P72Ford's Red Box

[visionmercury]

that sure is pretty , i like the exhaust out on eather side behind the wheels

[johnunit]

You've mentioned a few times in other places that you're disappointed with the results of the intake and carb swap and headers. Are the heads totally untouched? It sounds like some GT40s would really wake up that combo.

[torquelover]

You've mentioned a few times in other places that you're disappointed with the results of the intake and carb swap and headers. Are the heads totally untouched? It sounds like some GT40s would really wake up that combo.

Even E7 heads helped. The low compression ratio has a lot to do with it, too. The red box needs some trans work and AFRs!

[87gtVIC]

I still believe he should do the 5 speed setup that he was ever so close to doing not tooo long ago. The only thing is there is less surface area to weld the clutch pivot tube onto the 90 brake pedal assembly other than that he would begin loving the box.

[P72Ford]

You've mentioned a few times in other places that you're disappointed with the results of the intake and carb swap and headers. Are the heads totally untouched? It sounds like some GT40s would really wake up that combo.

Stock E5AE heads.

Stock cam.

I was very close to revamping the car this past summer. I was going to pull the engine and transmission, freshen the bottom end, change the the cam, intake, carb and heads. I have a good rebuilt AOD I was going to put behind it (put a kit in it first) as well. But I lost interest when I discovered the heads I wanted to use would not allow me to pass emissions. Failed emissions= no registration renewal; why have a car I can't drive? Rather than compromise and get different heads, I did nothing.

The story of the red box is pretty long. I would have completed the 5 speed swap last February, but instead I bought the W100 in my signature. I fell in love with something that I enjoyed driving, and didn't have to work on all the time. I had alot of plans for the red box, though. At one time, I was even thinking of an engine swap (everything from a 500 Caddy/TH400 to a BBC, to an LSx). The paint was another issue; I wanted to do it right in either white or dark blue.

I can honestly say that I'll probably never do anything else to this car. The red box was always more about form over function, as I look back. I have been pondering giving it to my brother, and helping him fix what needs to be fixed, at his expense.

I was close to securing another box project a couple months ago, but I missed out. It was a white '87, (blue half-top) that was pretty much abandoned. It looked really shabby, which is exactly what I want. I don't want a rusted out junk; but I don't want the aesthetics to cloud the goal.

[1987cp]

Even E7 heads helped. The low compression ratio has a lot to do with it, too. The red box needs some trans work and AFRs!

On your car, was it the switch to the E7 head casting that boosted output, or was it the crazy 10:1 compresion ratio?

[torquelover]

On your car, was it the switch to the E7 head casting that boosted output, or was it the crazy 10:1 compresion ratio?

Hard to say, as on your car the head swap and the compression ratio jump happened at the same time. Also, the intake manifold, roller rockers, ignition, and carb happened at the same time, too, lol.

[1987cp]

True. And that intake manifold is known (to me, anyway) to slightly wake up even E6 heads over a stock Vic/Marquis setup. Boy, am I looking forward to eventually putting that engine back into service with a *real* cam/head combo/intake. (Incidentally, I found another guy at SBFTech who's contemplating using that same cam you included with the car, under the guise of a Sealed Power 2077 ... don't think he's installed it yet, but I'm interested to see what happens.)

[P72Ford]

Thought I'd throw a little update in this thread, as I saw the red box for the first time in 3 months, yesterday. My brother took it out of storage and brought it home from work. I guess they were moving some stuff around in the storage facility, so he figured he'd take it for a spin.

Its a good sounding car, and still nice and shiny.

Theres a small rust bubble on the DS front fender (its been there a while) that needs to be taken care of.

My brother wants to make it faster, too.

[87gtVIC]

Did you get teary eyed seeing it again?

[Outlaw440]

Good looking car.

[P72Ford]

Did you get teary eyed seeing it again?

Nah. I said... "oh lord, not that piece of shit again..."

[1987cp]

Good looking car.

Absolutely. Too bad it still has the crap almost-stock "5.8 High Output".


Foxxymang, were those pics taken outside a barn on your dad's property? If so, I will almost certainly have to arrange to visit next time I'm out that way.

[CheeseSteakJim]

Theres a small rust bubble on the DS front fender (its been there a while) that needs to be taken care of.

Keep in touch.

It's great seeing that car again. Truthfully I have to say I miss it. I enjoyed seeing/riding in that car quite a bit.

[P72Ford]

Since I have updated one of my other threads today...

I'll update this one too.

The Red Box is still around. It was stored inside this past winter, and my brother is still keeping it nice. It could use some mechanical maintenance (axles seals, transmission maintenance, etc), but is otherwise in good repair. I'm sure we'll get to it this year. I am also trying to talk him into a silverfox vb, just to get the transmission shifting correctly. The front seal still weeps, but has held up thus far.

I have been meaning to drive it around a little bit, as a way to 'pre-game' for the white box, which should be ready for driving in a month or so.