I should also add that the Sanderson headers are awesome, and well worth the money. Easier to work around also. Pricey, but worth it.

Todd in Central California...about half way between Fresno and Sacramento

1956 Thunderbird - 1960 F-100 - 1961 Starliner - 1961 Imperial

I guess I'm just lucky that I'm not experiancing fuel boil/bubbling. I have plumbing parts to run lines a few different ways, including the original "tree" lines from the Edelbrock installation way back when.

While not 100% true to the "way it was" I'm happy with the results. I have no leakage at the lines/joints, and the carb leakage seems to have resolved itself as long as it's driven regularly.

I still have to plumb/re-route the vac. lines to operate the wipers and heater controls Though I have chrome bullets over the w/s wipers, I still would like to have a functional heater.

I'd considered a '57 dizzy, but was unable to find one, even a core, for what I'd consider reasonable. I had Pertronix quote making a plate for the old W&H that the car had, but it was more than the Unilte, and I'd still have an old distributor with orphan caps, etc...I'm confident it will suit my needs once all is dialed in. Gonna re-set the rockers, give it a bit more advance, and a couple carb tweaks now that I have a few hundred miles on it.

Todd in Central California...about half way between Fresno and Sacramento

1956 Thunderbird - 1960 F-100 - 1961 Starliner - 1961 Imperial

Todd, I read somewhere that the new Edelbrock 94's are supposed to correct the bleed down problem. Not to sure about that plus the gas boiling after shutting off the engine is another problem. My bird has no room left for a phenolic spacer to insulate the carbs unless I want to cut holes in the hood. I used chrome stainless steel lines from Vintage Speed with absolutely no leakage. I had to modify the lines that Charlie sent me to clear the linkage so I feel comfortable bending up new ones. It wasn't as hard as I expected. I am using the stock tach drive 57 distributor with Petronix and MSD 6 but it needs to be gone through. At this point I have the vacuum advance plugged and bumped up the initial enough that the mechanical advance gets me to the right total advance. Still need to work on that. Thought about coming to some of the events over your way but not ready to push the Bird over Hecker and Pacheco Pass yet. It is a fairly strenuous drive from Santa Cruz.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

Thanks for the pictures Todd!  Looks like "Graffiti Night" was a success.  Glad you and your sister had a good time.  Don't worry about writing books, I liked reading about your engine.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Charlie, thanks for the kind words as always. Dad & I bought the Lincoln in 1987 (if I recall correctly) at the Turlock Swap Meet. I was 9 years old at the time, but still remember the test drive. The paint was dead, but the body was straight as an arrow and absolutely rust free. The intererior remains original, though showing age on the driver's seat, to this day. Dad gave the Lincoln to her (and I a '61 Imperial) years before he passed.

Mark, it took me a while to decide on the fuel line set-up. My goal was to keep the look simple & uncluttered, but reliable & as "period" appearing as possible. That being said, I took several liberties. From the pump to the filter/reg. ass'y I used a hard line that exits the pump with a 90º brass fitting identical to the factory pump inlet line fitting. The regulator & filter are from Speedway & have functioned beautifully thus far. As supplied the regulator was chrome, and the filter was polished. I fastened them together with a brass union, as they were both female pipe thread at the outlet/inlet. I then scuffed, primed, and painted them Ford red to match the engine so they'd blend in to the front of the engine. From there, rubber lines, brass nipples, and stainless constant-tension clamps were used. The fuel block is a reproduction piece from Edelbrock, and the gauge was purchased from Dick York at dickshotrodplace.com (who also built & restored my carbs). I deliberately set the initial advance on the retarded side. When I put it where it runs the best, the car wants to be driven FAST, and just explodes to hi rev's when the 3x2 is opened up. Not the best way to go about working the bugs out. So far I'm very happy with my Mallory Uni-lite. I did notice that it had a bunch of end play from the factory, so it will need to be shimmed. But very crisp, and far easier to start than the old W&H dual point.

The push linkage is a huge PITA. So much so that I used the old tripower rod between the factory acc. linkage and the primary carb. I couldn't make a new one work as well...

My carbs bleed down too. I don't know that there's much way around it. my rear carb seeped a bit when I fired it up again, but has since stopped, so the gaskets are hopefully getting reinvigorated. I think the stuff gas may be evaporating faster than ever also. The seeping was my fault. I ran the car a couple times, than took it all apart, and due to more pressing family issues it sat dormant for 1 1/2 years.

Geez, just realized I wrote a book here. Hope some of it helps someone...

 

Todd in Central California...about half way between Fresno and Sacramento

1956 Thunderbird - 1960 F-100 - 1961 Starliner - 1961 Imperial

Todd,



That is a truly fine looking ride. The engine is beautiful. I am curious as to what fuel regulator and pressure you have it set at. Also, what brand of fuel pressure gauge you have mounted on the fuel log. I am using two of the end carbs I got from you plus another from the bunch I bought from Charlie Burns for the primary on my Bird. I sorted out the "push" throttle linkage so it works but want to revisit it with a better set of joints. I am not running a regulator at present using the stock 57 fuel pump. The gauge I have from Vintage Speed is unreliable. Runs good but has the chronic 94 problem of bleeding down after it sits for awhile. Thanks.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

Congrats Todd, the bird looks great.  Now all the hard work will pay off as you enjoy the cruises and shows.  Didn't know about the Lincoln, it's nice that your sister took an interest in that.  With the 61 they would make a great trio on the grass somewhere.  The cars are a nice way to honor your dad, he was a great man.

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)







BurnsRacing981@gmail.com

Well, I met my goal, made it to the Graffiti Night cruise in my home town of Modesto...car performed beautifully, just needs to be final tuned...

The finished engine compartment (I caught the fuel line clamp on the #1 carb:

Here's me and the Bird "Audrey" at the cruise as captured by a local auto journalist:

I also had my sister's '62 Lincoln (which she got from Dad after he passed) gone over for her,  so we could park & cruise together...she was pretty happy...

Her '62 got a lot of attention, too...repainted in the original color...

The '56 to my left was still Y-block powered! A really nice car!

Todd in Central California...about half way between Fresno and Sacramento

1956 Thunderbird - 1960 F-100 - 1961 Starliner - 1961 Imperial

Exhaust is done...2" duals with glass packs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNuiC4qVbRs&feature=youtu.be

Todd in Central California...about half way between Fresno and Sacramento

1956 Thunderbird - 1960 F-100 - 1961 Starliner - 1961 Imperial

Thanks, and I agree about the sound...sure was fun running around the neighborhood with open headers & down tubes! The kids that were on recess at the school up the street sure liked it (not sure about the teachers:w00t

Should still have a nice exhaust note. 2" duals with 18" glass packs (installed backwards, to mitigate some of the "fluff") should fit the bill. Was planning on 2 1/4", but 2" was much more suited to the stock frame, hangers, etc. I am running the exhaust through simple turn downs at the rear bumper. The stock bumper exit deflectors make the exhaust sound really "farty" as it bounces around.

Todd in Central California...about half way between Fresno and Sacramento

1956 Thunderbird - 1960 F-100 - 1961 Starliner - 1961 Imperial