Project: Mavro Gato - 99 Turbo'd 3L

[fordrule]

that would look awesome powdercoated

[COOGAH]

all-in-all, how many man hours did that take to get to that point? i just want to know what kind of hell i am in for

[FastCougar]

35-40 hrs. However, like I said earlier in this thread, I could probably get to this point in about 10-15 hrs. with what I know now. The secret is in the tools you use. I will post a how to one day

[cougarprophet]

Originally Posted by fordrule

that would look awesome powdercoated

x2

[FastCougar]

She will be painted tonight!

Didn't get any pictures, but I finally got the engine off the stand, installed the trans separator plate, flywheel & clutch and then mated it to the transmission. Tonight I will be torquing the DMD on and then measuring the serpentine belt length so that I can get a properly sized belt since she has the under drive pulleys installed.

Back to the painting. I have some high gloss engine enamel good to 500 degrees, just like the aluminum color I sprayed the timing cover, valve covers & oil pan. I also have some clear coat ... she's going to be sweet! I'll post pictures of the finished product mounted to the engine.

I think after tonight's work, she will be ready to finally drop into the Cougar. However, I must first figure out how to reinstall the A/C lines before doing that. I'm also going to fully redo the entire front suspension with tubular LCA's (already have). So, since I have to redo the A/C lines, I figured I would degrease the engine bay, scuff it with some 400 grid sanding blocks, tape off and hit it with two coats of high gloss black as well as a clear coat or two. It will REALLY clean things up nicely and set off the engine bay!

[mond12345]

If you have the under drive pulleys from the CEG GB (P/S and Alt.) and the DMD then you need a 73" belt.

[jaged]

just curious as to why youre keeping the A/C.

[FastCougar]

Originally Posted by jaged

just curious as to why youre keeping the A/C.

Car will be street driven as well as track driven and will also be sold in the future ... just better to keep it with that being the case.

[FastCougar]

Well, it's coming along, but I made a few mistakes in my painting

I should have painted from the bottom first to fill in the areas between the runners where they meet the main chambers. To paint this is VERY difficult due to all the compound curves and tight confined spaces between the runner sets.

I found myself applying more paint than needed to try and cover up the "gray" areas where the runner tappers under ... I wouldn't have done this if the bottom was painted. As a direct result, I have some running on the bottom portion of the runners where they start to round under. VERY hard to see, but I know they are there and it pisses me off!

Overall, I would say it's OK, but it needs more coats and definitely from the bottom first. This is basically 3 coats and I don't think the top can take much more because the can I was using ran out. I should have had it powder coated ... maybe it's just me being anal!

It's still drying, so I will hit it again tomorrow night and then clear coat it on Thursday night.

[COOGAH]

i wanna lick it.

looks like its time for me to start working on mine then. i have to smooth out any welds i have where i am having the shark nozzles for the nitrous setup anyway and might as well smooth out that fcuker while i'm at it.\

can't wait to see your little how-to. it would be nice to compare it to hamill's and have multiple sources to compare one another and figure out what is the easiest for me.