Another 427

[Dale Bowman]

I wonder if Claire would mind if I had these in the front room instead of the car

[Roger King]

Which tailshaft housing do they put on the toploader, Dale? Presumably a custom casting to get the shifter in the right place - although the 427 lever comes forward from a posterior position, so maybe it's a stock fullsize casing. Are they rebuilt HEH-E boxes?

[Roger King]

Yes, comparing it with the Mustang reference sites it looks like the super-common one (which is a good thing), '64-73 Mustang, Fairlane, Cyclone, Ranchero, Torino, Falcon etc. - pretty much everything from that period from small-block to 429. It must be the 427 stick arrangement because that casing would not work in a 289. The only one that will is either David Kee's special casting (but I haven't been able to contact him for years now), or the Sunbeam Tiger casing which drops straight in. Just for ref for 289s, though - don't forget that the toploader and T10 trans mounting casting is in a different place, so you can't fit a toploader to a correct chassis without cutting off the Cobra trans mount and welding on a Mustang one (as supplied by Gerry).

[Dale Bowman]

This is a Dan Williams unit in, like Paul said, an aluminium casing

[Roger King]

Thanks Dale - is Dan making casings now? Amazing, last time I spoke to him he was on the verge of retiring. He must be close to his eighties now - clearly you can't keep a good man down, if you can get a word in edgeways...
He must be branching out, as when I used him all he would do was reconditioning and rebuilding old units.

[Dale Bowman]

if you can get a word in edgeways...

I know exactly what you mean, I had the (un)fortunate task of calling him early in my "choices" stage of the build ... I took out a second mortgage to pay the phone bill

[Roger King]

He's enthusiastic, you have to give it to him!!

[Marsh]

I wonder if Claire would mind if I had these in the front room instead of the car

Dale, I'm suffering from more than a mild dose of engine envy - and whilst I'm very much looking forward to seeing your completed car - which is going to be truly spectacular painted, the only thing I'm looking forward to more is seeing my engine on Dave's workshop floor instead of yours.

[Dale Bowman]

CR & 2.88 Jag

[Dale Bowman]

Nicely put to bed