1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

The Era of The Square Body Racing Comets
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Joe Travers
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1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by Joe Travers »

Searched the forum and didn't find this, so here she goes- Official Mercury promo video of the Daytona 100K Mile Endurance Run.
Read detailed articles about this event many years ago but just came across the promo video yesterday. Always thought it was a pretty wild test but the film footage really captures the feel of what went down, for the most part.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lxzFTT ... A%2FVGeeks

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SASSY
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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by SASSY »

Yes what am incredible testament to Ford's belief in the 289!!
To take a slightly modified high production low cost entry level
vehicle and run it at those speeds for that long is amazing!!
It is my understanding that the cars ran at close to 120mph to maintain the 100 plus mph average. I might be wrong on this point, please correct md if you know better but Im sure I read that the red one dropped a lifter or something like that. It was repaired and continued running at an even faster pace than the rest to make the record speed minimum. The cars speed was disallowed because of the repair. I have watched and posted links to the YouTube vids as well.
Fred
I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

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poboyjo65
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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by poboyjo65 »

SASSY wrote:
Tue Jan 18, 2022 3:17 pm
Yes what am incredible testament to Ford's belief in the 289!!
To take a slightly modified high production low cost entry level
vehicle and run it at those speeds for that long is amazing!!
It is my understanding that the cars ran at close to 120mph to maintain the 100 plus mph average. I might be wrong on this point, please correct md if you know better but Im sure I read that the red one dropped a lifter or something like that. It was repaired and continued running at an even faster pace than the rest to make the record speed minimum. The cars speed was disallowed because of the repair. I have watched and posted links to the YouTube vids as well.
Fred
I'm thinking it broke a valve spring?
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Joe Travers
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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by Joe Travers »

SASSY wrote:
Tue Jan 18, 2022 3:17 pm
I have watched and posted links to the YouTube vids as well.
Thanks, Fred! Did a search on '1964 endurance run' and didn't catch a post, so thought I would throw it up for folks who haven't seen it. As John posted, the red car had a valve spring replaced but got back on the track after repairs and did finish 100K. Thought I read a generator went out on another as well, but it's been so long ago I read details about this. I remember the cars had a wooden crate in place of the back seat to store a few parts that were suspect to fail in 100K miles, including the generator.

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barrys65cyclone
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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by barrys65cyclone »

one car suffered broken valve spring.

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SASSY
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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

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I stand corrected, thank you but the way things have been going please feel free to correct me on that in the future. Lol
I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

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Joe Travers
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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by Joe Travers »

SASSY wrote:
Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:38 pm
I stand corrected, thank you but the way things have been going please feel free to correct me on that in the future. Lol
I stand corrected as well. They didn't have generators but alternators :lol:
Catch me if you can :shock: :lol:

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comethead
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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by comethead »

Freakin awesome video!
All Hipo’s…I wonder where they are now.

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Joe Travers
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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by Joe Travers »

I wonder what final drive gear ratio was in these cars? They don't sound like they're wound out by the exhaust note.
Also wonder what top speed they could pull on a few hot laps.
Automobile Catalog lists the 'K' engine @ 210 hp/4400 rpm, 3.25:1 final drive ratio, top speed 112 mph for comparison.

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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by SASSY »

Joe, my 64 came with a 289 4bbl 4speed 3.25 gear. At the time I had G78 tires on it. Air cleaner and duals were the only power mods.
1974, my brotherinlaw got a new 454 short box and wanted to run me top end.
Lots a dead straight highway where Im from.
So off we went, the car was still pretty new to me and I had only had it up to 80.
I left him off the line bad! Waiting for him, cruising at about 105 that big box came lumbering up behind me. At which point I pinned it and Sassy(as it became know as) left! I ran it to 5400 and floated the valves before I let off. The speedometer needle had disappeared several hundred rpm ago.
Ya it will go 112,,__ probably more like 125-130!!!!
I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

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Joe Travers
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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by Joe Travers »

SASSY wrote:
Thu Jan 20, 2022 10:17 am
Ya it will go 112,,__ probably more like 125-130!!!!
Cool story, Fred 8)
I reckon published top speed must be @ 4400. If that is truly the case, the Daytona hi-po cars could have been pulling around 4K w/ a 3:1 gear? IDK
I couldn't imagine driving 100 mph in my '63 w/o lowering the front suspension to keep it from lifting. Too squirrelly, needs a spoiler. :?

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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by SASSY »

Ah Joe that was then, I was young and immortal== stupid!
Mine was way up in the air then too but I used my skills as a shepard and herded it down the narrow path. Well the way it wondered it felt like a narrow path! Lol
I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by Jims65cyclone »

A/FX posted a thread about 4 years ago on the same subject. The link address went to a different address, and the video within that link no longer works, but at the time I commented that there was a scene in the video from inside the car where you could see the tach reading 5300 rpm.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=14984&p=87713&hilit=daytona#p87713

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Joe Travers
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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by Joe Travers »

Thanks Jim/Jim! :D

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Re: 1964 Comet Daytona Endurance Run

Post by comethead »

My Falcon buries the 120mph speedo at around 6500rpm when it hits the rev limiter.
Feels like the world is ending at that speed :lol:
That’s with 3.80 gears and (I think) 25.5 inch tires.
If I would have known better I would have gear’d it higher. Then again it rips in the corners because its in its power range with that ratio. I guess 120 ain’t bad :roll:

Joe
1965 Caliente HT- 289/4 speed
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