Mach_1

I agree Ash- I considered 18s but thought they just looked a little too big in the wheel archs on these cars, and 16s didn't seem like a big enough difference from the 15s that were already on the car to justify the cost. I hope to take it for a spin tomorrow evening after work- I'm guessing it will handle a lot better...but probably also a little harsher ride as well without all of that old sidewall it used to have.

Very cool- I've been really considering the new Holley Sniper EFi system myself...so tired of rough starts, constantly adjusting idle, etc with the 750 carb. You will have to let us know how it runs with it!

When we pulled out 428 last fall we disconnected the bell from the transmission, left the headers attached, and very slowly pulled and angled the thing out. It did beat up the passenger side shock tower a bit on the way out but I repainted it with the engine-out anyways. It's not easy or fun but it is do-able. took us about 4 hours from getting started, to having it out of the car and on the garage floor. It would have been possible to pull out the T4 at the same time but we thought it easier to just disconnect the 4 bolts holding it to the bellhousing and then drop the transmission out of the bottom.

Well better late than never. Finally got the American Racing 17x8 / 17x9 500s on the car. 255/17 front, 275/17 drag radial rears. Fitment seems about spot on- have yet to take it out of the garage for a spin yet though.

Thanks Bob! I figure if it's going to sit a while...might as well look good doing it right? lol

In more exciting news- I received the 17x8 / 17x9 AR500s from American Racing and had the tires mounted up. Just installed and ended up lowering the front an additional .50" but really can't go lower on account of minimal header clearance. Really liking it so far! The wheels (albeit heavy) are very nice quality.

Not much of an updated but I did get under the car to look for any obvious culprits and found that a retaining screw had come out of the bellhousing / shield and the shield is now rattling loose- likely coming into contact with one of the header primaries. Might be some of clatter I have been hearing but who knows. I started her up and got it up to idle temp in the garage to work on idle mixture and no noise was present once warm. I probably have one lazy lifter somewhere that will need replacement eventually. Hoping that some clearancing of the shield / housing and header primary might stop the noise as well.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. After talking to the engine builder he was a little stumped since it's intermittent and takes quite a long while to start up on a drive. He gave me the okay to experiment with a 20w50 oil (typically uses 10w30). After changing out the oil yesterday and taking it for a 25 minute spirited drive there was no knock / tick with the 20w50 and new Wix filter. I have a filter cutter coming from Amazon which should be here today or tomorrow and will be cutting open the last 2 filters just to be safe. Wonder if the 10w30 was just getting too hot / thin and maybe I have one lazy lifter that didn't like that? To me the sound certainly sounded like a knock as well and had / has me scared about the bottom end but I would think that a knock from a rod bearing would be there all the time- not just when super hot, and would get a lot worse (and not marginally better) with rpm. If it comes back the next thing to try will be the spark plug elimination :/ . Keeping fingers crossed- Maybe I'll just be using 10w30 in the winter, and 20w50 in the summer down here in hot Southern California.

Ugghh... After about 20 minutes of driving...it show's it's ugly loud face. http://vid38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/Machofmanhattan/Mobile%20Uploads/20160707_192510_zpswpvod86d.mp4 http://vid38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/Machofmanhattan/Mobile%20Uploads/20160707_192223_zpsclkkykcp.mp4

Hey Bob- Thanks for the kind words! The new rear drag radials are 275/40/17 Toyo Proxes TQ. Looking forward to getting the new wheels so I can mount these things and get some traction in 1st and 2nd :). Really need to find out what is causing this knock though- First up is an oil change and check over the exhaust for leaks- then the valve covers come off :(....

Okay 1969stangers... I need some ideas here. I changed out the break-in oil 10 days ago, and took the car to another show after the change last Friday. About 20 minutes into the (hot) drive- a knock started. It was loudest at idle but could also be heard with revs (see attached vid for in-car clip). Got to the show, parked, tried to forget about it, and 3 hours later went to go home and...like magic...no knock. No knock all the way home. I got the car tuned yesterday at Westech Performance (picked up just today) and on the drive there it was fine until I was about 10 minutes out (20+ min into the drive down I10) and the knock came back. Of COURSE it went away as I pulled into the parking lot. During the tuning session even at operating temp they didn't hear anything. Again- on the drive home today about 25 min into the drive the knock came back. It "sounds" like a lifter or rocker arm but I have NO idea as to why it would take so long for it to arise when driving? I'm going to pop the hood and look around tonight to see if it's not something obvious (air filter nut had come loose on the drive to westech so it was rattling- I was hoping that was the culprit). But the sound appears to be RPM dependent and only on one lifter, rocker, or cylinder. Has anyone encountered this before? Wondering if I have one lazy hydraulic lifter in the new motor? Video of the knock (haven't been able to get one at idle from under the hood yet): http://vid38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/Machofmanhattan/20160701_172546%201_zpsaiuwkqwp.mp4 On the bright side, the car made 420 / 473 at the wheels in street trim, and 440/500 with the air filter removed (the 1" K&N is definitely a choke-point).

Finally able to start her up and grab a picture lol.

Congratulations! Great looking car- well deserved!

I just placed an order for a set of 17x8 & 17x9 AR500s. I'll try to post pics once I get them on the car- I think they are the best compromise for someone wanting to retain the classic muscle look but give it a bit of resto-mod appeal as well. I'll be keeping the current 15" Magnum 500s as well to switch back and forth as my mood changes lol. Can't go wrong with either IMO!

Spent some time adjusting the floats, fast idle and choke and she seems to be running and idling better (still a little rough when cold though). Minor surging / lurching in gears so I still need to richen her up a bit and jet up a couple of sizes but she is getting there! https://video.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t42.1790-2/13465698_798081806995825_780521649_n.mp4?efg=eyJybHIiOjU3NCwicmxhIjo1MTIsInZlbmNvZGVfdGFnIjoic3ZlX3NkIn0%3D&rl=574&vabr=319&oh=61dc0a30d6fc820e2a851a2066a8de3d&oe=5762DF2E