'88 GT Engine Maintenance/Underhood Detailing
 

Have had this GT a couple of years now and keep trying to improve it. Already had very nice paint when I got it, but the engine compartment was not painted with the color change and engine needing maintenance. Not long after I got it, I painted engine compartment the best I could with engine installed. Removed or moved items from the aprons and carefully masked. Had a surging problem with 5.0 and discovered vacuum hoses under the upper intake were collapsing so I removed the upper intake, and decided to replace timing chain/gears, water pump, and reseal the engine while detailing. Also installed speedi-sleeve on grooved out harmonic balancer. I opted to black out the firewall to 'hide' the wiring and hoses, and a little contrast. Still in process, but here's where I'm at. To be cont...

Looks good so far..... but you still see that rats nest of wires over the fenders.

:nice:

Got the engine put back together. Started pouring anti-freeze in and it was pouring right back out between pump and timing cover. Wrong gasket came with the pump, thought I looked at it better! New gaskets installed and everything ok now. Hadn't started it so didn't spray coolant everywhere. Put serpentine belt on and started right up, but awful squealing, and I don't own pigs! Smog pump locked up! Read 100 opinions on internet about a shorter belt to by-pass smog pump and most said 84 1/2" and 1" shorter with underdrive pulleys. Bought 3 belts at OReillys and tried the shortest one first. It's 83 3/4" and put the tensioner in the middle of it's range. And it was the cheapest of the 3! Finally got to pull outside for a much needed bath!Now on to headlight switch wiring and relay install.