What Next? 1973 Ford Contry Sedan

So,Leadsled,is that a 400? Or one of the big blocks? And is that a total rebuild? Best of luck.

 

Big block 460, it was overheating when I bought it, I put a new radiator in it and it overheated stalled out, and then I found out the timing was way off (wires on the distributor where two off the proper rotation) so I kept playing with it and throwing parts at it until I got it running, kinda, it sounded kind of like a tractor or drag racer, very much a lop lop lop... anyway started to tear the engine down soon as I got it in the garage... I found issues with it, timing chain worn out beyond belief, it was a replacement non factory chain, heads need to be rebuilt, cylinder 6 has a burned top, bent pushrod... etc so yeah soon as I get some money for a hoist and stand I think I'll do a total rebuild... I'm halfway there as it is, and I'm going to open the engine so it will breathe better.
Whew that was long!

 

Wow,well,best of luck! Makes me feel I got off easy even if it took two years. Back in the day,I used to rent a hoist and swap out engines (292s) rather than trying to fix 'em.

 

It can be frustrating at times, you go to the garage, see your baby just sitting there just begging to be taken on the road...
It'll be worth it once it's done, when she was somewhat driveable she just owned the road, so smooth...
This is my first engine rebuild, so I hope I do her the justice she deserves and do it right!

 

its a gut wrenching feeling firing up an engine that has just been rebuilt. Old feller I worked with would say "want to know how to fix that uneasy/nervous feeling you have about your work??, it's called EXPERIENCE!!!" Haha, can't argue with him either. He been doing it since before I was born! I always tried to talk customers into shelling out the $ for a jasper engine! How about that 5 years warranty!!!

 

5th try to get these original wheels balanced! Last time,I was told I had a bent rim. This time,they rebalanced and said I had THREE bent rims. (Same chain,two locations). And a slight hop in the RF tire. Two of the three bent rims are on the rear,and boy can you feel it at 65 mph. I bought five tires,two alignments and three balancings and I'm wobbling down the road. They might replace the RF tire,but what can they do with these rims? I think the idea is that the center of the wheel is not flat,which would almost have to be a manufacturing defect. Let me check my warranty--um,44 years? Maybe not.
Was this car built on a Monday? With hangovers?
And I think the front cover is leaking...

 

Not necessarily. Some end up bent after some mom accidentally drives into the curb at two MPH too many times. Or the new driver in the family decides to 'get air.' SWF member ross is parting a Marquis; perhaps you can make a deal for the wheels from it.

 

http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/threads/mercury-marquis-blue-interior.44031/ Here's the thread.

 

They are 15 x 6.5 coded violet violet on the inside. I just can't believe this hadn't come up before. One of the three supposedly bent wheels was "Spare never down"! And the entire rear axle assembly needs a total overhaul,so not great to have wobbly wheels on it at freeway speeds. (Goes clunk when put in gear).
Could this be an example of early '70s wretched quality control?
Maybe I could get Crown Vic wheels,but they don't have the little ears for the dog dish hubcaps...except police,which are unusual...

 

It clunks when you put it in gear? check your U-joints lately? I had a crown victoria police package that started to clunk when shifting it from reverse to drive, one day the front U-joint failed and blew off the front of the driveshaft. Luckily they have a safety rail on the crown victoria so you don't go pole vaulting away.
If it was me I'd start there, check U-joints they're inexpensive, also check the shaft itself, a bad U-joint could throw the shaft off balance and cause vibrations.
Of course that doesn't explain the balancing issue at a tire shop, but that's my two cent's for what its worth.

 

I replaced both U-joints some miles ago with HD ones with grease fittings. Later,I went to the local axle expert who drove the car,jacked it up for a complete eval.,and stated that the rear axle needed a total rebuild. So I've been refraining from powersliding around snowy parking lots with my Trac-Lok axle. He said 8 or $900 to rebuild it, so that job's been on the back burner. In theory,it's good to put the wobbly rims on the back,but it's gonna stress that axle at freeway speeds.

 

Today after the dentist appointment,I drove it back to the Ford dealer who did the work,and the service writer concurred that the front cover was leaking. In fact,you can see the loss on the dipstick. So there it sits. I guess I'll deal with wheels later.

 

Arrrgh, after I had put Babe's engine together, it took three extra tries to get the stupid front seal to not go bad--and that's with the piano wire loop to make sure the seal's properly seated before rotating the crankshaft. I even made a seal driver using PVC drain pipe pieces. It was a real hassle to deal with, but it hasn't leaked since.

 

They redid that seal and I hope this time it stays sealed. I had thought they'd have to take the front cover off,but it was just that seal.
It was suggested to me to check out this wheel repair place,so I'll go do that tomorrow.

 

Funny how much quicker they get to it the 2nd time around. Nobody's perfect... at least they didn't lolligag this time around. Also I think you said you needed the rear diff. Rebuilt? The bright side of that is those shredded planetary gears would make a great addition to the tiki statue !