Newbie from Kentucky with a Fairmont Wagon.

Hello all. I am from Eastern Kentucky and I own a 78 Ford Fairmont Wagon. It has a 5.0 and 5spd from a 90 Mustang in it. It still has the stock 7.5 with a one legged 2.47 gear. I race at a local track that is only 330' long. I know, I know "330".........But its 30 minutes from my house rather than drive 2 hours to the next closest track. Last weekend I filled the Mont with gas and drove it over to the track. I made it 9 rounds (including 3 time trials) made it to the final round and got 2nd place (won $175) then drove back home and still had 3/4 tank of gas. Thats why it still has the 2.47 in it. I drive it to work 6 days a week and that is 65 miles round trip. I just got registered so I'll post pics soon.

 

Welcome aboard.
Did you put that rear gear in, or swap the axle from another car?
I was wondering how a higher gear might perform as I have the stock 3.08.

 

The 2.47 is the stock gear. The car was originally a 302/C4. I had all of the tags decoded and there was actually a 2.26 gear offered. This is my 3rd Fairmont/Zephyr Wagon and the first was a 78 Zephyr with a 302/C4 and it had the 2.26 gear in it. At the track it had a 2.13 60' and ran 5.96 in the 330'.That was pulling out from an idle. I actually like the 2.47 as far as gas millage. It does fairly well at about 55 MPH when you drop to 2nd and mat the pedal also! LOL!

 

I like the mpg improvement, but I have a six. I was concerned about losing good stop and go driveability and low end torque.
Maybe Ford put the 3.08 in because of the smaller motor. No, that can't be it, 'cause StorminNorman's 302 wagon had a 3.07 rear (Mexico). Perhaps it's trailering package option?
BTW, I now have Norman's Mexican 302 block, waiting on a rebuild!

 

You better hang on to that Mexican block. They are getting hard to find! I have a 302 Marine block with steel crank out of a boat. I had it in the first wagon I had. I kept the 190 OMC valve covers on it up until my cousin totaled the car when I let him drive it to work one day. The ol Zephyr is gone but not forgotten.

 

Ha and here I was thinking about putting it in a boat! You went the other way!
Got a big lake up here, Lake of the Woods.

 

YEAH! LOL! Same idea only in reverse! The Marine block supposed to have a higher nickel content and have thicker casting in the main webbing and have a lot thicker cylinder walls so a person could bore a lot more.

 

If this keeps up, the Fairmont Invasion will be complete! Hi Street Monkey, good to have another one of the gang here. Looking forward to the pics too. By the looks of it, you and Andy have the same color scheme.

Andy, we've got look around for a 2.47:1 rearend. I had no idea there was one. I always thought they were for the Lincolns, Imperials and Caddy's. But hey, if they're around, I'd drop some money into performance tweaks to the Six!

 

Welcome streetmonkey to the nut house. Another Fairmont cool now Steve will have to get one instead of a Cougar lookalike.

You Ford boys are trying to catch up.

 

He's got the Crown Prince of these Fox Wagons. It was only made in 1982, and only a few thousand. (Those Stainless Steel bumpers are so nice.) Two part tailgate (window swings up. Never seen how the bottom opens.) Just too pretty.

I think the only one that comes close to his is that 1983 Marquis Brougham, as far as Fox-bodied wagons go, and maybe the LTD LX wagon, both after 1982. They never made a Fairmont wagon after 1982.

 

Dang Norman I was trying to get Steve...

 

Oh, he'll come in with both anchors flailing.

 

Steve! Good to have you on board!

 

This block is already .030 over, so my plan is to get it sleeved, and see how much horsepower I can get. Maybe a 331 stroker, stud girdle, supercharger, etc.
Not really into turbos, I'm kinda of old school. I like stacks really!

 

Andy check into a 347 stroker might be cheaper to do.