Bill, I think the noticable difference will be instead of needing a set of tires once a year, he will be needing a set once a month!

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

Mike,



Your timing is impecable...I just finished putting them on about an hour ago. Pretty easy compared to my FE 65 Galaxie. The passenger side is straight forward. I have the heater blower motor and ducting out for access. You have to finesse the dipstick tube a bit to bolt it to the header but not hard. The drivers side is easier if you take the battery out and the battery box side panel off. Kind of a tight fit getting the collector between the outboard side of the steering column and the inner fender but a little persuasion got it done. I made some heat shields for the plug boots as the originals won't fit under the header tubes. I used the originals as a pattern using some sheet metal from Home Depot. I have been around and around with Sanderson's leaking on my FE motor. Tried several high-zoot gaskets which all failed. Sanderson's says use high temp black silicone, and I finally took the advice. The best way to do it on the Tbird is apply the bead of black stuff around each (clean) port on the head. Then install the header with the bolts only finger tight; snug but not torqued. Let the silicone cure for a few hours then tighten up the header bolts. I drove my neighbors apeshat running the engine with open headers today. Sounds great! Driving it that way 8 miles to the muffler shop in the morning. I have never driven a Y block that gets it like this one does now. Going to have to go easy on the Fordomatic. Hoping to have the 3x2 setup on next week.



I'll get some photos up after the exhaust is installed. I am beat tonight. Trying get all this done by tomorrow. Friday I will be at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey for the Historic Vintage Car Races. Friday is good for being in the pits and talking with the racers.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

I have been thinking about the Sandersons for my T'bird to.  When you get them on would you please post pictures and let us know how the install went?  MIKE

Mike, still lovin his 57 t'bird after 53 years!

Mark: I believe type "A" auto trans fluid is now known as Dextron or Dextron 2

Paul

Paul,



Thanks for the info. The stalling has just about cleared up. I am working on getting the Sanderson headers on and making some heat shields for the plug boots. At the same time working on the 3x2 94/Edelbrock 573 set up. Lots of little things slowing these projects down. I have been using F type in the Tbird and my original 65 Galaxie Cruisomatic for a long time. If I remember correctly, Type A was discontinued in 68? because it contained whale oil and after the whaling moratorium, Type F was the replacement. Not sure what Type A is today.




57 Black Tbird 312/auto

Mark: Re the Fordomatic. Don't know if this info will help the stallling situation or not, but my 57s glove box plaque says to use type "A" fluid..

Paul

Mark,

With all of those nice tools you have, I wish I lived closer to you.

Paul J. - '57 E Code

Thanks John,



I set the initial at 14 last night and the idle is down now. Need to spend some time with the carb idle mix and fast idle. It engages drive without stalling now if fully warmed (still need to re-install the T-stat which I left out for the break-in), but reverse is still stalling unless I finesse the gas pedal . I drove it a few miles today. The rings must have seated during the break-in, no sign of smoke on acceleration at all. No blow by with the PCV plugged off. I have a set of 225/75R 15's that came with my 65 Galaxie which are much taller than the 225/60R 15's that are usually on the Bird. I romped on it two or three times through first and into second, maybe 3/4 throttle and can feel a major improvement even with the tall tires, stock manifolds and 450cfm Holley. After I swap the Torque Thrust wheels/tires, add the headers, T-stat, another valve adjust(still too noisy after the last .019) and a few more miles to sort things out I will give it a good run. I had to replace three of the rocker arm adjusters which were too loose to hold the adjustment. I had box of Ford replacements stuffed back in a drawer, (7/16 nuts instead of 1/2 maybe for FE's?) so I need to check the lash again.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

Mark, glad to hear you have the Bird running. You will need to put some initial timing in it. Usually 12-14 idle timing. The 57 distributors advance a lot so you might need to limit it or you will have 40+ at full advance. Adding to the initial should allow the engine to idle down to 600 rpm which will be much easier on the FOM.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

Mark, what was the noticed difference with the new heads, or too early to tell.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia