Power Hungry Performance Forum  

Go Back   Power Hungry Performance Forum > Ford - All Other Vehicles (Disabled) > 1973 to 1985 Carburated Vehicles

1973 to 1985 Carburated Vehicles
Emissions laden vehicles, but still simple enough to work on and we still love 'em!


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old Sat, January 24th, 2009, 02:43 AM
Power Hungry's Avatar
Power Hungry Power Hungry is offline
The Godfather of Power Stroke Tuning
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Winder, GA
Posts: 2,263
Power Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud of
Default Your favorite vehicles of yesteryear.

In looking back, I'd have to say that I have been really blessed throughout my life. For starters, I have a wonderful family and great kids. I have some very good friends (both old and new) and I enjoy my job. This last part is what got me to thinking a little bit....

I've be fortunate enough to be very adept at computer programming as well as very mechanically inclined. At a rather young age I was already interested in how things worked. I used to go to the local dump down the street from our house and come home with broken radios, calculators, or anything else to look like it could be salvaged. Every once in a while I'd turn up a lawn mower or edger and bring that home and begin tearing it apart. I didn't have any tools at that time and had to use my grandfather's tools. He was an ex-mechanic for Miami Lincoln Mercury and had a rather nice set of tools. I guess that's what really got me interested in cars and engines.

Over the following years, I've had the opportunity to work on some really interesting vehicles - 64 Corvair, 72 Corvette, 78 T/A, 65 Galaxie 500, and a host of others. What always amazed me about them was how simple they all were. Some had bigger engines and some had multiple carbs but they all were basically the same. Did I mention simple? 5 wires - 2 for the alternator, 2 for the coil, 1 for the starter solenoid. 1 fuel line to get the juice into the engine. Boy was I ever hooked.

I had a discussion today with a customer and we started talking about the simpler times, not just from a mechanical aspect, but from an aesthetics aspect. Older cars just LOOK nice. I'm so tired of so much of the cheesy plastic crap that Detroit has force-fed the American public over the last 20 years. I want heavy metal again. I want clean, flowing lines that stretch from here to New Mexico. So with this bit of nostalgia gnawing away at me, I offer my list of vehicles for which I find both mechanically and visually appealing.


One vehicle I have always admired for its shape was the 1948 to 1952 Ford F1 pickup. To me, this is what a pickup truck should look like! The lines are nothing short of sexy and with a variety of engines from 226ci to 337ci you could makes these buggers move, especially with some good performance parts. Nothing much to them and you could fix just about anything with a pair of pliers and a screwdriver. I'd love to own one of these some day although I don't know if I'd fully restore it or do something drastic like drop a 7.3L in it.


My all time favorite street machine would be a 1972 Chevelle SS, 2dr hardtop. There is just something about that car with a 454 and a 4spd that screams "I'm gonna blow your f***ing doors off!" I had a 1972, although sadly it wasn't an SS. I miss that car greatly, but you can't look back. (And yes, I know the picture is a '71. Too lazy to find a good '72 picture!)


I have a special place for the 1964 Corvair Monza Spyder. With a turbocharged 6 cylinder and 4 spd manual tranny, it put out an estimated 180 HP although it was only rated at 150 HP for marketing reasons. The sleek styling was actually quite ahead of its time. Unfortunately, production of the Corvair halted in 1969. For some people this wasn't soon enough, especially Ralph Nader.


One other vehicle I think is overlooked and underrated is the 1961 to 1969 Lincoln Continental. Suicide rear doors. Need I say anything else? Those cars have such clean lines on them that I don't think that there is another car to date that can match it. Just don't take the President for a ride in one!


And finally, a throwback to my childhood... the 1969 to 1972 LTD Country Squire Station Wagon. This is the station wagon that make all others look like junk. The aerodynamics and the straight, boxy lines of these cars, not to mention the big 400ci and 460ci engines absolutely scream "Forget fuel economy! Looking good is too important!" I've always been fascinated with the "pop up" rear seats in the back of the wagon. As a kid, I used to play back there with my cousins on those long trips to wherever. We never worried about exhaust fumes. We lived in Florida and the A/C was always cranked FULL BLAST! This folks, is classic styling at it's best.

Well... I guess that's enough random thoughts for now.
__________________
Bill Cohron - The Mad Doctor

Power Hungry Performance - The ORIGINAL in Ford performance tuning... Since 1997!
(678) 890-1110

www.gopowerhungry.com - Home of the Hydra Chip, Minotaur Tuning Software, and the new Orion Reflash System for Navistar!

Bring back Windows™ XP and 7.
Windows™ Vista and Windows™ 8 is a pain in my a$$!
Windows™ 10 is only slightly less annoying!
Windows™ 11 is garbage!

Much to my surprise, I'm actually quite enjoying Linux!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old Sat, January 24th, 2009, 10:19 AM
Cajun's Avatar
Cajun Cajun is offline
Takin the low road.....
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: The Piedmont
Posts: 74
Cajun is on a distinguished road
Default

I like this thread. That's a great list Bill!

Here's mine:

The first would be a mid '50s Harley Davidson FL. The pan head motor, the tin primary cover, the fat tires, man o man, that's they don't make 'em like that anymore. This is a police model, a '54FL, but not far off from what I'd like color wise. It wasn't much different from the civilian model. The civilian model basically had a little more chrome and no siren.




I actually owned one of these once, wish hadn't sold it. It's a 1970 Chevy Nova SS.



Then there's my first F series truck, it was a '77 F150.



And the 32 Ford Coupe...what else need to said?



An the '32 pickup...oh yeah....



I'm with ya man, DOWN WITH PLASTIC. Gimme the steel!
__________________
^^^ That's my dog Pete, he's a good dog.....

QueenCityBashers.com
South Central NC RC Bashers
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old Sat, January 24th, 2009, 10:45 AM
johnnyd's Avatar
johnnyd johnnyd is offline
Triple Whopper with Cheese
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wadsworth, Ohio
Posts: 137
johnnyd will become famous soon enough
Default

Oh boy, were to start. I am a huge fan of the art work that was coming out of Detroit back in 50's and 60's. I mean the lines on some of these cars are just simply amazing. I want a fin car. Here are a few of my favorites ( I can't find a good picture right now of the 57 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz w/the Stainless Steel roof, simply gorgeous, I'll find one)

59' Impala



59' Caddy Eldorado Biarritz



58' Plymouth Fury (Christine)

__________________
05' Lariat 4wd 5.4 / PHP Custom Tuned
Air Force 1 CAI / SIDO Maggies
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old Sat, January 24th, 2009, 10:50 AM
johnnyd's Avatar
johnnyd johnnyd is offline
Triple Whopper with Cheese
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wadsworth, Ohio
Posts: 137
johnnyd will become famous soon enough
Default

Here's a pic of my Franklin MInt 57 w/the SS Roof

__________________
05' Lariat 4wd 5.4 / PHP Custom Tuned
Air Force 1 CAI / SIDO Maggies
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old Sat, January 24th, 2009, 03:39 PM
Power Hungry's Avatar
Power Hungry Power Hungry is offline
The Godfather of Power Stroke Tuning
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Winder, GA
Posts: 2,263
Power Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud ofPower Hungry has much to be proud of
Default

Oh man... I can't believe I completely spaced on the 59 Impala! That car is gorgeous. The bat-wings on it are so cool.

While we're at it, a 57 Nomad would definitely be in my Fantasy Garage. A guy down the street had a really sharp Nomad that was tubbed with a narrowed 9" and was running a 6-71 blown 427. He didn't take it out often but when he did every kid in the neighborhood (including me) would be in his front yard drooling.

It funny that for as long as I've been a "hot-rodder", I've never built anything that was X-71 blown. I've done centrifugal (Paxton, Vortech, Powerdyne, etc.) and twin-screwed Eatons, but never had the opportunity to put together one of those skyscraper blowers with the 4" wide, cogged belts.

One of these days I'll get off my lazy butt and put something really cool together. I'd like to build another 72 Chevelle as the GM A-Bodies are really strong and can handle lots of torque, but the ideal of a blown truck (i.e. an early F1) really gets me excited.

Oh... Sweet bike. You just can't beat a Panhead.
__________________
Bill Cohron - The Mad Doctor

Power Hungry Performance - The ORIGINAL in Ford performance tuning... Since 1997!
(678) 890-1110

www.gopowerhungry.com - Home of the Hydra Chip, Minotaur Tuning Software, and the new Orion Reflash System for Navistar!

Bring back Windows™ XP and 7.
Windows™ Vista and Windows™ 8 is a pain in my a$$!
Windows™ 10 is only slightly less annoying!
Windows™ 11 is garbage!

Much to my surprise, I'm actually quite enjoying Linux!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old Tue, January 27th, 2009, 11:05 AM
Dixie Design's Avatar
Dixie Design Dixie Design is offline
Warranty Voider
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: South Georgia
Posts: 170
Dixie Design is on a distinguished road
Default

Had a 69 AMC AMX in college, 390, 4 speed. Loved opening it up on the back roads between Savannah and Hilton Head. Mine wasn't as sweet as this one, but a good photo.

__________________
Specs: 2004 4.6L SCAB | Gryphon Programmer 87 Performance | Magnaflow True Dual Exhaust - Rear Cat Delete | S&B CAI | Summit Underdrive Pulleys | Troyer eFans (ordered) | Smittybilt Bullbar | Procomp 6" Driving Lights | UWS Toolbox | Rhino Lining | Chrome Steprails | 2.5" Leveling Kit | 265/70/R17 Goodyear Wrangler AT's
Vids: Magnaflow Startup & Revs - Interior Exhaust Sounds
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old Tue, January 27th, 2009, 11:13 AM
Dixie Design's Avatar
Dixie Design Dixie Design is offline
Warranty Voider
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: South Georgia
Posts: 170
Dixie Design is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Power Hungry View Post
the ideal of a blown truck (i.e. an early F1) really gets me excited.
My Dad had a 52 F1 when I was real young. I'd give anything to have today some of the cars/trucks that we've both had over the years.

__________________
Specs: 2004 4.6L SCAB | Gryphon Programmer 87 Performance | Magnaflow True Dual Exhaust - Rear Cat Delete | S&B CAI | Summit Underdrive Pulleys | Troyer eFans (ordered) | Smittybilt Bullbar | Procomp 6" Driving Lights | UWS Toolbox | Rhino Lining | Chrome Steprails | 2.5" Leveling Kit | 265/70/R17 Goodyear Wrangler AT's
Vids: Magnaflow Startup & Revs - Interior Exhaust Sounds
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old Wed, January 28th, 2009, 11:02 AM
cleatus12r's Avatar
cleatus12r cleatus12r is offline
F Your Yankee Blue Jeans
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Somewhere in Montana
Posts: 2,654
cleatus12r is a name known to allcleatus12r is a name known to allcleatus12r is a name known to allcleatus12r is a name known to allcleatus12r is a name known to allcleatus12r is a name known to all
Default

I have always had in my posession a 73-76 Ford pickup of one sort or another.

My family has never owned anything other than Ford trucks and I was raised "right" I guess you would say. The first one (and two, and three) trucks I bought made one good one. I bought my first in Dec. of '93 (at the ripe old age of 14) for $400. It was a 74 1/2 ton shortbox that was in awful shape. But it ran and was fun to beat on. It eventually took on a transformation with 2 other trucks and became a 74/76/79 F-200. I called it my 5/8ths ton because it was a coil-sprung shortbox with 3/4 ton axles (spindles-out on the front). That truck went to Louisiana with me for 18 months worth of Army duty and I sold it in '03 to pay off a motorcycle purchase. It left me with 9 inches of lift and a perfect body with original paint.

The current project is a 73 2wd longbox that I bought in '94 for $200. It hadn't been licensed in 15 years and served fuel-hauling duty on a ranch. I aquired a 76 3/4 ton 2wd about 3 years later and swapped the cab (the original had no floorboards and about 7 lbs. of Bondo in the body from my first bodywork attempt). It's been a work in progress since '94 and it just lost its 3rd engine/transmission (donated it to the Youth Center's 16 passenger bus). This truck was meant to be beat on. I ran 200 HP worth of nitrous oxide for about a year (countless 10 lb. bottle refills) and put a spool in the rear. It ran really well with Holley Pro-jection for nearly 10 years and had an absolutely FLAT torque "line" of 353 ft. lbs. from 1800 to 3200. I built a 3-link airbag setup for the rear suspension and upgraded over the years from a 302 to 390 to the most recent 460. Yes, the transmission swaps are always fun...THANKS FOR THE DIFFERENT ENGINE FAMILIES, FORD!!

Anyway, here is a picture of the truck in its current state. Right now it is engine-less but I have a 91 F.I. 460 and E40D that are going into it so I have the port fuel injection and wiring harness ready for a twin-turbo setup. I'll probably megasquirt it...... The body isn't great, but it's all original and there is no rust. I'd rank it a 7 out of 10 as it sits. One day it will be a 700 HP rocket....but it takes time and money.
__________________
Tuning, flashing, burning chips, and repairing all aspects of 7.3L Powerstrokes.
SEVEN 7.3L-powered vehicles in the driveway. Two didn't come that way from the factory!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:10 PM.


All Contents Copyright 2008-2024, Power Hungry Performance