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Comet update

1K views 32 replies 15 participants last post by  jerkeesvt  
#1 · (Edited)
Here's an update on the Vomit....ahhh, I mean Comet

Sitting in the shop
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Empty engine bay
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Dash
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Another shot of the dash
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Motor's getting there
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Pretty blue
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I know it doesn't look like much progress especially on the interior. I took the dash all apart to paint it. The motor's pretty much all together but I'm waiting for a carb. Can't drop it in yet cause I still haven't found a bell housing that will allow me to mate the original 4 speed to the engine. It's really coming along slowly, but we hope to have her on the road in a couple weeks. I think it will be a fun little car, and with this 302 HO it should move this 2600 lb car right along. - Dan

Sure wish I were there so you folks could help me with this thing.....LOL
 
#4 ·
Puro Latino said:
nice comet there dan my dad was looking to buy a 64' for my mom as an anniversary gift it was her first car good luck with it
The only two Comets I've ever liked is the 63 1/2 2 door hardtop like the one I now have, and the 64 Caliente. The advantage of the 63 1/2 is the weight. About 300 - 400 lb lighter than the 64. But the 64 body style is beautiful. - Dan
 
#6 ·
Lifeguardjoe said:
Any mods to the 302? Head/cam would put her close to 350-400hp
No mods other than replacing the rockers with a set of GT40 1.6 ratio rockers. From what I understand, the HO came originaly with 1.6 rockers but the factory rockers for the production engines suck and the ratios can have up to a .05 inch varience and most fall a bit short of it's rated 1.6 ratio. But the rockers for the GT40 crate engines are supposed to be very accurate. Maybe this will add a bit to the engine. I'm running an 83 Mustang dual plane intake (edlebrock in discuise) with either a 600 Holley or 650 Edlebrock carb, a set of Headman 88300 long tube headers, an AL6 ignition, performance distributer, and high capacity coil. This engine has one of the better Ford heads, the E7TE and from what I've read these are one of the better flowing stock sbf heads. Anyway, if I like it I'll probably do a cam change sometime along the way. - dan
 
#7 ·
All I can say is, "have fun!". The '60s car hobby has gotten more expensive since I spent 15 years chipping away at a '63 Fairlane (that wound up being featured in Oct. '98 CarCraft). The car was totalled by someone other than myself in 2003...

Comets are the coolest. You'll have a neat car when you're done. Please, swap out that steering wheel for something a little nicer (aluminum-spoked, mahogany-rimmed, etc...). Hell, even Grant makes a decent version of a vintage three-spoke sportycar wheel.
 
#8 ·
Z63R said:
Please, swap out that steering wheel for something a little nicer (aluminum-spoked, mahogany-rimmed, etc...). Hell, even Grant makes a decent version of a vintage three-spoke sportycar wheel.
Yeah, when we got the car home that was the first thing we noticed....that butt ugly steering wheel. It will def get an old school looking wheel installed before I take it to any shows. - dan
 
#9 ·
dan-d said:
No mods other than replacing the rockers with a set of GT40 1.6 ratio rockers. From what I understand, the HO came originaly with 1.6 rockers but the factory rockers for the production engines suck and the ratios can have up to a .05 inch varience and most fall a bit short of it's rated 1.6 ratio. But the rockers for the GT40 crate engines are supposed to be very accurate. Maybe this will add a bit to the engine. I'm running an 83 Mustang dual plane intake (edlebrock in discuise) with either a 600 Holley or 650 Edlebrock carb, a set of Headman 88300 long tube headers, an AL6 ignition, performance distributer, and high capacity coil. This engine has one of the better Ford heads, the E7TE and from what I've read these are one of the better flowing stock sbf heads. Anyway, if I like it I'll probably do a cam change sometime along the way. - dan
You'll put down a respectable amout of HP with a stout engine like that dan. I'm sure you'll like it. I believe a simple E202 or E203 I can't remember the exact name, but that cam will be a nice daily driver cam and should add a good 50-60 hp:thumbup:There are more agressive cams out there, but I doubt you want a super agressive cam for a weekend cruiser.
 
#10 ·
Lifeguardjoe said:
You'll put down a respectable amout of HP with a stout engine like that dan. I'm sure you'll like it. I believe a simple E202 or E203 I can't remember the exact name, but that cam will be a nice daily driver cam and should add a good 50-60 hp:thumbup:There are more agressive cams out there, but I doubt you want a super agressive cam for a weekend cruiser.
I think the cam you're talking about is the Ford racing E303, that's the cam I've been considering. :thumbup:
 
#11 ·
dan-d said:
I think the cam you're talking about is the Ford racing E303, that's the cam I've been considering. :thumbup:
That'd be the one:thumbup: I've ridden in a Fox that had that cam and was bored/stroked into a 308 (I believe) and it was quite nasty.:bow:
 
#13 ·
nick said:
Front drum brake scare me. But looking good though. That interior look like a job in itself.
Well if you were as old as I am you wouldn't be too worried about drum brakes. When I started driving nothing had disk, well at least nothing that most people could afford. Drum brakes work OK as long as they're kept in good condition and adjusted properly. My Comet would really scare you, not only is it all 4 wheel drum brakes, but they're not power boosted either. Neither is the steering...LOL
 
#20 ·
boostedzx3 said:
wow this needs to be in rigz for the masses to see, had it not been the top thread in the section it wouldn't have caught my eye. I love seeing threads like these!
Thanks for the suggestion, posted on team rigs. - Dan
 
#21 ·
More Comet update

Here's the engine bay as of this afternoon. I installed the engine and tranny a few days ago. It was a blast doing this by myself, but I got-er-done.

Jist a few more minor things to do and I'll fire it up.

Just ignore the orange plug wires and purple wire looms. I got the 8mm plug wires super cheap, although I wanted red the orange ones were less than half the cost. Same goes with the purple looms, they were $9.00 Vs $29.00 for red or black. I'll just paint them black once I'm sure the motor is up and running, they're plastic so easily paintable.

The K&N style air filter just turns out to look purple and redish....what can I say. - Dan

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#25 ·
Bparks717 said:
that sterring whell is the same one i had in my 80 firebird I HATED IT! the steering wheel atleast i freakin loved the bird
Yeah it's a pretty fugly wheel. Well not really, it would probably look just fine in a more modern or sports car type interior. But it's out of place in an old hot rod. It's going to be replaced soon. - Dan