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Originally purchased in 1978 at the Campbelltown Swap Meet , Adelaide, for $99. It once did time as a stock car so it was in pretty poor shape. Brought to Canberra in September 1979 when posted back to the Belconnen Naval Transmitting Station. The car underwent several rebuilds between 1979 and 1987 and traveled around the country in various stages of completion, returning to Canberra in 1986. The top chop, most bodywork and paint all carried out with the assistance of local Canberra rodders. Car went to Sydney in March 1989 in almost finished state, but came back to Canberra in January 1990. Registered in ACT in March 1991. Has been rebuilt twice since then, including a full bare metal repaint, again by local Canberra Rodders. Moved to Adelaide in 1996 and registered there. Came back to Canberra, re-registered it easily as I still had the plates. Sold to Adelaide Hotrodders Club member Damen Air at the 1999 ASRF Nationals, Geelong. |
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In this picture, Mick Burke is playing silly buggers to my dog's amusement. My 36 Coupe is in the background after being transported from Adelaide. Image taken in about 1979 at the Belconnen Naval Radio Station. |
In this picture, we returned from the US after an absence of about 3 years and started another rebuild of the coupe. The sectioned duece grille has been fitted (bought at the Bremerton swap meet in Washington, near Seattle) and the 289 Windsor has been freshly built. The engine would loose an intake valve in No.1 cylinder, destroying the engine the first day it got ACT rego in 1990. Image taken about 1986. |
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| The car was registered in March 1990. In 1995, I was made an offer by the TAFE to have the body file finished and repainted. The offer turned out too good to be true, and was badly neglected for several months before rescuing it and rebuilding it at home in Theodore, ACT, again with the assistance of Canberra rodders. In this image, the car has been completely gutted and is off to the bead blasters. Graeme Thomas owned a tow truck in those days and was a friend indeed! | After the rebuild, the car was to be driven almost daily and drag raced quite often, as the engine (the car's third) was professionally built and a strong performer. In 1998, the engine blew in a spectacular fashion on its thirteenth 9 second (1/8th mile) pass, and the "spare" engine took its place. The car was sold a year later at the Geelong nationals. | |
Specifications |
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Engine |
302 Ford Windsor, balanced, 10:1 flat top pistons, Lunati cam, 2.02 and 1.9 chev valves, roller rockers, MSD 6AL ignition system coupled to MSD electronic distributor. Best time at the drags, 9.1 secs over eighth mile, 13.2 over the quarter. Engine destroyed on 12th pass at the Canberra Drags on a test and tune day 1998. Back on the road 2 weeks later. |
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Transmission |
C4 Ford |
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Differential |
Cusso 3.7:1 |
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Front Suspension |
36 Ford, Ford Zephyr rear lever action shocks. |
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Steering |
Datsun 180B cross steer |
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Rear Suspension |
36 Ford, F100 Tube shocks. |
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Body |
All steel 36 Ford, chopped 4” channeled 14”. |
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Chassis |
36 Ford |
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Wheels |
14 x 6 front, 15 x 7 rear Dragway 5 spokes. |
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Other Modifications |
XD discs, CL Valiant calipers front, XD drum brakes at the rear. 32 Grille shell, Mk 10 Jag radiator, XR Falcon steering, Painless wiring 18 circuit harness, electric windows, bear claw door latches, shaved door handles, 4 x 59 caddy tail lights in bobbed 35 ford coupe rear fenders, Dodge Charger fuel filler, 8 gallon VW Kombi fuel tank. |
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The car now belongs to Damen Air, of the Adelaide Hotrodders. It has received several changes, like the 33 grille, centrelines and hilborn type scoop. The rear has also been lowered, new headers made and tube shocks take over from the old lever action types. The engine has also received some substantial work, and makes more horsepower than ever. | |
