1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
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.
Look forward to updates.
-
- Posts: 1660
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2011 8:56 pm
- Location: Jeannette, Pa.
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
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
Lou
- Joe Travers
- Posts: 2696
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:23 pm
- Location: Louisiana
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
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
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
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
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.Joe Travers wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 9:38 amVery dependable engine that will turn 6K+ all day long.
Joe
- Joe Travers
- Posts: 2696
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:23 pm
- Location: Louisiana
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
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
-
- Posts: 117
- Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2019 9:27 am
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
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.
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
Didnt someone here have a clutch pedal for sale,,,? 

- Joe Travers
- Posts: 2696
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:23 pm
- Location: Louisiana
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
Hope someone didn't sell that T-56

Joe
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build



-
- Posts: 117
- Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2019 9:27 am
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
I dropped in the 289 last night. Man there is so much more room.
-
- Posts: 117
- Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2019 9:27 am
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
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.
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
"Garage is getting out of hand"
To me that says you have a focus.
Mine gets out of hand
cause someone is lazy!
To me that says you have a focus.
Mine gets out of hand
cause someone is lazy!

- Joe Travers
- Posts: 2696
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:23 pm
- Location: Louisiana
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
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
Hi-rise dual plane will produce more torque down low where you do most of street driving.
It's a trade-off.
Joe
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
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
Jim
-
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2023 2:55 pm
Re: 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente Build
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.