Galaxie/TKO

[65er]

Well it seems to work!  At least I was able to back the car out of the shop and park it in the parking lot.  The clutch feels nice and smooth and I think it's going to be ok.  I can't argue about it looking a bit scary though, it's definitely not some of my best work.  Between the Z-bar not falling into place throwing the whole geometry plan out the window and skipping Thursday for some turkey day with friends I really got in a bit over my head.  I'll start working on some replacement upgrade parts as soon as I recover form this manic weekend.  Well maybe not manic.  I knew it was going to be a rough one, it just turned out a couple notches rougher than I hoped. 

 At least the whole pumpkin swap went well for a first-timer.  The old one came out easy enough, I just cut the copper washers off with a chisel and cracked the pumpkin loose with the floor jack.  I set my big oil drain bottle/pan underneath and just rolled her right out.  Didn't even tumble off the drain pan which was nice.  I didn't run into any surprises installing the new one, just a lotta grunt picking it up off the floor while laying on my side under the car, lol.  Fortunately my rear sway bar was in the perfect helper spot.  I was able to rest the chunk on the sway bar while improving my grip to set it up on the studs.  One more good OOF and she was in place.

I do still have that E-brake cable setup to work out and I hope to get that part a bit less scary looking and not needing replacement upgrade parts later on. 


 I wasn't able to get the new tranny all the way up in the tunnel ( I hammered it until it started tearing) so my engine angle is now 1-1/2 degrees lower than it was.  In order to improve that I'll have to either make shorter motor mounts or cut the top off the tranny tunnel so I can raise the tranny and then will have to make a replacement panel or service panel.   Is that 1-1/2 degrees worth worrying about, and do I need to change my pinion angle to compensate for the new position?  I'll need to get a protractor and measure it all out, but currently the whole engine, shaft and pinon angles look pretty darn close.   There's probably not more than 5 degrees of deflection at either U-joint.

[My427stang]

It may or may not make a difference, really depends how the angles were before you started. Lots of guys hang the back end low, I always try to get them back to where Ford put them.

However, be sure to  take a look at the bottom of your fan and make sure it isn't close to anything.  Dropping the rear will close the bottom gap.  I'd hate to see you spin it up the first time and something decide to kiss something else

[jayb]

I guess if it was me I'd cut the floor to get the engine/trans angle back to where it was.  I had to do that when I put the GVOD in my Galaxie; sounded like kind of a pain but it was really no big deal, and the driveshaft angles came back to where I wanted them after I did that...

[drdano]

Miller makes an inclinometer tool that magnetically attaches to the u-joint caps (after you pull the retaining clip out) and makes it pretty simple to figure all of the angles to know exactly where you are at the trans and at the diff.  I did this on my Galaxie with my TKO swap and was very happy knowing where everything was.  In the end I got both of mine within 1/2 a degree of each other and neither working angle was above 3 degrees, which is pretty close to ideal.  This is a link I used when setting mine up:

http://www.vibratesoftware.com/html_help/2011/Diagnosis/Propshaft/Propshaft_Angles.htm

You can actually get away with a UP-UP-DOWN angles (which if your trans is hanging down, may be the best way to get the angles set with the least amount of floor surgery). 

[machoneman]

JMO but it's always better to cut the tunnel, where required, to achieve (if needed, as noted above) a near ideal driveshaft angle. Good idea as well, as also noted above, to check the fan blade's proximity before doing any serious driving.

[65er]

The fan is about 1/4" away from the shroud at the top and right at the back edge.  That's going to be ok for now.

The one thing my girlfriend asks me about from time to time on the car is the carpeting.  It's pretty worn out and due for replacement. Looks like it's time to haul that old carpeting out of there and cut the top off the tranny tunnel 

On the very good news side of things, my son who lives with me just started work today at the place three doors down from where I work so we're sharing rides to work. I have a little pickup truck to get around while the car is out of commission.  I'm going to take advantage of that deal and take a little break and let the car sit tonight.

[65er]

Well there's something you don't see every day...



I was so wiped from Thanksgiving weekend that I hardly touched the car all week.  Getting her back on track this weekend and I got a good look at the transmission from inside the car.  The air chisel was awesome.  It cut it fast and neat, with no sparks or dust flying around the car.

[amdscooter]

Wow.. that sucker really is up in that tranny tunnel! 

[fetorino]

Well there's something you don't see every day...



I was so wiped from Thanksgiving weekend that I hardly touched the car all week.  Getting her back on track this weekend and I got a good look at the transmission from inside the car.  The air chisel was awesome.  It cut it fast and neat, with no sparks or dust flying around the car.

I feel your pain....

[BruceS]

65er,
Is that close to where the trans needs to be for the U-joint angles?

[falcon428]

Wow if your taking that much out of a Galaxies tunnel, I'm gonna be taking a bunch out of my Comets.  Now if I could just get work to slow down enough to get started ...lol.  I don't have a time constraint as bad as you but I do have to have it done before 4-27 so I can take it too the FE Reunion.   After the holidays I will start to the big get parts ordered.  I have pedal assembly, Z bar and few other parts gathered up right now.  Need to see how that stuff is going to fit with headers and other obstacles.  Incase I need to convert to a hydraulic throwout. 

Glad you have another ride to work now, it's tuff with those time constraints.  I know how you felt, think most anyone in this hobby has been down that road.  I did a 68 hour thrash in 4 days getting my Starliner ready for Good Guys one year. 

[AlanCasida]

Hmmm. I wonder if the floors are a little different between 65s and 66s. I was able to get by with some well placed dents in the floor towards the front . I was afraid I was going to have to do just what you are doing, though. Keep up the good work! Once it's it's done it will have been worth it. 

[JimNolan]

65er,
   I've followed your progress and it is very similar to what I went through. I've got an article in the January 2008 newletter on the 57fordsforever.com website about my TKO swap. One thing I will tell you is after you get through this ordeal you'd do it over again for the benifits it's going to give you. Good Luck. Jim  PS
     I had to lower my z-bar bracket on the FE engine. I just slotted the existing holes in the bracket to lower it. I also had to add about two inches to the z-bar where the clutch rod attaches and I had to buy a late model clutch fork to extend the distance out from the transmission. I also made a new crossmember. But, it was worth it. I DIDN'T cut my 57 tunnel. I looked up the geometry specs for u-joint alignment and wear and measured the angle of my driveshaft and found out that I was within limits. After 34K miles there isn't any wear on the u-joints. ( it's tight in the tunnel and the fan blade is 1/4" closer at the bottom of the radiator but you'd never notice it unless you got out a tape measure)

[My427stang]

One thing I will tell you is after you get through this ordeal you'd do it over again for the benifits it's going to give you. Good Luck. Jim  PS

That's the truth, although I have to say the EFI was a hell of an upgrade on mine, the TKO made me equally happy.  More 1st gear and taller top gear, it made the car happy everywhere

[fetorino]

Wow if your taking that much out of a Galaxies tunnel, I'm gonna be taking a bunch out of my Comets.  Now if I could just get work to slow down enough to get started ...lol.  I don't have a time constraint as bad as you but I do have to have it done before 4-27 so I can take it too the FE Reunion.   After the holidays I will start to the big get parts ordered.  I have pedal assembly, Z bar and few other parts gathered up right now.  Need to see how that stuff is going to fit with headers and other obstacles.  Incase I need to convert to a hydraulic throwout.

Glad you have another ride to work now, it's tuff with those time constraints.  I know how you felt, think most anyone in this hobby has been down that road.  I did a 68 hour thrash in 4 days getting my Starliner ready for Good Guys one year.

Take the easy route

http://www.moderndriveline.com/catalog/hydraulics.htm