1967 Ford Fairlane 500XL
Updated May.07/2005
Here's the big space where the engine belongs. The engine compartment is pretty good, just some light surface rust to deal with and detailing.
The Challenger 289 sits with a fresh coat of "New Ford Blue" and 292 cubic inches thanks to a 0.040" bore increase. All new Clevite 77 bearings should help it run nice and smooth. New pistons, perfect circle rings, oil pump, timing set, Clevite MPG Performer cam and lifters round out the list of short block improvements. I lapped the valves and installed new seals. The heads are going keep all the original parts for now.
The iron 2BBL intake is also staying with the Autolite 2100 carb.
Saturday afternoon was spent cleaning and repainting the alternator.
The Autolite distributor has been cleaned, repainted and fitted with a Pertronix Igniter module and new cap and rotor. A set of stock look Pertronix plug wires will also be used.
While the engine is out of the way, I decided to rebuild the power steering control valve. Here is the freshly painted control valve waiting for a rebuild kit.
The Bendix power steering ram had no leaks, so it just got a new coat of paint and protective boot. Instead of paying 40 bucks for a repro boot kit, I bought a set of 2 boots at Canadian Tire for $15. They are meant to be used on the struts that hold up the lift gate on minivans.
The sturdy C4 seems to be fine, it just needs a new flexplate before it gets bolted up to the engine again.
