1969 Galaxie 500 - BBF high school/college kid build

[BBR]

I'm going to go on the record here and say that there is no way this car remains under 5k. (Or are we now at the Monster Garage calculator where the 'gifts' aren't counted?)

Also, this is a less traveled page, if you want views, have Monster move it to the main project page.... and in all honesty, your son should get the most views possible - what he's doing is both cool and should be copied by as many kids (or adults, I suppose) as see it.

Not super interested in racking up views although I agree it is cool and should be copied. We just want to document the journey so we can look back on it and laugh and remember what we did and why we did it.

I had Monster put it here because it will be under 5k, and would still be if Judd had to buy the stuff I am donating to the cause. Rebuildable 460/C6 combos aren't exactly expensive. It will mostly be stock stuff with some critical new parts sprinkled in. The bang for his buck factor should be pretty high with this thing.

[BBR]

Headers arrived today. They were in excellent condition. The same cannot be said for the box though. Yikes. I am amazed that all the parts were still in it.

Surprisingly, these are the single most expensive item on his parts list. Crazy. Headers used to be a cheap upgrade. No so anymore. He briefly considered using manifolds. Briefly. We don't have any, so he would have had to find some and buy them. Then he'd prob want headers later, so he chose to bite the bullet and just buy them now.

Hooker 6126

[BBR]

Block honing day. Two of the cylinders got moisture in them at some point and Judd honed them to see off they would clean up. They looked pretty good when he was finished so I think they will be fine.

He also finished fixing the driver's side window. It works just like it should now.

[BBR]

Big news at our house. I am freaking busting with pride and joy. Judd found out yesterday that he go into the Naval Academy. His #1 choice is still the Air Force Academy, but he has not heard from them yet and may not for several months. His older brother is currently a junior at the Air Force Academy. But dang, USNA is a freaking good #2 choice!

[BBR]

Battery in! No smoke or fire! Most everything works like it should too!

[BBR]

Holy smokes I think I am dead. Judd started taking the rear brakes apart and the passenger side drum Would. Not. Come. Off. We pried and pulled, hammered and banged and finally got it off. The self-adjuster would not back off so the shoes were hung in the drum. The parking brake may have been stuck on just a bit, not sure. Driver's side came apart real easy though.

[BBR]

Judd got busy taking stuff apart this afternoon. He finished taking the rear brakes apart, pulled the axles, and disassembled the front brakes and rotors. In spite of the fact that the pads were completely used up, the rotors are in great shape. Next step I think is taking the front suspension apart to install new bushings.

[milner351]

This thing is so overflowing with epic coolness it's off the charts. Let me tell you, you're setting the Father and car guy bar very very high! Well done indeed!

[Beagle]

Holy smokes I think I am dead. Judd started taking the rear brakes apart and the passenger side drum Would. Not. Come. Off. We pried and pulled, hammered and banged and finally got it off. The self-adjuster would not back off so the shoes were hung in the drum. The parking brake may have been stuck on just a bit, not sure. Driver's side came apart real easy though.

Self adjuster get put in backwards by PO?

[BBR]

Self adjuster get put in backwards by PO?

No it was correct, we just couldn't get it to loosen up. Hashed the teeth on it trying to turn it.

[BBR]

Late this afternoon, Judd started tearing the front suspension out. A couple hours later it was all out. He learned some good stuff about getting cotter pins out, hitting the spindle with a big hammer to get the ball joints loose and using a pitman arm remover to pop tie rods loose.

The rubber bushings were complete junk. They were just falling apart. The ball joints were in surprisingly good condition, but the rubber boots were toast. We will replace it all and never worry about the front end ever again.

The coil springs are crazy long!

[BBR]

Just for a quick parts tally:

1300 Car
635 Headers
100 Gears
500 Rockauto order - bushings, shocks, gaskets, ball joints,master cylinder, timing set, brake parts.... basically everything the chassis needs along with some engine stuff.

$2535 Current total

Judd wants to get the block bored so that will be a little more than we initially thought, but is a good choice. He also wants a B&M floor shifter, so that is also going to add to the cost a little. The column shifter works fine, but you know how kids are. lol I figure it will still be under $5k.

[BBR]

Old ball joints and bushings are out! New parts will be here in a couple of days.

[BBR]

Three boxes of parts showed up today. Judd and his buddy Josh installed the new ball joints in the control arms. The large holes in the arms needed some clearancing so Judd opened up the hole slightly with the die grinder. One of the lower control arms got a little squished when we pressed the bushing out. They used some big washers, a couple of nuts and a threaded rod to spread it back out. Then Judd cut a piece of rollcage tubing that will slip in to prevent the same thing happening when we press the new bushing in.

Since I left, they have removed the old exhaust and are currently pulling the center section put of the diff. Kids. Lol.

[Deaf Bob]

When I did my 57’s bushings, I used pieces of angle iron to hold the gap while pressing the new ones in. Slips out when done.