BACKGROUND : I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN FEB. 1991 FOR $ 3000.00 . THE MOST I'VE PAID FOR A CAR ; SO FAR . I SAW THE CAR AT A STREET ROD SHOW IN TEMECULA , CA. , AND HAD TO HAVE IT ! I BOUGHT (SAVED) IT FROM A COUPLE OF SO-CALLED FIAT MECHANICS . THE CAR IS 80% FINISHED ; JUST HAVE TO PAINT IT NOW .
THE CAR NOW :
ENGINE : THE ORIGINAL 351C-4V THAT CAME IN THE CAR HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REBUIT WITH A COUPLE OF LITTLE MODS. THE BLOCK , HEAD CASTINGS , CRANK , AND RODS ARE THE ONLY ORIGNAL PIECES LEFT . AN EDELBROCK TRUE ROLLER TIMING SET HELPS OUT THE COMP CAMS 280H BUMPSTICK ( GROSS LIFT = .530 & 230 DUR. @ .050 ) . THE HEADS HAVE BEEN CONVERTED FOR USE W/ STUDS & GUIDEPLATES W/ COMP CAMS ROLLER TIPPED ROCKERS . HARDENED SEATS HAVE ALSO BEEN ADDED. A HOLLEY 650 CFM DOUBLE PUMPER SITS ON TOP OF THE EDELBROCK PERFORMER INTAKE . STOCK EXHAUST MANIFOLDS DUMP THROUGH A 2 1/2 INCH FLOWMASTER SYSTEM . A FACTORY SHAKER UNIT TOPS IT ALL OFF .
TRANS : THE ORIGINAL FMX WAS TRASHED FOR A C6 W/ 2500 RPM STALL CONVERTER .
REAR : THE STOCK 9 IN. W/ 3.00 GEARS STILL RESIDES ( AT LEAST UNTIL I CAN COME UP W/ SOME MONEY FOR A NEW 3RD MEMBER ) .
SUSPENSION : NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF ! THE STOCK FRONT SUSPENSION HAS BEEN REPLACED W/ A NEGATIVE CAMBER SETUP FROM "GLOBAL WEST". IT INCLUDES RELOCTED ,TUBULAR UPPER "A" ARMS , BOXED LOWER CONTROL ARMS , LOWERED SPRINGS , AND A 1 IN. SWAY BAR . OUT BACK ARE NEW SHACKLES AND 1 IN. LOWERED SPRINGS FROM "DARK HORSE PERFORMANCE " . '69 TORINO WAGON SPRING PLATES ALLOW THE USE OF 1989 FORD F-250 SHOCKS ( SHORTER EXTENDED LENGTH AND QUITE A BIT STIFFER THAN STOCK REPLACEMENT UNITS ) . THE HANDLING IZ UNBELIEVABLE - LIKE A GO KART A STEROIDS ! THE 14 IN. MAGNUMS WERE REPLACED BY 15X7'S (FRONT) AND 15X8'S (REAR) WITH BFG. T/A'S ( 235/60/15 FRONT AND 275/60/15 REAR ) .
INTERIOR : ITS A BENCH W/ COLUMN SHIFT , HAS BEEN COMPLETLY RE-DONE WITH STUFF FROM DEARBORN CLASSICS .
EXTERIOR : THE POWER TOP AND GLASS REAR WINDOW HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED ( THE REAR WINDOW HAD AN ACCIDENTAL MEETING WITH A BICYCLE IN THE BACK SEAT WHILE THE TOP WAS N MOTION ! I SWEAR IT WASN'T MY FAULT ! ) . A FAIRLANE 500 GRILL REPLACES THE OPTIONAL HIDEAWAY HEADLIGHT GRILL . I KNOW YOU PURISTS ARE CRINGING AT THAT ONE , BUT I THINK IT LOOKS BETTER ! I ALSO HAVE 2 CHERRY COMPLETE HIDEAWAY SETUPS THAT I'M KEEPIN , IN CASE I CHANGE MY MIND . ( ONE WAS PUCHASED AT THE JUNK YARD FOR $35.00 ! )
I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN EARLY 1994 FOR $600.00 . I GOT IT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER ; A LITTLE 'OL LADY FROM SANTA MONICA ! ( HONEST ! ) SHE BOUGHT IT BECAUSE SHE DIDNT KNOW HOW TO DRIVE AN AUTOMATIC ! WHEN I GOT THE CAR , IT HAD 125,000 MI. AND HADN'T BEEN TAGGED (REGISTERED) SINCE 1985 . IT DOSEN'T HAVE A STRAIGHT PANEL ON IT , AND THEENGINE HAS A BAAADDDD KNOCK COMING FROM THE BOTTOM END , BUT IT'S COMPLETE AND I FIGURED THE TRANS IS WORTH WHAT I PAID FOR THE ENTIRE CAR !
HERE'S THE SKINNY : Q CODE 351C - CJ , TOPLOADER 4 SPD. , 9 IN. W/ 3.25 TRAC-LOC , A/C , BENCH SEAT , RALLEY GAUGE PACKAGE , MAGNUM 500'S , AND SPECIAL ORDER PAINT .
CURRENTLY , ITS IN STORAGE AT A SECRET LOCATION IN SAN DIEGO , UNTIL I CAN GET ANOTHER ENGINE PUT IN IT . THEN I FIGURE , I'LL DRIVE IT FOR AWHILE BEFORE I RESTORE IT .
