WhitsEnd Transformation

[WhitsEnd]

OK, it's not definitive yet, but here is a shot of the side of the truck to show how it sits with the motor and transmission installed. At the moment, the forward rake is about the same as it was before the CV swap. We'll see where it ends up once the front clip is back on.

[WhitsEnd]

had some time last night so I knocked off a couple items from the project TO-DO list, which is an actual list written on the windshield in red dry-erase marker. You can barely see the list in the picture above due to lighting. I keep the marker in the drip rail so anytime I see something to add or complete an item, the list gets updated.

First up was finally setting the pre-load on the rockers and locking them down. I start at cylinder #1 with the crank at #1 TDC and compression stroke, ensuring both lifters are on the base circle of the camshaft. I also visually watch the two rockers to make sure there is no movement for several degrees as I approach TDC, just to make sure. After adjusting down to zero lash, I added one complete turn (.050" for my adjusters) and then lock them down.

I then rotate the crank 90 degrees in direction of rotation (clockwise as looking at it from the front for an FE) and do the same for the next cylinder in the firing order. My balancer has marks on it every 90 degrees for this purpose.

Here's a shot of all rockers locked down with the lifters properly pre-loaded.

I think this is the first shot of the pushrods too. Nice units from Smith Brothers with 5/16 balls for the lifters and 5/16 cups for the adjusters.



You can see the temporary carb in place. This is a Holley 600 vac secondary unit that is original to my '66 Cyclone. It's sized for this 390 and is a known commodity, so perfect for getting this motor sorted out prior to installing the EFI (which is still on my TO-DO list for purchasing)

[WhitsEnd]

The last act of the night was installing the custom driveshaft that had arrived from my friends at ...



This is at the max length they are willing to build. It came with a new slip yoke for the C6 and a 1310 combo universal joint to mate to my stock differential yoke. I can upgrade that later, if ever needed.

This is 4" aluminum and high speed balanced. Oh, it's also very, very loooooooooooooooong...



After that, I noticed how close the old carrier bearing mounting bracket is and I'm concerned about the driveshaft room at full travel compression. So, added removing that bracket to my TO-DO list. Net zero on the list length.

[Bullitt74]

Awesome progress! I like your idea with the dry erase marker!

[WhitsEnd]

The next phase of work once the front clip is back on will be sorting out the electrical end of things. To that end, I ordered a custom set of battery cables and ground straps. When they arrive, I go into more detail.

For now, I moved the engine to firewall ground to the passenger side (more room and an available bolt hole on the back of the head) and upgraded it to a flexible, braided strap.



There is a a little bit of solder in the joint, although it doesn't look like it.

[WhitsEnd]

Well, the list is getting shorter of things I can do in the engine bay before dropping the clip back on.

Here you can see I've decided to add a power steering fluid filter. This has a mechanical filter as well as a magnetic filter. I thought it was a good idea, since everything in the system is new.

Also seen here are the Cal Custom valve covers I bought from a guy on the FB version of this site. They did NOT look like that when I bought them, although I didn't polish them to much because I like the raw look. Added a little blue to match the engine.

Top accessory pulley and fan installed, along with the plugs, wires and cap.

Bent and flared some custom lines for the transmission cooler and installed them as well.

Won't be long now.

[WhitsEnd]

From this side you can see I'm still waiting on my new 3G alternator from PA Performance (along with the 1G to 3G upgrade kit). However, I got the alternator and compressor combo bracket welded, painted and installed. This is a bracket made and sold by a forum member. You can find it if you search the Parts For Sale section of this forum.

This is by far the best location for the A/C compressor, in my opinion. Should have been done this way by Ford. With the Crown Vic conversion, there is all sorts of room there, like it was meant to be. The best part is the engine visually looks better because the compressor isn't sitting up on top of the power steering pump. The A/C hoses will be simpler and shorter as well.



Nothing sexier in the automotive world than an FE dressed right (although my other FE is sexier).

[Bullitt74]

Nothing sexier in the automotive world than an FE dressed right (although my other FE is sexier).

That is just awesome!

[pedro69ford]

its been awhile since i been on the forum,nice clean work,impressive

[DuckRyder]

Looking good!!!

[WhitsEnd]

When I fire this thing up for the first time, I don't want to irritate my neighbors that already have to put up with my 428 and chambered exhaust. Adding to that is the 6:45 AM departure of my daughter every day driving this rig to school.

I thought long and hard about doing the exhaust myself vs. having a muffler shop do it. In the end, doing it myself won out. There has been a lot of money spent on this truck and doing the exhaust myself would save several hundered. It also gives me the opportunity to live up to the line I keep telling my wife when I buy new tools..."it will pay for itself, and then some". That's only true if I'm not lazy.

So, I got busy searching Amazon. The bulk of the job is pretty straight forward for a simple dual exhaust setup. However, at the rear, the pipes have to go over the exhaust and then spread out to the sides to clear the spare tire and brackets, all while not interfering with the shock mounts. I didn't want to hack together 20 pieces of pre-bent sections, so I took some rough measurements and started searching pre-fabbed tail pipes.

What I bought, is a set of tail pipes for a late 80s G-body (Monte Carlo, Olds Cutlas). https://www.amazon.com/Flowmaster-15817 ... B000CEBWGU

They arrived and a preliminary mock-up under the truck proves they will be almost perfect. The other key pices include an H pipe crossover, aluminized 2.5" straight pipe and some heavy duty hangers.

The whole system will be welded, with the exception of the tail pipes that will attach with clamps so they can be removed easily over the axle. More pictures to come once I get to installing the system.

[WhitsEnd]

.
.
Here you can see how the inlets of the tail pipes need to be rotated to better align for a straight shot from the mufflers. I've marked the pipes where I will cut, rotate and re-weld the pipes.



This is a rough approximation of the orientation under the truck.

[WhitsEnd]

Wanting a relatively quiet system but nothing too restricting, I opted for Borla turbo style mufflers. These are extremely nice. Not cheap as compared to other similar turbos, but I believe them to be the best made and some of the quietest, based on other testimonials.

After opening up the boxes, I have to agree on the quality. All connections and seams are auto welded. No crimping.




And ZERO restriction...

[Manny]

I love your FE shes beautiful! best Vicky front swap yet!! Also the a/c bracket is great like that one way more than factory brackets. Keep it going looks great!!

[WhitsEnd]

I spent the first half of the weekend in DC taking in the cherry blossoms and museums.

While at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, I thought about how this old lift would have been used to do exactly what I was going to do the next day...install an exhaust system.



Now, back to our regularly scheduled program....