[pestwagon64]

Awesome 64 Tempest build! Subscribed!

[TedRamAirII]

Originally Posted by 69 Limelight

Thought you were getting 2- 400 blocks from Cliff and going to stroke one of those?

That was last week, old news!

[64speed]

I decided to just save the money and build this 455. I am not going to be autocrossing or anything like that and after a lengthy discussion with Jim butler ( I’m on layaway with one of their kits) he told me that bearing speed etc was nothing to be concerned about with what I was doing so I trust their knowledge. My apprehension about using the 455 at first came from the “use a 400” crowd and in a perfect world I would be building based on a good 400 block but the only ones around here are 557 blocks which is no bueno. I’m sure I’ll be fine. Me and my wife were talking today and she wants the car done “today” which is just not economically feasible. I am still thousands of dollars away from my dream. She told me to sell it all and buy one already fixed but I had to explain to her that wasn’t the point plus I am way past the point of no return on this one. I am either building the worlds nicest Tempest or I am lighting cash on fire depending on who you ask. Could take me another 5 years which is my plan or could take 10 but it will be my car done the way I want it.

[hurryinhoosier62]

If you need a OE 455 crank, let me know.

[64speed]

Just thought I would give an update since it’s been a while. I got some pieces chromed by S&H plating and they did an excellent job of repairing a pop rivet hole and plating the aluminum window trim so I highly recommend them. I have my cam on layaway with GTOFREEK and have other parts on layaway with other vendors. Hope to get my engine build started in the spring then buy the transmission kit from SST and move on to body and paint. I sold my Sniper because of growing pains I was reading about Holley having with the units but I have not ruled it out as an induction setup just yet but I am looking at the Edelbrock Pro Flo 4. By the time I get that far there should be some good choices on the market or the Sniper will have its teething issues resolved and I will go with it. I will post again when some more progress gets made.

[tom s]

Your wife is a smart women,just a year or so too late with it!Tom

[64speed]

I asked Gtofreek to order me a custom roller cam from the Lunati Voodoo line and to blueprint my oil pump and he agreed so I am in the process of paying him now. Should have that paid off with my Christmas money and then I can focus all my money on my rotating assembly. I had been keeping in contact with SST about my dream of having a T56 for the car but I ended up getting offered the opportunity to get a truly professionally prepped M22 from a guy and the wheels in my head started spinning about an M22 with a gear vendors so I did a little research and promptly found out that was not the way to go. I have never liked the idea of all the sheetmetal surgery that was required for the T56 and I had put myself on the list for a legend 5 speed with the understanding that it would be years if ever that my name came up. Well Jody’s Transmission told me yesterday that my number should come up in about 6 months and he would let me know. I am not going to have the money to buy the legend right now because I am knee deep in this engine build so if anyone wants to buy it when I get the phone call just get in touch with me and I will trade the sale off to you. As far as trans go that got me reevaluating my purposes and on Hwystrs recommendation I called American Powertrain today and inquired about the TKO 600 for 64-67 A body’s specifically. Apparently they machine all the unnecessary things off the case and streamline it for a no cut fit. The most I was told I would have to do would be some hammer work. I priced out a full kit with driveshaft and proper shifter and everything and even with a clutch it’s 2 grand cheaper than SST wants for the T56 kit with the same final drive ratio so I guess it’s five speed over 6 speed. I’d rather have pristine floors and saved money for Air Conditioning than the bragging rights of a 6 speed when I am gonna spend most time in 4th around town anyway. So that’s where we are now. Layaway for the rotating assembly then layaway for the heads. Next up after that is chrome and final body work and paint, then glass and finally upholstery. My 40th birthday is next year in October. Maybe before my 45th birthday I will get to see it move under its own power.

[64speed]

Things just got real LOL. I finished out the layaway so basically I have laid out 5300 and some change on a bottom end and heads from butler. Still gotta sort out exhaust and borrow an HEI and carb to do the break in but other than that by mid summer she should be in between my frame rails. I will post pics of the engine parts when they arrive for a little engine porn and then I will post pics of the assembled engine. Should be all done by the end of summer. Gotta get this round port exhaust sorted out.

[64speed]

I haven’t been this excited in years. Gonna be a long 6 weeks which is how long Butler said it would take to port the heads and ship them out. My machinist can port match my intake to the heads so I didn’t pay butler for that service. Do you think it’s worth the money for my build or is it just a wasted expense?

[HWYSTR455]

Port matching is a good idea, you do pick some up with it, and a simple gasket match is not expensive.


.

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by 64speed

.... I gotta do something about the swaybar end links because there was not enough thread engagement to put the nut and the washer on. I had to just put the nut on it for now until I can get some shorter bushings. Heres some pictures.

Did you try jacking up both control arms at the same time and putting it together?

.

[64speed]

Well I got a boat load of parts today. I got my 17 inch Derale fan to replace my 19 inch that wouldn’t fit in the shroud. I got my custom cam from GTOFREEK that he straightened, specd, and prepped for a composite cam gear. I got my cam gear from butler and my professionally prepared oil pump with canton pickup installed also from GTOFREEK. I got word from Butler that my bottom end will be here Friday and when it gets here I have to make sure the flywheel I have fits the crank flange so I will take some picks for engine porn. I still have about 4 weeks till I get my heads. Exciting times

[64speed]

Well I received my Butler rotating assembly today. All forged. Crank weighs 81 pounds!!!! Didn’t realize how out of shape I was until I had to get it up off the porch. Heads are still 4-6 weeks out

[dataway]

Nice goodies. Can't wait till you get it together.

[tom s]

When my SCAT crank came the maybe 5 ft 6 FedEx girl handed it to me from the truck!I just set it on the ground and got my hand truck.Tom

[64speed]

Originally Posted by tom s

When my SCAT crank came the maybe 5 ft 6 FedEx girl handed it to me from the truck!I just set it on the ground and got my hand truck.Tom

My hand trucks are at my shop at my father in laws so I was on my own as far as getting this stuff in the house. Was a little surprised that Butler didn’t send this stuff signature required. I mean I live on a rural route in a cul de sac with very nosy neighbors but still that’s a lot of money to just be left on the porch

[Squidward]

Like a kid on Christmas morning!

Visits from truck driving delivery Santa are always cool!

[64speed]

Got the heads today. Flow sheet says 327 CFM

[64speed]

Well I put the Transmission Kit on layaway today. TKO600 with quicktime bellhousing, a dual friction clutch, shifter lever, upgraded shift mechanism, kevlar synchros and billet shift forks, lever to clear the bench seat and all the other crap that goes with it like trans mount and bolts etc. $5911 and some change. Also includes the driveshaft and a 1350 yoke. I hope to have it paid off with some of this and next year tax money. American Powertrain said there is no limit to how long it takes to pay it off but I am trying to get this done asap. I hope to have the car on the road in 5 years

[grivera]

This is gonna be an awesome ride!!