Hack Weld Solder Sculpt: Basic Fabrication

Cutting, grinding, drilling, and voila!

Before I start fabricating larger, more complicated things (and there is a list already lengthening on that front), I figured I should start with a simple project. I had just the thing: a block-off plate. Since I am going with electronic fuel injection, there will be no need for the Ford mechanical fuel pump. And the engine timing cover has a mounting flange for the pump we don't need. So you can buy flange block-off plates all day long for about 10 bucks, but why would you if you could just whip one out? Plus, what a great opportunity to make sparks with an angle grinder! WWTD Tim would definitely never pay money for something so straightforward. Also, I can now brag about how super-duper custom one-off this Mustang is! See more pics below.

Alternator gyrations

This one is still good, but doesn't make enough power.

I hauled out the alternator and had the guy at the parts store test it for me. To my surprise, the thing tested good, 14.8v. It looked like hell so I spent some time disassembling and cleaning it. It looks great, but after all the work, I started thinking about all the new accessories I'd be adding, and how much amperage I'd likely need. Realized the stock 50A Motorcraft alternator probably would get stretched thin running everything it used to, plus stuff like air conditioning, amplifiers, electric fuel pump, and so on. I ordered a new 1-wire 100 amp alternator, it looks great, and will supply enough juice for us to jamalama.

M-Sport blackout

Masked off, painting in progress

Looks like something Darth Vader would pilot!

Took some time this weekend to focus on the BMW and rehab the M-sport rims. I had noticed some curb rash that had progressed into the finish flaking off in sheets at the car wash. Turns out they had been powder coated before, and that's what was coming off. Regardless, they weren't looking as smart as they could, so I decided to take a wire wheel and some black peel-coat to them to see how that would turn out. They look pretty good. Don't however get me started on how much of a pain in the ass it is to grind out all the crevices. It was a little involved but the car looks a whole lot more sinister, so there's that. I decided to do the fronts next week. Not sure how well the peel-coat paint will hold up, we'll have to just see how that goes.