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Ford Fairmont & Mercury Zephyr Owners and Enthusiast

Scince : Jan 1st/2001 Orig.Fairmont 302 Forum Scince: Nov 8th/2008
 
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» '78 and '79 Fairmont and Zephyr ES
2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeWed Jan 12, 2022 11:19 pm by GrantBB

» Stymees'mont / Eric'c Fairmonts
2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeTue Jan 11, 2022 11:44 pm by GrantBB

» Window Weather Stripping
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» Fairmont at Nelson Ledges Road Course
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» Latest track day video: Summit Point Shenandoah
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» Back in the Fairmont saddle again.
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» New to the Group Texasfairmont from south Texas
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» 20 years of Fairmont 302
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 2016 Projects Thread!

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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


Posts : 860
Join date : 2008-11-10
Age : 48
Location : Shakopee, MN

2016 Projects Thread!  Empty
PostSubject: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeMon Feb 22, 2016 1:25 pm

Tax refund has come and parts are on their way!

A/C kit
Full '95 GT brake system
3G alternator kit
Wheelskin
New Zephyr-spec carpet from Stock Interiors
Windows tinted

Gonna be a fun year!
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fangar150-ex




Posts : 853
Join date : 2008-11-10
Location : AZ

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeThu Feb 25, 2016 8:21 am

Don't forget to add the PAG oil to the A/C, if you don't add the PAG oil this would lead to an immediate catastrophic failure. are you going to convert to R134A or use R12 freeze.
you are going to be really pleased with the 3G upgrade, no more orange headlights at the stop lights at night. your battery will be grateful.
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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


Posts : 860
Join date : 2008-11-10
Age : 48
Location : Shakopee, MN

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeThu Feb 25, 2016 12:02 pm

I might leave the A/C system disconnected so the tech can add oil to the appropriate places when I take it to a shop to have it evacuated and charged. I don't trust myself to do that right, and I'd hate to have my $800 A/C system fail on me. This kit i'm buying is made to fit the '87-93 Mustang 5.0L application, but it's re-engineered to be optimized for R-134. Different compressor, condenser, etc. That's why I like it and i'm willing to spend a little more here, rather than going down to The Zone and just buying the components piecemeal. On LMR, the kit does have one bad review where the guy says it's never worked right, but I have to wonder if he tried charging it himself and didn't know what he was doing. All the other reviews were glowing.

Yeah, i'm really thinking with the electric fan, especially now that I upgraded the controller so it's getting the juice it's supposed to, the 2G alternator just can't keep up. The stupid underdrive pulleys don't help either. That's allllll gonna change.
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fangar150-ex




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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeFri Feb 26, 2016 6:21 am

yeah it's funny, in the mornings I'm using the heater, in the afternoon I'm using the A/C... yeah when you get the a/c installed you need to add oil to the condenser, evaporator and the compressor and a little for the lines.
do not over-fill the A/C. R134 is not forgiving at all, if it is overfilled, it will not cool properly.
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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


Posts : 860
Join date : 2008-11-10
Age : 48
Location : Shakopee, MN

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeFri Feb 26, 2016 2:23 pm

I was looking at the directions for the A/C kit, and it says the compressor comes with all the oil the systems needs in it. I would have to imagine that means, you don't need to put a little here, a little there.

also, I read on the corral if you run a strut tower brace (which I do), you have to do something different with the lines at the compressor manifold because they are right in the way. I guess when I get serious about installing it, I'll have to give them a call.

The shop I bring it to, to have it charged will have to worry about the right amount if refrigerant, haha. I'm not trying that myself at home.
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fangar150-ex




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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeSat Feb 27, 2016 8:16 am

Ok here’s the skinny, you can do this at home and be certain it’s done correctly, unless you know and trust the actual person who is performing the task. I would hate to think that the lowest paid person in the shop would be given the task, because this is a time consuming job. They may not recognize the significance of doing a once in a lifetime 5.0 Zephyr that has been in car kraft magazine and just blow thru it.
A/C systems are still primitive in nature, and haven’t really changed much over the years. You have to physically add the oil to the system in the dryer, condenser and the compressor if it does not have a label stating the compressor has been filled at the factory, all the seals/O-rings have to be coated with PAG oil to prevent leaks. Don’t forget to add the dye before you charge the system!
Once the system is evacuated and recharged, you’ll need to rotate the compressor 10 revs to distribute the oil in the compressor and prevent a hydro lock.
Do not over- fill the system with oil or you could reduce cooling and make the compressor noisy on start-up.
You’ll be gold with a new A/C and 3G.
I know all the dryers I’ve installed have had the hose fitted to the dryer as one piece, so I have never run into this concern with the strut tower brace, and have no experience in overcoming this issue.
We have some guys around here who do their own work, its brilliant work, but it took three times as long to do as REPLACING components because they are ADDING components. This means alignment, fitment ETC. some are extremely anal, but can you blame them…..i changed a radiator in an F350, and the guy noticed I had bent a fin on his A/C condenser?>”#$, yeah that’s anal, but he is a perfectionist and you have to respect that.
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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


Posts : 860
Join date : 2008-11-10
Age : 48
Location : Shakopee, MN

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeSat Feb 27, 2016 12:59 pm

I was looking at the compressor last night and it actually does have the label on it that says it's been filled with all the oil the system needs.

The strut tower brace problem is actually only with the Hose Wizards kit. If it was the original compressor and lines, there would be no issue with the strut tower brace. Weird, huh? At worst, I think maybe I might need to get a different manifold and maybe have some different metal lines crimped on to the hoses.

I'm still waiting on a guy that has some original accessory drive brackets to get his car back from the paint shop. Who knows how long that's going to be. The body shop had my '02 GT for over a month when it got T-boned and that was supposed to be a regular professional shop! My brother's race car ended up being locked in a shop that closed down for ages when he was trying to get it painted. Maybe I should make a junkyard run and see what I can find for myself. It's just so inconvenient. the closest one is 45 minutes away!
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fangar150-ex




Posts : 853
Join date : 2008-11-10
Location : AZ

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeSun Feb 28, 2016 8:45 am

Wow crazy how things have changed, I've never seen a compressor that comes with all the oil the system needs. kinda makes you wonder how the oil gets to the other components, or maybe the other components have the oil installed also; that would make sense. You never know, the brace may fit after all.
What I like most is that you can get the whole kit at one time from the same vendor, so all the parts are there and will fit correctly.
I don't know why, but it seems when you try to get the serpentine belt drive system, they seem to want the big bucks; you might want to call and get a price first. A 45 minute run to come back empty handed would not be a fruitful expedition.
I was in our local bone yard last summer looking for some older 4x4 parts, I was overwhelmed by how many older blah-blah “picked to the bone” veh they had in the yard, but when it comes to something newer, I didn’t see any.
Tucson seems to have parts for newer stuff and they are cheaper, and they deliver, so really it’s a no-brainer.
I was wondering if your compressor is the “FS6” Ford style or aftermarket. I saw a compressor on a hot rod at the local car show that was so thin & short, it makes you stop & look twice.

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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


Posts : 860
Join date : 2008-11-10
Age : 48
Location : Shakopee, MN

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeSun Feb 28, 2016 11:34 am

This compressor is definitely stock style, if not stock. It's not one of those aftermarket tiny jobs that come with those fancy chrome accessory kits. It's a "Sanden" if that tells you anything.

This yard that I go to the most has really reasonable prices on stuff. Everything's standard and posted so you know what it is. It's not up to some jerk counter guy you have to lie to and tell him you DIDN'T get it off a Mustang so you don't have to pay the higher "Mustang" price.

The only thing is, cars that have anything you can use are really rare there. It's 95% Windstars, Tauri and Escorts. Last time I was there, there was a mostly complete V8 Fox Cougar there. That was damn lucky though, and at the time I wasn't sure how much the "standard output" 5.0L had in common with the HO. I'm sure it's long gone by now. Sometimes I regret getting rid of some of the parts I have (I did have the complete A/C system off my motor at one point), but I've just got nowhere to put that stuff.

Yesterday I had a little time in the early afternoon I could have cracked into the car and started work, but we had plans at 3:00. It's hard for me to start something knowing I don't have much time. Especially if it's the first time of the season. I have so many projects going, it's hard to decide where to begin!
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fangar150-ex




Posts : 853
Join date : 2008-11-10
Location : AZ

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeTue Mar 01, 2016 8:34 am

i thought my A/C took a dump yesterday, we were halfway to the store and ready to roll the windows down, only to find the temp was switched to heater. that was a relief, I thought we had a problem. i could hear the condenser fan blowing, but it was throwing out warm air.
next time you get a load of parts, put them in a garbage can, neat way to store parts.
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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


Posts : 860
Join date : 2008-11-10
Age : 48
Location : Shakopee, MN

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeTue Mar 01, 2016 10:46 am

Close one! haha. I had my A/C fail on me in my old Escort GT on the hottest day of the year when I had a job where I worked outside. I'd been looking forward to that drive all day, and... nope. Hot car. haha.

More car parts showing up today. Getting my alternator (drop ship) and some axle bearings and seals. I took a look at where my strut tower brace sits, and I think I might be okay. I'll test fit before I panic. haha
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fangar150-ex




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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeTue Mar 01, 2016 6:20 pm

have you got a plan to remove the old wheel brgs, I usually use a slide hammer with an attachment, you may find one for rent at AutoZone.
it's going to be a nice feeling having those SN95 brakes in the frt & rear with no more problems.
a good weekend or two's work should get all these tasks done if you can manage the time.
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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


Posts : 860
Join date : 2008-11-10
Age : 48
Location : Shakopee, MN

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeWed Mar 02, 2016 3:06 pm

Yeah, I actually bought a slide hammer when I had the lugnut stuck in the wheel ordeal when I first got my SVO wheels last year. So, that's what I was going to do.

Yeah. People have told me when I've complained about my brakes being spongy, not having all 4 calipers and the master cylinder and booster all from a matching set can really affect how your brakes feel. They weren't bad, they just didn't really inspire much confidence in the first part of the pedal travel.

I feel like I might need to move the brake hose brackets in the front. Right now the hoses seem stretched to the max. hopefully I can bend the hard lines to do that without wrecking them.

I just have to get a good full day to work on it. that will help get me motivated to break into it. See, right now everything is all assembled, so it's like I could just jump in and go, haha. I just have to remember that something would go wrong with those stupid brakes before long, so I need to get that done. It got cold again, so i'll have to bundle up, but I am anxious to get going on it.
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fangar150-ex




Posts : 853
Join date : 2008-11-10
Location : AZ

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeWed Mar 02, 2016 9:53 pm

old English saying: "if your cold work faster". Yeah I know what it's like doing a task for the 17th time,'not oly is it boring, you lways have in the back of your mind that is been interfered with how many times??
once you get it rolling this time you really ought to put some miles on it.
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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


Posts : 860
Join date : 2008-11-10
Age : 48
Location : Shakopee, MN

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeThu Mar 03, 2016 11:08 am

Yeah, I get into it, and skip steps I should probably recheck because I assume I already worked on that, so it should be fine. Well, not really. I'm running out of possibilities with this fuel system. It almost HAS to be something I've already "fixed" at this point.
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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


Posts : 860
Join date : 2008-11-10
Age : 48
Location : Shakopee, MN

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeSat Mar 05, 2016 7:11 pm

Is this the car with Firebird taillights you were talking about?

2016 Projects Thread!  Other%20Taillights_zpsld8segj2

I'm not sure what those are, so I asked the guy that owns it. They look a little kittywampus, but for the most part seems to be a good fit!
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fangar150-ex




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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeSun Mar 06, 2016 9:54 am

No, but knowing how difficult to find parts for these cars, you gotta give the guy credit for resolving the brake/taillight issue. I also know how difficult it can be to make parts”fit” a bend here, a cut here etc. sometimes you have to make sacrifices just to achieve the basics. I wonder how cool it looks at night, and does it make people wonder, and with the dual exhaust, I would assume he has a 5.0, so…maybe that’s all anyone ever sees. How did he overcome the license plate light issue?
Just try to remember these cars flooded the market back in the late 70’s, and disappeared just as quickly. They offered 3 types of engines; 4/6/8 cyl made cheaply and as light as possible, 1st American Ford to use MacPherson struts (and with no Spring), power rack and pinion, sound deadening am/fm cassette etc, so any survivors are “precious”. Crazy……. I would have thought they were still in production even today, a lot of technology was dumped onto this car, which must have been scary as well as daring at the time.
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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeSun Mar 06, 2016 12:29 pm

Oh, definitely, I give him a LOT of credit! That car actually has a 4.6! I think the body is shot though, so he's parting it out. I'm not a big fan of the black bumpers on a sliver car... There's a guy making boxtop and wagon taillight lenses in Mexico now.

So, that must not have been you I was talking to about it, haha. I'm looking for a way to do custom taillights on my car. Just another idea that popped into my head to make it more unique. I want to do something smooth and flat, rather than textured like the factory lenses are. So, I started thinking about what would "fit". I wanted some from a newer car, and most of those wrap around the side, so i'd have to do some cutting of the lenses. There are some NOS Marquis lenses for cheap on ebay right now.
2016 Projects Thread!  Tails%20Marquis_zpsbvywdrgp
Those would be cool because they would work in conjunction with the Marquis nose I'll eventually put on.

Next, I thought something with some tint and a sort of black grid pattern would be cool. I really like the late '80s ASC McLaren Mustang taillights.
2016 Projects Thread!  Tails%20ASC_zpszpryeyof
The problem with these though, is they are hard to come by. It's actually a cover that goes on factory LX taillights. There's one on ebay right now for $200. FOR ONE. Nope.

Next, I thought of '80s Pontiacs and Buicks that had something like that. Like this Firebird.
2016 Projects Thread!  Tails%20Firebird_zpsqxxttrgm
I like the tint and grid pattern, and these would be a LOT more common than the ASCs.

What i'll probably end up with is a combination of the Marquis lenses, and I might just end up making a cover out of some pieces of plexiglass or something, put some tint film on them, and then do my own grid pattern with either tape or paint.

It's funny what you say about the Fairmont incorporating so much new tech. There's a video out there from Motorweek's pilot episode from 1979 or something. They tested the Fairmont against the Chevy Citation, I think it was. They talked about how the Fairmont, being RWD wasn't as modern and space efficient as the FWD Citation. If you ask me though, I think John Davis just has a thing against Fords. From what I could see in the video, the Citation looked tiny inside. And where are they now? Well, people love the Fairmont as a race car, and the Citations are no good for that at all, so they just get junked.
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fangar150-ex




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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeMon Mar 07, 2016 8:03 am

jsnt the chevy citation what the make key rings for yugo & skoda? it must be terrible for this guy to see all his work go down the pan and be sold for parts.
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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeMon Mar 07, 2016 10:25 am

Haha, everyone knows FWD cars are 100% throwaway.
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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeSat Mar 12, 2016 7:36 am

yeah; they are pretty much throw-away, but they do drive well in the snow/mud. Have you started to work on your car yet?
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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeSat Mar 12, 2016 12:03 pm

One time I went to a junkyard with Stymee and I was laughing about the fact they had so many '80s Escorts and Tempos. Who in their right mind would ever bother fixing one of those up, haha. But he said there are a lot of people that think Fairmonts are throwaway cars. Point taken, I guess, but I still stand by what I said. hahaha!

It's been hard to find the time to do any car work. The weather is really starting to stay nice now though. This weekend will be beautiful, but I'll be parenting solo, so no go on the car work. I'm still waiting on a couple of guys to get some time to send me parts too. So, that's a little frustrating.
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Stymees'mont

Stymees'mont


Posts : 406
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Age : 51
Location : Minnesota

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeSun Mar 13, 2016 8:03 pm

Wow! I been missing the conversations here again.....
Brad....sounds like you will be busy on the car again. Hope we will be able to hit some shows this summer.

I been a little busy on mine. New all aluminum SVE radiator and now revamping a sport steering wheel by replacing the rubber grip with wood. Should be cool.....I hope hahaha.
I will see what else I may get into....been kinda wanting to do some detail work on it. Cash flow is low since I been laid off for about two months. I am supposed to be going back to work on the 28th.....fingers crossed! The economy is far from being back and it's going to get worse.
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ZephyrEFI

ZephyrEFI


Posts : 860
Join date : 2008-11-10
Age : 48
Location : Shakopee, MN

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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeThu Mar 17, 2016 7:45 am

Haha yeah, keep up!

I'm interested to see your radiator. SVE in general seems like a good value as a brand. I hate the way my radiator looks (you like my priorities? haha). It's an cheapie stock replacement one with plastic tanks from The Zone. it sits crooked in the mounts and just doesn't look right. it's not very thick either, I think it's 2 or 3 core. And your steering wheel project is really turning out sweet!

I think I settled on Marquis taillights with tape stripes on them to sort of mimic the look of SVO/'93 Cobra taillights. No rush on that though. I just hope they fit well.
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Stymees'mont

Stymees'mont


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PostSubject: Re: 2016 Projects Thread!    2016 Projects Thread!  Icon_minitimeSat Mar 19, 2016 11:13 pm

2016 Projects Thread!  Steeri10

All done now get it in place. Thanks Brad!

Well take your time and find a really nice set. It will fit!

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