Hey everyone, I did blow my motor about a month ago, and looking at putting a new motor in this beast, I am about to buy a 64 t-bird and part this baby out for a fast t-bird. The t-bird has a 428 ci in it, 3spd c6(auto), and perfect exterior and interior. My formula ran like a beast, but it seemed there was ALWAYS something wrong with her and she NEVER ran what she should have. This is my main reason for hating the beast, and then the motor blew w/ 73,000 miles on it which didnt help either. The bottom end hadn't been touched, but with the mods I had there is no way in hell it should have blown.

How slow is the t-bird w/ a big stall, Longtubes, heads, cam? the t-bird is 3500$ (yes, dirt cheap). And a new BOTTOM END alone would be 4000$ or so everythign said and done. See why I am having troubles going the LT route? Just getting the beast back and running again w/ a forged 355 would cost 4000$ for 350rwhp (low compression for turbo) and it would be just as fast as it was before it blew until I get the turbo.

PLEASE CONVINCE ME! I am about to go put down money on that thing!

 

Big engine.

No overdrive.

Gas is still $2.50+ a gallon.

It's a Ford!

 

3 speed HUGE STALL
I have a daily driver (nissan sentra!)
track only car (or weekend driver)

sorry man i really want to stay LT... but 3500$ I can sell my t56 and my heads and my rearend and have the car, part the rest of the car out and make this thing a beast.

 

You must not be a die hard LT1 / LT4 fan Trader Stick with the good stuff LT1-WS6 why would you want to do anything else....


Now go dump $4K into a nasty bottom end..........

 

I really want to... but if I stick w/ the LT block it will be turbo, so 6k later?

the main problem is im in college and have no job lol so 6k is not gonna just appear... maybe its time for a job (how many times have i said that for this damn car?)

 

4000 dollars for a bottom end... it better be made out of gold for that price. you could put a motor in that car for less than ~2k depending upon your plan.

 

My LT Blew at a lil over 82000 on it. I got a replacement for it and a new trans. I was thinking about going to an LS1 but they dont sound as good as my LT with the Borla exhaust. The LT has more low end tourqe. Im a diehard though. I say replace the LT with some upgrades. You can find a good setup for about 2 to 3K

 

Nah, gold doesn't hold up too well at high RPM....
It doesn't take long. I'll have close to that in my new shortblock and it's nothing too exotic. And that's with me doing everything except machining.

 

Damn my whole bottom end cost me less than 3000... that was including install and all the machining...

 

it really depends on what you want. It should be easy to make the 60s t-bird go fast, and it will cost more to make your lt1 go real fast, but there are so many other things to think about.

The lt1 will handle WAY better, it will be MUCH more efficient, you're talking about a brand new motor vs a motor that is over 40yrs old. Most people will like the looks of the lt1 better and all the components in the lt1 are newer technology and better design. I could go on forever about the resultant advantages, whether its heating, suspension, aerodynamics, weight or whatever.

These things may not matter to you. its sort of like comparing '06 z06 with a solid roller stroker lt1 producing over 500rwhp HP. The lt1 would be cheaper and faster, but a guy like me would rather have the more expensive z06 if i could afford it.

I doubt that you can have a car that old and not have to maintain it. When I blew my motor, i got myself a cheap sunfire, my lt1 is still in pieces, and an le3 383 is in the works, but its giong to take a very long time to complete. I would recommend you put money back in the lt1 and take your time with it.

 

That T bird may have a 428, but it was by no means a hi performance big block. The car weighs over 4500 lbs. and probably has 2.xx gears. So you would have to buy a stall, (If it has a c6, which it might have an fmx or cruise o matic) and gears, and headers. And even in 64 i believe those things didnt have much in the way of compression, maybe 9.5 to 1. Oh and dont forget intake and carb (cause just because it has a holley on it, dosent mean it has a HOLLEY on it.) The metering in factory issue holleys was horrible. There is a differance. Plus it will still have stock single points in the distrubutor. You have to remember that there are a lot of things that people take for granted with new cars, like good flowing heads and intakes, high compression on pump gas, efficent fuel systems, and GREAT spark, elec, systems. If you want a cool cruiser, go with the T bird. If you think your going to go as fast as your f body went, your nuts.

 

For what it's worth, if the T-Bird does in fact have a 428 in it, it is not the original engine. The 428 was not yet in production in '64. Most of them were 390s although the 427 was an option. But that would be a rare bird indeed. If it were a 427, the engine is worth at least the asking price. Look for the main cap cross bolts, viewable from the outside of the block. The 428 is a fairly valuable engine too but nowhere near as much as a 427, unless it's a 428 CJ, then it's closer.

 

"Convince" you?

Why??

If you've lost that loving feeling for your f-body then why keep it? Why not let someone else get some enjoyment out of it?

A 1964 T-bird is a heavy cruiser. I don't know why anyone would want to do anything more than cruise one but hey... if it's your cup of tea then drink it.

-Mindgame

 

ya gotta think of all these guys supporting you to stick with a f-body. but its all really about the love we have for our cars and our f-body community; but I guess some people have and some dont. theres nothing better than an f-body tearing a$$ down the street. stick with us IT WILL BE WORTH IT. we love our cars and everybody that is willing to help the guys that feel the same way we do! anything that you need to know; or anything you need help with, one of the guys here will be more than to willing to help you to figure out. you will not find a more loyal group than these guys!

 

If its a street car, your nuts.

My truck has the same transmission, and on the highway, literally, the thing is turning about 3500 RPMs at 65, close to 4K at 75 ...

Inless you have a horrendously high rear end gear ( Low numerically ) its going to be horrible for driving around.

I bet the top speed is close to what your car would trap in the 1/4 ... I couldnt see the top speed being any more than 115 with a 3 speed, anda big block.

Its going to drive like **** on the road. Your also back to horrible fuel mileage. Granted it may be "cool" but if its your only "fast" car, its not as practical as an f-body. I bet it still has drum brakes on it too ... It wont stop as good, its heavier, it WILL have a slower top speed. It will NOT cruise on the highway well. My truck, an idle RPM and crusing speed is like 2000 to 2500 RPM at 40 to 45 mph ... Its all downhill from there with that 3 speed. Dont forget about maintentence too. A fuel injected car is pretty much leaps and bounds better than a carbed vehicle as far as tune up intervals go. And if your a green freak, the FI one is better for the environment.

Now on the other side of things, I bet that thing will accelerate like a ****ing raging beast. If its going to be a predominatly track car only with little highway use, and some cruising around town, I say go for it. But I would try and keep the trans am as well Nothing is sweeter than building a super/turbo charged fuel injected V8 that makes 500 horses, and is street driveable on pump gas

Also, if your going to part the car out, let me know, I need some little stupid stuff, like a pwoer steering fluid resevoir. The dealer wanted like 40$ and I cant justify what 5min epoxy in my garage fixed for free.