Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

How about Ryan campbells R/SA Chevy truck

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

In 200+ posts, no one mentioned this cream puff. 1964 Ford Galaxie 352/250 in O/SA. It gets a 1.12 Autolite or a 470 Holley. You can still buy a complete core engine for $150.

BP

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Blair, is that you? I don't know if that would qualify as a "Dime Rocket" but it is sure a "Rocket Ship" and I can't believe that there aren't a dozen Stockers and a hundred SS and GT cars out there with that combo.
Since you've brought up the 352, can you give us any real $.10 FE combos?

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Yes, it's what 's left of me...........lol. That's the least expensive FE combo on the planet. It is the only 4-barrel 352 with a good factor, and it was only in '64 and '65 big cars. It is a killer for Stock. I have had the SS version on the dyno. A Fox-Body box top Mustang with one of those is a killer for SS also, but a different topic than this thread...............

Seriously, you can still poke around and find a nice '64 Ford that wouldn't need paint for reasonable cost, and the suspension on that one would not be major either. A C-4 goes right in. I just bought a manifold with a carb on it for $35. Some leftover valvetrain from someones 390 or CJ Stocker.................etc.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

I've always had a soft spot for the 64 cars I guess because Mom had a 64 Country Squire when I was younger.
Sooooo......... ya got a decent body lying around? I'll give you a few days and we could toss something together. I'm always up for a good 3 day thrash-it-together Stocker! I'll do everything but drive it!

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Here's a similar one that was brought up already, 77 Aspen SE Wagon survivor car 318/145/185 would be a T/SA. Stocker with woodgrain!!

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

I had a 1978 Chrysler Town & Country S/W (318/140) for a Pure Stock project that never took off, about 15 years ago. It had woodgrain over Tapestry Red Sunfire Metallic.

Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Here is a nice 64 in Phoenix...........I think it is too much money. but you never know. http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/3091851193.html

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Didn't Kip Martin race one of these in SS/OA? I believe he won the Winternationals one year? I believe it was in the early 80's? Cool combo.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

I had a 1966 Galaxie 500 that had the 352-250 horse. Stock it would run 17.90 to 18.20 depending on the track I was at. I won N/SA at Rockingham in about 1976-77. It was just 3 or 4 seconds off the record. It was good to be the only car in the class. I wonder what happened to the $25.00 I won for class.
regards

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Billy,

I've looked at the '64 Valiant, 273 2bbl but I'm not sure it would be competitive. I've got one with 225/4 speed siting in the yard but I know it can't be made competitive, some of the guys are having success in U/SA with the 273/2.

What do you think, anyone?

JimR

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

How about the T Bird same year with the 390, add some weight for P?

Mike Moller

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Why not? Paul Wong runs well with one in Q/S.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Not sure in NHRA took any HP off the 64 390, but Ford rated it at 300HP, and that engine has a smaller cam, and poorer intake and carb selection than the Fairlane/Mustang 390 does. T birdsare real heavy too, with cramped engine comparments, with no decent headers available.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

It's at 288, Rory.
So, 4700 some odd lbs? Not a good plan... The highest and lightest you could go is maybe in K /SA , roll bar and all ..
Still a big car...but not one I'd call a Dime Rocket

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

It will run well. It is not cheap to get one of these cars into the 12's. I just think Billy, Dwight, Mark and many others have picked better "Dime Rockets" . Trust me I am taking their advice and you will see another dime rocket soon.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Yes he did. Would you believe I just saw that car today? It is getting a mild makeover.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Is there a FFFFord expert on here who can tell me if there's anything wrong with a 1996-7 Crown Vic with the 210 horse motor? It's in the guide and they have to be a "Dime" a dozen at cop auctions. There's no factor for the motor. Are they the same as the Mustang and T-Bird? If they are, that's got to be one heck of a Q and R car. It's even listed with a 5 speed!

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Billy, I hope it's okay for me to just jump in here with both feet. I was a Ford factory-trained technician, through the introduction of the Modular 4.6 V8 engine. I've been participating in sanctioned drag racing since the '70s, sometimes seriously. I have always had a major appreciation for NHRA Stock Eliminator cars, especially the slower ones.

There are some minor differences between the police and civilian versions of the Crown Victoria, depending on year.

The 2-valve 4.6 was made at both the Romeo and Windsor engine plants, and parts are not the same. There is also the newer PI (Product Improved) version and the older Non-PI (NPI) version. The Mustang got the PI version in '99, and the Crown Vic got it in 2001. The PI has better heads and cams, and the PI version has a MUCH better intake manifold, resulting in about 20 additional horsepower over the older NPI engine.

These engines have SERIOUS piston-to-valve clearance issues, especially the PI engine. The Modular Head Shop web site has good cam selection info here. They sell Bullet cams of their own design.

I also am interested in researching a Q/R 2-valve 4.6 Crown Vic. Maybe P if you could get one light enough. The factory horsepower ratings were 210, 215, 235, 239, and 250, depending on civilian/police and the specific year.

FWIW, the brakes and suspension was revised in '03, requiring 17" front wheels, and it is somewhat hard to find lightweight, affordable 17" front drag wheels. M&H makes a 28" tall front drag tire for a 17" rim.

They have driveshaft speed issues- you're gonna need a lightweight large-diameter driveshaft.

Stainless Works makes 1-5/8"X3" headers.

Competition Engineering makes adjustable drag shocks (front and rear) for models all the way up to '02.

Everyone makes 8.8 parts.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Billy, is the 235 horsepower '01-'02 Crown Vic listed in the guide? That's the one I'm looking at, because it has the PI engine but will take 15" front racing wheels, and I can get adjustable drag shocks for it.

I don't see any '96-'97 cars going to auction in my part of the country.

I'm assuming that the police versions are eligible for competition? I'm sure that Ford does/did sell enough of them to retail customers to homologate them for competition, and there was no difference in horsepower until the 250 horsepower police version (larger airbox, MAF, and zip tube) came out in 2004. There were no other material differences that would relate to a competetive advantage.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

6130, the 01 Mustang is in the guide. If you are serious about the combo then contact your division tech director and get the ball rolling. I know little if anything about 4.6 FFFFords. The reason I was looking at the 96-7 car is that the body is in the guide already and it only needs a HP factor assigned to it, much easier.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Was wandering through the classification guide and since I have a Monza stocker was checking out different combos for my car, Happened upon the '78 305 combo which appeared to be a natural P car and with weight fit into Q. Now I know Brianne can run high 12s at will at Q weight with the 262 combo. Appears this might be the ticket ? Do I have this right? Someone please check on me. Thanks !

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Way back when I was a pup. Guy I worked with bought one of the first new 262 V8 Monza's. I know we'd goof around after work, he could kick my little Pinto's @&$ at will. I had a couple simple mods, this kid knew nothing about cars. Except how to start it. I believe these little cars originally had five speeds, not sure?

Now, today, you could tie the frames. Build a killer transmission. Bullet proof rear end. On the surface, sounds like a good starting point. Have to put the combination to paper to see what it's potential is. Next up, finding heads, intake and carb for this engine?

If you know someone running the engine. Can't hurt to look into it,

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Pretty much the same motor but I doubt the extra inches is worth the 15 HP penalty. It would be easier to find blocks and cranks!

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Thanks for the info Billy. Just compared the specs and aside from the displacement they are practically identical. I'll just stick with what I have. 350 combo in the car right now and 2 complete 262 motors in the garage.
Robert, already have all you mentioned in car, not a killer combo, but I have a blast with it none the less !! and she's very consistent.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Would a T-Bird be just as good? I found one locally, very clean, for $850.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

A silly question, if I were to go with a TBI or EFI car, what can I do as far as the ECU? I see potential, but not sure what's out there for mid-80's cars, as opposed to a late model that almost anyone has a programmer for...

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Dude , you can look this stuff up yourself
Go to the top of the page, NHRA Competition > on the left under Tech> Stock car classification..
No V8 T-bird specs in 85

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

You guys missed this one last weekend at Woodburn divisional race.
1 6752 DF/S Shawn Kvaas, Pitt Meadows BC, '88 Chrysler14.601 15.60 -0.999
He was #1 qualifier. Talked to him, has very little money in to this thing, there is a video and pictures of it on Tobys thread from Woodburn last weekend.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

We didn't miss it..It's a turbo car.
Somewhere here , I thought we agreed " no turbos" in this discussion..Too easy, but too inconsistent and hard to drive..Ask me how I know..

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Whoops, my bad.

I guess it was more a lead-in to my other question...

I know it's still a fox body, I just didn't know if there was a real big difference from the Lincoln to the Ford, but mainly, how do you upgrade the controls for CFI? I see there are specs for an 84 TBird...

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Buddy of mine in AZ has a 78 camaro 305 with a 4 speed (broke ) for sale absolutely beautiful rust free no undercoating body. stored inside $2,500.00 Howard 480 898 1900

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

iraceitall ; I'm the person that got the HP on '83 (302)T-bird reduced to 195 from 205. It's not low enough, S/B 175 or so. I can't see it running better than 2 or 3 tenths under at most. Needs a stand alone ECU and I was unable to find larger CFM injectors that fit in the CFI. On a fixed income , I threw in the towel and sold the car as a "Bracket" racer. This combo in my eyes isn't a "Dime Rocket" type of racecar. Good Luck, Fred

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

That 1985 T-Bird will pass tech if you claim it as a 1986 and run the '86 SEFI 302 Mustang GT engine. (factored @ 200 hp)

Yes, the 86-88 T-Bird is legal with the 5.0 H.O. Mustang GT engine.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Thanks for all the help and info guys. I think after looking things over I will pass on the T-Bird. I am predominantly a Ford guy (with some AMC to keep things weird) so I was headed that way. It appears that a 70's-early 80's 302 2bbl at 162hp is a good one, so I'm going to direct my focus that direction. I research the crap out of anything I do before I do it, so again, thank you all for my endless noob questions!

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

I have been pondering this question a lot lately.

After several similar threads in the last years, I'm wondering what you guys consider to be a Dime Rocket anyway
I would assume it would have to be 10% of something.
10% of a new factory ringer might put you in a decent RWD car

Maybe 10 grand is too much to spend for a slower car. 20 K might get a ten second car that won't survive a heads up match up, if you shop around .

How about 10% of a big block 69 Camaro ?
Is 5 K too much for a 14 second, sub index RWD car? Apparently so.

So just what IS a Dime Rocket to YOU?

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Dime=10,000.00

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Anyone interested in a "dime" superstocker?

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

In that case I'd say I have a 'nickel rocket', but turbo's apparently don't count, so....

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Mark, I think you nailed it with a 14sec, 5K car. That's my target. If it were in Montana I would consider it more. Stupid me wants to do it on his own and with a Ford. I figured out it's not so much about looking at what you have available to build, but more about what combos to look at and go find. I have asked some noob questions, but I am learning though...anyways, 14 seconds or less for 5k or less is a dime rocket to me, that'd be about 10% of a "fast" car I would venture to guess...