Seems like a lifetime ago that I ran down to Charlie's to pick up the heads that Tim rebuilt for me...

I just came in from cinching down the pretty 573, and all that remains is bolting on the exhaust manifolds and thermostat housing, pre-lubing the engine, and firing it off...as long as all is well, the intake will come back off and the engine compartment will get detailed...I am pretty excited about that prospect, and the end of the underhood spending extravaganza...

Finally found my unicorn, the elusive Edelbrock valve covers, which are heading off to the polisher tomorrow...also tentatively decided to go with polished aluminum velocity stacks...figured they would better complement the polished valve covers, and provide an undeniable "hot rod" feel under hood...should also help me here the howl of the 94's

One of the valve covers:

The velocity stacks (on order now) on a sweet little Nailhead:

Also cleaning up the old Hedman one-off's as there were a couple of pin holes in the welds that needed to be addressed.

No pictures now, as I am waiting for a true "before" and "after" shots to share. The pictures of my 573 (in another thread) are all you get for now.

I really appreciate the technical advice I've received from this forum, as I really only joined after I got the 'Bird. Feel like I've made some friends and continue to learn A LOT!

And to:

"mctim64" for the beautiful head rebuild, and endless silly questions answered...

"57fordpu" for the stories, chat, and helping with the hand-off from Tim...

"YBLOCKMERC" forsetting me up with my Edelbrock valve covers...

Updates and pictures wil be coming soon!

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

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

Todd,



What are you using for ported vacuum for your distributor advance?




57 Black Tbird 312/auto

Mark,

I must have read every thread I could find on the subject a couple times. While my W&H distributor is what I'll be using for the test fire-up, I am going to go with a Mallory tach-drive electronic distributor.

It will be all mechanical advance, so I can side-step the entire vacuum issue. Frankly, it's operation "stuff-can the vacuum lines" under the hood for me--as much as possible, that is...

Vacuum brake booster--gone

Vacuum for wipers--routed differently

Manifold vacuum port--plugged

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

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

thats a sweet lookin nailhead!



dig those motor mounts too.

This ain't no L-Kamino!

Nice lookin' Buick.  I've always had a soft spot for "Nailheads"  one of the reasons i went with the 322ci 4.0" x 3.2" combo in my FED engine.  My dad was a Buick man through and through my uncle was the Ford guy, I always liked his F-600 truck I think that's what started me on the road to being a Ys guy.

Your stuff looks great Todd, can't wait to hear it run.

   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

Figured I'd throw out a little teaser on some progress on the T-bird...

It has been fired, and all seems well. Hadn't shared these with many, but here you go (I apologize for all the blathering...was exhausted & delirious )...a little noisy with open manifolds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wCH--Zcgxk

It was promptly take back apart for the aforementioned under hood attention...just about ready to (really) start reassembly...here's a quick shot of before I tore it down, and where it is currently. And yes, I deliberately left the chrome V/C's on it to use them as masking...

fresh from the barn:

As of this weekend:

More to come soon...

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

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

Todd, I went with the Mallory electronic in my 56 but it didn't have a vacum advance. So my new engine will be running the MSD. Might want to check that out. Chuck in NH (T-Bird sounds sweet!)

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

LOOKING GOOD, POST MORE PICTURES AS YOU GO. THANKS TOM

  JUST A MIDNIGHT CRUISE DOWN THUNDER ROAD!!! TOM DRUMMOND MIDWEST DIRECTOR 57 FORD INTERNATIONAL

That looks great Todd! Am doing the same thing Myself. Gives Me encouragement. Mike

1956 Fairlane Victoria (ORREO)

 

Overlooking Beautiful Rimrock AZ

You missed a spot ... ( I kid with you! ) very nicely done- /Duck

BOO- YA!!!