I've been wanting to build a drag car for several years. About the time I thought I was well enough off financially to build one, the economy took a dump and my wife was laid off. My job is fairly secure, but who knows these days? So I have decided to build a "low buck" bracket car that would be fast enough to be fun, consistent, and upgradable at a future point should my finances/the economy get better.
First I bought a 93 Fox coupe with 4cyl for $300. It has a good body and actually runs and drives well. The only problem is the paint is severely sun damaged. All suspension and steering is good.
Next I bought a 1970 Mercury 429 and a C-6 from a friend for $400. This engine-trans came out of a grandmothers Marquis that had 30K miles and has been out of car and setting in the garage for about 25 years! I was gonna throw it in and run it as is, but decided to pull heads and look first. The cylinders have very little wear as expected, but one has a little surface rust, probably from an open valve letting in moisture from the air.
Remember, "low buck is my motto". I am going to hone the cylinders to break the glaze then put in new rings and rod bearings. I plan to port the stock D0ve heads and upgrade valve springs. I will use a Summit cam with .503 lift and 218 dur (to work with stock valvetrain) with their lifters and timing set. I could not find any used headers or mounts, so I sprung for D&D swap kit with their 3/4 length headers. (by the way these are very nice headers). I've bought a Performer Rpm intake and a Holley 750 vac off of ebay. I'll use the recurved stock dist with Pertronix elect kit. Since it's strip only, I'll use a stock 5.0 radiator I have and an electric fan from a Taurus that I also have sitting in garage. Stock auto shifter. Modify stock driveshaft and add loop.
I'm gonna freshen the C-6 and add a shift kit, build an 8.8 with some 3.55 gears I already have, then put on drag radials on the stock 10 hole wheels.
I'm shooting for low 13s or high 12s but really have no idea. What do you guys think? I'll add some pics later.
First I bought a 93 Fox coupe with 4cyl for $300. It has a good body and actually runs and drives well. The only problem is the paint is severely sun damaged. All suspension and steering is good.
Next I bought a 1970 Mercury 429 and a C-6 from a friend for $400. This engine-trans came out of a grandmothers Marquis that had 30K miles and has been out of car and setting in the garage for about 25 years! I was gonna throw it in and run it as is, but decided to pull heads and look first. The cylinders have very little wear as expected, but one has a little surface rust, probably from an open valve letting in moisture from the air.
Remember, "low buck is my motto". I am going to hone the cylinders to break the glaze then put in new rings and rod bearings. I plan to port the stock D0ve heads and upgrade valve springs. I will use a Summit cam with .503 lift and 218 dur (to work with stock valvetrain) with their lifters and timing set. I could not find any used headers or mounts, so I sprung for D&D swap kit with their 3/4 length headers. (by the way these are very nice headers). I've bought a Performer Rpm intake and a Holley 750 vac off of ebay. I'll use the recurved stock dist with Pertronix elect kit. Since it's strip only, I'll use a stock 5.0 radiator I have and an electric fan from a Taurus that I also have sitting in garage. Stock auto shifter. Modify stock driveshaft and add loop.
I'm gonna freshen the C-6 and add a shift kit, build an 8.8 with some 3.55 gears I already have, then put on drag radials on the stock 10 hole wheels.
I'm shooting for low 13s or high 12s but really have no idea. What do you guys think? I'll add some pics later.