Like James, I have pictures scattered around and it will take awhile to round them up, but here is a starter.
Wicked Glen.What is the Battle plan?
The engine is being built by my friend Jessie Holmes (JHP Performance) in Pensacola, FL. It is a 63 406 block with C4. I'll get more details later, we are still working on a few details, heads, intake ect.
Just a few pic's of how I did the front axle.
one more
and again
The front axle is a 53 F1 unit with F1 springs. I guess that I should say that this car is being built for the drag strip and most like will never see the street in my lifetime. Before someone gets upset about cutting up a classic car, it was rougher than 20 miles of dirt road and in my opinion beyond restoration. The car had a lot of cancer and had been hit hard in the left rear quarter. I have major body panels from six different parts cars along with most of what EMS makes. Another reason that the car will not be streetable, is that the 63 406 hipo block has been filled to the freeze plug holes in a former life. It was bought as a bare block from Holman Moody and has never been on the street. More later
I for one sure understand what you're saying about the "don't get upset....". I spent 3 1/2 years replacing rusty metal with new stuff on mine. So, I'm in the same boat with figuring I have the right to do what I want without upsetting anyone.... restorers probably are shaking their heads at my resto-mod approach, but I doubt a restorer would have given my car a second thought as a project.
Great job, Glenn. I think it was your car James posted some pics of a few years ago, in the gallery section??
The stance looks spot-on, always liked 57 Ford gassers. Did you do the rear arches by hand or did you use repair panels off another model of car?
The rear wheel wells are trailer fenders, I just cut about 2" off the outside lip and welded it in. In hind site, I would have smoothed the area in front of the opening and brought the flare down further in the rear. But it is what it is now.
In my opinion, the beauty of this forum is that it caters to all types, be they restorers, modifiers and racers, with no-one judging others or criticizing anything they are doing. If a 57 can be kept alive in any form, it is a good thing.
There are quite a number of mid fifties gassers out there, thanks to social media they are coming out of the closet. The main stream magazines never gave them the coverage that the scrubs got. My old Y block powered Falcon gets a lot of attention at the tracks and shows that I attend. The fans love to see someone doing something other than a sbc powered anything.
and that is one bad a$$ sounding Y-block!
Thanks Bill, I sure did want to build a all out Y Block for the 57, but the price tag ($12 to $15 K) is just too high for my budget. The FE we are building will only be a 1/4 that amount, of course we are using a lot of used, donated and swap meet parts. Maybe one day I can scrape together the funds for a really badass Y Block.
A little progress on my economy fenderwell headers. Cut down a old set of truck headers and fill in the blanks.
nothing wrong with that...looking good, Glen..
This is something that most want do, but I'll post it anyway. Like the rest of the car, the w/s trim was not in the best condition, so I decided to leave it off. I used some of the rubber string that is used to set screen in windows and doors. I just rolled it in the trim groove with one of the cheap little tools from Home Depot. Looks pretty clean on a drag car without the trim.
I really like this build.Straightforward and honest.Great work.
I think the rubber trim is a great idea, I would have never thought of that! I love your overall approach to a budget gasser!
Now...where have I seen that before.
Funny how great mines think alike Gaseman! Sign painter says that he will be here today, will post updated pic's when he gets started.