I think every build should start with a good plan. You need to figure out what it is you want to accomplish before you start paying out your hard earned money on a vehicle build. In this video I talk about my plans for my 1979 Ford Fairmont. For those of you not familiar, this is a Fox body vehicle which is the same chassis as the Ford Mustang from 1978-1992. That means that most of the parts that fit a Mustang of that vintage, fit this car. I’m not the first person to think of this, but I hope to put my own unique spin on this build to make it my own. I think you’ll enjoy what I have in store for the Fairmont. If nothing else, it will make for a bunch of new and interesting videos this season. I can’t wait to get started. FYI, that will likely be summer 2015.
Thanks for watching.
The best place for answers to your automotive questions: http://www.ericthecarguy.com
Related Videos
ETCG Gets a New Car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L22GsHQi7tU
The Fairmont, a Closer Look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2I0c-jJa14
The Fairmont Goes To The Drag Strip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkOdD0P38ps
Emergency Radiator Hose Repair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7TYxmMMdpk
Carburetor Rebuild Basics (Part 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85nszLpbbXY
Carburetor Rebuild Basics (Part 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dprLQcQrAqE
Carburetor Adjustment Basics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRrJQRtBNck
How To Bend and Flare Brake Lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqyoTWFZ5K4
How To Replace Brake Hoses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE9LM1ppR6g
How To Rebuild a Front Brake Caliper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4FzXGrSrmU
Replacing Inner Tie Rods Fox Body: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ9w7LXPXbY
Fairmont Lighting Upgrade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XTpVO5uqmE
How To Aim Headlights with Hoppys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3GOz8cX7Dw
Tires 101: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r547mitzNOw
The Most Important Purchase For Your Vehicle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW2Tw3pJFqQ
How a Differential Works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYAw79386WI
Modified Vehicles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECjMbkRjVzE
Driving Old Cars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18LrBpBPNlQ
Rebuild or Replace?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWjF56tFzRg
Some Parts.
Wilwood: http://www.wilwood.com/Index.aspx
Nitto NT555: http://www.americanmuscle.com/nitto-nt555-245-45-17.html
Wheels: https://www.cokertire.com/wheels/o-e-style-ford-wheel-primed.html
Ford Racing 302: https://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=10271
T-5 Super duty 5 speed: http://www.americanmuscle.com/frpp-t5-super-heavy-duty.html
Radiator: http://www.americanmuscle.com/mishimoto-manual-mustang-radiator-79-93.html
Manual Steering Rack: http://www.americanmuscle.com/flamingriver-manual-steering-rack-7993.html
Coil Over Kit: http://www.americanmuscle.com/eibach-prostreet-coilover-7994.html
K Member: http://www.americanmuscle.com/aje-kmember-7904.html
Frame Connectors: http://www.americanmuscle.com/maximum-motorsports-full-length-subframe-connectors.html
Ecoboost discussion: http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?948045-3-5L-Ecoboost-Retro-Fit
Discussion about this video: http://www.ericthecarguy.com/kunena/18-The-EricTheCarGuy-Video-Forum/56106-the-fairmont-the-plan#126153
Social Media Links.
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Stay Dirty
ETCG
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I know this project is done, but a turbo Honda Kswap mighta been cool if you could make it work.
EXCITING sounding Build!!! Even going Old School with a Carb and Manual Steering. That Rear Diff is not only open junk – but early Fairmonts had 6.75" GEARS!! Barely enough for the 88hp 6, or the 96hp Pinto 4. Yeah, 8.8 is a must!
….. Once I had to do a quick Axle swap in my Fox Mustang. This guy had a 7.5" out of his Fairmont, so I knew it would get me home…..
I COULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF 3RD GEAR, because the Fairmont had 2.27 GEARS!! 😳😲
I'll be "netflixing" this Series tonight. 😉
Carmine ✈🚂🚙
You've got this Old Fart's full attention!
Too big of brakes
And I thought they would be Mickey Thompsons which have the best 60 foot in the USA
Nice ! In brazil we have the ford corcel. Look for it. Search ford corcel 1 ( inspired in the classic ford mustang ) and ford corcel 2. Regards from Brazil.
Okay, you are not building a sleeper.
17:30 glad you don’t mind combing “updated†and “upgraded†because perfection is overrated 😎
Aluminum 427
5 speed manual. That will be the most fun. Way 2 go :)))))
Go Eric go!!!
Looking back, what the fuck did you build? Did you just look at your plans, shrug and say fuck it.
Why don't you just buy a beater looking mustang?
"I want this car to be a sleeper"
…
"I might put a roll cage in it"
LOL!
cool.
I kept it simple also. '70 Maverick, 302, 600 CFM Edelbrock carb and intake, iron GT-40 heads, shorty headers, AOD, 3.89 9-inch. NO COMPUTERS! Dead reliable. And fun.
Dang almost a v6 EcoBoost ended up with a monster 363 twin turbo
would be using a blowtorch on the mud dauber nest…. lol
Kind of a disappointing plan to me. It seems as though you decided not to challenge yourself at all with this build and just do the same bolt on things that everybody else has ever done. Putting an EcoBoost in would've presented major challenges that would've made it unique, but you went with a typical period v8 with carbs. You mentioned putting in an IRS but again went the easy route and stuck with the terrible live axle. No power steering, no fuel injection, no power brakes, etc. I'm not knocking you at all, I just know you are talented enough to have built something truly special but instead you went the easiest route possible (with exception of the trans swap). Just a bit of a letdown but I'm sure you did a great job despite all that.
I feel astute!
This was my first car! I had a bondo'd grey, 4 speed transmission and a red interior. It cost me 450.00! Not one problem and I drove it for 2 1/2 years! Great starter car or at least 28 yrs ago when I turned 16!lol
Shouldve 351 clevelanded it
let me know if you come across another classic that should be restored. I’ll pay you to look it over and tell me all about it!
Which general was it who said that plans are worthless but planning is invaluable? Without looking I think it was Eisenhower.
Pretty funny looking back at this video how things have changed!
Man…get u some cragers on that bitch
that wheel set up is kifeðŸÂ’
Boss 429 swap
A CEL on a 1979 car? How is that done?
My dad bought the 78 wagon new.. The horn was on the turn signal, another one of Fords "better ideas"
Hey Eric, I'm surprised you didn't get an XJR engine (X308 model) and transmission.. ECU but not to complicated. Potentially cheap and plentiful…
Hey Eric, do you ever look back on this video and chuckle? Honestly, the project seems cooler now than what you originally described. Those happy accidents and unforeseen issues had a purpose. Keep up the good work.
I am from Portsmouth that car looks familar
After all the laughing about Fairmonts is finished, just take a trip back in time. Bob Glidens Fairmont was whippin EVERYBODY'S ass in NHRA pro stock. Awesome videos Eric!!
Just dont get why you would go through all of these mods, literally rebuilding a car like this that is so old. I'm certainly not going to loose any sleep over it but 10-15 k for this kind of car is really crazy. Live and let live applies here so good luck with this. I love your videos in general and have used them many times in the past. Thanks Eric
I don't think a clean '79 fairmont can be a "sleeper". Nobody is driving those anymore. If I saw that car on the street with someone younger than 80 driving, I would suspect it had a little something extra under the hood.
I know this is older, but Ford has an EcoBoost Crate Engine with a stand-alone ECU, but last I checked, the price tag was $10,000
Also for off-road/racing
It's MUCH easier to replace broken axel than the 8.8 because it doesn't have c-clips
There are all kinds of exhaust cut out kits that are bolt on, and many that you can easily fab into a custom exhaust.
manual for the win. kudos!
could you put an I.R.S. later model cobra on a fairmont like you can on a fox body mustang?
from 19:05 to 19:14. Am I the only one that thought all of that sounded really dirty? lol