have a little bit of a problem....

Hi everyone,

My name is john and i have just purchased a 65 galaxie 500 with the ltd trim line. it has 62000 original miles and is all complete 352,auto,etc. but still needs some tlc.

The problem I'm running into is that i all i want is a hotrod to tear up the streets with. and I am having difficulty swaying myself to start changing parts, like motor trans and so forth. basically i am still trying to figure out wether its worth it in the long run to tear into this car or just look somewhere else for a different project that is all original and see about selling this one?

I would greatly appreciate any thoughts you guys might have.

swap in a 390 with a mild rebuild and you would have a decent runner, and it looks the same as the 352 so it would not be any diffrent, and a 390 would bolt in without any trouble, later 1960's and early yo's full size Ford's and Merc's have 390's and there is lots of cheap 4dr's that could donate 1.

Good advice, Matt. There are lots of go-fast goodies for the FE engines these days. Maybe it won't be "numbers correct" (boring), but it would be "era correct". If you want some real horsepower out of one of the FE's, there are stroker kits available for them, Edelbrock even makes a set of aluminum heads.

I guess my signature line probably sez what I really think of restorations......

Have fun, and most importantly, DO IT YOUR WAY!!!!!!!!

If you really love the car and have the dough I'd agree with what the boys have said.

However, it sounds to me like you don't really love this car, and it has no particular significance to you. If that's the case then you shouldn't waste a dime or a minute on it. Figure out what you really want, sell this and get that. Given the low popularity of these any money you throw at it you won't recoup unless you use the heck out of it. Now, if you've got money to burn then swing for the bleachers.

If you really want to tear up the streets with a Ford motor, do a 460/C6 engine swap into a MGB with a narrowed 9 inch. A kid showed up at Firebird with one of these one night and it looked like a factory install.

Nawww, don't mind me, I'm just goofy :whacked:

thanks guy for all the info.

I attached a picture so you can see what i have to work with.

thanks,
John

Nice car! A 390 would be nice, but a 428 would be awesome! Only thing is, most 428's have been swapped for 390's over the years, sometimes by Ford dealers under warranty. Check 'em closely before plunking down your fun tickets.

A car that big can be reasonably fast, but you'll still see a lot of tail lights. Speed is horsepower to weight. Now that said, that is a nice car and would be an ideal 'cruiser'. Speed is only one factor to the car hobby. Style is another. That's one thing cars of the last 30 years or so are lacking.

I'd leave the internals of your 352 alone, maybe add an intake, carb, possibly a cam and headers. Toss in a exhaust system with some 'mellow' sounding mufflers and enjoy the car for what is appears to be; a nicely preserved 40 year old car. I'd bet that even with the mods, you'd still keep the cars resale because you haven't made any changes that can't be changed back. And keep the original parts for the next owner in case he wants them.

By the way, if it's me, I'd also get a set of period style wheels like Cragar S/S or American Racing Torque Thrust D's. Yeah, a lot of cars have them, but for a 1965 car, they still look great.

Gotta agree with Swifster,that would make a nice cruiser. It is however a pretty heavy car,so if you want the most from your investment in go fast goodies,start with a lighter car.

Put it on eBay and buy something else you really like.

Thats funny that you mentioned Cragar's. My dad has been bugging me for over a year now about buying new rims and tires for it. Cragars are great rims but new ones are a little pricey once you pay for shipping. I had thought about an old style black wheel with white lettered tires with of course chrome lugs and caps. but we will just have to see. I have already replaced the coil springs in the rear to add a little better stance. I cant stand ass dragging cars they look dumb...

The hole weight thing is another problem I'm having. Lighter cars mean no Big Block. Granted a small block is cheaper to build and parts are more plentyfull. but that takes me to a falcon or fairlane. And finding one with a V8 already there is a little difficult sometimes that people dont want and arm and a leg for...

Now you guys had mentioned just adding a few things to my 352, wheres a good place to get them,intake, heads, cam, etc. how about headers? all i have been able to find is truck headers, did they make any for a car? Everytime I mention a 352 BB around here everyone thinks I mean a 351. I hate to say it but some people think ford only made the mustang and the 5.0... Their lives are so sheltered....

thanks for the addvice!
John

Well, summit racing sells cam and lifter kits with timing chain sets and intakes for that engine. Heads you can find on ebay. I didn't look at jegs, but I am sure they have some stuff to, good thing is, they ship for free around the holidays!

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Originally posted by i_am_me_4


The hole weight thing is another problem I'm having. Lighter cars mean no Big Block.

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I don't see a problem with a big block in a small car. :confused: