79 124 Project, custom lights

[Ptoneill]

I bought this car approximately 2 years ago at a tow yard auction for 400 dollars...and drove it home. It is a 79 2000 spider, 3 speed auto, power window car. I originally planned on a Maco paint job.........oops, I made a clean spot and this project rapidly spiraled out of control. I know I will NEVER get my money back out, but I have had hours of FUN working on it

I have replaced the entire suspension system with new components, heavy springs, and aftermarket sway bars in the front and rear. The brakes have been rebuilt, stainless braided hoses, and new power booster.

I have replaced the sealed beam headlights with 7 in H4 bulbs with built in LED running/turn signals. The side running lights are being replaced with Hagan flush lens LEDs. The tail lights ate being converted to LOCAR 6.5 inch oval LEDs, the license plate lights will be stainless post directional single led's.

The plan is to replace the rear seat with a shelf, lockable compartment, with a dual hoop style roll bar. The interior is going to be a Spider Point leather kit with all new consoles.

The engine is being modified with an 1800 head and intake with a weber 32/36 defv, and new cams to get "hopefully" 135
hp. I have powder coated numerous engine components and I hope to get numerous upgrades from Allison Auto.


































If anyone has pointers feel free to let me know I am new at this and am winging it.

See the photo bucket link below for more...

Thanks for looking

[azruss]

congratulations! it looks like you are well on your way to a long and expensive resto. looks like the car will be spectacular when it gets done.

[So Cal Mark]

I like the orange and gray engine bits together, nice project. Are you going to fill the front valance holes?

[Ptoneill]

Mark,

Yes, I am planning on shaving the front. I have a stainless grill set from Germany, and I was planning on using the bumperettes on the front and rear.........unless something catches my eye before then. I want to get your distributer module, starter, and exhaust next. Then comes the body and paint work.......then if my wife has not made me move into the car I will get the leather interior..........of course then I have to get new wheels and a bumper system.....sure seemed cheaper before I started!

Thanks

[vandor]

I'd like to see pics of those sidemarkers when they are done!

I assume you are going to refresh the engine block? Now is the time

[So Cal Mark]

well, if the wife does make you sleep in the car, the leather seats will be pretty nice to curl up on

[manoa matt]

You powder coated the fuel pump? What is the baking temp? There is/was a rubber diaphragm in there. Everything looks good by the way.

[Ptoneill]

Matt,

I only powder coated the items displayed on the table. The oil pump housing, fuel pump, thermostat were all done with several layers of high temp rattle can in matching colors. Once the head, risers, and intake manifold is installed I figured it would be hard for someone to detect the difference. I will still powder coat the intake and exhaust.

[Ptoneill]

Here are some updated photos of the flush mounted side lights, no body filler used yet. I just hand fitted the lense to get an idea what the final look would be......I really like the way it came out.

[happybeachgoerm]

I want to know how you like the Headlights with the marker in them??

[txSteve]

I have replaced the entire suspension system with new components, heavy springs, and aftermarket sway bars in the front and rear. The brakes have been rebuilt, stainless braided hoses, and new power booster.

Pat, did you make those mounting brackets for the front sway bar, or did you find them somewhere? I am working on the same project and need to solve that drop problem as well.

[Ptoneill]

If I remember properly all the parts came with the bar. I the directions for the front bar were not included. I initially thought that the curved brackets were for the lower control arm, but my original brackets worked so I used them like you see in the picture. my car is an automatic, I don't know if the radiator sits lower because of the cooler in the lower portion of the radiator.

My car has not been out on the road yet, too many projects not enough money!! So I cannot tell you how well this will work.

P.s. sorry for the delay in getting back to you

[steve8462]

where did you find those headlights and were they hard to adapt to the spider? fit wise and electrically wise?

[txSteve]

No worries Pat. Thanks for responding at all!

I think I see what you did... Looks like you split the original bracket, maybe by drilling out the weld that connected them. You reused the longer piece from that bracket which forms the outer bracket in the picture. And the one that came with the sway bar is the one between the bushing and the frame, essentially a spacer used to position the sway bar correctly vertically. Just a guess, but that's what it looks like based on the hardward I have here...

[Ptoneill]

[quote="txSteve"]No

I think I see what you did... Looks like you split the original bracket, maybe by drilling out the weld that connected them. You reused the longer piece from that bracket which forms the outer bracket in the picture.


THAT'S IT!!

You are right, like I said it has been a while, but you are exactly right, the original inner support for the front bushing would not hold the larger bushing. Glad I was able to "help"......