1973 Ford Gran Torino

[super noob]

Apparently my steering wheel puller was ridiculously over engineered! So now I've got a hub puller en-route thats obsolete.....

But it means I've got the hub off, timing cover off, old chain, cam and lifters out and the new Thumpr back in plus lifters and a nice roller link chain

Got my engine mounts arriving on Wednesday and I'm picking up the heads tomorrow, just need to get the broken bolt out the timing cover and I'm good to reassemble

 

[roofman]

Why dont you do the bottom of the motor too while your almost there

 

[super noob]

Naaaah, bottoms fine! Only got 42k on the clock. It'll be ripped out again at some point for a fully forged rotating assembly anyway

 

[roofman]

Naaaah, bottoms fine! Only got 42k on the clock. It'll be ripped out again at some point for a fully forged rotating assembly anyway

ahh gotcha

 

[super noob]

Engine mounts arrived today and its all set and ready to go now!

Means I can make up the trans crossmember and hopefully have it driving by the end of the month....maybe

 

[Superbad]

The Polo uses a 32/36 Weber on a modified manifold blow through.

yep,it's in my plans. The carb can be boost reference via the vent on the fuel bowl,and a calibrated bush would be blocked off

 

[Superbad]

Twin scrolls are better as the turbocharger receives exhaust pulses from the different banks. It's a non-wastegate type,so it'll be spinning continually. An external wastegate might be bonus

 

[super noob]

 

[super noob]

 

[super noob]

 

[super noob]

Been a while since I updated....if theres some sentences that don't quite make sense its because its been copied over from somewhere




Got the rad hoses cobbled together, stainless pipe and off cuts of rubber hose

Will eventually replace the bottom hose with the proper 429 one as that way it'll actually fit the water pump outlet properly instead of being over stretched onto it! Doesn't leak though

Oh and the hater pipe V1 has been fitted too, this should get me to the exhaust shop on MOT day so I can get my NASCAR system fitted!

Mmmm scummy coolant after an engine rebuild....just what you want to see!

At this point I shat myself and had to whip off the rocker cover just to make sure it was leftover grease/oil/petrol from cleaning the block faces up!

Thankfully it was, if not I'd have been seriously ****** off....

I also decided to just make the throttle linkage work....cable ties were the answer!

Fuel hose and C6 transmission xxxxing-stupid-xxxxty-awkward-xxxxxxx thread size to AN-6 from Guy at A1 hydraulics, highly recommended to anyone looking for new hose! This stuff was very well priced especially when your other main option is Speedflow

162" worth of fuel hose with swaged hydraulic fittings will get me from front to back on this motor now that I've relocated the fuel pump.

And before anyone asks....yes I will be adding new stronger rubber bobbins to the fuel pump mount as well as cable ties! Those worn out ones were the only ones I had available when I test fitted

Bullbar plates laser cut from 10mm mild steel, 2" holes for bars, Charger one has nothing on this xxxx.

Found a nice little surprise from a fellow forum member

Got the 429 hooked up with a new carb, fuel line etc and ran it up to temp.


Slight issue in that it wont idle slow and theres a little buzzing noise, buzzing I'm sure is the distributor ground so I've added another one as thats what DUI recommend.

The fast idle issue I'm assuming is down to the timing being a little out so I'm going to mess with it and see what I can do, also having read the Edelbrock manual I need to change the metering rod springs as my cam isn't producing enough vac at low idle speeds.....at least you don't need to take them all apart like a holley





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This is why you shouldn't trust 46 year old timing marks! White line is where it should be, orange punch marks to its left are where it was....

Net result in dizzy, old position where my finger is, correct position according to new timing mark where the rotor is!

Is a bodge a bodge if its done with care?



24* advance on the dizzy plus 16-20 initial on the cam in order to get it to run = 40-44* advance, fine if you own a piece of xxxx chevy but on a 10.75:1 429 that'll mean your engine goes BOOM x-(

24* advance is seen as the weights go to the edge of the inner hole, where I've got it stopping now I'm assuming is about 17* meaning I'll have a total of 33*

Ford recommends 36* max on a 429 so I should be within spec....if not just tweak the bolt which has been flatted off round a little and loctite back into position for less advance!


Tapped the hole out to 1/4" UNC then filed down a cap head set screw to work as there was no was I was sending it back to DUI in TN to get it sorted out.....

 

[super noob]

About 45 kilos of fu*k you....and the horse you rode in on.

Bullbar done right.

Have a side shot! Behold the full size of the Torino

Laser cut goodness!

4 switch one is for Windows and the tall one will house indicator switch and a few other important ones. Just need folding and welding up along the slits

Steel bracket for the trans also ready to be welded up

New alternator and assorted tat. Single wire alternator should make life nice and easy

Lovely, forged aluminium!
Just need to save up for the masters now

 

[super noob]

Following this I mocked up my new switch panels just to make sure they fitted, they do....so I'll probably get on with welding up the cut lines tomorrow after I sort out one of the other cars for MOT

Will also be getting the gearbox mount sorted out too, that means I can take it up and down the driveway!

Oh and finally a few pics, I'm definitely looking forward to swapping this pedal box in for the old Ford one!

Cable tie technician tip, if its still loose add more to pull the first one tight!


I got some fans to test fit, they're a bit small....but will do I reckon. However until I gain the motivation to make a bracket to bolt it all up to the rad pack this will do!

 

[Robotstar5]

Insurance will be fun with that bullbar!

 

[super noob]

Doesn't do anything to it......heavy duty front bumper similar to a police package


I'm on a policy with unlimited non power mods anyway, I just tell them what I've done and they add it onto the policy document. Doesn't change the price

 

[super noob]

been a while, 3 advisories as of two weeks ago.......

 

[Mark E]

Updates?