Fast Wagons! Circle your wagons here

If you put a pair of aluminum heads on that 351, You'll have a 40 pound weight decrease over the stock version of the 302 and all those extra cubes to boot!!

 

im racing my stock 289 3 on the tree. figure i should have fun with it til its dead an i put something meaner inside

 

69 Ford Country Squire wagon. 4850 lbs. 429 4bbl, Holley 650 double pumper, 3.25 axle ratio. 0-60 in 7.2 seconds, 15.67 sec at 89MPH quarter mile. 12 MPG typical, 14MPG best effort.

For all those who like formulas, I remember this one:
(RPM x Tire Diameter in inches) / (Axle Ratio x 336).
Meaning at 70 MPH with a 27 inch diameter tire (don't forget tires stretch at speed) and a 3.25 axle ratio, I am turning about 2830 RPM. Not a great way to save fuel. On the other end, the wagon would max out at 5300 RPM. This meant That the car reached a maximum speed of about 130 MPH. Lower gearing might have produced a few more MPH, but at the cost of acceleration. Besdes, the front end was already trying to become airborne: that is, it was very light on the steering.

I look forward to similar tests with my current wagon (same year, engine, carb but fewer pounds to propel). You never know though. The new wagon's engine may be a bit tired.

Phil