1958 FORD CUSTOM 300

SET UP FOR

AHRA MODIFIED STOCK IN 1966

AND LEFT THAT WAY!

In 1966, the car was built with:

352 C. I. FE ENGINE, .030" OVER, BUILT BY GRANT PISTON AND RING SERVICE. 406 TRI-POWER INDUCTION, C0AE-D (352HP/390HP) HEADS WITH LIGHTWEIGHT 427 FORD 2.19" INTAKE VALVES, 1.66" EXHAUST AND RELIEVED COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, ERSON 515H 308 DEGREE DURATION, .535" LIFT HYDRAULIC CAM, FLAT-TOP PISTONS WITH "DYKES" RINGS, BALANCED ASSEMBLY, CUSTOM OIL PAN AND AIRBOX BY DON SAUER, CUSTOM FENDERWELL HEADERS BY SKIBSTEAD, ART CARR-BUILT CAST IRON FORDOMATIC WITH 3000 RPM STALL CONVERTER, 4.56:1 OPEN REAR END, CUSTOM SLAPPER BARS BY DON SAUER, GENUINE TJ INTERIOR, SMOOTHED 1957 HOOD WITH T-BOLT BUBBLE, MID-'60S STATION WAGON FRONT SPRINGS. THE AIRBOX BREATHED THROUGH THE INNER HEADLIGHT BUCKETS, ALA T-BOLT.

CHANGES SINCE '66: PAINTED BY PREVIOUS OWNER

CURRENT OWNER: ENGINE FRESHENED BY BURBANK SPEED AND MACHINE, NEW CHROME MOLY RINGS AND WINDAGE TRAY ADDED, 406-STYLE FUEL LINES AND FUEL FILTER, FULL-LENGTH EXHAUST SYSTEM BY ENOCH'S IN BURBANK, '68 BB MUSTANG RADIATOR AND SHROUD, OIL COOLER, TRANS COOLER, MSD DISTRIBUTOR AND IGNITION, PERTRONIX COIL. CHROME 14X6 AND 15X8 STOCK STEELIES BY STOCKTON WHEEL SERVICE WITH M/T INDY PROFILE F70-14 FRONTS AND G60-15 SS REARS. 4 DEGREE WEDGES WERE ADDED FOR THE SLAPPERS AND ONE COIL WAS CUT FROM THE FRONT SPRINGS.

The engine after the rebuild. In the second photo, you can see the custom Don Sauer oil pan with it's removable front access panel.

The engine was rebuilt only to determine the condition of the parts and to make it streetable. I replaced the multi-piece "dykes" compression rings with new chrome molys. The dykes do not seal at lower RPMs. I also had to notch the upper cylinder walls to allow sufficient clearance for the 1.66" exhaust valves, as they were contacting the walls when the engine would get warm. The 2.19s clear ok. I left the heads alone, the ports are as cast, since I did not know how porting would impact eligibility for any nostalgia classes. They were relieved around the big valves, and as a result the chamber volume was increased to 69ccs. The engine was built with cast flat top pistons, relieved for the valves, stock rods and crank, and all of these were retained. It was balanced by Grant. The heads use multi-piece springs and aluminum retainers and Ford adjustable rockers. The original timing set was nylon stock. I replaced it with a Cloyes set with. Since the original valve covers were rusty, I grabbed a set of T-birds from Memory Lane and shot them with argent paint. I added a breather at the front of the manifold and a PCV at the rear. There seems to be quite a bit of blow-by, so I recently reinstalled the road draft tube at the rear to help relieve crankcase pressure. I also added the 406-style fuel lines and the NOS Holley filter, which is the same type used from the factory except for the color. I kept the generator, although I did have to replace the armature assembly as the old one had been spun to death. I replaced the torched-open headlight buckets with stock ones. I may rebuild the original setup with some filters stashed in the wheelwells or sumptin'.

The Art Carr Fordomatic shifts hard and has not given any problems. The Fordo, along with the Cruisomatic was Ford's first automatic box and predated the FMX. I added Traction-Lok to the 4.56 gears. Since the pictures above were taken, I have replaced the Tri-Power set-up with a Blue Thunder PI intake and a single 3310 Holley. The BT part is a dual-plane intake based on the Fomoco 429 police Interceptor unit. The difference was immediate. Off-idle power was enhanced, and the engine pulls strong to 7K. The BT eliminated a persistant reversion problem that I had with the Tri-power below 3K. The BT is a great intake for anyone with a strong FE. At the same time I did the intake swap, I pulled the heads and installed steel shim head gaskets. The engine was originally built with them, and they raise the compression up to about 10.3:1.

Finally! New shoes! Mickey Thompson Indy Profile F70-14s on the front, G60-15SS on the rear. Stockton Wheel made the chrome steelies, 14X6 and 15X8. The rears have a 5.5" backspace to center them in the wheelwell. This backspace would work for the '57 Ford as well.

The 1966 Tijuana interior. Ooooh, baby!

Dig Ford Big Blocks? Huh? Do ya??? Well, join us on Usenet at alt.hi-po.big-block-ford-mercury. Bug yer ISP if they don't carry it or try Google. The forum is for all Ford big blocks, and Clevelands.

For Ford FE talk on the web, go to FordFE.com.

Ford 385 series (429/460) fans go here.

Ford Cleveland series fans go here.

Ford small block and Windsor series fans go here.