1969 Torino

[FETorino]

I was thinking today how I got myself into this mess.

I did a search on the FE forum and found the post from the day I bought my project.

The weekend after I brought it home I tore it down and found out the previous owner had set 20 thou of lash as if it was a solid, BUT it had hyd lifters No wonder the lifters clattered like they did. Looking closer I saw the stock springs were on the verge of coil bind so good thing he didn't preload the lifters or I probably would have dropped a valve.

Better to be lucky than good.

O/T Fe road tripMarch 18 2006 at 2:42 PM
Rob (Login fefairlane)

I have a sickness. 60's Ford muscle cars. I keep looking at them, watching the auctions on e-bay, looking in the recycler,craigs list this site. I own a 67 GTA convertible Fairlane with a 390.

I couldn't help myself though.

I was watching a 69 Torino on e-bay in the San Francisco area and the same day my boss told me I needed to go up there for work.

I bid and won the car and with a one way ticket I was off. after looking the car over and paying for it I set out around 5:15 from downtown SF. Several hundred miles ahead of me in a car I've never worked on with only a small assortment of tools I brought for emergencies I'm off.

Exhaust leaks, check, Holley dominator manifold with double pumper, check, well at least the oil is clean and the coolant in the radiator looks good. Hey the gas gauge, wipers, lights and speedo work.

Cruising down the 101 (to avoid the possible snow on the grapevine, did I say I was driving to Orange county in SoCal?) I realize why I was embarking on a plan so stupid.

The 390 purred, although the exhaust leaks ruined the melody when the throttle was applied. Not a sound form the toploader or nine inch out back. One finger on the wheel or hands off and the car still tracked straight. there is something about a FE and a stick shift. The sound, the performance (if it had the right combo, mine currently doesn't). Suddenly the plan seemed great. Somewhere around Salinas a CHP officer pulls me over because my taillight are too dim. He send me on my way "that's a nice car be careful I'd hate to see someone rear end you". A stop at the next offramp and some sanding on the connections get me a better ground and better taillights.

The oils pressure and temperature are constant and good. The factory tach (yes it has one) doesn't work. I notice the wire isn't hooked to the coil but the connection is corroded so that will have to wait till I get home. I really shouldn't drive it home. The exhaust leaks and some lifter chatter tell me I might be using the last the motor has but if that is to be oh well, I will rebuild it sooner. Some Lucas oil stabilizer for the rest of the trip home (Not a true solution but a possible band aid for a tiered motor with some dumb add on parts).

Around 3:00 am I pull in to Tustin. Several hundred miles behind me. The exhaust leaks seem worse. the lifters sound like solids. I may have cooked the motor? well I planned on a tear down anyway. I'll fix the leaks, pull the valve covers to check the rocker shafts (and put the stock covers back on, anybody want a deal on some chrome Erson rocker covers?) change all the fluids and asses what I need to do from there.

She started fine again this morning. The toploader shifts nicely. I got her home and I've got one more FE project. 69 Torino GT 390, 4 speed, no console, AC, factory tach, Power disc brakes and steering. a good starting point and a great time driving down the coast with the humm of an FE.