The car is close to being almost done! Read on for some updates:
Suspension/Steering
I thought that after taking the control arm off, things couldn't get any worse... well, I was wrong. I had to battle very hard with the inner tie rod but I finally got it replaced. FYI the inner tie rod that came with the car doesn't have those flat side so the regular inner tie rod tools you'll find for rent at your local auto parts store will NOT work. You need to grab one of those that slides over the tie rod end and tighten the collar. After that, you can grab a 3/8 drive extension bar and get it loose with almost not effort.
If you don't own one, I seriously encourage every one to get one for like $12-20. No need to rent a tool and you can use it on any kind of tie rod end plus there is no need to get the boot or outer tie rod off first since you can slide it over those two saving you lots of time. My tie rods and bolts were so rusted that it took me hours during several days to get everything off and replaced because the tie rod would keep spinning. Getting the new control arm on the car was also not easy but with some help from a c clamp, it was fairly straight forward. I also was not able to cramp one of those stupid CV boot clamps, there's simply not enough room anywhere for the special pliers to open up enough for me to get a good grip so I just used a zip tie for now... I'll end up getting something more permanent but for now, that is it.
So there you go! New inner, outer tie rods and a new control arm on the right side done.
Rear Glass
The rear glass just got replaced so all I need to do to the rear is get that spoiler installed and we'll be good to go.
Front End
- Headlights: Got a pair headlights from eBay with bulbs and shipped for just under $190 and are working great.
- Front Bumper cover: I got a new OEM bumper for just $420. I was also able to get it in place and it's fitting very nicely so far! I'll end up painting it to match but for now I think I need to prioritize the ABS module fix before I spend any more money on the looks.
- Hood: Ordered a new one and should be here tomorrow.
Other misc. stuff... I still need wheels/tires. I'm so mad at myself for not realizing that the front wheels wouldn't clear the front calipers so I'm in desperate need to find new ones for the winter season. I also have the remote for the air suspension coming in the mail tomorrow so I'll be able to finally lift up the car! After these few things are done and the hood is on the car, the car will be going to Ford for the ABS and other electrical issues. Hoping I don't end up paying thousands on diagnosing the issue....
Below are pictures of how the car looks like right now and the inner tie rods for comparison