ford sleeper car?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,335
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From: Midwest
ford sleeper car?
I am in the thinking stages of a project sleeper car. only considering ford cars. on a very strict budget. Mustangs are pretty much ruled out,hard to make a known sports car a sleeper. the engine will be a 302 or 351w,since that is what I have available to be rebuilt. not sure on the tranny yet,i have no preference over auto or manual,just whatever comes available at the time the project goes together. This will be a few years down the road. I am not looking for a sub compact car or anything I have to cut up to shoehorn an engine into,I want to be as much as a bolt on affair as possible. i am thinking along the lines of the fairmont/granada but open to other suggestions. the goal is to make it look like grandma's grocery getter,but when the camaro/transam other gm junk wants to blow the "grandma" car away,they will be in for a shock!! your opinions/ideas are welcomed!!
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 333
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From: Colorado
How about a 80'ish Fairmont wagon. Being a fox body platform would allow you to use a lot of Mustang parts. They were available with a 302 I think, so it could be a mostly bolt on/in affair. I always liked the Ford Maverick for a sleeper also. I've seen a few of the less desirable four door models that can be had for cheap.
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
You might also consider 73-78 LTD's, or even earlier than that if you want. They are enormous and with all that metal it makes you feel like you're driving a truck. Plus, they came with all sorts of engines and transmissions throughout the years - so finding motor mounts wouldn't be too hard. Here's a picture of my '77 two-door; it has a 351W in it and I think it'd be a pretty good candidate for a sleeper. I just use it as a driver because it's really reliable. I get offers on it when I park it outside.
Last edited by fmc400; Feb 3, 2008 at 11:59 AM.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
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Well, depending on just how far back in time you want to go, I'd suggest a mid 60's 4 door Falcon. They're an un-assuming car, simple to work on, full frame and pretty light in comparison. They'll also easily accept a V8 whether it's a small or big block.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Alma Arkansas
the goal is to make it look like grandma's grocery getter,but when the camaro/transam other gm junk wants to blow the "grandma" car away,they will be in for a shock!!
Besides street racing is like kissing your sister, it's stupid.
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Government Teat-sucker
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia Beach
Originally Posted by wizzard351
pinto wagon with a 347 and a c-4
How about one of these:
http://classic-car.y2u.co.uk/Photo_c...nglia_1966.jpg
or one of these:
http://www.americancarsuk.com/Previo...Ford_Edsel.jpg
Last edited by stu37d; Feb 3, 2008 at 04:22 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,166
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From: wi
back in high school i weged a 429 and a 4 speed into a 76 granada 2dr, i remember using a mall to knock the firewall back and had to knock the shock towers in a bit so the exaust would clear. i also rember coming around an s curve way to fast the roads were wet and the rearend come around and rite into a tree backwards. all that work into a car to drive it for a week and a half
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
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Fox body fairmonts are perfect sleepers, HELL the body panels are already "swiss-cheesed" from the factory! Ditch the heavy bench seats and relocate the battery to the truck and throw some bolt ons at the 302 and youve got a high 11 second car with almost no work! Drop a potently built 351 with some nitrous, a 9" rear and some Micky Thompson ET streets and you can have a mid 10 second car!
Ive been in the musclcar hobby for a long time and there are always a few mildly built fairmonts that suprise the competition because of their grandpa appearence.
Ive been in the musclcar hobby for a long time and there are always a few mildly built fairmonts that suprise the competition because of their grandpa appearence.