Manual trans only?

[Rich Biebel]

My time spent working in a machine/engine shop easily confirms the Ford engine family parts issues stories...

I recall one attempted dyno session of a CJ 428 and the engine was literally trying to jump off the dyno stand !

The engines owner brought the wrong flywheel is all I can recall........don't recall the details on the parts issue....

Ford engines always seemed to create issues.....

Well we were GM racers.....not much on Fords....

My son-in-law has an original '66 Mustang 260 2 barrel carb, 4speed......
It sat for years and I had to swap parts from 2 starters to make one fit in there.

After freeing up the stuck carb and checking a few things, it started and ran so smooth you could balance a nickel on the intake.......ran flawless...

[jimmyparker]

I was told many years ago that parts from a Green Ford wouldn't work on a Blue Ford and vice versa.

[Rory McNeil]

Interesting, it appears that no Chevys were externally balanced?
All Chevys used the same diameter flywheel?
All Chevys used the same starters?
Funny, I have had person experiances with all these, and more. Like:
Some chevy blocks are missing motor mount bolt holes, starter mounting holes,threaded holes in the ends of the cylinder heads for bolting up incidentals, like alternators, no oil filter vs canister oil filter, vs spin on oil filter, 3 different valve cover bolt patterns, no threaded hole for securing the crank damper,long vs short water pumps, left and right side dipsticks, 2 piece and 1 piece rear main seals, different thickness front oil pan seals, etc. Just like the Fords, it seems that Chevy made a few running changes during its lifespan. As for how much easier it would have been to convert a 66 283 Chevy Nova from auto to 4 speed, hope that you have one of the special Chevy II only blocks and bellhousings to make use of the factory clutch linkage fit properly!
Seems that doing your homework when it comes to mixing and matching engine and car parts is a good idea, whether you are working on a Ford OR a Chevy!

[bigshow2966]

There used to be a green '67 427/425 '67 Fairlane that raced at Havana back in the '80s. It was an automatic car, supposedly from the factory. Buddy of mine who is a huge Ford guy questioned whether it was "real" or not because the 427/425 was never released with an auto. There were a pair of brothers there who raced a gold Mustang (Doubet?) who swore the car was legit and they knew the dealership it came from.

I just always thought it was a really cool car.

[Greg Reimer 7376]

Originally Posted by Rory McNeil

Interesting, it appears that no Chevys were externally balanced?
All Chevys used the same diameter flywheel?
All Chevys used the same starters?
Funny, I have had person experiances with all these, and more. Like:
Some chevy blocks are missing motor mount bolt holes, starter mounting holes,threaded holes in the ends of the cylinder heads for bolting up incidentals, like alternators, no oil filter vs canister oil filter, vs spin on oil filter, 3 different valve cover bolt patterns, no threaded hole for securing the crank damper,long vs short water pumps, left and right side dipsticks, 2 piece and 1 piece rear main seals, different thickness front oil pan seals, etc. Just like the Fords, it seems that Chevy made a few running changes during its lifespan. As for how much easier it would have been to convert a 66 283 Chevy Nova from auto to 4 speed, hope that you have one of the special Chevy II only blocks and bellhousings to make use of the factory clutch linkage fit properly!
Seems that doing your homework when it comes to mixing and matching engine and car parts is a good idea, whether you are working on a Ford OR a Chevy!

I always try to read ahead a bit before picking up a wrench. It beats going off only half loaded every time. The learning experience that Falcon provided was a study in figuring out that it wasn't what we knew that slowed us down, it was what we DIDN'T know. Sort of a lesson about life itself.