Projects 64 Comet Build for Sema.....Its build time....

Cool!

 

Coming along real nice, can't wait to see it! I love that manifold! What's the plan for the valve covers? maybe the new Boss ones?

 

Thanks 29ToyA and jamn47! I have a few ideas for the valve covers that I want to bring a bit of the heritage back into the modern engine. Though the new boss covers are very cool!

 

i machine adapters to run fe valve covers on the small block heads if your interested ? plenty of clearance w the taller fe covers for roller rockers too !

 

That intake is killer!
Coming along nicely TP!

 

Thanks Clearspot!! I'll get some more pics of the body and other progress as the weekend goes on!

Total Perf-

 

I need to keep up with this.

 

Thanks apound! Glad to have you aboard!

 

Sema Deadline 10-1-2011

Dateline 6 1/2 months till completion

Alright guys, the trans is done and ready to roll. It should be a great little AOD with this car and make it perfect for the open road as well as the occasional tire devastating burn out. I'm going to put 3.89 or the like in the rear so I hopefully will have the best of buth cruisability as well as fun from the stoplights.

I'll throw in some pics of it when it was just pulled and then as I finshed throwing in the valve body and the trans pan. I'll spare you all the cleaning and the shots of me ripping my hair out with trans parts all over the bench wishing I could just "take it it"! Damn why am I so stubborn! That's right, its a cash flow thing....None the less it is a stock rebuild with an updated trans shift and valve body kit to hit the shifts a bit better. The converter is still on the fence. I have a bit before I need to decide on that. I'll keep ya posted.

Total Perf-

 

Sema Deadline 10-1-2011

Dateline 6 1/2 months till completion

Alright, the car is almost out of paint so I wanted you to see it as it finishes the final bodywork and spot prime. Then the radiator support / engine comp. I took in the interior pieces so that they could shoot them in the next week or so when the do the interior pieces. Should be just a few weeks!

Thanks a ton to the guys at Precision Automotive in Salinas for doing a great job and in a short amount of time. Its hard to find quality honest work at a fair price. Precision Automotive rocks! Thanks!

Total Perf-

 

What is the long panel in the last picture? I had two sitting in the trunk of my 64 when I bought it, and I can't figure out what the hell they are!

 

They mount above the rear door panels.

 

I applaud your spirit and enthusiasm. I've been involved in a few sema builds and they are a thankless job at best. Not to "harsh your mallow" or anything, that's just my take on it. Enjoy the build, and the fun that it is, and the experience of sema, it goes by reeaaalll fast when you're there! I'm looking forward to watching your progress, and I don't envy you one single bit!!! haha

 

Awesome build, another fan! Great ideas on the direction your headed. Next up for me is very simular in year, combination of your ideas in old / new. I will watch and take notes.

My idea is to stay in the drag ranks and keep FORD alive with a mid 60's gasser. Seems like if I am at the drags, it's always a tri-five (possible the most favorite gassers ever, yes a fan of them here) doing a wild burn out.

So keep the updates coming and when I get started on mine I will share here on the HAMB. It will not be a clone, (I would love to, but no $$$ here for the naming rights) but will some what mirrow the attached and will bring'em to the fence to watch the it's screaming sbf:

 

Awesome- thanks Muttley!

 

Yep, thats what they are...Thanks Muttley!

 

Your right on all counts NegativeMatt, It's beena crazy challenge. I knew it going in. Once I made peace with that I jumped in. I wanted to do a killer modern build with a nostalgic traditional H.A.M.B. feel. I'm also learning that its MORE challenging to do it this way because I'm trying to add more character to the build with period correct parts that are hard to find. Labor of love I guess.

Total Perf-

 

Glad to have you! Can't wait to see your Gasser!

 

git off yer ass where the pics?

 

Sema Deadline 10-1-2011

Dateline 5 1/2 months till completion

Alright guys, quite a bit has went down since our last PSYCLONE update. needless to say there have been a ton more hrs put into this baby. I'm more into the project than ever! Here's the latest;


Here is the last of the body work shots that I was able to get. The full stripped body and body glaze is not here, but really.....all you want to see is the finished product! am I right?!!

Total Perf-

 

Sema Deadline 10-1-2011

Dateline 5 1/2 months till completion

 

Sema Deadline 10-1-2011

Dateline 5 1/2 months till completion


Here she is after the guys at Precision, Mike and Adalfo roll it out of the shop for the first time in months!

The creamy Wimbledon white is awesome for two reasons, its very correct for a HIPO Ford/Merc as well as it just looks bad ass!

In that same frame of mind, we went with the black, well actually a very low gloss black in the interior panels and dashwork. We matched the blacked out tail panel and the engine compartment to have a very consistant and flowing design. Simple = pleasing to the eye.

Total Perf-

 

Sema Deadline 10-1-2011

Dateline 5 1/2 months till completion

The next thing to do was to totally button up the stroker small block in the car. With the exception of the Cleavite bearing issue that was quickly resolved we ran into another issue when it came to the cylinder heads. In weighing out all of the options on price and reliability we wanted to look at a decent performing off the shelf head that would give this street car all it needed with little as little mods necessary. We wanted to see what all of the hype was with the Pro-Comp heads. They are advertised as a ready to run set of aluminum heads that rival the flow numbers of Edelbrock and some of the other premium heads. With finances a huge concern here, if we can cut costs in a large part like heads then we are doing great. Well, thats not always the case. With forged pistons that are guaranteed to fit a stock style head configuration we had a rather large valve to piston contact. Word to the wise here, no matter what, always grab a can of clay or play-do like I have and lay out your valves like I did. You could be saving yourself a ton of cash. You can see by the play-do patch that we had contact issues. After quite a few calls to the corporate offices for tech help in So Cal, we couldn't get through and we also couldn't get a call back. Damn I want to return these things. They look like they are machined decently although if the manufacturer cant even tell you what they fit then we all have a few issues.

Solution, to go with the tride and true set of Trick Flow Twisted wedge heads. Guess what...after I called (the first time) and talked to a informed and smart tech guy at T/Flow I ordered the heads from Summit racing and once I got em, those babies bolted right on and clayed perfectly! Thanks for your years of consistancy with great products. Bob Perry, the guy who I built my first engines with for blown Chevrolets would have kicked me in the butt for cutting corners on such a crucial part.....Late nights Bob...it screws up your judgement....

It was time for the valve covers and the intake to go on, Mind you these aluminum covers are only my RUN IN STAND valve covers and will not go on the finished car!!!!! Im actually going to be running some valve covers that really will bring out the heritage of the project, a member earlier hinted toward them. FE Mercury script valve covers. I'll include a pic of them in unfinished condition. I will either go with a classic gold HI/PO powdercoating masterfully done by my buddy and awesome powder coater Gary W. at Monterey Penninsula Powder Coating. Or go with a chrome set done at Bumper Depot. Wait and see.

 

Those ProComp heads are only good for door stops.It is a good thing they did no fit,they are know for cheap two piece valves,valve seats coming out,and other cheap pieces!You will be saving your self money and grief running the better heads.The Comet is looking great!! ROY.

 

HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!!!

Here are the pics I couldnt fit from the above post..

Tossed in a pic of Matt's dog Edsel...he's a Pitt Bull Basset Hound or Beagle Mix, Great dog! He's the shop mascot / foreman...

 

Those Pent Roof Mercury covers are awesome,check for clearance on the master cylinder,mine just clear but that was without the adapters.I'm using a Mustang dual reservoir master on my 65,the Ranger pickup cylinder is smaller and may give you more room if you need it. ROY.

 

Thanks a ton Roy! Will do on the master cylinder. I have a set of the Ron Morris adjustable engine mounts. Im hoping ill be able to adjust out any issues that come my way.

 

Sema Deadline 10-1-2011

Dateline 5 1/2 months till completion


We are going with a modern version of the bucket seats. I want comfort in the interior as well as I want to have a more spacious look to the inside of the car. The original seats are really nice for originals though what I want is to create a double take when people look at the car. In addition the original seats are hard for a guy my size to get in and out of in this car, to puffy. For this reason I went with a modern bucket seat in the car. After picking up this set of old import buckets out of one of my buddies vintage mustang road racers for 25.00 I couldn't pass on the deal.

I want to use these seats without the head rest to simulate a short back buck seat just like the original. We are measuring the exact spacing on the original Cyclone seats to replicate this detail perfectly for the Psyclone.

Heres the first part of that process before they went off to the upholstry shop. Yep they are grungy old nasty seats but they are going to really shine!

 

Here we are measuring the pletes to match for the modern set of seats.

 

We took the completed small block to our engine building bay and dropped it on the run in stand. The biggest fitment issue we had was the front pully system. I like to have the alternator low on these vehicles to show the engine goodies off. Matt and I worked a few very late nights making and modifying brackets and spacers to make it fit. It looks great now. And most improtantly it works fantastic!

I pulled off the injection to run the roller motor in with a carb. I run in every motor I build no matter a roller or not to make sure all is well and leak free. After a few minor adjustments we fired it up and it worked perfectly. We had to pull the Fel-Pro silicone one piece gasket from the oil pan due to a leak around the main. They say to not use any silicone sealer, but once we took it out, cleaned it and glazed it with silicone, it was totally leak free. Than, with a carb change form the Demon 650 that was drenching the motor to an old Holley 780 I had fixed that problem. Go figure huh....This baby runs really great! With about 2 mins on the stand we noticed a small leaf coming from one of the welds on the CFR oil pan. It seems that one of the weld was not up to par and oil found its way bast the bead. I'm trying to get them to switch it out for me, though they say its been a bit far past the warranty. I'll let you know what happens there. Until we get a new pan she will rest on the stand before we season it with heat cycles anymore. I'll try to download the run in video;