65 Caliente Street or Strip?
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- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2020 11:28 am
65 Caliente Street or Strip?
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!
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
Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?
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
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
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- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2020 11:28 am
Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?
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
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
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- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2020 11:28 am
Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?
"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
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
- Joe Travers
- Posts: 2424
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:23 pm
- Location: Louisiana
Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?
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!
JT
I always wanted to build a '65 A/FX Dyno Don car when I was younger. Very cool project!
JT
Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?
" wont corner worth beans "???
Do you mean normal street driving?
Do you mean normal street driving?
Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?
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
pop/glenda
Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?
- Joe Travers
- Posts: 2424
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:23 pm
- Location: Louisiana
Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?
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
- Jims65cyclone
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- Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2014 10:29 pm
- Location: Lexington, SC
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- Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2020 11:28 am
Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?
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.
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
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- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2020 11:28 am
Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?
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/
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
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- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2020 11:28 am
Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?
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.
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
Re: 65 Caliente Street or Strip?
Finally! Someone else that uses their quad to plow
Hurry back waiting on story time
Fred
Hurry back waiting on story time
Fred