Ted, how much hp and torque is gained from swapping out a stock ECZ-9425-B iron intake manifold for a Blue Thunder assuming everything else remains the same?  Thanks.

 The Blue Thunder aluminum intake manifolds for the Y will pass for a stock manifold when painted if you don’t look too closely.  The latest BT versions have both the Ford part number and the firing order on them.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

a 56 same as yours.he use to belong to the crown vic ass, he may still i havent seen him for awile.his name is gerald mann.its just a driver but he drives it every summer.i would think more that 3 or 4 sill exist but they may not be on the road.he got the car in manitoba about 20 years ago.

If you swap out your current distributor, intake and carburetor, you will think you have a different engine.  My 292 has a stock 1957 4V iron intake, Holley 465 and a stock 1957 Ford distributor and it will out run any postal van in my neighborhood.

A Meteor? Or a 57 intake?


56 Meteor 4 dr hardtop
56 Meteor 2 dr hardtop
55 Sunliner
53 Lincoln Capri 2 dr hardtop
58 Skyliner

Anna, Tx

a friend of mine has one.

Yes, quite!
I’m goi g to check the numbers on my intake and if it’s a suitable number, possibly smooth it a bit and call it a day, then change carb and that spark making device I cuss at a lot.
If it’s a 56 intake, which I feel it is, on goes one of Those fancy Mummert intakes, suitably ground down to eliminate the telltale look. I’m holding out hope it’s a 57, but I doubt it.

However, this 56 Crown that’s sitting in the corner is another story. It’ll get the full meal deal.


56 Meteor 4 dr hardtop
56 Meteor 2 dr hardtop
55 Sunliner
53 Lincoln Capri 2 dr hardtop
58 Skyliner

Anna, Tx

ErnieL, your plan sounds good.
 Changing the cam and heads would be nice but involves a lot of work because you must also change the lifters. If you do that you might as well rebuild the engine!

"FREE SAMPLE"

You need more compression, and a better cam (Isky E-4 is good), the heads you would want are 113 or ECZ-G, keep the deck height as close to Ford specs as possible, used a steel head gasket (E Bay), change to 1.54 rocker arms, add a FoMoCo 4bbl manifold (1957 or newer) a 3310 Holley is nice, use a 1959 or newer distributor (easier to get advance parts).  All this will keep a stock look and run nice.  

Thanks for the responses, folks. Yes, I’m in North Texas, about 10 miles north of McKinney in Anna. I’m a couple hours from Ted’s shop.
I own and operate a transmission shop, so I’m very familiar with the various BW transmission variations and what can be done there. Mine works well as advertised, and yes, if I floor it off the line it’ll start in low.

The car itself has led a charmed life. It was loved and babied by a real Meteor guy back in the 70s-80s who had pulled it from an old lady’s garage in Vancouver, was purchased in the 90s by a 55-57 Ford guy where it joined his collection and who also babied it and did some minor restoration plus replaced the 312, and he sold it to a guy in Arkansas where it joined his collection.
All were members of the Crown Vic Association, as am I.
That’s why I tracked down this particular car. I knew it’s history, it’s led a charmed life, bought and babied along the way by folks who knew what it was: one of 545 Meteor 4dr hardtops built in 56. There’s only 3 or 4 left, the weak body sagged in the middle if rust got into them. Mine’s rust free, Praise Jesus.

The exhaust manifolds are 57, the intake looks 56. I’ll verify that. But yes, my goal here is to juice it up a bit without major surgery, and then be happy with that it is, a super rare piece of Ford history.

Now, for a bit more fun, I have a 56 Crown that I hope to have Ted work his magic on. The 292 is tired and needs help.
Im kind of an odd duck, I like the original look. On the inside and the outside, but what’s underneath, that’s another story.

Ernie


56 Meteor 4 dr hardtop
56 Meteor 2 dr hardtop
55 Sunliner
53 Lincoln Capri 2 dr hardtop
58 Skyliner

Anna, Tx