It has no place. Carm and I let it go for the election but it obviously got out of hand. Well, election's over...some are happy, some are not. Life goes on. Cars need attention so start talking about them again. Mmmkay?

Class dismissed.