X's 2 Thank you for your service and be safe over there. I'm sure the 390 will ride it out just fine. Nice score on the intake too. There's a good mod for the plenum that's easy to do. I'm sure someone here has a copy they can forward. Good for higher HP apps supposedly. The garage is a good puzzle but I'm sure you'll get everything to fit.

 

Thanks y'all. I'll be sure to keep my head down.

I have a copy of the "top secret" modification instructions that was included with these when they were new. It's directions on how to modify the plenum and open up the runners for a big time top end gain. I think I'll start with just opening up the runners and leaving the plenum alone. I figure that the runners will give me the volume for a high RPM rush but the stock plenum will keep velocity up through the carb for better low RPM drivability. If I decide to go further after the engine is running, then popping off the intake and opening up the plenum later wouldn't be that hard. It's not like I'd be lifting up a stock cast iron manifold out of that engine bay.

 

Nice score on the Streetmaster! Generally the plenum is modded first and this is done on all applications. There's really no reason for the "ears" at the corners. If your using it on a big cube/big hp application then the next step is to internally port it. I would do the plenum first. IMO

Good luck on the other side of the pond! Your service is much appreciated.

 

Okay. This has been a long time coming but here's an update!


I returned from my deployment in June. The wife, kid and I have had an eventful summer. We've had couple of road trips, some racing, some fourwheelin', a vacation to Florida to see friends, family and some sun and sand and then falling back into the daily grind. There hasn't been much time for wrenching on a project but none the less there has been some progress. But first I have some news. It looks like we have orders to Germany. We should be heading out around Feb. So, with that in mind, the project has taken another change of direction. The goal now is to get it into a running drive vehicle as fast and cheaply as possible so it will be easy to sell or possible store.


So, when we last left off...


I had the top end off of the 352 and I was trying to figure out if I should work this engine or rebuild the 390. Well, the 390 was temping but the 352 was already in the car. The choice was easy.


Now the problem was I still needed to have the heads worked over. I didn't want to spend the time or money. Off a hunch I started to look at the truck heads from the 390. Knowing the late model heads have "harden" exhaust valve seats I thought maybe I could use them. After I started looking at them I got excited.



I soaked them down with oven cleaner and look what I found.



New seats on the intake and exhaust! Plus, after closer inspection I found new valves, new seals, new springs, everything! These things were covered in oil and grease but they had recently been completely rebuilt. How lucky is that?


The only problem is they have smaller ports than the early model heads



That dictated that I use the trucks intake



But that was cool. What else was I going to use it on? Of course without a PCV port and the funky EGR port on the carb spacer the Autolite 4100 wasn't going to work. But I did have the Edelbrock carb setting in the garage. Used with the Pent Roof valve covers, problem solved.

 

So Tiffany and I started cleaning and prepping parts.

 

While I was at it, I dropped in some fuel jets to limit the oil to the rockers




And we dropped the heads in place








Pieced the exhaust back together




And tried to put the intake on but ran into a little snag. Looks like the late model intake doesn't have the hole for the locating pin. Well I made short work of that




And with that the intake went on

 

After that we bolted on all the rest of the odds and ends, ran mostly new plumbing and tossed some gas in the tank. Finally, the long awaited for video is here...



And that's it. I have a running car. Sure there are issues that still need to work out. The generator doesn't charge, the radiator leaks, power steering is full of water, etc, etc and there are still other details yet to be found.



BUT IT RUNS





So I'm thinking that's it for this thread. Except, of course for replys, I'm going to move all other updates to the project thread. See you over there!


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1088478-project-stopgap-59-galaxie-rat-rod.html

 

Nice job. A family project! The valve covers don't look like the cap on the can. Is that what you used? Good luck in Germany.

 

congrats ! cool that the wife helps

 

Hey congrats!!! Very cool to see you get it running.

 

Helps? Heck, she does most of the work

 

Thanks for your service. Its always exciting getting one to run thats been sitting for a while(as in years). Your wife is a keeper got to love those women that dive in and help and arent afraid to get a little dirty(as in grease under the fingernails). I know what all you other guys were thinking.