My father called me up and told me he was out cruising around and seen a dust covered old 56 Ford 2-door car sitting in someones garage. He stopped and knocked on the door to ask them about the car, they interupted him and told my father that their son took an interest in the car and started restoring it, and then lost interest in it and the car has been sitting in their garage for the last year, and that if we want it, we can have it free of charge so they can reclaim their garage space back, title and all. We got to looking at it, and the car is a semi rolling chassis. The body is on the frame, the front suspension and wheels are there. The rear-end is just sitting in place. Someone built a 4-link rear for it and tubbed out the back. Seeing as how this car has already been started as a drag car, im almost positive my father will finish it as a drag car.. My father says its getting a 350 or a 396. Im trying to talk him into going Buick with it. Maybe a 455... What motor would you put in a 56 Ford 2-door drag car?
Nothing annoys me more at a car show when someone has a beutiful 55 Ford truck with 350 in it. Or a 32 with a LS1. I think if it's a Ford, keep it a Ford. You want to go big bucks, put a Boss 429 SOHC in it. Or a 514ci crate motor they've got out now. Or a juiced up 351 cleveland. Just please don't put a Chevy motor into a Ford body.
Put A Ford Engine In I'd say put a Ford engine of some type.I too hate seeing a chevy engine in a Ford or vice versa.I wouldn't even want to see a 455 buick in it. Keep it all Ford.Just my opinion :grin: Jeff
While still thinking over the options, I overheard my father mention something about a 460 that a friend of his has for sale...
65-68 460-490 4V But a classic flat head with a blower would be neat. I am not a new Ford fan but the older pre 70 cars are cool.
How about a late model high tech 4.6 4V? I agree with the "stay with Ford" concept. Last good Ford ever made in my books was a 56. I had an ex Ky State trooper pursuit car years ago. 312 with an overdrive. That thing would fly. Sure liked oil, though. Don't put a flathead in a 56. They stopped using flatheads in 53's and they're cool in that. If you can't get a 427, go with something late model. One of my good friends is finishing up a mega buck 46 Ford Sedan Delivery street rod and using the 4.6 4V and full drive train and electronics from a Mark VIII. Now that would get you into Hot Rod magazine.
Ford Drag car - Here's your setup - 351 Cleveland or Boss 302, tunnel ram, dual carbs, huge cam, build it to wind up, 5.00:1 gears, four speed. Might only go 10's, but it would sound beyoootiful!
A '56 Ford, now that brings back some memories!! My first car was a '56 Ford Customline, my dad bought me two of them both 2dr post cars. One was a $50 rustbucket with a good original driveline and clean interior. The other was an $100 ex 1/8 mile drag car with stripped interior and no engine/trans. It took me almost a year and a half to put the two together and get it all painted, add the big sweeping Victoria side chrome and get it on the street. I used the rear end that was in the ex-drag car with the original Y block, added a set of 312 heads, an Offy aluminum 3 dueces intake, and some sweet sounding glass pack mufflers! The throw on the three speed column shifter was about two foot and it would sometimes jam in between 1st and 2nd if you were really power shifting it! I don't know what the actual gearing was but she topped out at 60 mph with that gear. Man could it get to 60 quick though!! I kept a huge screwdriver under the front seat to pop the shift linkage free when it jammed. Lost a few races because of that, but several times I got a rerun and beat them with a clean shift!! :3gears: Finally changed over to the rear from the original rustbucket and was able to drive it on the highway. It just wasn't as fun though! :laugh: That was one car I wish I would have never sold. My dad and I worked many a night on that car and it was my real introduction into the manly world of rebuilding classics.
Build a Gasser style out of it. Put in a nailhead with an Hilborn set up on it. Or put a 455 with fenderwell headers stage 2 scoop. etc.. Just have fun.
If you want to be TOTALLY different: :Brow: A built 300 straight six in there, with headers, multiple carbs, etc... :Brow: Clifford 6 = 8 Performance parts
Or put in a ricer engine with twin turbos, NOS, an erector set spoiler on the trunk, and a big F'in Fart Pipe. :bglasses: :beer
I do dig the 60's gasser style! :TU: I've got a friend who's got a 66 Vette with a tube axle front and a 427 with a tunnel ram and that thing gets an obscene amount of attention. The gassers are way cool. Go for it!
