I have owned 2 Bobcats: My second one was an 80 H/B (all glass) that was hacked up and fairly gutted when I got it (no cowl, no radiatior support, no interior, no harness, no lights, no bumpers, no windshield, no column.....). What it had was solid, but could be nothing more than a parts car, has done its job and is long gone.
The first one (this project) is a brown 78 H/B (all glass) MS, PB, 2.3, C3, 6.75". The car had been sitting inside for well over 10 years when I got it. The seller told me the engine had been rebuilt, and at that time he was in the 'process' of rebuilding the tranny (removed and in boxes).
The first thing I did when I got it home was to install a 4spd so I could get the car to run, and more importantly, move on its own. The next thing I noticed was the dowel pin 'ear' broken off the block on one side; oh well, the block is junk. Anyway, I got it to run, and # 4 had very little to do with that, but it was still movable. The car donated a lot of interior parts that were painted or dyed black and installed into the yellow car. I then parked it in my barn and there it sat for over 2 years.
I had been thinking of getting a new (to me) car to auto-X, as I was tired of the cars I had been running. I had gotten 2 T/Cs lately, plus I still have a bunch of parts from other ones so it was an easy decision.
I'm aware that it will never be great, but it will be fun.
I will be using the Trac-Loc rear from a T/C. I have the stock link brackets removed now I need to alline and weld on the perches.
The first photo is of the car when I got it (after I removed the wheel lip molding).
The second is fairly recent.
The third is a photo of my clutch cable bracket. I am using the bell crank bell so I welded a bracket to the stock T/C bracket that connects the left lower bell to the block.
Bill
Hey Bill,
You need these!!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1975-Mercury-Bobcat-Ford-Pinto-tail-light-bezels-NOS_W0QQitemZ300213358923QQihZ020QQcategoryZ140708QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Thanks anyway Tony, I am removing all the lights.
Bill
I got it running, but had some big issues with HOW it ran. I did what I always reccamend to others; I made the donor run well BEFORE gutting it, but thats no guaranty that things will go well.
When cold it would fire right up and run great, but as soon as it warmed up it would run very rich and would not re-start unless I shut off the fuel pump. After pulling the codes (51,54), I changed out the VAM (good used) and the CTS (new), there was no change and after re-setting, it had the same codes again. I took a guess and swapped out the ECU; that fixed it. I was going to run new wires to the CTS, but the ECU was much easier and worth a try (I have a pile of PC1s). One other thing, it ran fine with that ECU with the VAM unplugged (in 'limp-mode').
I am now in the process of installing the 7.5" Trac-Loc rear. After that I need to do some brake work, install a seat and harness, and bolt the battery down.
The first event is in a week, this will be close......
Bill
I got it back on its wheels.
BTW: I found out that 10-holes don't like the upper ball joints, but with my grinder, they now get along just fine.
It is just about ready to go, all the big stuff is done. I wanted to get a driveshaft that was a little shorter (45.25" O/C) and found one this past weekend (along with a better fuel cell and a second alum. spare!).
There is SOOOOOO much I want to do to this car, like everything I have ever posted info on to improve handling, but no time to do it. Oh well, little by little....
More photos soon.
Bill
Long day....
Got the car to the Auto-X. My ten year old tires did not help, but I had a blast.
The car drew a crowd.
Bill
Bill, please post some pics of the finished product
I would not call it finished because I still need to do a bunch of things to it to make it fast and look better, but here are a few shots.
My first few runs felt like I was driving on wet pavement; these tires are OLD. As a matter of fact, after the first runs they were not picking up much sand after, but my later runs they did and they felt better too. Without new tires there is only so much this car will do, and I doubt I will get them soon because I don't know how many events I will make it to.
This is not the first rear drive with a 'LSD' that I have ever auto-Xed, but it is MY first, and I love it. I need to do a few more things to get better traction in the rear coming out of the corners.
Its still fun talking to people about the car. Because I did not clean anything to do the install, it looks stock, and sure enough I had folks telling each other that this was "one of the rare turbo Bobcats that Ford made." For all my work to get this done, I took the credit.
Bill
http://www.pbase.com/sjmarcy/image/95917980
http://www.pbase.com/sjmarcy/image/95917984
Bill
This could be the single greatest thing I have ever seen...
Jim
Thanks Jim. I tried to call you about going.....
Bill
looks cool Bill. What else you plan on doing to it?
I plan to beat the heck out of it.......
Aside from that I would LIKE to re-locate the lower control arm mount bolts, change the front springs (cut, and/or stiffer ones), rebuild the rear leafs to a different rate, install my Koni's (if I can free one front one from the lower arm its on), vacuum it, new tires, poly bushings all around, lighten it a little more, paint it yellow, maybe take a tape measure to set the correct toe-in (I adjusted to full neg. camber and did not re-set the toe-in; made the car transition well, but I am sure it was hurting everywhere esle), maybe a few other things.
Bill
Ya know i have a fairly decent 76 bobcat with the v6 i might sell. it cranks. and has a great interior. colorado.
Quote from: jimskatr103 on April 23, 2008, 12:41:04 AM
Ya know i have a fairly decent 76 bobcat with the v6 i might sell. it cranks. and has a great interior. colorado.
I did not know that.
Bill
My friend Stan that took the photos at the last (and this) event told me that the photos of my car were linked on over 30 websites; more than most others, and the hit were off the charts as well.
Here is one from yesterday; I will post more when I get them.
http://www.pbase.com/sjmarcy/image/97217919
Bill
http://www.pbase.com/sjmarcy/image/97253607
http://www.pbase.com/sjmarcy/image/97253605
hey bill do u have the glass hatch? if not i have one with no corners that some one on here may want down the road
and i know some one who has a pinto wagon but wants a 75-6 bobcat if u have the rest of the front end (i have the hood) i may talk him in to a bobwagon.
Yes, I still have the hatch, and thanks anyway for the offer.
I was selling all the Bobcat parts at one time, but now I plan to keep them and maybe put a turbo Bobcat on the road at some point.
Bill
http://www.pbase.com/sjmarcy/image/98788127
http://www.pbase.com/sjmarcy/image/98788112
Here are a couple from yesterday.
Bill