1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build

[Joe Travers]

The TKX 5 speed looked interesting, even more so was the Bowler designed shifter relocation adapter. This piece mounts the shift lever to the rear and left of center, which looks to be real close to where a factory 4 speed lever is mounted in a Comet.

Very interesting, Jim! Thanks for posting.

Joe

[A/FX]

Joe,
This video is from another supplier but they offer similar shifter relocation adapters.
https://youtu.be/q0LVLb5pcJ8
Jim

[darryl27529]

Thanks for the suggestions. I spoke with Modern Driveline on Friday and got a quote. All in it’s about $6k for the TKX and related parts. Thinking that I will switch gears to the C4. I did a little research and it was built by Performance Automatics in MD. I called them to try and identify which one. I may send it to them to be rebuilt. More to come.

[darryl27529]

Did some rust conversion this morning with Eastwood Fast Etch. I think it works great.

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[darryl27529]

So I am starting to gather supplies needed to work on the car. Its keeping me up at night trying to figure out the direction to go with the car.

The car has been set up to basically be a weekend drag racer. The 427 combined with a Performance Automatics C4 and a Dynamic Converter torque converter than has a 5800 stall. I am gonna lean on yall for some wisdom.

Does it make sense to build a streetable car with a torque converter with a 5800 stall speed?

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[SASSY]

That trans isn't for the street, it'll burn up trying to cruise around town I'm sure.
If it were mine I'd tune that motor to make power 2500-4500 sell the trans to a racer and use the money to get a tuff street trans.
Unless your going racing,,,?

[Joe Travers]

Torque converter is based on engine torque rating. You may have a race engine on your hands if PO did his homework. Do you have a build sheet or a cam card to determine powerband?

The bottom line is budget and your intended use.
As Fred mentioned, you may want to sell race pieces to tame it down for the street. That's your decision.

Joe

[darryl27529]

Did some digging and found the Comp Cam specs. See image below. 0.688 lift?

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[Joe Travers]

Solid-roller custom race grind. Yeah, I'd say PO was building a race car.
Hard to determine w/o knowing compression ratio. It could be tuned for the street if it'll run on pump gas.

Joe

[SASSY]

Define streetable car in your world.

[Joe Travers]

Define streetable car in your world.

Brings back some old memories, Fred. Reminds me of talks w/ my late brother and his wild man escapades.
He loved to float the valves @ 8K. Spent more time adjusting rockers than driving, I believe.

Joe

[SASSY]

Yes, I went from a high revving 351C that started making power around 4G to my low revving SC V6 that is pretty much all in at 4500-5. Both enjoyable to drive but with different mindsets.

[Joe Travers]

FWIW- Richard Holdener has a dyno video on a 427 build w/ Clevor heads, single-plane hi-rise intake and almost identical cam. Torque comes in hard @ 4K, peaks @ 5K. Revved out to 7K.

Joe

[darryl27529]

Thanks Joe. I watched the video. That is a crazy amount of HP.

I have been reading through the documentation that the PO noted. He was building a race engine for sure.

I just have to decide the direction for the build. Planning to test fit the motor this weekend. I will take some pictures but I really want to see it in the car.

[Joe Travers]

Thanks Joe. I watched the video. That is a crazy amount of HP.

Almost as much as a dual-quad Cammer by Richard's numbers. But those are made pulling @ low engine temps w/ no accessories.
Probably close to the single-quad NASCAR Cammer under real-world conditions. Yeah, that's crazy HP for sure.

Joe