Author Topic: Getting an oooold junker running again: (Read 21766 times)

Grant · « **on:** July 13, 2014, 09:54:46 pm »

Well I was wanting an older LTD some time ago, ended up with an 88 Grand Marquis that I LOVE (good milage, smooth sailing boat, needs some tweaks even now but a good car).

Well I found the solution to wanting a car with a bit more pop under the hood:

My uncle said I could have an old '67 Ford Galaxie 500 that has been parked alongside his shop for 17 years (he's a MOPAR guy through and through and never ran it). My grandfather bought it brand new in 1967. It's got a 3 speed automatic and a 390 motor. Needs new tires, brakes need bleeding and the main fuel line is crimped.......

But we plumbed in a small fuel container just to make sure the motor fired and ran......WOW...I can't believe it, after 17 years parked outdoors, stuck a battery in, turned the key and that old 390 cranked twice, fired and runs SOOOO damn smooth. I can't believe it. It actually freaking idled smooth in the first minute after 17 years of inactivity.

Pictures will follow, it is in rough shape exterior, but the inside is pretty good and all the lights still work, battery doesn't drain.

I'm pretty happy. I got a good older car I been wanting, it was FREE, and it's a piece of family history. 2 more years until it hits the half-century mark

WeTheArmed.com

ksuguy · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2014, 10:40:49 pm »

My parents used to have a 1970 Galaxy 500. It was enormous.

Mikee5star · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2014, 11:36:18 pm »

Two door? How is the fuel tank?

Cool car. Not really my style but have fun with it. Guess we know why you need cash....well when you start filling that tank.

Grant · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2014, 11:39:42 pm »

The 70's Galaxies and LTD's had a bit...ah.."trimmer" look that I like a bit better. But enjoying the project. Get to understand the mechanics a bit better. Most of the motor stuff on our newer vehicles is beyond my mechanics ability.

It's a four door. At some point in the future I'd REALLY like a 69-70 two door LTD with a 460 or 429 in it.

I just love the big old land boats. Haha, won't cost a lot of cash, most of the stuff seems fixable for about $100 thus far. I won't be able to drive it much though

Mikee5star · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2014, 11:51:33 pm »

I think my Grand Marquis was an 85, kinda fun, couch in the front and couch in the back. More fun on dates than my 82 S-10 sport. Collage classmate had a fastbackish two door Galaxie with a 460 in it. It would roast tires.

only1asterisk · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2014, 12:18:04 am »

You should pull the gas tank and check/clean it out. It shouldn't be that hard.
The 67 is a good year and the High Output 390 was fairly common.

So what it isn't a coupe, it's plenty cool. The FE series of Ford engines were the big blocks of of the 60's lineup and have always been popular in Ford high performance use despite being replaced by the 429/460's of the 385 series. Thanks to the racing, restoration and replica guys any performance part you could want is available. That's something to be said for a powerplant that could be considered technically obsolete when it was introduced and hasn't been put in cars for 4 decades.

Have fun!

aikorob · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2014, 06:52:00 am »

High school----71 Galaxie 500 4 door ----large rear seat---

memories

Bud · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2014, 10:53:21 am »

My first assigned police squad was a 1968 Galaxie 500 with a 390 and a Carter AFB quad carb as built at the factory, the original "Police Interceptor".

My Chief had decided to put the kibosh on all of the muscle cars in town drag racing from street light to street light and then evading arrest by out accelerating from the pursuing police cars.

This was just the vehicle to give to a 22 year old patrolman who was just home from VN and was used to the fun and excitement of racing down Highway 13 in VN's III Corps tactical zone at 3 feet above the laterite roadway and forcing enraged cyclio drivers into the ditches.

I used to deliberately turn on my overhead roof light rack (one of the first in the area) way to early when pulling down a muscle car in the frequently fulfilled hope that the driver would try to out run me.

I could tell a million stories about me and that car.

I will have to come see it when you get it restored

alone · « **Reply #8 on:** July 14, 2014, 02:47:45 pm »

Grant,
Congrats!

I too have fond memories of going to the drive-in picture show in one of those.
I was also working TOLA, meaning I traveled and worked TX,OK,LA and AR.

I was in AR when White Lightening was being made. I know all too well the areas the movie was filmed in, boy do I ...

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_112505-Ford-Custom-500-1971.html

My gf had a '71 Torino, with a racing stripe, with a 351 Cleveland. One of her uncles had a brown Ford, just like in the movie.
I will neither confirm or deny, gf, or I raced her uncle. Though I will confirm WE had fun!

Grant · « **Reply #9 on:** July 14, 2014, 11:16:56 pm »

Bud you (and anyone here) is welcome anytime. Haha, these old cars seem to bring out memories don't they?

I'm hoping by this time next year to have a new coat of paint on her.

I got her home, in the 3.5 mile drive it made it most of the way and a couple cracks showed up in the top of the radiator, no big deal. bleed the brakes, new tires, fix the radiator and she'll be in pretty fine shape.

She is going to be a LOT of fun. Even with junky tires I had to "try it" and it hit 40 so dang fast it shocked me.

sorry for the terrible pic. I have a fliphone and the camera is all scratched. I'm going to take my camera and get some good "before" pictures.

coelacanth · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2014, 12:37:09 am »

Sweet.

Avenger29 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 27, 2014, 06:47:30 pm »

You know what I'd do with a Galaxie...build a NASCAR replica...from back when NASCAR was interesting...

Buckeye Redneck · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2014, 09:24:58 pm »

Somebody say Galaxy?

Had that critter when I was a teenager. $5k was a friggin steal, should've kept that boat.

Grant · « **Reply #13 on:** August 28, 2014, 08:44:09 am »

Daaaamn that's pretty. Pretty pristine looking. What motor did it have in it?

Mine's coming along okay

Rebuilt the carb, got some "better" tires for it, fixed all but one crack on the radiator.....Should have her gravel-road-worthy by the time snow flies.

Thinking I'll go with a flat-brown repaint on it.

Buckeye Redneck · « **Reply #14 on:** August 28, 2014, 05:35:07 pm »

Had a nasty 390. That old barge would sail. Got it from the classic " Midlife crisis fling got a buddy divorced and now all his toys are going cheap". Sold it back a few years later for the same price, but it was fun while it lasted.

Yours looks like it has plenty of potential. I've always thought the fixer-up kind were more fun anyway. Make that critter go, and damn the pretty paint job. Easier to enjoy a car without constantly worrying about scratching it.

Grant · « **Reply #15 on:** August 28, 2014, 09:27:34 pm »

Oh it does, I am really enjoying the getting it in good shape

Flat-brown and no worries. I'm lucky, most old cars round here have been in floodwater, so at least I don't have to worry about that stuff

THE NORSEMAN · « **Reply #16 on:** September 11, 2014, 10:39:50 pm »

When you get going on the motor, drop me a line. I've built dozens of those old ford FEs, from mild to wild, I'll give what pointers I can.

Grant · « **Reply #17 on:** September 11, 2014, 11:52:40 pm »

Quote from: THE NORSEMAN on September 11, 2014, 10:39:50 pm

When you get going on the motor, drop me a line. I've built dozens of those old ford FEs, from mild to wild, I'll give what pointers I can.

Awesome, will do. It's actually running pretty smooth, I think new spark plugs, wires,etc. it's going to be pretty danged good. Motor has 90K miles on it, so a rebuild is probably in the semi-near future.

THE NORSEMAN · « **Reply #18 on:** September 14, 2014, 05:27:05 pm »

If you haven't, get the oil changed. Use 10w30. Preferably valvoline HPO. And either a NAPA gold, WIX, or Motorcraft FL1A filter when you do.

Grant · « **Reply #19 on:** September 14, 2014, 09:48:07 pm »

Yep, we still have a lot of older gas-motors on our ranch and I already changed the oil and put in 10-30. It's not name-brand, just bulk 55-gallon barrel oil, but I change often.

Grant · « **Reply #20 on:** May 14, 2015, 07:56:46 am »

Well there she is in all her rustic beauty

She is now mobile.

Still need to take her in and have a new exhaust system put in it, other than that, it's just playing catch-up on whatever pops up from age.

booksmart · « **Reply #21 on:** May 14, 2015, 10:50:22 am »

Nice!

A new paint job wouldn't hurt, though...

Grant · « **Reply #22 on:** May 14, 2015, 12:22:55 pm »

That adds to the character

I'll clean up the rims and repaint them black and silver, so it looks like I've done something to it.

However repainting....I deliberated on it, sortof wanted to...then didn't.....I think I'll leave it as is

Can't beat that old patina.

luke213(adamsholsters) · « **Reply #23 on:** May 14, 2015, 01:03:54 pm »

Agreed I love the patina look and from my eye the rust is all just surface and doesn't look like it's spreading much. So I'd leave it as is, that rat rod look of sorts. I love the look but around here everything just rots to pieces as soon as the rust starts because of all the salt on the roads.

Either way looking good to my eye;) I'd drive it;)

Luke

coelacanth · « **Reply #24 on:** May 14, 2015, 10:15:58 pm »