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On the test ride the heater coil blew and they dropped the price $2k. I fixed it for about $200 and put about 1200 miles on it. The ethanol gas had dissolved the gas tank components and there was rust in the tank that was clogging the fuel filter. New gas tank and components. Less than 100 miles later the fuel pump starts leaking. The AC compressor has to be removed to get to the fuel pump. A bolt broke in the head while removing the AC.
I had to pull the head to get the bolt out. This became a father/son project and we pulled both heads to have them worked for today's fuel and to get rid of 74 smog choke points. A buddy that owned the machine shop told me what it would cost and convinced me to get a set of aluminum Dart heads. I figured if I am going to swap the heads go all the way with a top end rebuild. ISKY cam to 327ci 350hp Mouse Motor specs, roller rockers, timing gears/chain, shorty headers, Torker II low rise intake, Holly 650 Double Pumper, and a Petronix points conversion kit. My son was working 4 hours away and he would come up once a month to help with the re-build.
We had the top end together and my son was torqueing down the Harmonic balancer and the bolt stripped the threads in the crank. Education time. I showed my son how to drill and tap for a Heli-coil. While torqueing down the harmonic balancer it stripped again. I ordered the next size up tap and drill bit. My son was killed by a tweaker/dealer and the project got put on hold.
That was 7 years ago. I have finally gotten motivated enough to get back to it. Once or twice a year since his death I would pick up a wrench only to put it back down before I did anything. I have finally edged past my demons on this and I am motivated to get this on the road before the end of July. I am re-building the complete brake system right now. I hope to have the brakes working by the end of May. I am in line with an old school master mechanic who is going to pull the engine and go through it. If he can save the crank he will. If not, it will get a 400 SB crank to bump this up the 383ci. If it stays 350ci it should have 400 or so HP. If it goes to 383 it should be about 430 HP.
The body is in great shape except for one divot in a rear quarter panel and a scuffed nose piece. I plan on doing the fiberglass repair and have an airbrush spot repaint of the two areas by the guy that took all of the chips off my wife's last car before I sold it. The front and rear bumpers are also in great shape as is the top. All it will need is new carpet as it is a bit faded. I also have a vinyl hard top that needs a new headliner. It will not be a 100 point show car but I will probably run a years worth of the show circuit and see how it does in the "Survivor" class. It will also replace the Ranger as my daily driver after the motorcycle.
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Tony
NE ATL
'04 XLT regular cab 3.slo stepside
Semi retirement