Resurrecting the 72 Comet

My first ever build thread and I'm pretty stoked for it. Ive built motorcycles and oval track race cars but never a classic car!
When I was young my dad use to have a comet that we drove everywhere. So I thought It would be a great idea to pick one up since they are extremely cheap compared to the ever popular mustangs.
Im real happy I went this route. I instantly fell in love with the car and have enjoyed working on it.

These pics are from the day I bought it which was about 6 months ago. overall in need of TLC, rebuilding, and overhauling. I walked up and saw all the potential under the faded paint and rod knocking motor.
The body was extremely straight with only small problem areas that are easily fixable.
The interior is a bit of a wreck ill post a pic soon. Luckily there is a great aftermarket for these cars.
The motor started but had what sounded like a bit of a rod knock, didn't matter to me because
my plan was to completely rebuild the motor anyway.
I brought it home and instantly went to work.
Pulled all the side chrome stripping off cuz I thought it would hurt the aggressive/rough look I'm trying to achieve.
I have to intentions to make this car "perfect" or "show" style. Im keeping it rough around the edges and somewhat inexpensive (for whatever that means haha)
As you you guys can see i started buffing the right fender to see if i could put some life back in the paint.
Turns out theres plenty of life in it and thats great cuz that means to paint job!


Will post pics of my work on the drivetrain soon!

 

Welcome to the site from a`72 Comet owner in northeast Ohio!!!

 

Welcome to the site. It sure looks like you have a solid car to start with.

 

Congrats, great car and great color. I might be biased.

 

haha i love the color
The car is progressing nicely

 

I pulled the motor out and tore it down to the block. I found tons of sludge and a worn out valve train but nevertheless a solid block, good crank, and good rods. I sent it to my local machine shop to have the works done on it.
Honed every hole in the block
bored it over .030
maged the block
New pistons
New Mutha Thumper cam
I tossed the iron heads and bought some 190cc SVO Heads the machine shop had for sale.
New roller tip rockers and pushrods
Luckily the car came with a brand new distributor and intake
Out with the old stock headers and in with the new summit headers
I sent the Transmission a local shop to get rebuilt and a shift kit added
Once the machine shop finished up I started the assembly

 

Heres some pics of the Interior
Like i said it needs help but I have NO intentions of making it perfect inside. I like the age and wear
but def going to install a headliner and new dash pad.
A carpet kit and a new steering wheel

 

Hands down my Favorite part about the build is the suspension work. I love suspension and how it all works. My old racing days gave me a life long bug for it.
My goal is a modern aggressive stance
I want it the front lower to add some rake in the car. I want the wheel wells FULL of wheel and tire
Im going to roll the fenders for some added clearance.
17x9 at all 4 corners
already did the fitment. Its really close but I removed the front springs and went through full travel and turned from lock to lock without any issues.
I cut a 1 1/4 coils out of the front springs with a cutting wheel. I haven't dropped it on the ground to see if it was the right amount. Need the motor and trans back in it first.
Removing the Spring was actually easy with the right tool
New shocks all around and possibly lowering blocks for the rear depending on stance.

 

well a lot of progress on the motor. Even though its been 105 degrees outside the motor assembly came together real nice and going the newly rebuilt tranny took only 15min.
In the process of assembly the top end I realized I forgot to install the oil pump drive shaft with the keeper before I sealed the oil pan on the motor.
So to my displeasure I took off the oil pan and installed it properly. New gaskets and new silicone. lets hope for a leak free assembly.

As you can see I had some help from my little bro Brody. Always nice to have another set of eyes on the project haha
I rolled the car out to the dirt and began the insane pressure wash job it has needed for a long time.
It was black black water flowing out glad i took the time to do it.

 

Need to rip out the old battery tray and install the new one.
Looks like the new one will have to be trimmed about 3 inches in order to install in the stock location.
Once Its cut and bolted in place. Its finally time to set the motor and trans back into their place.
I can't wait! Going to make sure to take lots of pics

 

Just catching up with your build .... solid car! ... and it's the "right" color, too.

Regarding the battery tray, there is a tray that is the right size repopped for our cars. I believe it is late 60s Fairlane/Torino. I bought one a few years ago, and it is ever-closer to getting installed. Hopefully your lower bracket is still good because it needs to be harvested off the original tray and spot-welded to the new one. Check under the battery tray... the apron may need some work too. Hopefully not, your tray looks a LOT better than the scrap of one that was left when I got my Comet.

You might be able to use this tray shown in the picture merely by lopping a corner off of it near the shock tower. I did that to a plastic marine battery tray that I ran for a long time. But still, you will probably want to put the lower bracket on this one, too.

 

Thanks CaptainComet
I really have enjoyed this build. Its been a blast.
Going to post a big updated soon to catch my thread up.

I ended up just cutting an end off the tray in my previous post.
Painted it and bolted it in place. Seems like it will work good enough.
Thank you for letting me know about that tray tho.
Probably worth picking up one anyway.

 

Great looking build so far - I also built circle track cars for many years and doing a street car is so much different - I was planning on getting back into my Maverick full bore this past spring but a 1980 Troyer pavement modified came my way and, once again, some sort of circle track vehicle got my attention and the Mav sits again

 

Of all the cars I raced my modified was my fav.
I raced in the local asphalt modified series out here california and it was a blast.
Actually ran pretty decent too.
Just too much cash to throw at something that someone can RR me and throw it all away. haha
It happened for many years yet i kept going back for more....that racing bug is addictive to say the least.