As I step out into the dimly lit front yard of my friends house and my attention is caught by the full moon, it almost feels like I am sent back to the late sixties. Because , I look at my car sitting on the gravel road, the dim porch light cast just enough light to shine the paint but the wheels appear black with just a little bit of shine. The car sit’s a little low in the back as if to make a cop wonder, does he have a shine tank full in the trunk? I start my car and hit the lights then hit random on the IPOD (then I realize I cant be in the late 60s). The first tune, Surf Rider. I back down the gravel road to make the turn around and I am off. I cruise down the gravel road till it ends on to black top, but that shortly follows another gravel road. I feel like I am hiding from the g-men on another run to a dry town that needs some shine. I suddenly get a glimpse of head lights careening towards me at a high rate of speed. G-men? Local yokel cop ? I wasn’t waiting around to find out. I sped off into the winding curves of the back road which I have driven so many times before. Taking some of the hair pin curves at 50 maybe 60 mph. All I could think was, man what a rush. As I left it in second gear and left the rpm’s assist in the braking I made the trip in no time flat. I was suddenly flashed back to reality when I hit the main drag and saw 2011 again.
You are probably wondering why I explained this to y’all. Well the moral is a cool car can make your imagination go free. You cant have these same feelings in a 2011 F150 believe me it does not work. I was on a path to find the most coolest car for me I had found it in my 67 galaxie but strayed only for a time period of about 24 hrs. You see I didn’t think I would be happy till I was a proud owner of a late 50s early 60s ford vehicle. Well fate saw that and stopped the car sale dead in its track. I was approached with tire kickers and dumbassery. After a while I knew in my heart the 67 was the car for me. The next day I hit the craig’s list in search for a new heart and a new engine project that I have never embarked on, The 390 FE.
In these day and times the FE has been thrown by the way side with small more inexpensive engines with more available parts sources. But, you cant get the same end result out of a small block like you can with a big block. Remember there is no replacement for displacement. Plus my car weighs almost 4gs it needs some nuts under the hood that the 87 model 302 just can supply. While on craig’s list I came across a 406 FE for sale no price which usually means you cant afford it. Never the less I called and my accusations were correct 2500 bucks not happening. I told the man I needed a 390 which so happens he had just pulled a running 390 out of 67 mustang. The price 800 bucks, something in my price range. He told me come on by take a look at it and we will make a deal. I pull up to his shop and immediately I see a 66 ford fairlane A stock dragster which is kept company by a 34 ford powered by a 429 CID 385 series motor. I thought to myself man this could go two ways, either this guys is gonna be really cool or a total know it all dick. Well it was the first. On sat the cool old guy and I sat and talked, mostly he talked of drag racing in the 60s and I listened in amazement. So fate sent me another gift that went along in the form of not selling my car. A 63 model factory 315 horse police motor. Now I told him I would have to pay him out cause I was short on coke bread and he said no problem. He stopped me on my way back to my truck and said” you bring that W motor and we will call it even”. He didn’t need it he was a big block guy I mean he has a factory 7 liter car. Its under my impression that he knew I really wanted that motor but he was not going to give me something for nothing.
I went back and visited cool old guy again today. And listened to more stories of 56 ford with a 390 fork lift motor (FE was an industrial motor before an automotive motor) . It was a great time and I plan to go back as much as I can to learn old dog tricks and listen to some bitchin stories of how it use to be. IF you want to know how cars were back in the day find a cool old dude to make you a hell of a deal on a motor and listen to his out of sight stories.
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