1969 Galaxie 500 - high school budget build

BigBlockRanger wrote:He wanted to use the HEI distributor (for simplicity) and it is a tall sucker.  He put a 2" spacer under the car and a flat base air filter to clear the distributor.  We might be able to wiggle stuff around and get a shorter spacer and a drop base in there.  We didn't think it would be an issue, but it doesn't have to have a hood to start up and drive!

Be very careful of those drop base air filters....I've seen too many instances where the throttle gets stuck wide open under the drop base, and cannot return, even with dual return springs!
You need to check for clearance when opening and closing the throttle.

We got a lot of stuff marked off the list this weekend.

Main stuff that is left:
Vacuum modulator vacuum line
Fix battery tray - in progress
Connect oil pressure and water temp gauges
Heater hoses
Plug wires and spark plugs
Install Radiator
Radiator hoses
Install fan

Upper hose fit great. Judd welded up a new battery box because the stock battery area is pretty much gone.




Disaster. Lower hose showed up and it is not correct. I figured it out though. For some reason everyone shows the part number for the hose that fits a tbird or Mark 3 that use the shorty water pump. The outlet on those point to the 3 oclock position, whereas a normal BBF pump points to more like a 4:30 position. The hoses are scarce, but I ordered the correct one from Jegs. Fingers crossed.

BigBlockRanger wrote:Upper hose fit great.  Judd welded up a new battery box because the stock battery area is pretty much gone.




Disaster. Lower hose showed up and it is not correct. I figured it out though. For some reason everyone shows the part number for the hose that fits a tbird or Mark 3 that use the shorty water pump. The outlet on those point to the 3 oclock position, whereas a normal BBF pump points to more like a 4:30 position. The hoses are scarce, but I ordered the correct one from Jegs. Fingers crossed.

FWIW i've had the best luck getting the right radiator hoses for the 429-460 engines at Oreillys Auto Parts!!