Hope the picture isn't too big! This is our 69 Falcon project. It is a street/strip 6-passenger. The motor is based on a 351W block, but the block is about the only "Ford" part to the motor! It was in a photoshoot recently, and I just found out a few days ago that it will be featured in the Feb. '10 issue of Popular Hot Rodding Hope you like it, Lee
Welcome aboard! So which is the other Ford part? Let me guess, the windshield or the driveshaft? You gotta fill in the blanks... Enquiring minds want to know.
Well, the main caps are Ford, but I'd consider them part of the block. They are held in place by ARP studs (as are the heads). Two other Ford parts on the motor - the timing cover and the camshaft retaining plate. I actually had an aftermarket torrington-bearing cam retainer at first, but it had a too-big hole to oil the timing chain, and it bled off too much oil volume at low rpm. Forged Eagle crank and rods, Probe dished pistons (hand finished by me, and thermal barrier coating applied by me) and 1.7 shaft rockers, Bullet/UltraDyne custom ground solid roller cam (243/251 @ .050, and .630 lift), CompCams EndureX roller lifters, AirFlow Research 225 fully CNC'ed heads with Manley Nextek springs and Ti retainers, Dave's Small Body HEI distributor conversion, DaVinci custom Holley carb,..... Driveshaft was raplaced as well! MUCH beefier unit, custom length to connect the 4R70W (controlled by a Baumannator computerized module) to the custom, slightly narrowed 9" rear (Tru-Trac carrier with 3.50 gears). Let me know if there are other blanks to fill in! Lee
Thanks! I was worried there. Fords are kind of social creatures, they like the giggling pin to fit in the laughing shaft.
Beautiful wagon! From those engine bay pics, I'd say it runs as good as it looks. BTW, I believe 800x600 is optimal pic size for posting on forums and not cause side scrolling to read text when viewed on a 1024x768 screen. Links to higher res pics are always cool, too.
Thanks guys! I'm still working on the tune. First trip to the track was an 1/8-miler. First pass ever was a 7.61 @ 93.6. A small adjustment, and ran 7.51. First trip to the 1/4 was in slightly hotter weather, ran 11.65 @ 117.6. Did some tuning/tweaking, and got back to the track last Friday. Very first run was 11.51. No roll bar, so I got sent back to the Tech Inspector for a scolding He told me I could keep running, but do NOT go any quicker across the finish line So, I ran 1/8 mile runs for the rest of the night. Last run was a 7.302 right at 95mph. Lee Small block, pump gas, full exhaust, driven to/from track and raced on same tires, race weight was 3790lbs.
my 69...with the stock 6/auto...pulled of a rippin!!!!!!! 18;78.....I forget the MPH...it was that good
Wow! I did not realize that it has been THIS long since I checked in here! I'll have to come back later to catch up on things. I still have the wagon, but it is "sort of" for sale. The first motor got replaced quickly. The "professionally built" short block had severe "main cap walk" and took out the bearings. I upgraded to a Dart block (MUCH stronger) and tweaked a few things inside. The first motor put about 425hp to the wheels on a chassis dyno, this motor has put 492 on pump gas, and with a small nitrous shot has read 642rwhp. I added a rollbar, subframe connectors, a driveshaft loop and a few other things that added to the weight. The last time I weighed it at the track, the race weight (with me in the car) was 4,030 pounds. On motor, the car has ran 11.15 a couple times, right at 121mph. I've not made a FULL run with the nitrous, with the nitrous bottle full - but have ran 10.52 twice, with the best mph of 130. I also ran the Power Tour in 2011, was a Long Hauler, and finished in the top-5 at both race tracks that they stopped at. With 300 pounds of tools, luggage and spare parts in the back, in 100+ heat, it ran 11.7 @ 117.
