fastmerc
Member
Joined: 09 May 2006
Posts: 71
Location: Santa Clara, CA (Nor Cal) |
My Wagon Mods!!!!
1967 Squire Wagon. Started life as a 390 2V with AC and P/S. 500 interior package and a power rear window...that's it! Oh, AM radio. (No power brakes!)
Engine: Went to a 428 but dressed it like a stock GT 390 with air injection and working A/C! NOS 428CJ cam, C7AE Police Interceptor intake manifold and C9Ux 725CFM Holley, Rhodes lifters and a windage tray. Internals were balanced for weight consistency across 8 rods/pistons, and all sharp edges were removed from pistons, and polished. 68 Cobra Jet distributor with Pertronix conversion. Ran well!!! CJ Valve covers and HIPO air cleaner for beauty! Just installed a Dura-Spark distributor and need to complete wiring it in. Pertronix ran good. No complaints, but curve was wrong for motor. Too much pinging upon accelleration. I had a cracked head which took out a valve guide, and put later model non-smog heads back on. So eliminated air pump etc, installed adjustable rocker arms ala 427/428SCJ. Almost done!
Trans: Early type C6 Cruise-O-Matic replaced with 69 428CJ C6 with R-servo and cast iron tailshaft housing. VERY stout 2cnd gear shifts!!!!! Wow!
Rearend: Replaced stock 9" with rebuilt Versailles version, new bearings and a 3:00 4 pinion T-lok rebuilt with all new parts.
Brakes: Front- installed 71 Fairlane disc brakes- spindles/rotors/calipers and proper smaller diameter brake booster to clear valve covers on the big block. Rear- rebuilt Versailles units with all new parts.
Exhaust: Replaced original single system with custom built aluminum coated dual exhaust, built by Don's Custom Exhaust of Columbus OH I believe. I sent him stock parts, and he rebent aluminized tubing for me! Since there was no RH exhaust for these cars, he duplicated the LH side in inverse!!! Worked great!!!!! Fit my flowmasters like a glove!!!! SOUNDS AWESOME at speed! His work was perfect, with tubing seams at the top and just plain nice work!!!!! They still look good!
Wheels: Original 60's American Mags- Torque Thrust, 15x8.5 out back and 14x7 up front. Polished outer rings, painted spokes. Look bitchin' on the car with the "stance". I think I have 255's out back and 225's up front.
Suspension: Installed 69-70 Cougar Mustang 15/16" front sway bar. Makes a big difference on the big block car! Replaced upper a-arms with reinforced Granada-Versailles type. Replaced lower a-arms with stock type. Most else untouched. New tie-rod ends to fit disc spindles properly. New strut rod bushings.
Interior: Installed a 69 Fairlane front seat back, to gain headrests. Never like that low-back unprotected feeling....toooooo many moroons driving around here, and with good brakes now, I don't necessarily trust the guy behind me to stop as fast as I do! Made up a custom tilt-away steering column that came out great!!!! I've even had people swear on bulletin boards that they saw a stock one at Fab Fords....... ooops! That was my imposter!!! Still haven't the heart to cut my dash to put in a modern stereo, so AM radio lives! New carpet, new seat material, headliner and white paint.... Rebuilt the rear window motor, as the original drive gear had self destructed. Adapted a later model window gear to fit, works great, less worry about it breaking again!
Body: repaint with factory bronze metallic, PPG two part paint. New weather strips in doors. Have yet to finish the wood grain on the trim...... lost motivation! Repainted engine compartment with a glossier than semi, but less than glossy paint, with hardner in it. Came out great and is pretty tough! Polishes up nice. Cleaned every nut and bolt, plastic fitting, piece of wire....
What would I do different????????????
Engine/trans: Build a nice 351W combo for the car, perhaps with a 4 speed AOD trans behind it, and some higher gears for the road. This would make it peppier around town, but give me good cruise rpm's for the long trips to LA. The 351W is just plain "good all around" for a Ford. Great torque and reasonable mileage when tuned and driven properly. I could even see using a 2V to boost the mileage a tad too! Mild cam.... Wife sez she'd drive it!!! AC works too!!!
Rearend: Man, if I'd known then what I know now. I musta put $1200+ into making the Versailles rearend fit the wagon. Had to move the spring perches too.....!!!! I now know that 92-02 Crown Vic brakes will almost bolt on to the stock 8 & 9" housings with only some slight trimming required on the housing flange, and some spacers that I now sell to properly hold the bearings and rotors in proper position. It is a MUCH cleaner solution than the Versailles housing, and it weighs at least 30# less. That Versailles housing is just plain huge all around!!!!! The e-brake implementation is much cleaner too!!!
Paint: HATE THE PAINT!!!!! (Actually the job was BEAUTIFUL!!!) Shortly after I had it painted, perhaps 3 years, the clear coat started lifting from the base coat in some spots!!! They repainted it, but anything that wasn't repainted at that time, is now suffering the same problem!!!! If I had the "do-overs", I would never have used the two part paint, but gone with an Imron or a one part paint..... I hate clear coat..... It just doesn't seem to hold up well to the conditions........ It goes into the shop soon for repaint and a new windshield.... caught a rock last time out.... ((
The balance of the stuff I would have done as I did. No regrets!
That's what I remember.....
fastmerc
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