Fat Brian Posted January 26 Posted January 26 I had some extra parts laying around and decided to do something Ford didn't. For whatever reason Ford decided to homologate their 1969 NASCAR car and engine separately, with the Boss 429 only available in Mustangs and the Talladega using the 428 CJ. The 429 actually fits pretty good in the Torino, I had to take little out of the rear side on the oil sump bit that was about it to the motor. The biggest modification was to the body, the way the battery tray and washer fluid bottle are molded there wasn't enough room for the fan belt. I under cut the battery and washer bottle and extended to inner fenders more like the actual car would be and everything is happy now. I added the bucket seats and console from the Mustang since the Boss engine has a 4 speed and also the spoiler. The Boss hood scoop doesn't work with the Torino hood so I used the scoop from the 70 Mach 1 kit that was also available on Torinos. This is a great kit but there is one issue I found. When installed the way its molded the center section of the rear axle is upside down once you attach it to the springs. You need to cut the mounting pins off and flip it over then it will be oriented correctly. I built this as a "day 2" car with aftermarket wheels and an open element in cleaner. 25
espo Posted January 26 Posted January 26 I agree with you on Ford should have offered the Boss 429 in the Fairlane body since they were using it in NASCAR anyway. Great body color and like the wheels. 1
Fat Brian Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 42 minutes ago, espo said: I agree with you on Ford should have offered the Boss 429 in the Fairlane body since they were using it in NASCAR anyway. Great body color and like the wheels. Yeah, I don't understand the logic there. It's not like the 429 fit easily and cheaply in the Mustang over the Torino. It seems like selling the Talladega with the 429 would have been an attractive package for the race teams too, getting the new body and engine together.
karbuildr Posted January 26 Posted January 26 Excellent build, I always wondered why Ford never offered the Boss engine in the Torino. Looks very good in black. 1
ncbuckeye67 Posted January 27 Posted January 27 Very nice! I love the "what if/why not" type of builds (and that black paint is gorgeous!). 1
Mike 1017 Posted January 27 Posted January 27 Great looking Talladega. The main reason Ford put the Boss 429 into a Mustang. Ford wanted the Mustang to be a state-of-the-art performance car. Mike 1
Fat Brian Posted January 27 Author Posted January 27 43 minutes ago, Mike 1017 said: Great looking Talladega. The main reason Ford put the Boss 429 into a Mustang. Ford wanted the Mustang to be a state-of-the-art performance car. Mike That's the reason that makes the most sense to me, the Mustang is supposed to be the top dog performance wise so they didn't want another platform to get the hot new engine.
Mike 1017 Posted January 27 Posted January 27 1 minute ago, Fat Brian said: That's the reason that makes the most sense to me, the Mustang is supposed to be the top dog performance wise so they didn't want another platform to get the hot new engine. I got that info from one of The Boss 429's Forums. Me, I would have wanted the 427 S.O.C.H installed instead.
Ragtop Man Posted January 27 Posted January 27 Fantastic build, and great job! Saw a 1:1 going together at Total Performance (prob. 40 years ago) was well on the way then I think the body was stolen (?) dunno if any Ford guys remember. Car was black at the time.
Fat Brian Posted January 27 Author Posted January 27 9 minutes ago, Zen said: Great build! Is this based on the 1/24 Monogram kit? Yes, the kit is very nice other than the one issue with the axle I mentioned. I honestly wish they had made a kit of a different car his nice. The Talladega is an odd duck without many opportunities for customizing, another Ford would have been welcome. Even a Torino Cobra this year would have been much better.
Bainford Posted January 27 Posted January 27 Nice work, Brian. That's about the coolest Talladega build I've seen. The Boss is a natural. 1 1
bogger44 Posted January 28 Posted January 28 That is a proper looking Talladega, very sharp work. Love the wide meats out back. I'm in agreement with everyone that Ford should have dropped the 429 into this, but as mentioned, Ford brass didn't want anything stealing Mustang's thunder. Wish they would have offered an optional 4spd trans too. 1
Fat Brian Posted January 28 Author Posted January 28 52 minutes ago, bogger44 said: That is a proper looking Talladega, very sharp work. Love the wide meats out back. I'm in agreement with everyone that Ford should have dropped the 429 into this, but as mentioned, Ford brass didn't want anything stealing Mustang's thunder. Wish they would have offered an optional 4spd trans too. The transmission might be an even more baffling choice than the engine. The Cobra could be had with a four speed and nothing changed in areas related to the transmission. Everything about the Talladega screams "we're only building enough of these to get them sanctioned" and with only 750 built the about did.
slusher Posted January 28 Posted January 28 Great looking build Brian, I am a fan of the Talladega! 1
Geno Posted January 29 Posted January 29 (edited) Hot damn, that is one badass build. I'm diggin everything you did with it. That's how they should have come from the factory. I've got this one on the bench, I'm doing mine as a replica of Bunkie Knudsens personal car. Edited January 29 by Geno 1 1
Fat Brian Posted January 29 Author Posted January 29 3 hours ago, Geno said: Hot damn, that is one badass build. I'm diggin everything you did with it. That's how they should have come from the factory. I've got this one on the bench, I'm doing mine as a replica of Bunkie Knudsens personal car. I was going to say, that's not a factory color but the Boss gets what he wants. 1
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