I've decided to go ahead and so the conversion on my 54 Lincoln Capri. I think since I have to replace most of the wiring due to rodent gnawing, it only makes sense to go and do the conversion for reliably and ease of part availability. Plus this car is loaded with accessories that I'm concerned about not having enough power to run the car and still be able to see at night. If someone would like to hook up off here and chat about what I am looking at to complete this, I'd appreciate it. I know of most of what needs to be done, it's what parts from where that I get confused about. Will I need to get a distributor from a specific vehicle or are there options? How do I put a more modern carb on and what adapter is needed. Stuff like that. Too specific for the forum I'm thinking. This is not going to happen all at once, this is a long term project and I need to make a game plan if sorts. Don't want to fix something that won't matter once the conversion happens. This has the 317 engine and the original carb is gold. Saw one on eBay for 700 and it needs to be rebuilt. I'm not going for totally original in the engine bay but yes for the rest of the car. That's why I'm looking for a decent 4 bbl that'll work on it. I'm also looking for a way to get dual exhaust on this baby. I hope there isn't too much info to keep people interested but this is my predicament. Baby steps of course. So thanks for any help and I appreciate all y'all's inputs.
Just follow this guide it covers almost everything. https://darksidersrealm.forumotion....lt-positive-ground-to-12-volt-negative-ground Since you do have a fair amount of accessories I think this company is the one to choose http://rebelwire.com/rebel-wire-products.php?cat=Wire Kits They have long been active here on the H.A.M.B. and known for their excellent service after the sale, if you have a problem or need advice they are as near as your phone.
On the 12v conversion just do like Jeff says. I am not an expert on the Lincoln/Big Truck Y blocks but on the car/Pickup Y Blocks you can use a FE big block starter (352, 390, 428) If you have trouble finding a Y Block unit. The starter bendix gear engages the front of the flywheel instead of the rear, handy if the original starter has chewed up the flywheel gear. On the carb adapter there are a simple plate that adapt from the small early 4 barrel footprint to the larger Holley/Edelbrock more common footprint. Even some three two adapters out there! Our group of "car guys" meet every Thursday night to build a project car. When completed the car is auctioned or sold and the proceeds go to a local non profit charity we choose. The current project is a 32 Ford roadster powered by a 292 Y Block, you can see the carb adapters on the following pictures. Please be kind, we always build these projects on a tight budget and with as much donated parts as we can get. Our goal is to make as much profit as possible to give to our charity organizations. Not much chrome or fancy manifolds unless we can build something ourselves. All labor is free (donated by the build group) and the project leader is Jeff Foster, retired owner of CJ's Hot Rod shop in Salem Oregon.
When you start to rewire it, don't let that bundle of wires intimidate you. Just remember it's 1 wire at a time. I used a painless harness, each wire was labeled the length of the wire with a number, gauge and where it went. The manual also contained a list for each wire and it's use.
I’ll bet it’s close to my 56. Only 5 wires went to the back of the car. A laminated color coded diagram is available from Cl***iccarwiring.com . ..inexpensive and a godsend he can really use.
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