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1972 Gran Torino Sport. It's a old Drag Car from the 70's that was found in a field by a Buddy of mine [Thanx Mike] Now back up and running, and back at the track [see pics at the bottom of the page] He still has his original Laser Stripe and medium GoldenRod paint, hence the name: Mr GoldenRod. There was 2,281 Fastbacks painted this color. Ya, he has some rust, but I'm going to leave the out side body shell "as is" all orginal and unrestored, just going to freshen the drivetrain and maybe the interior, then drag race the hell out of him. He's like me, a good looking classic, that's just a little rough around the edges, LOL...... Pic below is the day I brought him home 8-9-2009 it was 95 degrees and due point in the 70's, very hot and sticky....... Now I have one week to get him prepped for testing at the drag strip.
Originally a H-code 351 2v Cleveland, now running a 1973 351 Cobra Jet.
I found and built a original 4300D Spread Bore 351 CJ Motorcraft Carb.
Choke parts have been stripped off, but the car still starts right up when cold and idles fine.
With the aluminum single plane intake and carb spacer, the aircleaner sits right up in the hood scoop.
I built a pig: 4;11 gears with a mini spool.
South Side lower control arms.
Loaded and ready to go to the drag strip 8-16-09, ET times to follow.
At the track, he ran a best of 15;74 with some problems, but by next year, he'll be running in the 14's
LABOR DAY WEEKEND 9-5/7-2009 Saturday and Sunday I made it to the third round before I lost. Then on Labor Day Monday, I made it all the way to the 1/4 finals before I lost. First money won with the car. It was a GREAT! weekend.....
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9-8-09
Motor ready to come out.
On the stand, and now is tore down and at the machine shop for block cleaning and head work. It did have new pistons and a perfect crank, so lucked out there, but it has a 1973 "AA" cobra jet heads which do have the big ports, but have the small 2v valves. Ford did this so it would pass the smog tests in 73. The machine shop will be putting in the big 4V valves and new valve guides.
The small pipe dual exhaust that was plugging up on top end. It will be replaced with headers and a 3" dual exhaust.
Say good by to the 16 second passes....... it'll be running low 14's next year...... I need it to run under 14;99 so I can run the pro bracket [14;99 and quicker] along with the street et bracket. Might as well run two classes so I get as much racing in as I can in a weekend. But 14 flat is as fast as I want to run, because if you run 13;99 or quicker, you have to wear a helment, I like racing without one........ You get more sights and sounds without one, like street racing........
Engine compartment is ready for cleaning and painting. The a/c box will be replaced with a block-off plate along with the wiper motor, then I'm lossing the brake booster and going with manual disk brakes, along with manual steering.....
9-22-09
Removing BIG dent.
Paintless Dent Guy came out, and made it look pretty damb good.... at least it matches to rest of the cars look. No way to make it perfect, it was to big and deep, and would have cost to much $$$$$, but I'm HAPPY............
Got the whole front suspention off, and the lower drivers side a-frame took a hard hit on the front side. It's probably dented in about a inch....
Summit delivered a whole bunch of parts: headers, mufflers, cam, lifters, roller chain, Sun Retro Tach and Gauges, B+M trans kit and T handle, rod bolts, push rods, drag shocks, ect......... The rest of the motor parts will be coming with the block and heads when I get them from the machine shop on Friday 9-25-09 [UPDATE 11-2-09] I sent the FlowTech Headers back, very poor quality. The flange lip was smaller than the gasket opening, it would have never sealed. Bought some Hooker Super Comps.......
10-10-09
I wanted a light weight drag car, but this is a little to much.......
Frame and cross members were filled with dirt, rocks, and mouse stuffing........
I've got the block-off plates made, just need to get them put on and then paint the firewall and frame...
Windshield is out and it needs a little rust repair on the window frame lip.
Wow, now thats a light weight......
Underside cowl rust on both sides, I have the block-off plates made and ready to go on...
Cutting out the bad stuff......
10-17-09
While I had the chunk cut out, I painted and sealed the inside of the cowl...
Patch panel in....
and painted...... actually it's paintable, rubberized undercoating... leaves a nice textered look....
Heat and a/c patch panels are in........
and painted. I used a three step process. First I used a paint called Chassis Saver to seal the rust, then just before it was totally dry, I sprayed a paintable undercoating to give it a textured look and hide the flaws and imperfections, then I let that all cure for two days, then I sprayed a automotive satin black enamel with hardener to seal it all up and make a nice hard, gas proof surface..... No it doesn't look stock original, but remember this is a drag car, not a show car, but it still came out VERY NICE!
Maybe you can see the textered look in this close-up....
Well, there HE is, now I can start to build the motor and get it set in, then build the rest of the car around the motor..... only 6 months before the drag strip opens......
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