Originally Posted by
Bucking Bar
Loving the C10 ... if I only had the garage space.
Do you know me from High School, or something? My DD then was a 57 Ford Custom Sedan, 390, 4 speed. My favorite builds have always been historically correct, "what if" designs. Like an alternate history for cars. The kind of stuff Steve Strope is now famous for.
I built a "what if Ford had the idea of a GTO 10 years before GM?" ... drivetrain was a 390 (called a "Big Block" but actually a medium block) and (I think it was a Muncie 4 speed) and at 9 inch Ford Rear Axle (which you car is probably already sitting on) with a limited slip differential. While not year correct, I stopped at about 1959, since the 60's stuff was another generation of cars (nobody could differentiate the differential, but the rubber that thing would lay down was legendary enough to get my nemisis kicked out of school when he claimed by "work" as his own)
Don't get me wrong, I dream of the new Ford "Coyote" V8's. But frankly a 50's Ford just isn't a good drive with a high reving modern engine which has the volumetric efficiency of a recent Winston Cup motor. The other issue is size. The DOHC heads are ginormous. Probably fit easily in your car, but I'd do a lot of measuring before buying anything. I assume someone has figured out the electronic engine controls and wiring (that would scare me from a 2012 swap). The suspension on 50's Fords was good for its day and robust, but absolutely terrible by modern standards. The most any sane person is going to do is cruise and enjoy the ocassional hellacious burnout. With those limitations in mind, an old school torquemonster like the 390 is going to drive right, sound right and look right.
The other consideration is, what sells? I've not been in the market recently, but the new Coyote v8 crate motor is easily twice thew money an old school engine would be.
Just my humble opinion. Everybody's got cool ideas and maybe I'm too conservative.
Going to the Detroit Auto Show this year? If so, PM me. I'm going to try to get up there to look at the Mustang 350R (my new Contract 2015 goal). Ford had me at "Flat Plane Crank."
Bar,
Thanks for your thoughts. I have nothing against old school...old, old school yes, but carbed big blocks are great, I just sold two yesterday. Chevys are great for the interchangeability. Sbc's are hard to beat for cheap dependable interchangeable power and reliability. As far as suspension, I've clipped many old vehicles, camaro subs and rears, late model gto irs' etc. 03 and up crown Vic's have the unboltable aluminum front cradle, etc. suspension is not an issue. This car has already got a Grenada front suspension with power steering and disc brakes, it was nicely done.
The car is being delivered today, both actually and I won't be doing anything with it for at least a month. I like the 390 idea, but it'll probably get a six speed so I can enjoy some highway mileage. It does have a ford 9 with 4:10 gearing so without overdrive, it's a gas hog.
I'll continue to ponder...I just finished building a 327 with vortec heads, mild build, lunati cam, 10:1 pistons, new high quality everything, etc 406 hp it's gotta go in something, but not this ford.
As I said, this car kinda fell in my lap. I was looking for a 55 post chevy, but I think it'll be a keeper. What's funny is, being a chevy guy, I never knew ford made anything this cool looking. It's just right in so many ways that (sacrilegiously) the 57 chevy is not.
Keep me posted on the drivetrain thoughts.
Bad flaps, the 4.6 is well known for bent rods.