[manbearpig]

I've had my S10 since May of 2007, and now finally getting around to the mechanical downgrades that I've wanted to do since forever.

I had bought a 1985 (pre 1/2 year facelift) Escort L that literally had no options other than dealer installed air conditioning, which I removed, but money and living situation changed and the car I saved from the crusher ended up crushed anyway.

Upgrades/Downgrades to my truck so far:

K&N intake / Quad4 throttle body / Gibson stainless catback exhaust

Bravada front clip / removed rear bumper

Manual steering / U-joint upgrade.

Working on removing the already defunct SIR and ABS systems.

Manual brakes are in the near future

Handbrake is being installed now, pictures soon.

Modifying engine bracket to delete fan pulley, electric fan from a Tempo, custom water outlet adapter

Minor mod but I ditched the dual tone horn for one out of an Isuzu mounted to the lower hole where the power steering cooler used to be.

1993 Toyota Celica seats. Tach cluster, removed most of the idiot lights.

Removed all unnecessary wiring from interior. Ran dome light, CHMSL wires through A-pillar. Standard rearview from my dad's 97 C1500.

Lowered 2/4 spindles/blocks. Monroe Reflex Monotube shocks. Michelin Premier A/S 205/65R15

 

[tytotheler92]

Need pictures.

Of both this and the Escort.

 

[manbearpig]

Handbrake installation: So far just the base plate and handle have been installed.

Base Plate

Handle Mockup

Installed

It's perfect luck that the SIR module was mounted right there. I cut the rear stud off, wallowed out the holes in the base plate and it fit right over the two front mounting studs. There is already a second layer of sheet metal to reinforce those studs in the floor board. Popped two holes through the floor for the handle itself and bam, it's in.

Now to cut a hole behind the seats for the cable pass through.

 

[manbearpig]

Manual steering post.

Belt routing (no efan yet)

 

[manbearpig]

I can't find too many pictures of the Escort, but here's the day I brought it home. Its last inspection was due in 1990 IIRC.

I know most people don't care for them but I've always loved this platform, and my first car was a Tempo.

 

[manbearpig]

Now for my truck. I had it looking pretty good but then someone cut in front of me in an intersection and I'm back to the patchwork look.

 

[manbearpig]

Put threads in my water outlet:

Ordered pipe fittings for new heater pipe.

 

[manbearpig]

Cable pass-through complete.

getting closer!

 

[manbearpig]

Started work on the radiator fan today. Shroud before...

Cut up.

installed.

Tried to mock up the electric fan, but the clutch fan is in the way, so I'll have to wait until the weekend to figure out what brackets I'll have to fab to get it in securely.

 

[manbearpig]

Started mocking up and figuring out how to mount the fan. I'm still unsure how I'm going to secure the bottom of it, it originally slid into little arms that were part of the radiator tank, but of course the S10 radiator has no such provisions.

Right side upper mount consisted of just drilling a small hole in the top of the radiator and installing a speed nut, as it was originally mounted.

Left side. You can see that the shroud covers the radiator entirely.

Combined with the absence of power steering, this really empties the bay. That fan pulley is next to go.

Another view. Spilled antifreeze all over playing with the reservoir hose.

 

[manbearpig]

my non-existent metalworking skills

The bend around back is for the upper left fan mount. Out of light now, more tomorrow hopefully.

 

[manbearpig]

Started the wiring for my electric fan.

 

[manbearpig]

goodies!

 

[manbearpig]

So I decided I am going to probably use a fan switch that is 1/2" NPT, so I went to Lowe's real quick and grabbed a brass T, but I also realized my barbed fitting is too small, so I'm going to have to go get a bigger one of those also. Then once everything is up and running I'll replace the brass pieces with stainless items.

Here's the mock-up, I still have to figure out how I'm going to mount the spark plug wire holder.

The pipe of course has to be cut down, but I'm pretty close to getting this part done, and then I'll be able to put in all of the wiring for the electric fan.

 

[manbearpig]

slow progress

 

[manbearpig]

Got some destruction done today. Drilled out the front airbag sensors and removed the harness. Turns out those sensors hold water in the radiator support. When I popped them out a bunch of water came out with it. It had just got done raining though, not sure if it was holding long term.

Frame looks way better without wires running on it. Still dirty/rusty, but slow progress is still progress.

 

[manbearpig]

I finally thought of a way to secure the bottom of my electric fan without it looking hacked. I cut two slots in the bottom of the shroud and used strip steel with 2 of the speednuts from the stock lower shroud. Drilled two holes for the bolts to go through. Just need to mock it up again so I can figure out where the bends will be and then drill holes in the bottom of the radiator support to put speed nuts in and then bolt it all down.

Of course, some pics of what I'm talking about.

I cut the original mounting "ears" off and am going to paint the steel brackets black. The goal was to find a way to make it look like it came stock with an electric fan. I'm not really happy with the hold down I made, I need thicker steel.

 

[manbearpig]

I told myself I wasn't going to do this, but once I started filing the casting seams down, I knew there was no going back. Still have a long way to go too...

 

[manbearpig]

Have all of the pieces for my water outlet, but I had to order a bigger die handle in order to put threads in the pipe. So close!

All stainless hardware.

Also noticed one of my exhaust clamp/hangers rusted so bad that the exhaust pipe rattles against the clamp at a certain load and RPM. I thought it was all of the junk in my bed rattling!

Ordered from Summit on Ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331370406111
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390967030254

Going ahead and replacing all of my clamps and hangers with stainless parts. Of course the stainless exhaust system doesn't come with stainless hardware. The stuff it did come with has lasted 7 years or so though.

 

[Dragonball98312]

Nobody ever takes me serial... Not sure if i missed it but whats up with the pipe your installing?