66 Fairlane recommendations

[4twennyAint]

We have a Dearborn Classics A-arm/rack&pinion/shock tower delete suspension.  We're looking for advice on;

1. rear sump oil pans (was there ever a factory rear sump? truck/van)
2. headers; full length (not tri-y) with generous radii that take advantage of shock tower delete

Also the rear leafs are rusted nearly through.

We'd like to hear about the good and bad, so we know!

Thanks!

[jayb]

Have you considered building your own headers?  You would need to acquire flanges, which can be had for individual ports or as a single flange for each side, and also collectors, which are available in a variety of sizes.  Then you just buy mandrel bent J-bend or U-bend exhaust tubes from some place like Summit and butt weld them together to form the primary tubes.  It's not that difficult to do, and then you can really take advantage of the extra room in the engine compartment by customizing a set for your car.  I don't know of anyone who makes a set of headers specifically for a shock tower delete car, so to really optimize the headers making your own might be the only option.

[DEANs427]

I recommend the Calvert rear monoleaf and traction bar system

[cammerfe]

+1 on 'build-your-own'. And if you don't have welding skills, you can probably importune a friend who has the skill to do it for you. It's a COOL project with great benefit!   

KS

[4twennyAint]

I agree the headers ought to be custom for this.  However I've not yet convinced dad the power gain is worth the time or price.  He has the space and the welders at the farm, but he has a bad back.  I live 4 hours away and currently have no space (and hence left all the tools at the farm).  For these same reasons we're having Barry do the engine.  This will be the first engine we've had someone else build.

Cal-trak OK for the street?

What about rear-sump pans?

How the heck did you insert that photo?  I wanna stick in some shots of our old FE-powered monsters

Thanks!

[jayb]

Read the introductory thread here about posting photos:

http://fepower.net/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=2.0

If you still have problems let me know and I'll try to help out.  I've run Cal-Tracs on the street for years with no issues, but they are not rubber bushed suspension components, so the ride will be a little harsher than stock. 

On rear sump pans a lot of guys will use a pickup truck oil pan.  I don't know if they will fit in your case or not; you would have to get one and check the fit, but in any case it would be a good starting point.

Too bad the custom headers are a no go; you could pick up some significant power there.  You're probably best off getting some FPAs or Hookers that will fit the car if you aren't going to go custom.