Thread: Hey, how's it goin'?

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I would've posted my intro sooner but didn't see this forum until today.
Well, I'm most likely one of the most engine-illiterate people here, but I've got big dreams. I recently obtained two 1969 Ford Torino GT fastbacks from my father. They're both in great condition, as far as the body goes, but neither have a transmission nor an engine. I'm using one for parts, or maybe I'll sell it, I dunno.
Well, I've been in love with this car since I was like five, when I saw a picture of it in an old photo album. Now, I've finally got it, and my dream is to build it into a bada** hotrod.
Being able to go fast and whoop loads of import A** (note: I despise imports), this car will determine the rest of my life. I plan to race at the local dragstrip and earn a name for myself, and one day open up my own custom car shop. Not all televised and all that like WCC or AHR, but a damn good shop.
Well, thats me.

Son, if you think you're going to spank Hondas with this car, you've got a lot of work ahead of you....and your idea of a 351W ain't gonna make it.

Look at this site showing a Torino with a hot 428, quarter mile time...14.4 seconds. It also shows the curb weight at 3,890 lbs, and that's the problem. This is a heavy car and it's going to take a lot of motor and suspension tuning to make it go fast.

You show up at the drag strip with a 351 in there and you're going to look foolish against some kid with a warmed-over $2,500 Civic. Even with a hot 428 in it, most any tuner Civic is gonna trailer you. That's just the reality of it.

Instead of thinking small block, you need to be thinking REAL BIG BIG BLOCK, like a 460 stroked to waaayyy over 500 inches to start with.

But then, that's just my opinion, what do I know????

You know more than I do, and thats why I'm here, bro.
I signed up here 'cause I thought I could get some help with my car, and I've got a lot of it.
You've been a big help, too. Any more suggestions?

My age? I don't see why it matters, but I'm sixteen.
And thanks a lot, this'll help.

Sorry, I forgot to list the site....
http://www.gearheadracing.com/RefLib...orinoSpecs.htm

Here's an example of a forged piston stroker kit, 532 cid.....
http://www.racingjunk.com/exec/ca/vi...ssifiedad.html
If you still want to run a blower, you need to consider whether you want it stealthy or not. Stealthy would be a centrifugal blower, maybe with an intercooler, with a stock hood, not stealthy would be a GMC Roots-style stickin' up through the hood.

There are tons of stroker kits available, just do a search for "460 stroker".

If you run a blower with carburetion, you'll need to keep the static compression ratio down to run it on pump gas. Look at this chart from Blower Drive Service.....
http://www.blowerdriveservice.com/techcharts.php

This is just a start with the motor, you'll also need a strong converter, trans and differential, plus a rear suspension system that will get the power to the ground.

I thought about a twin turbo, but I really love superchargers. Turbo's are a little too import for me, but it may be a better idea with my car. I dunno. Thanks for the sites guys, keep 'em comin'. :P

Rookie of the year.. You have some big ideas and I think it's great, but at 16 you've got to be practical.$$$$$$$$ and lots of it. Back when I was your age junk yards had tons of motors, not the big engines of later maybe a 348 or 409 but mostley ford flatties and sbc. The best place to look for engines and parts is on the internet. Matter of fact I just saw a 406 go for $200.00. Granted it's going to need work but whoever bought it has a engine block to work on. I agree with you on the ricers, I don't like them either and the sound of a big block like tech and Denny say is the way to go. Good luck with your project.

Yeah, I know my dreams sound a little far-fetched for my age, but I'm not setting a deadline for this project, and I've got a LOAD of guys to help me along, plus some pretty good connections and a pretty decent job in line.
And... $200 for a 406! Even if it needs some work, I know plenty of people that could help me out. Damn... maybe I should look around the net.

I like Denny's suggestion of the intercooler to cool the charge down. You can run more boost without detonation. Take a look at this paper I wrote on blowers and look particularly at the centrifugal blowers. You could be stealthy with nothing sticking through the hood and have an intercooler too.
http://streetmachinesoftablerock.com...topic.php?t=81

Yeah, but around here (a backwater Middle GA town called GRAY), turbos have become a sort of icon for imports. It amuses me how this hole city can be so obsessed with imported cars and how cool they are and brag about them being able to stomp anything made in America when the hottest imports around here are a couple of Eclipses with single turbos and noisy exhaust. A lot of bark and not much bite.

There's some good info there, but superchargers can add more HP, have no delay, and to me they just sound better. But still, they weigh less and use less fuel. I'll be sure to research it.

I'm glad I found this board. Otherwise I'd be totally screwed...

[EDIT: Honestly, guys.. do you think it's possible? Well, it's possible, but do you think I should just forget about the whole project? It's been on my mind every single day for over two years, but the more I look at it the more unlikely it seems.]

Every few months, one of you youngsters comes around with ideas like you have. Usually, us older guys try to help, but it usually comes to nothing and the youngster fades off into the sunset. Still, it provides you with some knowledge and us with some entertainment.

Heh, if you don't think I'm capable of sticking with this then you're mistaken, bro. I'm not just another young punk with unreal ideas floating around in his head. This car means more to me than anything inanimate or otherwise, and the more people around me tell me I can't do it the happier I'd be to run them over when it's done. Metaphorically speaking.. but still.. I'll do it, and I'm not just here for shits and giggles or to waste your time.

Heh, I see what you mean. I doubt I'd ever give up even if people keep telling me to, anyway. And yeah, all the talk about hybrids and these new automatic driving highways in California are a pain in the ass. Soon we won't even be able to drive for ourselves, much less build our own cars.

"I'm not just here for shits and giggles or to waste your time."

And nobody said you were. We're all glad to help as long as you want to persue it.