The Rosedale Rocket

**teddisnoke** · 07-26-2009, 10:14 PM

Yup- thats the name I've come up with for my '64 Comet AWB. I say AWB in the most subtle tones, as its not going to be as severe an alteration as my previous '64 Dodge Dart.

Here's what I had to start with:
Photo: IMG 9498 | 64 Comet Project album | Bowtie0069 | Fotki.com

I dove into it this weekend, and got started pulling off trim that was RTV'd into place, along with floor panels that had RTV that looked like it was put on with a cake decorator knife. So much for rust-free! Initially, it was to be a severe alteration, in the form of 8-12 inches. Then, upon looking further, the rear quarter panel lines are so gracefull that it would look a bit butch. Behold!! There is almost six inches of hidden wheelspace behind the front leading fender edge of the rear wheel opening!!!

So- - - by removing a four inch section, that leaves me with two inches of freeplay for wheel growth at breakneck speeds, and it almost centers the wheel under the roof pillar, which is an unwritten rule I always try to abide by when I alter cars. Just my rule. I think the cars always look awesome when done in this manner. No mini-tub plans just yet, but I am going to try a trick to open up the wheelhouse, but in a way that people are really going to have to do a double take. They didn't mini-tub these cars back then,with an eight inch wide slick for the small block equipped cars, and I hear Radir is coming out with a new nine-inch wide Mickey Thompson tire that would snuggle itself up in the wheelhouse just right, on a 15x 6.5 rim I recently discovered a set of.

I"m going to try to tend to this thread as a build-up thread of sorts. Every few days, post up progress pics if thats okay!!??

Thanks-
Dale

**Ranchero65** · 07-26-2009, 11:01 PM

It sure looks to nice to be butchering up ...

**danv** · 07-26-2009, 11:55 PM

Yes, it certainly looks like a very good car to start with.
But by the sounds of it, this build is going to be an interesting one to follow.

**Mikelonis** · 07-27-2009, 08:43 AM

Ted,
FYI... we have a project forum in case you didn't know. Doesn't mean you can't do it here but take a look....

http://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/makin-progress/

**FEandGoingBroke** · 07-27-2009, 09:48 AM

Cut that thing to pieces if you want

The square ones are OK but nothing like the roundies

Cant wait to see the big wheels in there!

**retyler** · 07-27-2009, 01:18 PM

Come on FE, you don't really mean that do you?

**teddisnoke** · 07-30-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikelonis

Ted,
FYI... we have a project forum in case you didn't know. Doesn't mean you can't do it here but take a look....

http://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/makin-progress/

Thanks for that! If you guys want me to set it up in there, by all means, I'll go for it!! Its starting to gather steam. I found a nine inch, set up in an early Chevy Nova, which I believe has the same track width,with 4.11's and a spool, and brought home the 289, which turns out to be a 225 horsepower model.

The real score so far has been a vintage set of chrome reverse 15x4 front steelies, built back in the sixties on a Kelsey Hays wheel. The chrome is old, and has a coat of paint, but a re-chrome with a 6.40-15 Firestone bias-ply, and I'm Golden.

A question? I"m told that before Ford blocks were painted the Blue we all know, they were black, with gold valve covers??? Does anyone know when this cut off??

Thanks for your help!

Dale

**retyler** · 08-01-2009, 09:45 PM

!965 was last year.

**teddisnoke** · 08-02-2009, 03:38 PM

Thank you! That'll go good with the color scheme!! Found a place here in California that makes the Weber set-up. Pretty much normal stuff. I guess alot of Cobras run 'em. Pricey ,though!!

I drove down to pick up this:

Its an early first generation Nova pan. But- its whats underneath that got me. A Ford nine inch, with a very unique early truss set-up, the likes of which I've never seen. When I get it off the car, I"ll take a picture to show you. It may need to come off, but then again, it'll just add to the uniqueness of the whole build. The early Novas and Comets do indeed share the exact same width, at about 52-52 1/4" inside flange to inside flange .

Dale

**fastphil** · 08-04-2009, 06:57 AM

hey dale, have you decided what kind of rear springs your gona run? i'm working on a 63,just got the straight axle installed on the front. moving to the rear have thoughts of mopar super stock springs and move the springs inboard. i would like to here your thoughts on the subject,since you ran a mopar also.