Modding at Carfixers

[tmac1337]

Yesterday myself and Cobra25 took a trip over to Fort Meyers FL and had Carfixer AKA Claude install some mods for us. Check out the picture of Claude and Marvin (transmission specialist) playing with my transmission. I had Claude install a Meziere water pump and take down the transmission pan to put in a couple of stiff springs to soften up the 1-2 shift I had from the Reinhart transmission upgrade. The car now shifts PERFECTLY. There is a couple of different springs you can use depending on what you want the shift to feel like. Much stiffer than stock but half as stiff as it was.

The 2 problems I had with my car are now solved. The car shifts great and sounds fantastic with the new dual mode mufflers. Next comes a blower......

Cobra25 had claude install a reverse head coolant kit. For anyone attempting this mod beware: It may be necessary to take down the transmission, exhaust, drive shaft, and cross member to install it. Otherwise it is extremely difficult to remove the plug on the drivers side for lack of access. If you think it is a simple mod that takes only an hour, it isn't. After the experience yesterday I would not even consider this mod unless you plan on removing the transmission to upgrade it or install a PI TQ converter anyway, then its cost and time effective.

Thanks again Claude.

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php/photo/6034/password/ee7e42947adb61b317835a2590807f ec/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

[Smokie]

I agree, not only is Carfixer a great friend, he also a top notch wrench, second to none, with attention to detail and perfection second to none....we are very fortunate in Central Florida to have him....well worth the drive.:bows:

[Zack]

Cobra25 had claude install a reverse head coolant kit. For anyone attempting this mod beware: It is necessary to take down the transmission, exhaust, drive shaft, and cross member to install it. Otherwise you cannot remove the plug on the drivers side for lack of access. If you think it is a simple mod that takes only an hour, it isnt. After the experience yesterday I would not even consider this mod unless you plan on removing the transmission to upgrade it or install a PI TQ converter anyway, then its cost and time effective.


Folks, this is absolutely not true. tmac1337, I am not trying to show you up here, but I have done 2 cooling mods on my garage floor now without removing ANYTHING. If you get yourself a long piece of round bar, there is a straight shot up to both plugs in the head. Simply tap on the upper portion of the plug until it starts to move inward, then remove the plug with a pliers.
All of this is not hard to do, just a little time consuming. Both kits took me 4 hours of work each and they turned out great.
If you have Kooks headers (which I did not have at the time of the install) possibly disregard everything I have just said, because I can see them getting in the way of everything.

[tmac1337]

Zack, 4 hours to install the kit.... Again, I do not think it is an easy mod unless your going to do some work in the transmission anyway, and then it's easy. I'm glad it worked out for you though. You must have just the right touch to be able to knock out just a corner of the plug without pushing it in deeper.

Anybody else have the right touch? The Left drivers side plug is almost completely inaccessible as I saw it.

If I'm wrong I'm wrong. Has anybody else been able to do this mod without dropping the transmission, exhaust, crossmember, and driveshaft?

[cyclone03]

Folks, this is absolutely not true. tmac1337, I am not trying to show you up here, but I have done 2 cooling mods on my garage floor now without removing ANYTHING. If you get yourself a long piece of round bar, there is a straight shot up to both plugs in the head. Simply tap on the upper portion of the plug until it starts to move inward, then remove the plug with a pliers.
All of this is not hard to do, just a little time consuming. Both kits took me 4 hours of work each and they turned out great.
If you have Kooks headers (which I did not have at the time of the install) possibly disregard everything I have just said, because I can see them getting in the way of everything.


Gotta go with Zack on this one.
I have KOOKS headers and did mine on my garage floor,PITA yes,but doable.
Remember to a pro time is money,for me a little time saves me money.

[Cobra25]

I agree, not only is Carfixer a great friend, he also a top notch wrench, second to none, with attention to detail and perfection second to none....we are very fortunate in Central Florida to have him....well worth the drive.:bows: Carfixer is a great friend & and a Master Teck. I'm a little bit of a perfectionist and so is Claude and I respect that and him for being that way. I was under my car with Carfixer and TMAC when the mod was being done,their is no room their to do this job with out dropping the trany. Way to tight ,now with all due respect, if you were able to do this mod with out dropping the trany you would be my hero for life and you had to be born with a arm the size of a pen & fingers the size of tooth picks, this is not ment as a insult so dont take it that way. Claude did a excellent job and I'm very happy he did it the right way. The whole idea of the tread was to let people know this mod is a good one and it should be done , but it is not easy to do . And thats the bottom Line.

[tmac1337]

Carfixer is a great friend & and a Master Teck. The whole idea of the tread was to let people know this mod is a good one and it should be done , but it is not easy to do . And thats the bottom Line.


My thoughts exactly.

[tmac1337]

I have KOOKS headers and did mine on my garage floor,PITA yes,but doable.


Cyclone03, how long did it take you to install the kit in your garage? Just curious.

[Bradley G]

I can appreciate all your comments, very informative.I think its great this site brings friends to work on a great car/hobbie together.The cooling mod IMO is not necessary.I'm gonna play follow the leader(s) on this one.I have talked to two of the best I've seen/heard and neither one claims it's needed. So,Unless Ford, (or I find out otherwise)wants to fund it(possibly to avoid head failures)I'm saving /justifing a Trilogy S/C kit.
Bradley G

[SergntMac]

Have to be honest here, the tranny DOES NOT have to come out to install this mod. Agreed, it's easier (and quicker) to time the installation with other mod installes, such as a torque converter upgrade, or, header install, however, R&R of the tranny is not required.

[cyclone03]

Cyclone03, how long did it take you to install the kit in your garage? Just curious.

It took me about 6 hours,but.....

I made my own "kit" so I had to drill my own holes in the adapters,layout,fit install,measure twice cut once,make a template check it twice so yea it took me a while but I DID NOT remove the trans to do it.

Again a pro in it for $$ would not spend the effort and time to do this with the trans in place,Dennis is a pro he does it with the trans out,time is money,carfixer=pro,trans out.If you have to pay to have this done then do it with the trans out.
If you do it your self it can be done WITHOUT removing the trans,but on the Do It Yourself 1-5 scale this is a 5 for sure.You have to be the man to do this one.

[Cobra25]

It took me about 6 hours,but.....

I made my own "kit" so I had to drill my own holes in the adapters,layout,fit install,measure twice cut once,make a template check it twice so yea it took me a while but I DID NOT remove the trans to do it.

Again a pro in it for $$ would not spend the effort and time to do this with the trans in place,Dennis is a pro he does it with the trans out,time is money,carfixer=pro,trans out.If you have to pay to have this done then do it with the trans out.
If you do it your self it can be done WITHOUT removing the trans,but on the Do It Yourself 1-5 scale this is a 5 for sure.You have to be the man to do this one. Well said my friend, you hit the nail on the head!

[Zack]

For the record, the only thing I did underneath the car was pop the plugs and bolt the cooling mod pieces to the cylinder head.
Everything else is accessible from behind the intake manifold.
If you want to spend the extra half hour to remove the upper and lower intake (which I did not) the job becomes incredibly easy.
Also, when fitting the hoses to the tubes on the passenger side head, it is in your best interest to unbolt the motor mount on that side and jack the engine up an inch or so. It gives you a bunch more room behind the head.

[cyclone03]

For the record, the only thing I did underneath the car was pop the plugs and bolt the cooling mod pieces to the cylinder head.
Everything else is accessible from behind the intake manifold.
If you want to spend the extra half hour to remove the upper and lower intake (which I did not) the job becomes incredibly easy.
Also, when fitting the hoses to the tubes on the passenger side head, it is in your best interest to unbolt the motor mount on that side and jack the engine up an inch or so. It gives you a bunch more room behind the head.

Zack I looked at the manifold and was this ___ close to removing it, and yes I also worked behind the manifold.