My other project...3 yrs and counting

[Wingnut_rb]

This is my "Mistress", at least thats what my wife calls it. I have spent countless hours over 3 years in the garage working on this. It is a 1966 Ford Custom 500. Started life white, when I'm done it will be black from the top to about where the door handles used to be, and pearl white the rest of the way down with a red line separating the 2 colors
Mods;
shaved door handles, rear bumper delete, shaved emblems and side trim, custom interior, 3.50 gears, AOD tranny, Mustang GT 5.0 HO, Functional ram air (removed lower headlights and used the headlight holes for intake) 18x8 front wheels 18x9.5 rears (huge upgrade from the 15x5's). I have done all the work by myself aside from the interior. I am trying to get it done before our next big car show next summer (approx 800 cars enter the show here) here are some pics, sorry some are from my phone. The blue motor is an old 289, the shiny aluminum one is the 5.0 built by me.

[Wingnut_rb]

these 2 wouldn't fit in the other post.

[scarabY2k]

WOW!! I'm a Chevy man myself, but i've always liked the old Fords, espceially the '61 Falcon, the old 50's pickups, early 70 LTD 2-doors and the Fairlanes. I would so rock that ride of yours! You've put some choice work into that baby- Hope you make it to the show. Please post more pics.

Funny... Val calls my beetle, Cup, the mistress

[Wingnut_rb]

One of the reasons I posted these pics is so you guys would ask for more later and it would force me to get working on it again. I haven't touched it in, well, ever since I got the NB! I'll try to make some headway.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by Wingnut_rb

One of the reasons I posted these pics is so you guys would ask for more later and it would force me to get working on it again. I haven't touched it in, well, ever since I got the NB! I'll try to make some headway.

Well.....

GET TA GETTIN'!!!

[dnyed]

I love those old Fords, and especially the Ford 289. Whenever I see these Fairlanes, I always see Sgt. Friday driving it in my head.......

[Wingnut_rb]

I bought this one from the wrecking yard for $200 in 2000, all it needed was a starter. Nobody was interested in it cuz it was a 4 dr. I didn't care, it was a cool old car with 66k original miles. Other than the wrecking yard, I am the second owner. I drove it daily for 7 years and then I wanted it to be something different than "grammas car". So now it'll be the family friendly Muscle Cruiser. And with the small block, I should still be able to squeeze 20 mpg's out of it especially with the Overdrive I dropped in.

[scarabY2k]

The drop really sets if of nice! The simplicity of the white really does something for that car- the black will do her fine too!

Glad you kept her- it would be a big regret getting rid of her.

[Opelmania]

Nice work and find! Can't wait to see the progression on this!

[Maggadog]

Brings back memories. A '66 Custom 500 was my first car. Fun to mess around with and fairly reliable. Get to work, finish your toy, and post pics.

[Wingnut_rb]

forgot to add my front bumper pics. The car is now registered as a collector car so I only have to have a rear plate, so I decided to use the space in the front bumper for some Shelby style driving lights. Also, I shaved all the bumper bolts. It's still in the roughed in stage but i'm happy with the progress. I can't decide between the amber or clears.

[vwgary]

Like where you're going. 4 door cars always have been underrated. Not sure about the rear bumper delete tho. With the protruding taillights and no bulge from the bumper it looks odd. Do a foam mock up as a trial; I think you'll see what I mean. Still bumperless, but you do need an extension to the sheet metal. IMHO, and I've been there.

[Wingnut_rb]

So here's a little update on the "mistress"...I had issues with water in the oil after the engine rebuild. Yes, it was machined by a local shop. I thought maybe a head gasket didn't seal or....? Took the heads off, chased the bolts and bolt holes with a tap. Bought new head gaskets and ran it again. No water in the oil. Over the next couple of weeks I would go start it and run it up to temp and shut it off ( no electric fan for now). Checked the oil after every run, no problems. Went out to get something out of the garage and noticed coolant under the car! Checked the oil and sure enough, water in the oil AGAIN!! So I pulled the motor out and took it back to the machine shop to have them check the block for cracks etc. They told me the deck was warped and needed to be shaved. Nice of them to check it the first time! So I had them shave a little extra to boost compression a tad.
So now I have a bare block sitting on my engine stand ready to start all over again I'll post a couple pics when I get some heat in the garage...and some motivation

[Wingnut_rb]

Well, I finally found that motivation I was searching for. Plus it's been in the 50's the last 2 days! Bought another gasket set and started putting the motor back together...again.
I'll get some pics up sometime this weekend. A brand new set of Keith Black pistons sitting in a freshly bored cylinder....it's a beautiful thing!

[Opelmania]

That sucks about the motor. Good to see you're gettin' back on it.

[Wingnut_rb]

My pics are always 2 steps behind. Here's the lower end all put together, but now the whole motor is done and ready to go in the car. I don't really care if no one reads this thread, it's just here for my motivation....and it's working!

[Wingnut_rb]

OK got more pics....

[vwgary]

I've been watching Being an old hot rodder myself

[DrTrae]

Originally Posted by vwgary

i've been watching

+1

Super hottness man.

[dnyed]

So, how's it going these days?