1973 Ford Gran Torino

[super noob]

£1200 and up.........they aren't cheap, this is a good core engine but I'll be rebuilding it next year. Probably forged pistons, ally heads and a big ass cam!

Ferrets are the wrong way to do it! You want a rifle and possibly some dynamite......

 

[graffian]

I rarely paid more than hundred quid for a complete car with a 440 ;-)

 

[Wallace]

Don't go on the 440 Source website, it will snowball into a 543ci money pit! Did the 440 come with a gearbox?

 

[super noob]

came with a 727 auto, that'll leave it at some point in the far future for a TKO 600

 

[super noob]

Twin turbos would be and they'd improve my fuel economy too! Not that I'm considering that with a big block..........

But ANTILAG

 

[super noob]

I'm only building to be streetable unfortunately, I may get the power bug later though.........next years rebuild will be a forged piston set just incase! I'm wanting to build to 9.5:1

Cant wait to pick this up now

 

[Wallace]

I'm building a mild 383 stroked to 438, basically the 440 stroke in the slightly smaller 383 bore. A friend of mine did the 496 stroker 383 and ripped his back axle off the spring mounts running it in!

 

[super noob]

I'm ok, I've got factory 4 link on my rear axle as its a coil sprung car!

Out of question what have you gone with manifold wise and carb? I'm thinking an RPM plus 850 AVS series Edelbrock but the Atomic EFI is calling!

 

[Wallace]

I didn't have a choice as it's not mine, standard smoothed out heads and inlet with an Edelbrock 750 carb and a flat tappet cam just above the standard 440HP as it needs to be fairly docile with plenty of torque. It has an A-518 4 speed gearbox with a lockup torque converter, I would like to build an EFI setup to get the mpg up in the 20's on a run!

 

[super noob]

ahh fair enough, I'm thinking square motor so 440ci/440hp/440ftlb although if I have the budget I'd like to get to 440ci/550hp/550ft/lb

mpg I'm hoping for will be about 17 on a run as I tend to just sit with the trucks at 55

 

[graffian]

mpg I'm hoping for will be about 17 on a run as I tend to just sit with the trucks at 55

Not sure I ever got more than 8mpg;-)
Only time it was better was on a trailer.

 

[super noob]

Done a little measuring:


351c = 29L 25.5W 27.5H (minus carb) weight 550lbs

Ford 460 = 34L 27W 30H

Mopar 440 = 32L 25W 24H

Therefor we have a winner! The 440 looks like it should slot in place with little more than an engine mount modification.....whether it will or not?

We'll find out next week!

 

[jpmillermatic]

pipes are very Mad Maxian....love em!

JP

 

[bc30se]

Very nice but I don't like the new wheels at all, for one thing black makes the car look like one of many 1/4 rides - too agressive I am sorry, secondly this is a wheel majorly met on EU/Japan jeeps and not only. At first sight.. hmm... wait.. where have I seen it? Nissan Patrol stuff bogged in the woods??? To hell with them... find some nice wheels that will bring the classic style back to where it should be on this car...

the original wheels look much better imho....

 

[super noob]

pipes are very Mad Maxian....love em!

JP

Thanks, thats the look I'm aiming for with this

Very nice but I don't like the new wheels at all, for one thing black makes the car look like one of many 1/4 rides - too agressive I am sorry, secondly this is a wheel majorly met on EU/Japan jeeps and not only. At first sight.. hmm... wait.. where have I seen it? Nissan Patrol stuff bogged in the woods??? To hell with them... find some nice wheels that will bring the classic style back to where it should be on this car...

the original wheels look much better imho....

Well as ever you're entitled to your own opinion but in this case its wrong, my car my mark on it. The vehicle is being built to look aggressive, I don't see the point in a muscle car looking soft or not getting proper sized rubber on a vehicle with massive arches.
If I wanted to have my Torino looking like every other one on google then I wouldn't have touched it but I love the Mad Max look, I want this to be seen in someones mirror and they think "dammit, move, move move!"

A car like this needs to have presence and the wheels give it that, they make it look like its a mean car and with a built 440 its exactly what it'll be.

Langy will be building me up a new TrueTrac once I get funds together and that'll be the first step towards making it a proper street rod

 

[super noob]

can you guess whats in the trailer?

 

[brewdexta]

mother in law?

 

[roofman]

can you guess whats in the trailer?

a set of mud guards for the trailer

 

[super noob]

mother in law?

I'm 23 and single! None of that bull to worry about yet

a set of mud guards for the trailer

Speaking of the trailer!

Got pulled by the police on the way home

Told me my lights on the trailer board weren't working and that I should buy a new one or wire the Sankey up to the car then let me on my way. Nice to actually meet a policeman who isn't a jobsworth, no fine just some friendly advice and then he let me drive the three miles home. Must have nipped the wiring slightly during the journey so I'll have to fix it before I next use the trailer

 

[CRB]

?Guy Martin helping out?

You ARE on a winner.