66 mustang 428

[427Fastback]

I haven't talked about this project much..While my 68 is in the paint shop I am keeping myself challenged by putting a 428CJ and 4spd in a 66 Fastback..Altho I have changed the front suspension the owner wants the towers left in the car..I will talk about that later.
Engine is a dual quad 428CJ with a CC 268H and a set of comp/dove roller rockers..I am even using CJ exhaust manifolds.Trans is a 390 small input wide ratio and I narrowed up a 9" housing and it has 3.7's with a new traction loc..

Finished bolting the eng/trans together today and will probably install it tomorrow..

Car will be 100% street driven...I have been trying to set this project in motion for over a decade.Now I have free reign on it...

Interesting side note...I am not to over do the details or make it look too pretty..The owner wants it to look like it was done a while ago..Its getting lots of used parts and the paint job is going to be distressed right away....Cory

[turbohunter]

Waaaay interested in what you're doing as I am doing the same thing to the same car.
However I took out the towers and completely changed the bottom of the car.
Biggest problem for me is second guessing my thought process from years ago.

[machoneman]

Love the distressed idea. The heads by the exhausts will burn off that blue paint in a hurry. Maybe spray some oil from a spray bottle here and there under the hood. I'd not worry about an FE not leaking oil from underneath! Maybe pour a tad of gas on the cold intake and let it evaporate overnight. Or, spray some clear flat on the black painted sheetmetal to dull it. hah!

[Drew Pojedinec]

What intake is that?

[jayb]

Looks like one of the new Edelbrock 2X4s, for use with Edelbrock carbs.  It performed very well in my tests, at least at the lower horsepower levels.  I'm very curious about the engine compartment mods on this project, Cory...

[427Fastback]

Good to hear the manifold performs well.As the heads have had all the exhaust seats replaced at one time I have kept the spring pressure conservative and the RPM will be controlled.CJ heads do not take seats well..

I only have a moment so I will show some pics of the towers.They were incorrectly removed by someone else.I will show more later today.I cut each tower into about 8 pcs and carefully fit back together.Goal was to have them look semi normal and the export brace must fit back on and be used..

[turbohunter]

Now Im more curious about the decision to keep the towers with adding the crossmember for steering.
I assume that he/you felt that the added crossmember would strengthen the front end as well as give you a good rack mount. And you could go with the new strut style suspension instead of mustang twoing it?

[Drew Pojedinec]

Looks like one of the new Edelbrock 2X4s, for use with Edelbrock carbs.  It performed very well in my tests, at least at the lower horsepower levels.  I'm very curious about the engine compartment mods on this project, Cory...

Yeah, it looked new, I thought the only new one was the Air Gap.....  I'll need to recheck your book.  Thanks!

[427Fastback]

Putting the towers back in is strictly for deception...Not trying to hide anything..When you open the hood it will look stock but when you look closer you will figure it out...
I have converted three Mustangs to rack and pinion.I always put some of the tower or a hand made version of the tower back in so I can put all the braces back in..
I and the customer actually hate the look of Mustangs with flat sided engine bays..(The Eleanwhore look)It would have been easier to hand make something but he really wants the stock export brace back in...

[turbohunter]

Hah
Then you're gonna hate mine.
Not "elewhore" but flat sides and flattened firewall.
No deception anywhere.

[machoneman]

Putting the towers back in is strictly for deception...Not trying to hide anything..When you open the hood it will look stock but when you look closer you will figure it out...
I have converted three Mustangs to rack and pinion.I always put some of the tower or a hand made version of the tower back in so I can put all the braces back in..
I and the customer actually hate the look of Mustangs with flat sided engine bays..(The Eleanwhore look)It would have been easier to hand make something but he really wants the stock export brace back in...

Now that's a cool idea to get the stock look. I admire though all the work you did to cut up all that metal, weld it up and finish it to look factory. Very nice!

[cjshaker]

You're going to have to do some serious uglying to that engine, 'cause it looks pretty good to me. I've got a couple of pretty ugly 360's sitting around that I could trade ya, if it'd help

As much as I cuss those pesky shock towers, I agree that the cars just don't look right without them. A cut back or Boss 9 version is the best of both worlds, in my opinion. Looks like you had a pretty clean car to start with, and that's always a big plus. And as always, you do really nice work, Cory.

[427Fastback]

The rad cradle was also sectioned and a 67/68 center was put in to use a stock 67/68 FE rad..I am also using stock(modified)68BB rad mounts.I reworked the stock battery box to fit into its now limited space..

The project was started on by a very well know shops head fabricator.He managed to weld the whole front crossmember and attaching parts in 1 1/4 inches to far forward.He also hacked the towers out to the point I almost had to scrap them and it was nearly impossible to get them back in and lined up again..

More later

[machoneman]

Was that crack fabricator from a Chevy shop?   

[427Fastback]

He was actually from a well know shop that builds those high($$$$) dollar project cars for people.The shop closed down (wonder why) and the work was done at the owners house.Dont know what happened or how he got it so far off but he certainly F**ked up....When the mistake was pointed out to him he was never seen again...
First job for me was to cut it all out and start over....

[mygasser]

on my old 66 fairlane i sectioned the towers 1 1/2" each side moving them outwards to give more clearance. the top 'a' arms had the same trim too as they bolt to the bottom of the tower. it was stock looking at a glance but header clearance was much better.

[427Fastback]

So the 428 is now in.First try failed using a 4x4 rear sump pan.Could not get the engine where I wanted it.It now has a Canton pan..
On a side note I see I can add a transfer tube between the two sumps.There is lots of room.Guess I am pulling the pan off my 427 and welding in some bungs..

The 428 is just sitting there.I have to make the lower portion of the mounts but will have that done this weekend.Trans mount is all together and bolted up.Engine is sitting at 5 degrees.I am going to try and get it down to four..2x4 is just keeping the engine centered.
The fun begins..I have yet to tell the customer the engine is in...Maybe next week.

[ec164]

Everything is looking good, those old Mustangs(65/66) are one of my favorites. I like the shock towers nice job............Al

[turbohunter]

I'm sure it's prolly just being used to seeing small blocks but it seems to be sitting up a bit.
Probably just me, pictures can lie.
Just curious how you're squeezing it in because I'm about to do the same thing.

[427Fastback]

The trans is a W/R 390 unit sitting on its stock mount and crossmember.The engine may be 1 degree to high on the front but its pretty close to home.The 427 in my 68 looks that high in pics as well..

Each tower was cut into aprox 8 pcs.Two vertical pie cuts were done to narrow its depth and to get the slope out of the tower.

I am very happy to have been able to get that big dent in the right side to line back up again after all the cutting..It makes for a good visual.

[turbohunter]

Very nice man.
Can't wait to see it together on it's feet.
Great work.