Worked on the Sprint all weekend...

As I posted a while back, the clutch burnt up right at the time the Ford show and swap came to town. I picked up a small Lunati cam kit at the show for a smooth 100 bux.
Figured I'd swap the cam and clutch at one time. I also got a double roller timing set with the cam...
Anyway, I got the cam out and found the front cam bearing was bad.
That combined with the fact that I didn't want to skimp and get a generic clutch held up progress.
Well, I finally pulled the engine, got a cam bearing, cleaned things up, and installed a Centerforce D/F 11" clutch.
The engine still looks bone stock, I haven't strayed from the factory 4v intake and factory valve covers.
The only real changes were going from stock cam to the Lunati and getting rid of the horrible Tri-Y headers and going to a set of Hookers.
Man! They fit a 1000Xs better. Fit like a glove.
I didn't need a BFH for any of the install.
It did however take me 2 hrs to get the equalizer bar in.
I took the engine side off when lowering in, and thought about it later that it may not be a good idea. So I wriggled it up into place and got everything in, then noticed the frame side had been bumped off the mount and was just laying there the whole time.
That was terrible to try and install with the headers all bolted up.
Finally decided to jack the engine up an inch or so and it fell into place. Then wriggled the engine side back in for a second time.

The cam hits a little harder than I had hoped. I am trying to stay low profile and stock looking. I don't remember my last cam with similar specs being so noticable. It shakes the car pretty hard at idle.

The points were breaking up a bit and the mufflers are not on yet, so I only got to take it for a short ride and was not happy yet.
Got the points straightend out, carb tuned, now I just need mufflers hooked up. The Tri-Ys used 2.5" collectors, and the Hookers use 3", so I need a couple parts. Too late tonight.

Anyway... just thought I'd post my weekend.
Dave

Oh yeah, I couldn't retain the 3 on the tree with the Hookers, so I tossed the 3 speed for a Toploader I had laying around. I used the 11" bell and a new Hays steel flywheel along with the new CF clutch and roller pilot bearing.
Tommorrow I have to cut a hole in the floor for the Hurst shifter.
I was pi$$ed when I realized the 3 speed had the speedo cable on the wrong side of the tranny. I figured a manual would be the same. I have to pick up a speedo cable now too. I have a gear housing plugging the hole for the time being.
Used Mobil 1 in everything. Even used an Autolite filter. I haven't seen those in years.

 

Cool. Why don't you go with a Pertronix or something instead of screwing with points?

 

I have a Duraspark that is going on there soon.
I just had so much else to do that I didn't want to muddy up the waters making that change in the middle of everything.
I figured I was starting the engine with a new cam, lifters, springs, and oil pump...
I wanted it to go back with all the same carb and ignition that was running before.
That way it would start instantly and run for the break in period without having to tune things.
I have a newer carb to put on too, but again, too big a change to risk damaging the cam if it needed some bugs worked out while breaking in.

I hate the points!
I will be glad when all the odds and ends are done and I can toss them too.

Edit: It did start instantly too! I barely bumped the starter and it fired right off. Turned up the idle screw to near 3k rpms and walked away for a half hour. Worked great for break in. I checked on it every now and again to keep the water topped up.

 

It only took you 2 hours to monkey the z-bar on with the Hooker headers? You done good!


Actually I think it's the 4-speed that has speedo gear on wrong side. The C4 and 3-speed have it on driver side ...

 

sounds like you had a busy weekend. did some cleanup on mine before roundup. been putting pieces back on. only thing left is to put the grill on. eventually i'll get to working on my sprint. i will! i will! really.

 

What I don't understand is when I converted my C4 car to Toploader, I had plenty of cable to route around the tranny, but the M3 car has a short little cable.
Granted, the C4 cable didn't last long though. It was old and set in it's ways, then I go and put a new bend in it...

The Z bar would have been much quicker had I made sure the frame side was on the bushing before putting the engine down on the frame stands. I could probably have gotten the engine side on as well at a half way point, but we were too fixated on the headers because we didn't want to do the whole jacking up of the car 3' in the air to install them after the engine was in.

 

Seems like there are a lot of Sprints popping up...
It's good to see that board members are snatching them up before they disappear totally.
What needs done on yours?

Mine needs body work more than anything.
It was the proverbial little old lady's car.
Only problem is little old ladies lose their vision and start running into everything!

 

Well, Sprints are the coolest Maverick ever made.

In the future I will ditch the mechanical clutch linkage on any of my projects. It is a royal pain.

 

"getting old "

i thought you were "old school". if you are going to late model upgrades you need an "automatic" ...frank...

 

Yea, just wish I could get my hands on that one in the Pull-A-Part down by Terry's!

 

Actually, my 57 Ranchwagon will have an automatic. But only because I want a bench seat in it and I dont like the looks of a floor shifter and bench seat. Plus the Lincoln that is giving its all for this project, is an automatic and it was FREE!!!

 

Glad to hear of the progress!!!!

 

I used a petronix on a 70 Mach 1, and it worked great. Recommended product in case you ever were wondering if they were worth the $$.

 

Aint those equalizer bars a bitch to install with headers????
Dan

 

I personally would use a Duraspark II setup any day over a Pertronix. And apparently, a bunch of guys over at Ford Six agree with me.