430 Powered Comet A/G Vintage Drag Car Build

[mrevildoer]

I've had a drag car project in the works for a few years now. It's going to be a vintage A/G gasser built with 1964 and earlier parts to the specs laid out in the 1964 NHRA rulebook. Due to the rather pricey nature of this project it has taken me some time to get the wheels rolling. I've been getting more and more antsy to drive such a monster so, come hell or high water, headway will be made!

I'll be posting my progress here and on another forum as well so check back and let me know what you think.

I've started a photo album in my Picasa account and I'm happy to share it with anyone visiting the forum. I've opened the album to the public so feel free to comment both here and on Picasa.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1050711778 ... directlink

[Theo]

Thanx for sharing. I'm curious to see more on how your project will proceed.

[mrevildoer]

Today we finally started on the front end. Got most of the suspension out and did plenty of measuring. Tomorrow We're going to start on the jig for narrowing the early 60s Econoline I-beam axle. I'll post more pics in the album once we start.

Let me know if the Picasa thing is working. It's easier for me to upload pics to those albums because I use my Droid. Then I can come onto the forum and update this post without having to have access to a computer.

[Theo]

Picasa works. But as you gave me green light for letting me store them pics into the forum I'll will do that. This way the pics get anchored into this site independently.

[mrevildoer]

This is the grungy '63 430 that started it all. I've since sold the Edelbrock intake and found a Hilborn MFI.

Here she is, from behind.

It's my new drag slicks. Looks like I'll have to radius the wheel wells!

The stock inline. This little guy will pull the Comet around pretty good. Can't wait to see what the MEL will do...

The little 170 I6, fresh out.

[mrevildoer]

The engine bay sans engine and front end.

Looking straight down into the bay. The shock towers will be going soon, along with a big section of the firewall

From the front. That's the '61 Ford Econoline axle in front. It will have to be narrowed ~6 inches to give the car a reasonable track. How much exactly depends on several things, including the structure of the subframe and where the springs will mount.

This is the new '59 430 I drove all the way the Great Falls to pick up.

[mrevildoer]

Interesting, the later intake doesn't fit with the early valley pan.

These have seen better days for sure.

Someone should have sealed off these intake ports...

[mrevildoer]

Number 2 cylinder is pretty crusty. Looks like a little water pooled inside.

Driver side bank. Not looking good.

There's an exhaust manifold flange broken off on each head. Damn.

[mrevildoer]

At least the bottom end looks good.

This is the best part of the new block--an FE pattern bell housing. Now I can put a 4 speed toploader in the drag car.

[mrevildoer]

Got a little bit more work done on her yesterday. With a tiny bit of touch up, the frame will be ready to be strengthened with the subframe. Also started the jig for narrowing the I-beam axle. Just about time to go buy some steel. Once the front end is put together the engine mounts for the 430 can go in and the firewall can get sectioned as well. Can't wait to see how it will look