1970 Ford XL Overhaul

Good evening everyone,

The XL is here and here are the specs and some piccies:

Factory 429 2V engine with D0VE-A Block and heads.

Floor shift C6 box

9" Diff

Air Conditioning, Power Windows, Cruise Control, Bucket Seats. (But you all probably knew all this already lol)

Nice car, I love the Galaxies. Looks like you have a straight and solid star there. What's the plan for this one? I imagine it can be quite the sleeper. :)

Well the amount i do is determined by the amount of money i have, so it'll be baby steps for a while lol. Just going to bring it up to scratch and get everything on it working 100% for now, all the fun stuff will come a little later.

If money is the problem, you can simply start with a matte black coat of paint and some wheels. That's basically the first stuff what I did.
I don't want to steal your thunder and hijack your thread, but I thought I'd post a couple pics of mine anyway LOL.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t111/1970galaxie/DSCF0713Medium.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t111/1970galaxie/DSCF0718Medium.jpg

Showoff :p hehehehe

Seriously, I'm only showing how little you need to make these old tanks look pretty good.
Cheap paint (I did it myself), lowering, and a set of wheels.
Just trying to prove that you don't need an earlier classic Galaxie like a '63 or '64 to look OK.

All too true, and i really think these things define that 70's muscle look.

My late Uncle had a 70.It was the dark-black green color. Cant remember the name though. Seems like alot of them were that color.

Colin you have a PM

Hey, thats a sweet looking Galaxie. Isn't the steering wheel on the wrong side???:)

That dash looks cool, wraps right around.

You have a great base to start with, it'll be a fun driver just as it is for now.

Good luck, and have fun!!

Bill

Dam those cars just ooze coolness.

Greg

Nice looking ride

Thankyou for all the comments everyone, im quite proud of this car already :D

cool xr8ute you guys have some cool rides down under 5.4dohc with manual gear box how cool is that hows she run an #s on the track

Rick, I might start up an Aussie Falcon thread in the Garage.
I don't want to deviate from this thread.

I just fixed the driver side power window today, these doors are so much easier than modern cars lol. Luckily the window just fell out of it's guide, popped it back in and it's good as new :)

If the mad porter could please contact me about turning my D0VE-A's into something special, that would be fantastic. Cheers

Heres a link to the mad porter's website:

http://reincarnation-automotive.com/

Some very good info about block mods, and you can get a membership to get into the head porting info, very smart dude.

Bill

Cool cars guys. In high school, I drove a '69 XL with a 390. A couple of years later, when I was in the Marines, my ex wife wrecked it. I miss that car. :mad:

Cool cars guys. In high school, I drove a '69 XL with a 390. A couple of years later, when I was in the Marines, my ex wife wrecked it. I miss that car. :mad:

Is that why she is yer EX:D

Just an update on my step by step progress, I am in the process of getting fuel pumping back thru my pump which is proving rather annoying, by the end of the week im hoping to get the engine back into relatively good shape, oil change, new gaskets, spark plugs, etc. Then onto replacing some wheel studs that are missing, then back to focusing on replacing all the missing bits (knobs, dials, etc). Basically limited by the money i have but getting it complianced is my first priority :)

It's finally back up and running, and running nicely, So the first order of business is replacing that sump gasket and doing an oil change. Is what i've heard about older engines needing oil with a higher zinc content than most oils provide true? something to do with prematurely wearing away cam lobes and lifters and so forth....

One of the nicest cars Ive seen was a 71 dark green metallic 70 XL 2 door with 15" magnums. I'm not a fan of full size cars most times but that one single car turned me around. I'd rock one of these proudly.

Great car, good luck with the build

It's finally back up and running, and running nicely, So the first order of business is replacing that sump gasket and doing an oil change. Is what i've heard about older engines needing oil with a higher zinc content than most oils provide true? something to do with prematurely wearing away cam lobes and lifters and so forth....

sounds good so far mate!.......not sure about the oil.....I'd say heck with it and treat it to some full synthetic!......If its a stock engine (valve train)..I will say from a FEW bad experiences.....dont hotrod it very hard!....or you'll be replacing internal parts real soon! lol!.....I've destroyed three good engines acting ignorant with them for my buddies. Valve float is real bad with a stock valve train......that and 7000 rpm in stock big block!......keep up the good work and keep the progress posted....

sounds good so far mate!.......not sure about the oil.....I'd say heck with it and treat it to some full synthetic!......If its a stock engine (valve train)..I will say from a FEW bad experiences.....dont hotrod it very hard!....or you'll be replacing internal parts real soon! lol!.....I've destroyed three good engines acting ignorant with them for my buddies. Valve float is real bad with a stock valve train......that and 7000 rpm in stock big block!......keep up the good work and keep the progress posted....

Not to worry, I'm not going too hard with it. I want to show it off around the street :D i would be stoked with 500 flywheel HP. It will be getting treated with the best engine rebuild I can find here. And giving it appropriate enhancements, something i'm a little clueless about so if anyone can help out with some advice that would be great :) I know it depends on application, which is essentially a weekend warrior, don't want it for competitions, just a neck snapping streeter hehe. But in saying that, if i can get low 13's out of this with minimal fuss i'd be happy.

EDIT: Thankyou for all the nice comments too everyone :) It's a big boost to my enthusiasm for this.

Not to worry, I'm not going too hard with it. I want to show it off around the street :D i would be stoked with 500 flywheel HP. It will be getting treated with the best engine rebuild I can find here. And giving it appropriate enhancements, something i'm a little clueless about so if anyone can help out with some advice that would be great :) I know it depends on application, which is essentially a weekend warrior, don't want it for competitions, just a neck snapping streeter hehe. But in saying that, if i can get low 13's out of this with minimal fuss i'd be happy.

EDIT: Thankyou for all the nice comments too everyone :) It's a big boost to my enthusiasm for this.

APROPRIATE ENHANCEMENTS....okay, what else?

475-500HP 460ci

Intake System:

750cfm Holley DP Carb professionally calibrated for your application
Edelbrock Performer Rpm Intake Manifold

Cylinder Heads:

D0VE heads with larger valves, port job, chambers polished and port match
(330-ish/190-ish cfm flow @.600)
Intake valve size increased to 2.19
Exhaust valve size increased to 1.76
Roller rockers.

Short Block:

Comp Cam XE274H Hydraulic flat tappet cam or equivalent
(Specs:274/286 adv., 230/236@.050, .562/.565, 110 LSA)
Compression at 9.8:1
Stock crank
Eagle I-beam rods
High volume oil pump
Deepened oil pan with windage tray

Exhaust:

1 7/8" headers to dual 3" pipes with H-pipe. Good flowing 3" Magnaflow mufflers or equivalent.

Summary:

91 octane. Keep redline to 6500 rpm.

As for the oil question, so long as you have no leaks I'd run full synthetic. "Older engines" needing high zinc is for the flat tappet cam, but namely just for initial breakin. I run Valvoline VR1 for breakin, or any decent oil with a zinc/cam breakin additive will do. Then change oil after breakin to any decent dino oil (VR1 is good) and after a 1500 miles I change oil again to synthetic.

If you got leaks either fix 'em or stick to dyno, no sense dumping top dollar oil on the ground.

As for the oil question, so long as you have no leaks I'd run full synthetic. "Older engines" needing high zinc is for the flat tappet cam, but namely just for initial breakin. I run Valvoline VR1 for breakin, or any decent oil with a zinc/cam breakin additive will do. Then change oil after breakin to any decent dino oil (VR1 is good) and after a 1500 miles I change oil again to synthetic.

If you got leaks either fix 'em or stick to dyno, no sense dumping top dollar oil on the ground.

Does this apply for engine rebuilding or just for new cams?

APROPRIATE ENHANCEMENTS....okay, what else?

475-500HP 460ci

Intake System:

750cfm Holley DP Carb professionally calibrated for your application
Edelbrock Performer Rpm Intake Manifold

Cylinder Heads:

D0VE heads with larger valves, port job, chambers polished and port match
(330-ish/190-ish cfm flow @.600)
Intake valve size increased to 2.19
Exhaust valve size increased to 1.76
Roller rockers.

Short Block:

Comp Cam XE274H Hydraulic flat tappet cam or equivalent
(Specs:274/286 adv., 230/236@.050, .562/.565, 110 LSA)
Compression at 9.8:1
Stock crank
Eagle I-beam rods
High volume oil pump
Deepened oil pan with windage tray

Exhaust:

1 7/8" headers to dual 3" pipes with H-pipe. Good flowing 3" Magnaflow mufflers or equivalent.

Summary:

91 octane. Keep redline to 6500 rpm.

How do i translate this for a 429? Is it as simple as minusing 50ish HP?

I reckon you could quite easily get a lazy 450hp, but it's the torque you would want to pull a Galaxie along nicely on the street.

I reckon you could quite easily get a lazy 450hp, but it's the torque you would want to pull a Galaxie along nicely on the street.

Yep! and that lazy 450+hp usually comes with 500+ lbs/torque.!!!!

Yep! and that lazy 450+hp usually comes with 500+ lbs/torque.!!!!

I know this is a really obvious question, but does lots of torque affect acceleration to a greater degree than HP? I love lots of torque, but does it do more than make the car good for pulling tree stumps?

I know this is a really obvious question, but does lots of torque affect acceleration to a greater degree than HP? I love lots of torque, but does it do more than make the car good for pulling tree stumps?


Actually, Torque IS WHAT MAKES ACCELERATION, NOT HP. Think of it like this, torque is the "push" that gets your car up and moving, and horsepower is the helping hand that that keeps it going. Without torque, there is no acceleration. Torque is what sets these drag cars asses in the pavement and lifts the front end off the ground. Good example is small blocks versus big blocks. I have seen wild horsepower numbers from smallbock strokers but the torque is usually way below the hp. Big blocks on the other hand having longer strokes and so much more reciprocating mass build WAY MORE torque and horsepower. Big blocks usually almost match torque and hp. Say a smallblock that makes 600hp generally only makes 450+- torque. Big blocks that make 600hp generally make 500-550 torque. When you punch the throttle from a dead stop and feel that freight train pull........THATS TORQUE TALKING TO YA! Some people here have so much torque that there car breaks the tires loose on the strip. To compensate for this, They go up to a higher gear ratio where it won't break traction as bad. Did that help?

Actually, Torque IS WHAT MAKES ACCELERATION, NOT HP. Think of it like this, torque is the "push" that gets your car up and moving, and horsepower is the helping hand that that keeps it going. Without torque, there is no acceleration. Torque is what sets these drag cars asses in the pavement and lifts the front end off the ground. Good example is small blocks versus big blocks. I have seen wild horsepower numbers from smallbock strokers but the torque is usually way below the hp. Big blocks on the other hand having longer strokes and so much more reciprocating mass build WAY MORE torque and horsepower. Big blocks usually almost match torque and hp. Say a smallblock that makes 600hp generally only makes 450+- torque. Big blocks that make 600hp generally make 500-550 torque. When you punch the throttle from a dead stop and feel that freight train pull........THATS TORQUE TALKING TO YA! Some people here have so much torque that there car breaks the tires loose on the strip. To compensate for this, They go up to a higher gear ratio where it won't break traction as bad. Did that help?


I kinda figured that would be the case, it's just confusing when cars that have "high" hp and next to no torque make good accel. times. And if the factory 0-60 figures are correct for my XL, then it will make my factory 300HP 302W look like nothing. (I haven't been able to plant the right foot in my XL yet).

I kinda figured that would be the case, it's just confusing when cars that have "high" hp and next to no torque make good accel. times. And if the factory 0-60 figures are correct for my XL, then it will make my factory 300HP 302W look like nothing. (I haven't been able to plant the right foot in my XL yet).

It will be fun when you get to:D

UPDATE: Wheel Studs, SP's and Leads all successfully replaced. Only awaiting a proper sump gasket job and it will be 99% drivable. (carby needs a tidy up).

UPDATE 2: Sump Gasket Installed successfully. Car needs a tune and a new freakin carby lol. Then i'll be getting somewhere....

hey dude any more progress on that galaxy?

Yea man:D have you got it ready to ride yet:D

I'm busy talkin' with him on another forum.
You'll just have to wait a minute LOL!

Whoa fellas, what i do is dictated by the money i've got. so very little at the moment lol. But i have got the aussie seatbelts needed to drive it here, so it's one step closer. Presently trying to get a carby and manifold on the cheap. Any of you guys know much about Weiand Stealths'? Just theyre a lot cheaper than edelbrocks to buy here, with all that import nonsense.....

And i noticed holley DP's don't have an electric choke, is the regular 750cfm sufficient? or maybe a street avenger?

Okay so your like me wearing a money harness, the stealthes are good intakes, and a 750 dp should work just fine, with what your doing with it

but im not wanting a manual choke, and the DP's have only that, something with an electric choke would be nice....

but im not wanting a manual choke, and the DP's have only that, something with an electric choke would be nice....
Or you saying nay on the manuel choke because your lazy like me and don't want to open the hood to choke it??.......if thats the case, did you also know they sell a choke cable you route from your carb to your under dash area?......climb in, pull the cable, pump the go pedal a few, and fire it up man!!!!....easy!

Or you saying nay on the manuel choke because your lazy like me and don't want to open the hood to choke it??.......if thats the case, did you also know they sell a choke cable you route from your carb to your under dash area?......climb in, pull the cable, pump the go pedal a few, and fire it up man!!!!....easy!

Yeah i know you can get them, still want an E-Choke :)

In all my many years of using Holleys, I've never bothered with a choke, because I don't reckon the damn things work properly.
All I ever do, is kick the pedal a few time, and it'll run straight away, and idle by itself not to long afterwards.

In all my many years of using Holleys, I've never bothered with a choke, because I don't reckon the damn things work properly.
All I ever do, is kick the pedal a few time, and it'll run straight away, and idle by itself not to long afterwards.

X2!

George.

Thats how mine is to, all the carbs I have had with chokes they endup not working and I take them off, once you get mine started you hold on 1500 rpm for about 15sec and it is set

Not really an update, but just like to share that i took the XL for a bit of a drive, quite an experience that's for sure. Didn't give it a boot since the carb is in a bit of a state. All in all, i can truly say I loved it, even after 40 years it's a beautiful car to drive and i've never experienced anything quite like it, it's just given me even more enthusiasm to get it up and running and on the road. I really do envy all you older fellas, it's an era of motoring i missed out on....

Sure am tempted to drive it more than just on weekends :)

Good to hear it Mate.
Galaxies are beautiful cars to own and drive, and need to be enjoyed!

hey dan, get on your forums already :D

Sounds like you get your carb straightined out and your going to have something that your proud of :D

Alritey, just a quick question, what is the limit that a c6 can handle before it needs to be strenghtened? And what is the maximum HP i can safely get away with on a stock d0ve block? (pistons, rods, cam, the lot). I know it varies by the condition of it, but lets assume it's perfect....

This is just so i know what i can do with the heads and leaving the block and everything in it alone.

I am not sure what the C6 can handle, but I bielive that the stock crank and stuff can handle 500-550+ anyways

I am not sure what the C6 can handle, but I bielive that the stock crank and stuff can handle 500-550+ anyways


for sure........I've heard from 500-650, it varies on who your asking, I've even seen some thats over 750 but thats really pushing it with stock rods. Block and crank are good up to 750 from what I understand hope this helps.

You can get more than 750 out of the stock block, My buddys 48 F-1 has a 512 that is making in the 900 range, and has CR of about 15-1:D

erica ortiz ran a stock block with 1500 hp, but thats playing with a very short life and all aftermarket components besides the block

Sorry fellas im not dead lol just been moving house, finally got the Gal into a shed so I can get stuck into it now :D the vinyl roof is off same with the front bumper. I'll be picking up a Holley 3310 series carb (750cfm) tomorrow, and be ordering my stealth manifold, so it's progressing.

I'm having some difficulty removing the chrome around the doors, and i'd like to keep it so destroying it is not an option.

Ok fellas, it's time for me to get serious about this, im thinking of taking the heads off this to get reco'd and ported. I wish to do this myself in a bid to save money, if anyone could provide some sort of instruction that would be most appreciated :) and if theres any porting jargon i can specify to my porter (since no one around here seems to know much about these heads) that would be good also, and whilst ive got my heads off is there any inspecting of the block i can perform, this will all be done in-car. To be best of my knowledge, the block and its components are sound enough for my application, so it would be just identifying any worn parts, or something that would be beneficial to replace with the power boost. And from what ive read on here, my D0VE's use the stud type adjustable rockers, is it worth changing them to stud roller rockers? I have no intention of changing my cam in the near future, the port work will not be too aggressive, so it should suffice for now.

Cool cars guys! I had a 69 galaxie and I loved it. Could cruise the highway at 90+ like it was nothing. Also was great for sliding corners on dry pavement.
No way I'd do that now, but it was a wondefull part of my teen years. People still ask me about the car 20 years later.

Keep up the good work.

Dave

If you have a look at Paul's site, he has a ton of great info.

http://reincarnation-automotive.com

You can sign up for a membership for a few bucks and get all the info you need to do it at home yourself.

He has made some crazy power with iron heads.

Bill

If you have a look at Paul's site, he has a ton of great info.

http://reincarnation-automotive.com

You can sign up for a membership for a few bucks and get all the info you need to do it at home yourself.

He has made some crazy power with iron heads.

Bill


There is no way i'd even attempt to do this myself lol, i have very little experience with grinding and these heads are VERY hard to come by here, and when you do, theyre expensive. All I want to do is take them off myself, I just don't know the proper way of doing so. I'll be getting someone of more experience to do the actual head work. I just want to provide an outlay of what work I want done to them. BBF's arent very popular over here and thus very few know what to do with them. :(

Just an update, On my week long holiday work on the XL is progressing nicely. The engine bay is currently being resprayed in gloss black and it's looking miles better already. I'm chasing up a way to get the panels repsrayed on the cheap at the moment.

Engine work has stalled due to lack of money haha.

Rear brake reservoir is empty for a yet-to-be-determined reason. But cylinder and booster have to come out anyway for rebuilding.

Ugh just overwhelmed by the amount of work needing to be done and the trickling of money not keeping up. I guess I should be thankful that it could be a lot worse, the electrics, A/C, motor, gearbox and driveline are all good.

Sounds like you're having fun.. ;)

Well the time has come to finally to do something fun on the Gal. The only thing that's got me stumped is choice of camshaft/pushrods. I'd like to keep it hydraulic flat tappet and it needs to work with the following:

-Weiand stealth intake
-holley 750 vac sec
-roller rockers
-d0ve heads that have received mild portwork as outlined on this site.
-the rest of the engine will remain stock.

I'd like to keep max rpm at 5500, and would just like a broad power delivery that would be better than a stock cam and using the above components. I still don't fully understand camspeak so any help would be most appreciated. Thankyou

EDIT: This is a 429, not a 460. :)

Sounds like you making progress!!

You might do better to post this question in the engine tech section....

Bill

I know, it's great. i just got the stealth intake today. It looks very tidy, I was impressed. The question has been posted in engine tech, please feel free to reply, as its got me stumped :(

Okie dokey, This is the cars' progress at present. It is currently being resprayed. And here's the happy snaps.

And some more:

After it's complete, compliancing for Australian roads is next.

What do you need to be road legal down under ? You are gonna rebuild the trany aren't you ? It has been used for... "years" and the clutches have got to be bad by now . Besides , you know the last owner didn't take care of the car . That is one cool car . What kind of gear oil do they have down under for the 9" inch and bushings ?

Its looking like she is gonna be pretty straight . Have you decided on a color yet?

What do you need to be road legal down under ? You are gonna rebuild the trany aren't you ? It has been used for... "years" and the clutches have got to be bad by now . Besides , you know the last owner didn't take care of the car . That is one cool car . What kind of gear oil do they have down under for the 9" inch and bushings ?

To make it legal is L/S Seatbelts, amber indicators & child restraints. Yes the trans shall be getting rebuilt, simply because of age, this things been barely run in. Not sure what diff oil we use but 9"'s are insanely popular here so that will be no problem at all.

The car is getting painted Jet Black, I know not terribly original but IMO these cars look very tough in this colour. I don't know if you guys in the States have heard of Dragway Indy wheels, if not google them. Very appropriate for my Ford :D

Also, would anyone happen to have guide/diagram for the '70 Galaxie fuse panel? It's a bit of a mess and im unsure of which runs what :confused:

It will be back in my shed just in time for christmas, can't wait to post up the pictures.

Check your mail for fuse set up.

It uses the modern fuse type.

If you have a look at Paul's site, he has a ton of great info.

http://reincarnation-automotive.com

You can sign up for a membership for a few bucks and get all the info you need to do it at home yourself.

He has made some crazy power with iron heads.

Bill

That is Scotty's site... Paul is http://www.highflowdynamics.com/

Tom

Good news everyone. Car is finally painted after months of waiting. Pictures will be up this tuesday (local time hehe).

Am I the only one that doesn't see any pics of the OP's Galaxie? 69-70 XLs are my favorite of all the Galaxies. Too many projects or I'd have one.

Yep you're right!
Looks like they've been removed.

Sorry for the disappointment everyone. Painters sure do take their time hehe. Unoffically, it may be back next week. Ill let ya'll know.