65 Caliente Street or Strip?

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V8Throttle
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65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by V8Throttle »

Good day everyone!

Just signed in to gain knowledge for my 65 comet build. Me and my boys have a bunch of old Fords for the street but it is time to go drag racing! I am debating between the gasser style 51 Henry J ( I have 3 bodies, and old running 354 Hemi, fiberglass front ends kicking around) or put a running marine block 427 (I have 2) into my 65 Comet Caliente.

The Comet as I bought it this June is a tired 289 2V 3speed on the tree, silver smoke with black top, and a half changed over Red and White bucket seat interior (weird). Frame is solid after I had a rear rail replaced, some floor board rust, but generally in real good shape.

A couple of opening questions:
1) is it possible that the "white" interior it left the factory with is supposed to have only white seats and door panels? With Red painted metal and a red padded dash? I am thinking this is a partial change over, but it sure looks factory.
2) Does a C6 actually fit in these cars? Major tunnel surgery involved?

Thanks!
1941 Ford Flathead Coupe, 1951 Henry J, 1965 Comet Caliente, 1967 Cyclone GT, 1968 Torino GT Fastback, 2008 Shelby GT 500 & 1976 Torino stockcar

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SASSY
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by SASSY »

Welcome!
You have some neat projects laying around for sure!!
A J with an old hemi would be neat nostalgic shownshine stuff but how fast do you want to go and what do you do when you break it?
If your gonna race a 427 you'll want to create a little more space in the engine compartment as well as the trans tunnel.
Frame connectors and bit of a cage too.
I think I've seem interior colour combos like you mentioned.
Fred
I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

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V8Throttle
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by V8Throttle »

Thanks Fred,

I am leaning towards the Comet with a 427 for the following reasons:
- More modern suspension = safer and faster
- I am a Ford guy so it seems more true to what drives me
- I love the 427 and really want to build one
- I assisted my uncle in building a 502 cubic inch 429 based, 61 Fairlane drag car and he wants to race with me around the local tracks. The Comet makes a good pairing for us.

Rod
1941 Ford Flathead Coupe, 1951 Henry J, 1965 Comet Caliente, 1967 Cyclone GT, 1968 Torino GT Fastback, 2008 Shelby GT 500 & 1976 Torino stockcar

V8Throttle
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by V8Throttle »

"If your gonna race a 427 you'll want to create a little more space in the engine compartment as well as the trans tunnel.
Frame connectors and bit of a cage too." - Fred

Yes Fred, I am looking at Crites system for trimming the shock towers for the 427, then adding the rear end AFX style supports that act like a traction bar/cal trac and frame connector in one. I have heard one person say that if you do that your Comet will not corner worth beans. So it becomes strictly a drag car. I am curious if that is a known issue or just one guy blowing hot air.

Rod
1941 Ford Flathead Coupe, 1951 Henry J, 1965 Comet Caliente, 1967 Cyclone GT, 1968 Torino GT Fastback, 2008 Shelby GT 500 & 1976 Torino stockcar

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Joe Travers
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by Joe Travers »

I'm assuming the 427s are top-oilers running hydraulic lifters?
I always wanted to build a '65 A/FX Dyno Don car when I was younger. Very cool project! :D

JT
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1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

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SASSY
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by SASSY »

" wont corner worth beans "???
Do you mean normal street driving?
I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

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popscomet
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by popscomet »

PUT a m2 frt end under it from R/C and you can drive it anywhere and install what ever power plant you desire.,,like we did on our 64 comet....we call OL RUSTY....good luck on what ever you do.....pop
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pop/glenda

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SASSY
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by SASSY »

Just read your signature,,, STOCK CAR!! DO TELL!! :lol:
There is a heading for non Comet Ford vehicles. Would enjoy hearing about your racer!
Fred
1983
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I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

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poboyjo65
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by poboyjo65 »

Welcome on! :D
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Johno

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Joe Travers
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by Joe Travers »

SASSY wrote:
Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:18 pm
Just read your signature,,,
I did too and saw '41 flathead coupe!
Please, do tell as well. I have a friend with '41 Mercury coupe, fixing to go up for sale.
Putting a new fuel tank in today and she'll be ready to go.

JT
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1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

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Jims65cyclone
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by Jims65cyclone »

Welcome aboard! :D

Jim
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V8Throttle
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by V8Throttle »

Joe - regarding the 427:
Yes the two 427's are top oilers. One left hand drive (would go real fast in reverse!) and one Right hand drive. The counter force would have helped the 1968 54 foot Chris Craft Yacht steer straight. Massive things with double the weight in cast iron everywhere such as the 5 inch deep manifolds with water passages in them to cool the exhaust with water from the great lakes around Michigan and Ontario Canada running through them. Fire hazards in a wooden yacht must be contained!

They are hydraulic lifter, cast crank (lighter than forged though), and run the smaller 352 C7TE heads. Really what you are getting with a marine block is an crossbolted main block cast as a side-oiler but drilled as a top oiler that NEVER revved above the redlined 3600 rpm where the throttle lever stopped. COOL and where else on Gods green earth can you find a non-abused 427? You do have to check for cracks between the drain plugs and the screw in freeze plugs, but all good in my case.

Quite a story picking them up over 3000 miles round trip, in the middle of a pandemic this summer too! A story for another time.
1941 Ford Flathead Coupe, 1951 Henry J, 1965 Comet Caliente, 1967 Cyclone GT, 1968 Torino GT Fastback, 2008 Shelby GT 500 & 1976 Torino stockcar

V8Throttle
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by V8Throttle »

Sassy, Yes I do mean street driving.

Not sure if I put the AFX style Crites frame implant in or if I should just do the frame connectors and a caltrac system/
1941 Ford Flathead Coupe, 1951 Henry J, 1965 Comet Caliente, 1967 Cyclone GT, 1968 Torino GT Fastback, 2008 Shelby GT 500 & 1976 Torino stockcar

V8Throttle
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by V8Throttle »

Thank you all for the welcomes! Nice to be in a Ford/Mercury crazed group where I can feel at home. I'll have to figure out how to post some pictures.

I will post some more stories on the old Coupe and my stock car days another time. It snowed up here and gotta run to the cabin to plow some snow with the ATV and finish a stair rail for someone renting our cabin shortly.
1941 Ford Flathead Coupe, 1951 Henry J, 1965 Comet Caliente, 1967 Cyclone GT, 1968 Torino GT Fastback, 2008 Shelby GT 500 & 1976 Torino stockcar

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SASSY
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Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?

Post by SASSY »

Finally! Someone else that uses their quad to plow :lol:
Hurry back waiting on story time :mrgreen:
Fred
I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

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