1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

The Era of The Square Body Racing Comets
User avatar
SASSY
Moderator
Posts: 5123
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:32 am
Location: Wynndel, BC CANADA

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by SASSY »

Happy/sad for ya but I think you will enjoy cruisin much more. Very few real strong motors enjoy going red light to red light for long.
Look forward to updates.
I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

Image

Lou's Comet
Posts: 1539
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2011 8:56 pm
Location: Jeannette, Pa.

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by Lou's Comet »

I have changed plans on my build a few times, like the others said going with a milder engine will make the car more enjoyable to drive. Going with the 289 is going to also make your car a more enjoyable build!

Lou

User avatar
Joe Travers
Posts: 2424
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:23 pm
Location: Louisiana

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by Joe Travers »

Hard to beat a '65-'66 289 for a reliable build, IMO.
Port the heads, upgrade the timing chain, rod bolts, valvetrain/cam, flat-top pistons.
Very dependable engine that will turn 6K+ all day long.

Joe
Image

1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

User avatar
SASSY
Moderator
Posts: 5123
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:32 am
Location: Wynndel, BC CANADA

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by SASSY »

Joe Travers wrote:
Tue Jan 24, 2023 9:38 am
Very dependable engine that will turn 6K+ all day long.

Joe
Yep! Other than forged pistons my late model circle track 289 was similar and it ran 65-6700 lap after lap for years. Motor had 2 owners before me and I ran it for 5 seasons. If was in 2 more cars that I know of after me.
I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

Image

User avatar
Joe Travers
Posts: 2424
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:23 pm
Location: Louisiana

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by Joe Travers »

SASSY wrote:
Tue Jan 24, 2023 11:04 am
Yep! Other than forged pistons my late model circle track 289 was similar and it ran 65-6700 lap after lap for years. Motor had 2 owners before me and I ran it for 5 seasons. If was in 2 more cars that I know of after me.
Owned four and bought two for my son many years ago. One failed due to PO's sloppy rebuild. Another failed from worn nylon cam sprocket after 100K+ miles. Two of the other four lived in more than one of my cars.

Joe
Image

1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

darryl27529
Posts: 115
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2019 9:27 am

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by darryl27529 »

Picked up the motor and trans yesterday. Going to need some cleaning for sure. It turns out that the transmission is a Ford-o-matic rather than a C4. It has the 6 bolt bellhousing and is cast iron. Anyone used one of these in a Comet? From some research it seems to be a bit of a unicorn made for low torque and heavy cars? Let me know what you think. It was pulled from a 66 Fairlane.
ImageImage

User avatar
SASSY
Moderator
Posts: 5123
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:32 am
Location: Wynndel, BC CANADA

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by SASSY »

Didnt someone here have a clutch pedal for sale,,,? :lol:
I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

Image

User avatar
Joe Travers
Posts: 2424
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:23 pm
Location: Louisiana

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by Joe Travers »

SASSY wrote:
Sun Jan 29, 2023 3:46 pm
Didnt someone here have a clutch pedal for sale,,,? :lol:
Hope someone didn't sell that T-56 :mrgreen:

Joe
Image

1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

User avatar
poboyjo65
Moderator
Posts: 7037
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:40 pm
Location: Camden, Tenn.

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by poboyjo65 »

SASSY wrote:
Sun Jan 29, 2023 3:46 pm
Didnt someone here have a clutch pedal for sale,,,? :lol:
:lol: :lol: :P I'm thinkin like you fred. I gave away a 65 fordomatic c4 not long ago . tired of it in my way. Thinking if I ever wanted a c4 I'd get a newer tougher one without the screwed up shift pattern of the early fordomatic. But I love to bang gears, you get that hotrod feel,,,, & can still cruise with a manual shift.
Image
Johno

darryl27529
Posts: 115
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2019 9:27 am

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by darryl27529 »

I dropped in the 289 last night. Man there is so much more room.
ImageImage

darryl27529
Posts: 115
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2019 9:27 am

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by darryl27529 »

Morning. Been cleaning up the 289. It’s a little crusty but planning to drop it in and see what happens. Anyone used a Torker intake on a 289/302? Seems to be a wide variety of opinions about how well it works. The clocked carb looks a little different…vintage. Garage is getting out of hand again.
7F46A989-5FB2-4E92-B64E-EDEC57BAB8A0.jpeg
7F46A989-5FB2-4E92-B64E-EDEC57BAB8A0.jpeg (179.83 KiB) Viewed 847 times
ImageImage

User avatar
SASSY
Moderator
Posts: 5123
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:32 am
Location: Wynndel, BC CANADA

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by SASSY »

"Garage is getting out of hand"
To me that says you have a focus.
Mine gets out of hand
cause someone is lazy! :roll:
I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

Image

User avatar
Joe Travers
Posts: 2424
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:23 pm
Location: Louisiana

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by Joe Travers »

Torker is a good manifold for top end power. Need high compression and big cam to get maximum gains.
Hi-rise dual plane will produce more torque down low where you do most of street driving.
It's a trade-off.

Joe
Image

1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

A/FX
Comet Central Member
Posts: 1094
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:07 pm
Location: S.E. Wisconsin

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by A/FX »

When I had my ‘71 Comet GT I bought a new Torker for it, it was the latest/greatest at that time. I ran a Holley 600dp, it worked well but then a tri power came along and I had to have it.
Jim
‘64 Cyclone/ Boss 302,quads,4spd, Winters 9”

Image

Darrylp27529
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2023 2:55 pm

Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

Post by Darrylp27529 »

Happy Easter to everyone. I been absent a bit with work travel and my old email got hacked by someone trying to buy shoes and airplane tickets. Geez. 289 is fitting and I got the C4 rebuilt and it’s ready to drop. Trying to decide about the hood since I have the teardrop and stock. Thinking I am going for stock.
2B0E36A8-EC29-4E1E-86D9-50550DB88BD5.jpeg
2B0E36A8-EC29-4E1E-86D9-50550DB88BD5.jpeg (148.03 KiB) Viewed 720 times
Image

Post Reply