picked up a straight 64 mercury comet the other day, its a 404 2dr post used to be a v8 4 speed. from what i can gather. i am thinking straight axle and 460/4 speed:eek:
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picked up a straight 64 mercury comet the other day, its a 404 2dr post used to be a v8 4 speed. from what i can gather. i am thinking straight axle and 460/4 speed:eek:
Good for you! Do it up as a gasser or Merc's version of a Thunderbolt!??
Neat project. Those cars look good done up as a gasser. Just another option, I'm starting to see a lot of Fords of that era dumping the original steering (and shock towers) and going with an R&P setup to get big motors in there.
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Those were nice cars - but be real careful of torque box rot at the firewall and at the frame stubs in the rear. They are about the same as a Mustang with places that have hidden 'pain'
A 460 is nice(always cubic inches), but a BIG 351W(out to 427 or so) will make life easier with initial fit-up and ease of work.
Hopefully you will do an 'in progress' thread so the rest of us blue oval fans can drool
Sounds like a cool project! I also hope you do a thread, would love to see what you can come up with!
That's a great find. Dyno Don Nicholson had some mean Merc's back in the day, running ProStock as opposed to Gasser. A good canvas to work with. Looking forward to pictures!!
I had A 64 cyclone for a couple of years---289 4 speed--used to race it down at Pheonix city alabama during the race wars(civil disobience) period around Montgomery and Selma while I was in Army at Ft Benning Ga---
An alternative to the straight axle----you can lengthen the front spindle height above the spindle stub to raise the front of the car and run a piece of 2-21/2 angle from front eye of rear spring forward about a foot or so to mount traction bars to--or build a cross member there for the old super tock type niner rear-----------or set the rears forward that amount almost to rear edge of door frame and move front suspension forward keeping wheel base stock-------or----------and then maybe you would need to put brackets on the front for a tow bar--------------
Yeah Jerry!!! The A/FX look with the rear wheels moved forward would be way kewl!!!
jerry i like that idea, if they could fit 427 fords in there a 460 should slide right in haha.
i am going to run a dana 60 rearend. i am only shooting for mid to high 11's time wise id like to be able to drive it aorund the street a fair amount to.
if i knew more bout FE's id consider building one of those.:whacked:
theres so many avenues to go with this car, i also like the look of the ronnie sox 64 merc.
like this jerry?
so guys what would you do 429/460 or FE ?
460! Or if you wanna play.. bored and stroked to 514 (or so)
427 sohc------------
If money were no object.. or maybe someday I could hit a lottery.. I'll go shopping here!
Jon Kaase Racing Engines - John Kaase Racing Engines
I think the 429/460 are quite a bit wider than the FE series engines---the fe would look more period correct and with dual quads and carb bonnets hooded to air inlet at the headlites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HMmmm.. Jerry would like one of these!?!?! Check out Barry Robotnicks website. :LOL:
Here's some comparison on Ford engine size:
Attachment 56718
PLEASE - just don't decide that a Chevy would be a better (bad) idea:eek:
One big positive is that Ford Racing still supports that 429/460 with some 'exotic' parts then another - that honkin' big intake on the FE even in aluminum is about 1/3rd of the head. But of course, that SOHC engine ..........:D
Here's another angle with some eye candy in the background..
Kirkham Motorsports University CNC Billet Aluminum 427 FE Engine Block 1 of 3 - YouTube
I just hope all that Blue Oval power doesn't scare you too bad, Scooter!!!!! Gonna be a heck of a change from that baby mouse motor in the Nova!!!!!;):LOL::LOL::LOL:
i really would like to build a 390 or even possibly stroke it out to 416 or the 445 combo i hear about. i just am not that smart about FE's and would like to learn something from someone before i go an make some crapshoot decisions.
if there was a reasonable way to build a 427 ford id do that in a heartbeat. the 64 t-bolt has been a favorite of mine since i was knee high.
The narrow shock towers on a '64 are a concern with the 460, Scooter, but if you go straight axle then they're not a concern but either replacing or reinforcing the front structure becomes a concern... Done a few from that era and started out by using some 10ga. on the inside of the front lower "rails", and the front legs of a 10 point cage welded into another piece of 10ga about 6" long on top of the rails. I've got that on my Ranchero now, if I can get to the car someday I'll get some pictures of it. Right now it's so jammed in the storage garage it's a case of "can't get there from here!!! Other options, too. Kind of depends on which way you decide to go with the car....Quote:
Originally Posted by gassersrule_196
they used to cut a section of the curved shock tower out near the spring and replace with a flat piece in the area of upper cylinder head/ exhaust-----gained about 2 inches of critical space on each side of engine bay and retained front end strength-----
spindles were lengthened by taking 2 sets and cut/weld 2 of the parts going up from spindle stub to add 2 lengths together--nets about 3 inches rise
Regarding the FE.. IF I do another one, it'll be a 390 block with the 428 crank. Gives you basically a factory 410. But the extra stroke in a 390 should be sweet.
i have seen some stroker kits that have caught my eye. even a chevy LS platform has me thinking
How's about a high winding Boss 302? Ford sells the block new and TFS has a great set of heads for it????? As usual, too many options, huh????:LOL::LOL::LOL:
A LS platform engine would make a very nice package in any car---lite weight and lots of power
Corey just yesterday did a base run on a camero at Nickey that did 467hp 6200rpm idle 600rpm on a new auto trans supercharged Camero right off the truck---factory warantee!!!!!!!!!Stick car did 521hp----8 1/2 # boost, motor has piston oil squirters
I'm doing a supercharged one for my Cobra for a Bonneville trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!want to run 300--------------
iv`e been trying to get this one from my neighbor for 10 years .. still just sitting rottening away .. make a great " LIGHTENING BOLT ) .. mercury style thunderbolt .
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...g?t=1241882471
I can see why your neighbor wouldn't come off it.
I'd run it with patina intact : as Is
yes but it`s disheartening to see something rot away that you know they will never do anything with .. such as this one a mile down the road .. he will start it up to move it and mow grass but will never do anything more with it .. the hood is rusted cause he had old quilts and clothes stored on it for years .. they finally rotted away ..http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...g?t=1241882467Quote:
Originally Posted by firebird77clone
must be a lot of them in Alabama---thats where I got mine in 65 when I was stationed at Ft Benning Ga and racing at Pheonix City Dragway----
thats true jerry. well guys heres mine in all of its not so beauty, beauty:whacked:Attachment 56758
Looks like a good start.
If it's what you want don't be scared of building an FE, the process is no different that doing any other V8. Do the research, select parts that work well together, good machine work and carefull assembly. There are a couple of minor mods guys often do to the oil system but that's pretty easy to do either at home or have the machine shop do.
Mickey Thompson made a few sets of HEMI heads to fit the FE back when he was racing a Thunderbolt. They were based on the first generation Chryser Hemi heads.......I've often wondered how hard it would be to adapt a set aftermarket aluminum head casting to do the same thing.
With Edelbrock alum heads and manifold , you can build a pretty light FE engine-----the 66 390gt engines were conservatly rated at 335 hp---put a od 5 speed behind it abd drive, drive, drive---inner headlite removal for freshair intake optional!!!!!!!!!!!!
i already had planned on the inner headlight/air tube conversion. :)
Yup, you have to do that, Scooter, think it's a law!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by gassersrule_196
Welcome to the FOMOCO club!
dave, with the teardrop hoodscoop to :)
Oh yeah! Figured I didn't even have to mention that!!!!!:LOL::LOL:
Talked to a fellow in the tech line who had a T-Bolt clone, using 5" diameter ducts. I asked if he really needed ducts that large. He said he was thinkin' the same thing, changed to 4" ducts and the car slowed down.:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by gassersrule_196
