FElony,
You've asked a deep question.
My goal for this car has evolved over time as money and perspectives have changed. Initially, this was going to be a 100% stock resto, because in my narcissistic mind there were so few made at least one should be preserved in perpetuity to document what 'original' once looked like. I also didnt have a lot of money, and so it seemed to be the cheapest option (disclaimer: probably not an accurate statement) to restore a car without going the J.C. Whitney route. Anyways I had in my head this glorious idea to have the one reaming specimen of a fully restored and correct 1967 Cyclone GT Convertible with correct paint dabs, stamps, and over-spray. The other objective was that if one day, I needed to sell it, it would bring the most money.
As we move closer to today, things have changed. I've concluded that while I want things to be as close to as stock as possible, I wanted to make to make a few typical 'speed upgrades' that someone in the 1960's would have done to a car like this. Exhaust upgrade, intake upgrade, carb upgrade (3-barrell Holley waiting to be installed, like my father had on his '66 Fairlane 390). I also wanted to make changes that were 'reversible' such that if the next owner wanted to go back to fully stock, those parts could be swapped back onto it. I've retained the original heads, intake, exhaust, carb for these reasons. There is also a part of me that wants this car to be faster than a modern BMW, or Acura, to keep the allure that has defined the American muscle car. Again, probably more hubris on my part than logic.
With the modifications I mentioned above, there are the inevitable 'collateral' changes such as insufficient engine vacuum to operate the power brakes. So as I continue to collect and work on a game plan for this fall/winter engine build, I want to look for and address as many of these before I sink money and time into an assembly that will yield an unacceptable result.
Regarding the wheels, the Cyclone GT convertibles had a different factory wheel option to my understanding. They look similar to a Magnum 500, but with the Mercury Head center cap, and wheel recesses painted to match the body. I have seen 1966 Cyclone Convertible advertisements with them shown on those cars, and the ones on mine are identical (perhaps not correct for 1967?).
64bird410, thank you for the idea of using the Power-stroke vacuum pump. I'll be sure to keep this in my notes if I run into significant brake issues.
Joe
