About the Cap-it Hot Rod Power Train

Power train Specs:
1969 - 351 Cleveland Ford
10:7:1 Compression ratio
Race Cam
2 – 4 barrel Edelbrock 500 CFM carbs
Weiand Dragster Tunnel Ram
Edelbrock – water pump
Polished valve covers
MSD Distributor
MSD Blaster Coil
MSD Plug wires
Mastertorque starter
Chrome alternator
March Billet brackets & pulleys
Hopefully a comfortable 400 horsepower engine
Ford C4 automatic transmission with a (2500 – 2800) torque converter
4:56 gears

The goal here is three fold. 

1. We want to be able to have enough horse power to spin those 18” soft wide tires without too much effort. After all an engine looking as powerful as this one has got to do something other than to look good.
2. The Weiand dragster tunnel ram is there for looks only – This style manifold only works well between 3 – 6,000 RPM’s.  Bucket’s are not normally designed to be a dragsters – as an artist I remember when I was young,  we always drew cartoon T Buckets with over-sized full blown engines with five foot stick shifts – I wanted this one to be similar.
3. The Bucket has to operate relatively easily on road trips and especially at low RPM’s so we don’t want that much horse power. The vehicle’s total weight should come in at around 2,500 lbs; the C4 Tranny combined with the 4:56 gears and 31” Mickey Thompson’s should allow us to achieve 2975 RPM’s at 60MPH (100km) and in addition prevent lurching forward while driving slowly. We’ll want to drive this one in parades etc.

It’s been a lot of fun establishing optimum goals for the build but only possible after reading stacks of Hot Rod magazine and searching every internet site available in an effort to learn from the other guys.

Our over all Vision:

It appeared to me that every T Bucket out there had a small block Chevy in it - not that I care but in my mind a 1923 Ford T- Bucket is a Ford. What’s a Chevy engine doing in a Ford anyway? Why go to all the work and not do it right.

1. Seeing that T buckets became so popular in the late 60’s I decided to put in a late 60’s Ford engine – a mustang 351 Cleveland – very rare indeed - parts like pistons have to be machined – you don’t buy them off the shelf, most Cleveland parts cost many more times than other engines but it’s reminiscent to those hot muscle cars of late 60’s. It was introduced in 1969 as Ford’s new performance engine and was built through the end of 1974 model year. It incorporated elements learned on the 385 big-block series and the Boss 302, particularly the poly-angle combustion chambers with canted valves and thin-wall casting technology.  Inside the block are large main bearings for durability with 4 bolt mains. Reduced demand for large engines due to fuel economy regulations led to the abandonment of the Cleveland production line. 
2. We’re building a true Ford - Ford everything.  Ford 9” rear end, Ford axles, spindles and brakes, Ford body and pick-up box, Ford gauges and Ford engine.

Stay Tuned:

On Dec 10, 2010 we’ll see what this engine build actually produces power wise, we plan to Dyno test it so stay tuned for the results.  Steve at Canada Engines in Surrey is doing the build and Dyno test.

Next:

The chassis and body arrive at the Cap-it Shop just before Christmas.