Great story, especially like the clever use of HF blanket for the seat cover. I wonder if when the costs are added up for a turbo refit, would you be better off dropping in a 5 liter from a Mustang or Ford truck, that's north of 200HP without even trying. Is that rear a 7.5 or 8.8? Even the early Mustang GT's used the 7.5 so it would hold up for a while.
That seat has since been replaced with a clean one from a wrecked b2200, but it was fun while it lasted. I also snagged the door panels and a few other things. Annoyingly the guy wanted to sell me the whole truck which was actually really clean besides the front end damage, but I had nowhere to store it :(
You raised a very valid point, I've wondered the same thing, but to be honest I kind of like the idea of the route I'm taking with it now... assuming it works! I've lost count of exactly how much I'm into it so far, but I'd guess around the $600 mark. There's very little left to buy for it now, just things like new fuel lines, vacuum hoses and probably a new radiator as a precaution before it gets any real abuse.
I've been thinking lately of what I'd do if (when?!) the engine lets go, and a Ford V8 is certainly one of the options if i keep it. Although I'm itching to build another fast go kart, and promised the wife I'd stick to only one project/toy at a time...although with all my tools in my Silverado for work, the mazda would make a perfect go kart hauler....
I have no idea with regards the diff. I guess from what you said they run a ford rear end?! I had wondered how strong the diff and axles would be and how long they would last once it's running and getting thrashed. If its the same unit as the mustang GT as you say, I'd hope it'd be more than man enough for 200bhp or so.
Well, the turbo fits on now. I had planned to chop the flange off the manifold and reeled itnon upside down to flip the manifold and turbo. I was gonna do it at a work friends place but we ended up making an adaptor plate from some 3/8 steel plate he had left over from another project. Some hole saws died in the making of said plate but it turned out pretty much spot on. Few threaded holes here and there, some trimming for the spark plug wires and some trimmed down Allen bolts and it's good to go.
I bought his welder home and welded in a new O2 sensor bung, then filled the other adaptor (t3 manifold to t25 for the turbo) with some clumps of weld resembling bird kaka to smooth out the transition from the square t25 opening on the adaptor to the round opening of thenexhaust housing.
Besides that I have the boost, oil pressure, and wideband AFR gauge installed, the new old steering wheel on which I managed to get back from thendude I sold my last track car to in the U.K.! Various other small boring crap too.
Still awaiting the time to compile a proper set of pictures of the latest stuff, just had a spare 5 minutes so figured I'd update this.
Still need to get a different welder as the flux core I borrowed from my buddy doesn't cut it. Still need to weld in an oil return and make a top hat for the carb, plus an exhaust...
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