Sorry boys, no black wheels, not that there is anything wrong with that.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC00475.jpg

Allen, adding the pushbutton start to the standard ERA harness was super easy. Just adding one jumper and moving one wire from the key switch to the pushbutton. The key switch still turns the ignition on.

FIA wheels look good in any color!!! We'll just lay low until you change your mind.;)

Allen, looking at the picture of the back of my dash, you can see the pushbutton mod. The pushbutton is just above the key switch (originally the horn switch). Added my red jumper from ignition terminal on the key switch to push button. Moved ERA harness starter wire (red wire that was originally connected to the center terminal of key switch) to the other side of the pushbutton. Then added a horn switch to the left of the steering column.

Cool, Wolf....Thanks for the detail.

P.S. can you give us any pictures/story on the Mustang visible in a few of your photos?

- Allen.

Do you mean this old thing?

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...ustang/101.jpg

My first car, owned since 1982. Recently finished a complete restomod two years ago. It is a low optioned Mach 1 that I added few things.
427 stroker, TKO, power rack and pinion, strut front suspension.

Nice! Is that a super dark green, or black?

- Allen.

Wolf,

Great progress on your car !

I am installing the motor and transmission into 2136 this weekend and was interested in your comment about the bell housing. Mine is already installed and test fit with the transmission, so everything lined up. I am a bit reluctant to take the bell housing off.

It was recommend to take off the water pump pulley, just to have a bit more room on the front end, so I was going to give that a try. Any other tips?

Love those FIA wheels … if you are not ready for the all black wheel club … might think about just painting / powder coating the webs black and leaving the wheel lips polished … it's a nice combination too :)

Beautiful Mustang … your cars will be great stablemates !

Agreed Tim, really nice car(s).
Also ....what a luxury it must be Wolf, to have that much space in your garage!! I'm envious :)
Cheers,
Glen

Thanks fellas for the comments
Allen, Mustang is black.
Glen, Workspace is in the basement, built the house around it, it is nice, but that Mustang does get in the way.
TKB, Lowering the engine with the bell housing is very doable. It is a little tough if doing it alone, as I did. I did eventually remove the crank and water pump pulleys. I also removed the lower aluminum panel on the firewall. With the bell housing connected to the engine, you have lower the engine into the bay then slide it aft. If bell housing not connected, you can drop the engine straight down onto its mounts. I know what you mean about being reluctant to remove the bell housing. But there really is a lot of room back there to redial in the bell housing. However, if you have a helping hand, it should be fairly easy to lower with the bell housing. Are you using a cherry picker?

Wolf,

I have a cherry picker and (4) experienced buddies to help push / pull / guide the motor into place, so sounds like it should be straight forward. Thanks for the advice, look forward to following your progress.

- Tim

leave the bellhousing on
 

I installed the 289" in ERA FIA #2027 with the bellhousing in place.

Two experienced guys helped. We used a cherry picker. Engine went in from the front, lots of serious padding taped in place.

The engine dropped in almost vertically to clear at the front and rear. Rigged a chain sling/harness to the front of the block/cylinder heads to attach the lift.

Had a small hydraulic jack under the bellhousing to help rotate the engine to horizontal, and one person sitting in the car to pull back, one sliding the jack progressively rearward. The third person was working the picker.

I have since pulled the bellhousing/trans twice. It is a LOT easier to set up the housing and throwout bearing out of the car.

Two things that would have made the installation easier. A smooth surface, like a cement floor...my asphalt driveway was rough enough to make it hard to smoothly move the cherry picker.

The other thing, don't use a cherry picker if you can get a dead fall chain hoist. The cherry picker moves the engine in an ARC, the chain fall lifts straight up and down, even on asphalt the car will move more smoothly than a steel wheeled cherry picker.

We installed the 427 FE in my friends ERA 427 with the chain lift. Very controllable, staight up and down. With a floor jack under the front of the car it was easier to move the car around than try to move a cherry picker smoothly without the engine starting the engine swinging back and forth.

Sounds like you have it covered...with good help, I vote to leave the bellhousing on.

OH, lots of pizza.

Nice Mach 1. Bet she sounds hot!

Thanks Hyde, actually pretty mellow, after years of headers and minimal mufflers, I went to iron manifolds and reproduction mufflers.

TKB, I noticed in your build log that you you have a carb lifting plate, that will make installation much easier than my setup. Also noticed your alternator is mounted in the lower position. That is initially where I wanted mine, after posting that question, Bob said it would not clear mounted there.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC00487.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC00485.jpg

Wolf,

You are correct, the position of the alternator on my car won't work. Had another ERA FIA owner point that out too ... parts on the way from Peter. Motor goes in tomorrow, will post and update in my thread ... thanks for all of the info ... now back to your build ... :):)

- Tim

Modification to the trans mount needed for the T45.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC00490.jpg

Went with the 90 deg oil filter adapter, thermostatic sandwich

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC00494.jpg

I like the adaptor!

Yes, it worked out well. Although, it will not fit if running a mechanical fuel pump.

I guess it wouldn't work for me. I opted for the Mechanical. It will make finding & changing the filter a snap!

Wolf - with the mods to the chassis required to fit the T45 trans., how did you repair the coating (I'm assuming that it's powder coat, not a wet spray)?
Cheers,
Glen