Down under Thunderbolt

[ToddK]

I may have mentioned in the past that I have been building a drag race car for the last few years. It's still not finished, but is getting close. I thought I would post some pictures here detailing the build so far. The car is 1964 Fairlane 2 door sedan that I want to look externally like a Thunderbolt. I don't have any restrictions regarding suspension in the class I will be racing in, so it has a 4 link rear with 3/4 chassis and modified front suspension using coil over shocks. This also allowed the inner fenders and shock towers to be removed. 

Here are some pictures of the car returning back to my workshop after the body was painted. The rest of the body panels are all fiberglass from Crites.





In this picture, you can see the modified front suspension and engine bay. I'm using the original lower control arms, tubular upper arms and coil overs. The steering is all original. Brakes are Wilwood all round.



Me fitting up the rear brake lines


Interior shot showing the shifter, delay box, and lots of spaghetti. When I first started the car, the plan was to use a Jerico 4 speed. I have the Jerico and it was fitted to the car. However, I decided to use a C4 to get the car going, licensed and sorted. In the future, I will swap back to the Jerico.


Now, to the FE part.

The engine is 482 cubes and consists of an alloy Pond block, billet crank, Oliver rods, 13.8 to 1 comp, Blue Thunder High Riser heads that flowed 388/242cfm at 0.800", big solid roller cam, T&D race rockers, as well as other goodies.

Here's a picture of the headers I will be using, dummied up on a spare 390 in my workshop. They are 2" primaries that step to 2 1/8" about 2" out from the port.

Right side header fitted in the car.


The intake I planned to use was a Dove tunnel wedge. However, the manifold I have has been modified to the point where it needs so much work to make it useable that I am reluctant to spend any more money on it. So, at this stage, unless I can find another tunnel wedge with the Paquet ports, I will wait for Jay to produce the High Riser intake adapter and then have a sheet metal manifold made to suit.

[63gal427]

Looking good Todd.
I hope someone can turn up with Dove tunnel wedge intake you are requiring, so that the project can move along.

[BruceS]

Todd,
Awesome machine, should be pretty fast as well!  A buddy of mine here in Texas is building a Mickey Thompson tribute Thunderbolt, also vintage burgundy. As you may recall Mickey's had a 427 with his specially designed hemi heads and cross-ram manifold:

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/hrdp-1008-mickey-thompsons-427-ford-hemi-engine/

However my friend's will have a Cammer instead; I guess they're a little easier to come by!

Good luck with the project, keep us posted on results.

Bruce

[ec164]

Todd,
 Your car really looks great, can't wait to see it finished and hear how it performs. I really like to see these kind of builds.....Al

[fastback 427]

Wow! Very cool car. You can never go wrong with a thunderbolt. We can definitely see the quality of the workmanship, very very nice....

[ToddK]

Thanks for the positive comments, I'll post more updates as progress is made.

[66FAIRLANE]

That is going to sound awesome. Would almost make the trip out west just to hear that thing run.

[ScotiaFE]

Nice Hot Rod!
I would have still broke it in with the clutch pedal.

[ToddK]

The way I plan to have the car set up, it will not be a huge job to swap from auto to manual trans. I just think to start with, I will have a big enough job getting my head around setting up the 4 link rear, without having to worry about the clutch set up too. Once I get the rest of the car sorted, I'd love to put the Jerico back in it.

[cjshaker]

GREAT looking car, Todd. I like the way you built the front end. Lots of good parts there and those headers are really nice.

The only drawback when you switch to the Jerico is you will be back to square one with the 4-link.

[ToddK]

Got a bit more work done today, just minor fiddly, but time consuming jobs. Here are a few more pictures of things to date.

Trunk is nearly complete. Fuel cell, fuel pump, two 16V batteries, and the black coiled cable is the chute release cable which has not yet been cut to size.



A couple of pictures of the interior, including one through the rear window. My chassis builder went a bit overboard with the roll cage, but one thing's for sure - this car won't twist.





Hope to finish off the fitting out early next year, then get the body back to the painters to finish off the panel fit.

[ScotiaFE]

I agree with Doug that the car will be a completely different machine with the clutch.
I guessing a soft loc ?
Sorry Todd the wheel is not doing it for me. Just a bit to tuner fart canish.

[ToddK]

The clutch I have is an Advanced 7" twin plate. It does behave like a soft lock in that it allows a limited amount of slip until the centrifugal weights lock it up.



The steering wheel is more a practical item than what I would prefer to run. I do have an original wheel for the car, although in need of a lot of TLC. With the cage, it's a bit tight getting in and out with the original wheel, hence the ricer removable wheel. Again, when I get the car going, I may change back to the original.

[Kirk Morgan]

Todd it looks like you are using a starter solonoid for a cut off for power. If so it will not hold up. You need a continuous duty solonoid for that type of use. Very nice work.

Kirk

[ToddK]

Hi Kirk, the power cut off switch is just behind the aluminium push/pull rod that extends to the rear panel, next to the battery. The starter solenoid is just in front of the switch, also mounted on the chassis rail. The switch is a heavy duty one, rated at over 250amps. Cheers.