I am sick as a dog BTW, that is why I am typing and posting so freaking much. - Stuck inside! been tinkering with 64 fords for the past few years to learn basic automotives and I have been hooked into reading chilton's before I go to sleep at night. I'm going to lay it all out here. I know where some goodies are for starting a beginner's hot rod. So I am curious at what Kind of Mileage I would get from a something like a straight 6 flathead with turbos like mentioned in other posts. Mileage is important to me because when the sun is out I want to drive the old cars. Period. Here is what I found recently. Looks similar to 29 t-bucket style car. Farmer has no clue and neither do I. Not sure on year. - Also I have acess to a 144" (not 100% on size attempted to decode) straight 6 out of a 64 ranchero with complete drivetrain OR a 302 mildly built with stall converter and c-4 or c-6 (not sure) with driveshaft & 2 rear ends. Both relatively cheap. I have been wanting to tub and narrow this 64 ranchero & add the 302 in it, but am hesitant because I don't want to keep it. And It won't bring much $$ when completed. I just want to practice more trial and error and get my $$ back out of the car. Should I sell my 64 390 xl Ford Galaxie and start a rod? The 64 should bring about $8K and I have been considering putting about $1800 into it. So maybe $9K ? - should go pretty far. I am not about to go blowing $9K any time soon so don't think I am just gettin' itchy. I have recieved awesome help and advice on this forum and need more. How about some input from the "been there, done that" crowd. I don't drive the 63 or 64 gas guzzlers as much as I did a few years ago because now it cost about $20 for a few hours worth of cruisin. And that $ could be going towards chrome. I want to drive my cars not stare at em. I have been fixin and sellin' and I am ready to have a keeper that I can make a lifelong toy. Should I build?
First thing to do is find out what year the car is 29 would be a model A roadster(if it appears to be a bucket) Model T's end in 27 Either would make a fine ride Good Luck.
Here's my only rule on building hot rods. If you have one built, keep it til you have another. Personally, I find not owning a running old car to be very depressing. Keep yer sled and build something cheap. Pickup the body and start collecting parts. Building is half the fun, don't be in too big a hurry.
Don't worry about gas mileage so much either. When I first got my Fairlane it was getting something like 8 MPG. I put a bigger engine (289) in it, slapped a 4v carb on it...some headers, drive it like my foot's made of lead (pipes sound gooooood) and I'm getting just a little under 20 MPG right now. I had a 4cyl Ford Ranger that got the same gas mileage. Gas mileage doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the size of the engine.
Amen to Crease's comment about not selling one rod until you've got its replacement -- that time between cars can be a much bigger downer than you can imagine. Especially if you're without a ride during good cruising season(s). Really ****s. I've been there. As for gas mileage, you have to think in terms of the overall cost of the vehicle. Yeah, a smaller turbo motor might (MIGHT) get better fuel mileage than a bigger-inch, non-turbo one. But the cost of a turbocharger and such has to be factored in. And sometimes, by staying with a really common engine -- Windsor small block for instance -- the components are so common (cheap) that they can offset a lot of fuel. Bottom line is, a couple thou extra spent building a small turbo motor could buy a lotta gas. Now, if you really just get off on the challenge of it all, then hey, more power to you. But don't be surprised if the $$$ savings don't work out to much in the long run. Dave
Oh, and as for selling the Galaxie to finance a street rod, that's a toughie. I've found that different cars scratch different itches. Galaxie would be good for comfie crusing with lots of people, street rod would be good for '50s nostalgia and racing around. Soon as you have one, you'll miss the other. Been there too. Hard to find one car that'll satisfy all moods! Dave
Thanks for the input everyone. I rarely have p***engers unless its my girlfriend and she loves speed as much as I do. Her dad got me into all this mess in the first place. putting a 289 in a full steel 64 galaxie is not an option for me. I am used to 340 HP 4sp hurst and 350 rear gear. 289 would be great for cruisin' but I have a really heavy foot. Now a 289 motor on a lil hotrod at 18 MPG and about 200 horsepower. If that is possible/probable I could do that.
[ QUOTE ] Now a 289 motor on a lil hotrod at 18 MPG and about 200 horsepower. If that is possible/probable I could do that. [/ QUOTE ] Its possible you can do better than that. I have a 3sp and the same rear end gearing as you. Plus the Fairlane weighs in at around 3000 lbs. With an overdrive transmission and some tamer gearing in the rear, I think you could probably get over 20 MPG. Especially with the lighter weight of an early hot rod...
Gas mileage was never a concern back in the day and it shouldn't be now. Hot rods are all about performance (#1 in my book), appearance (nothing more need be said here) and fun. That last part is the most important one.... I doubt very much you'll be driving the car every day. If a Saturday night rod run used to cost you $5. in gas, now it will cost you perhaps $8. Not many will let $3. keep them away from their hobby. Hot rods are expensive even if you do a budget build. Gas mileage should be the least of your concerns. That said, I wouldn't hesitate to use a modern 4 cylinder (maybe computerized, probably carbureted) engine or even a 250-300" inline 6 for a hot rod engine. If . . . (big word there) you just happened to get good mileage, well . . . them's the breaks....
Sounds good then. What you think about that 144" motor from a 64 Ranchero? I have the door jam codes at my house and I think it is a three speed auto with OD & a .300 or .325 open rear but not sure. I could post the #'s I suppose when I get home. The ranchero's motor looks cool, and It's intact and sorta (haha sorta) running already - which is a plus in my book. Yeah, being sick ****s, thanks for the get well comment. I'm at work now with what I am calling "the ick"
It gets more like 7 mpg. If I drive my galaxie 150 - 160 miles a week, it costs me about $40 per week. Not every week, but when possible I drive it all the time. For $150 or so per month I bet I could get some dam racing fuel With gas prices ever increasing, there has to be a better solution to my need for speed. If I could save around half that gas cost, it would be maybe $850 per year. - Decent wheels or maybe a good grome bumper. 5 years ago, I was 18 and never thought I would feel this way. I mean I can remember buying gas for $.96 What the Hell? it went up a friggin' dollar? in 7 years? Aint B. used to say to Goober "I put a dollars worth in" Pump gas was like $.05 - $.07 it took 40 years for gas to jump a dollar. what the hell happened. Don't answer that, you all know way better than I do. I really have no business ranting here. Most of you cats I am guessing are around CA. In TN reg unleaded is $1.95 I shouldn't be whining should I? - not when compared to what some of you are spending. Just thought maybe some of you are using race fuels or alcohol and such.
hey joe, my galaxie has a 289 w/ a 3 speed and high gears... I get 26 mpg with it on the freeway all day long.
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