Projects building a low budget bellybutton 40 ford coupe

what type of Ford distributor is that exactly? thanks alot

 

I don't know for sure, but I'll bet it's a Duraspark II. That's the standard among Falcon guys, anyway.

 

Hey everyone thanks for the interest and comments.
Really helps keep the fire lit.

In hindsight I could have made this thing fit without butchering the firewall.
The only concession is the engine would have to be dropped in detached,
while this way I could drop in the engine/tranny together.
Otherwise the only other issue is very little room for a belt fan,
but there is a short waterpump that could be used.

All I know is it came off a 75 or so mustang II.
From what I've heard there are different internals,
so I'm hoping this thing will work!

You know there's a fine line between having talent
and just putting time in to make things work!
As you'll see here...

Okay so here's yesterdays project.
Actually started it the night before and finished the next day.

Precision drilling.
This was an old motormount shim for a boat diesel.

Custom hand-mill!

There was more measuring than I expected.
The edges are shaved as the block fits really tight to the crossmember.

The block finally fit right.

The new mustang II distributor was way taller than the old ford version.
Needed to cut a hole in the floor.
At this point it's cut first,
I'll cover it later.
http://perichbrothers.blogspot.com/2013/01/backyard-billet.html
Here's an even more detailed build link!

Now at least I can get it plumbed and move on with this project!

TP

 

I'm pretty sure that makes it a Duraspark I in its last year.

 

Hey I was wondering does the early female type distributor cap works with the duraspark II housing?
Basically I picked this early model cause it had the looks of the older style distributor.
Form over function ya know!
TP

 

I think so, but the book that would tell me for certain is packed away at the moment (moving).

I'm sure some Ford guy knows, though.

 

TP....I LOVE this build.

It so very much reminds me of the ways my dad and his buddies worked on stuff when I was growing up, (and still do for that matter).

Their stuff was never about perfection, but there was always a badass hotrod around just filled to the brim with cool fixes and engineering.

Half the time it was because they couldn't afford to send off for something and half the time it was just because they loved using their brains and skills instead of their wallets.

I'm trying to work up to that sort of skill level.

To me, your stuff is just the essence of hotrodding....cool old cars that get driven and scratched up sometimes, filled with clever engineering, built in simple garages with stains on the floor that are filled with battle scarred tools and equipment.

 

Man i love this build. Something i can relate to. All in house, garage built.

 

cool thanks for the info, i have the exact same engine that i'm putting in a 54 Ford and the whole distributor thing has been bugging me but this should help!

this build thread is awesome!

 

Hey Don we're in the same mindset.
A bunch of my Dad's friends had hot rods and semi-customs growing up.
These guys had the traditional rods of the time,
which meant ditching the flathead for a SBF or SBC!
They just built badass cars - raked and fast,
as much in the garage as possible with more work than money.
I'm beginning to understand why they always had so much fun!
They did drink a chitload of beer though back then!

You know Tedley all we need is a grinder, a stick welder, and a couple hours a week!
Oh yeah a box of 34 watt light bulbs comes in handy too.

*****

This weekend I got a couple garage hours in each evening.
Both days I wished I'd gotten a little earlier start.

My goal was to get the alternator mounted.
First off I had to choose which side to place it.
The water outlet and oil filter are on the driver side,
but the heads are also farther back on the driver side.
The passenger side has the timing pointer.

By the time I figured it out,
it was getting dark,
and out came my 34 watt light bulb.
At least the first part of the base was roughed in,
and I had a plan for the other pieces.

So tonight I got another late start,
but was able to get it about 75% done.

Tomorrow is a free day,
and it should be possible to get it dialed in.
Luckily I had the stock FORD alternator adjuster piece,
and I'll cut off a couple unnecessary inches.
I may jog that triangular piece to get it further down those studs.

I've got a thing for these mopar alternators,
I like the look and it keeps it in the 60's,
or that's what was planned.
The flathead had the 65ish dart alternator,
and used that little black box regulator on the firewall there.
Well my plan was to get the same one.
Since I'm extremely cheap right now,
I found the '65 alternator on ebay for $35 shipped remanufactured.
Couldn't beat it as it's $50+15 core over the counter.
Of course when it came in this is what I got,
a '72 version that used the transistorized regulator.
Bummer is it was too cheap to send back!
That's one of the reasons it's on the passenger side,
as there is a big square chunk on the rear part of the housing,
and on this side it's on the bottom.
For what it's worth,
the newer alternator is supposed to work better with an electronic ignition.
It's one big effin alternator that's for sure!

In typical fashion the night was ended with the 34 watt bulb!

TP

 

I was able to switch caps on my 351W Duraspark. Either style fit on mime.

 

Got some time in yesterday to wrap this up.

Now for some wiring and a belt.

Next is steering!

TP

 

very nice work.

 

Thanks Dwayne!

*****
Over the week I was able to chip away at the steering.

Since I'm past the point of no return here,
a GM saginaw 525 box is going in.
I found this one at o'reilly's for under $200,
from a 90's Jeep.
These use a 30 spline u-joint not the earlier 36.
Strange thing is the steering arm fits both the 1940 box and this one.

The old box was a little sloppy,
and there was a worn spot in it.
Check out the gold paint that was from the 60's!

Some templates were made to figure out the placement.
The new box is bigger but is layed out tighter,
the distance from the shaft to the steering pivot is really short.

A plate was whipped out of 1/4" steel,
and some holesaw scrap inserts.

The original mount was trimmed to fit.

I decided to weld it to the original riveted mounts.
There is a cool slip in one by pete & jakes,
but it mounts the box about an inch higher.

Everything was test fit before serious welding,
and I'm happy that the first plate worked out.

The u-joint makes the angle not as absolute as the old 40 box.
Lock to lock takes about 3.5 turns.
I've got a couple steering arms if it needs tuning.

Now I've got to figure out the column and shaft.
It's definitely street rod,
and I'm hoping it drives tighter,
better if the wife or kids sneak it out!
TP

 

That's impressive. It was probably way cheaper to upgrade the box than to rebuild the old one. And, you probably got quicker steering too.

 

You're a machine...I dig you're projects. That narrowed front axle took some balls to cut up, but looks like it was worth it!

 

If you are in a junkyard, look for a 5.0 Explorer. They have a VERY short waterpump. You need to get the timing cover and pulleys also. Drawback, it is reverse turning. I had one rebuilt with a different impeller to correct the rotation. Need to locate the correct pulley now.
Simple way to tell the pump rotation, grooved or Vbelt pulley is standard rotation, smooth pulley is reverse.

 

Nice job...great modernizations to keep things safe (always a good thing)...subscribed to keep track of what other magic you're gonna come up with!

 

Cool build. Subscribed!

 

Very impressed with your garage skills. Signed up for this one.

 

Adapt the new box to the 40 column keep the car looking like a classic old Ford.

 

I just bombed through the whole thread tonight , and I've gotta say , it's a great build so far . Nice work !

 

I missed this somehow......very nice work Travis........

 

Nice build thread, coming along nicely! Thats good to know about the 5.0 efi to carb conversion and the distributor info, very handy to know for my swap one day

 

Absolutely a great build!

 

I'm not a big fan of the way SBFs look, but this is shaping up to be a handsome engine. The valve covers and alternator really make it. What kind of air cleaner is planned?

I really dig your sense of aesthetics.

 

Love it Zibo .. Nice work !!!

Klaz¨

 

First off thanks for all the interest and comments.
I know how hard it is to find build threads on here,
as I'm really selfish when it comes to checking out posts!
Anyway it all helps stoke the fire if I'm in la-la land trying to figure out what to do next!

This thing is gonna be such a pain in the a$$ to remember what years and models
each piece came out of.
I'll have to have a list in the glovebox just in case!
The idea is to be able to repair anything using "over the counter" type parts.
Right now I'm forced to get the cheapest parts which may not last as long anyway!
I'm curious though the 90 lincoln had a serpentine but a normal rotation,(I hope now!)
so I'm wondering if the 5.0 uses the same or what made it different?

You know Mike the old box was probably fine,
if I had just swapped a new drag link/ball joints.
The thing is it was gonna get progressively worse.
Now,
if this remanufactured box gets sloppy,
I can either swap it out before the warranty,
or pony up another $200+- for a replacement.
It's planned obsolescence!

Thanks!
It's part garage hack and part holey chit it's getting dark gotta hurry up!

There's an all finned oval aircleaner on ebay that I was considering.
Not sure if it would be too much finned aluminum underneath there!
Plus it's $50 or so and I'm on such a friggin strictly negative budget.
I had thought of modifying an oil bath one to fit,
but that was with the stock valve covers.
Right now I'm scrounging $200+- to shorten my driveshaft,
so I may wait til the Big 3 swap meet in february to make the decision!

You know one reason to spend the time posting this stuff is to kinda push me to finish it,
not that I need it but I can get distracted easily!
Another is I search alot on how to do stuff on here or just online in general which may bring me here(hamb)!
Some of it isn't quite the same or it's more of a credit card style whatever,
but any information is adaptable to my situation.
The point is if anyone can learn from my mistakes or saves,
it makes it all the more worth it!

I'm hoping to be able to keep this one in the family,
and it would be cool if I'd trust the wife to take it on the road,
and maybe the kids in a couple years if they're lucky!
That makes it easy to decide on traditional vs modernized,
not that traditional isn't unsafe!
Right now if it looks good from a 640x480 view it's gotta do!

This one is tough cause to some it should be done super nice.
For me I just want a solid driver,
and maybe I'll clean it up later!
If I can get this running,
the rusty 40 will move into the spot,
then I can finish the sheetmetal welding and get it further along.
Priorities!
I've already forgot that I cut up that axle!

****

Okay so over the weekend inbetween the "rain" which is light sprinkles to some of you,
got some time to throw in.

When I got this car as a basketcase,
Ken (old owner) gave up everything to do with this body style.
It's gotten me into trouble,
but also allowed me to pick and choose from a now dwindling parts stash.
Some of the pieces were hot rod and some were stock,
that's why it was easy to put back together with the flathead back then.

After biting the bullet and cutting up a steering shaft,
A donor column was cut down to fit.
I think this was the column that was in the car when I got it,
as it had a 39 box with a torched out floor shifter hole.
(the complete one on the right was in there and way too nice to cut up!)

On a side note,
the column mount/drop is somehow clamped by a threaded bolt,
but this bolt/machine screw is totally smooth,
no philips cross, slot or hex hole.
Really weird,
and probably the 3rd time I've ever had to use an easy out!

I've been wanting to use this chromed shifter column forever,
but the thick chrome made the piece unuseable without a bunch of fine tuning.
The plan is to use it as the actual shifter,
but it looks like it's not as easy as I was planning.

The new box is just enough inward that the arm(s) hit the C-head.
Since only one arm is needed,
maybe shortening the column shifter a bit,
and then simplifying it to only one arm.
I'd love to use the arm that moves only when the shifter is raised up,
(the first/reverse movement)
cause that would be good way to limit accidental shifts.
Still not sure to modify the tranny shifter arm,
or use a bell crank.
This will take some time to figure out how to do this,
will have to go on my non-priority list for now!

You can see here I've also got to figure out the TV cable.
The stock Lincoln assembly is a perfect distance to the carburetor,
I just need to make a bracket to hold it on the intake...
another on the list...

So basically this is what it's gonna look like.
Not too much different than before.
The shaft needed to be thinned up a small amount to fit in the 3/4" weld u-joint.
I'll do the pin and weld thing as it's worked on the RPU for a long time.
Still need to do an inner bearing and lower column support,
so this is all just mocked up.

My ADD kicked in though and I pulled out some exhaust manifolds.

The Lincoln sheetmetal header fits perfect on the passenger side,
that's why it's not in this picture!
The cast iron Mustang? fits perfect on the drivers side.
There's a big crack inbetween the 2 and 3 port,
so it made the choice easier.
Plus I'd like to keep it somewhat symmetrical if possible,
and the Lincoln has a really easy to use no-gasket joint,
which I fortunately had saved.
There are cast iron ones that angle down to work on the passenger side,
and I could braze up this drivers side,
but for now I'm gonna go with the cheesy sheetmetal ones.

So basically I need to almost copy the cast iron layout.

The easy part was whipped out pretty quick.
I found out that these headers are made of a double layer of sheetmetal,
not one thick layer.
Really strange design.

This is how far I got.
Lucky to have a similar engine laying around!

Now there's a bunch of half-finished projects to do,
but at least it's farther along and there's not alot of guesswork.

Thanks again guys for all the interest and pointers!

TP

 

I was envisioning one of these, myself:



Not sure if that's a "budget" option, though!

 

Zibo--sent you some info