Going back to 1967, I bought a 1956 Ford Wagon with a 292 T-Bird engine from
a kid for $40. The wagon had been driven to Beaver, PA from California,
which accounts for the fact that everything was not rusted away. It looked
like hell, and was given a tail gate plaque saying The Trashbarrel.
Shortly after, it threw a rod. I dropped the pan, miched the crank, and
found it 0.040" out of round. After considering throwing the car away, I
pulled the heads and replaced the rings (without boring), rod bearings, and
two new pistons and rods. (This engine used steel shim head gaskets, just
like our TR's.) Using heavy oil, I then towed with it for another 12 years,
selling it for $250 in 1979.
On one trip home from Nelson Ledges, I was following Auggie Engelhardt, who
was trailering his 1956 Healey racer. Another guy who was helping us at the
track was following me in a pickup truck. Suddenly, it sounded and felt like
my trailer broke loose and was being dragged along by the safety chains. I
gradually slowed down and carefully pulled off the road.
The gas tank had fallen out of the wagon and was being dragged along by the
fuel line. Gasoline was flying everywhere all over the road, my TR-3,
trailer, and this other guy's pickup truck. Sparks were showering up through
this gasoline as the tank dragged along the concrete highway. Due to some
miracle, the gasoline did not light off.
After feverishly wiping down everything and trying to keep people away with
cigarettes, the tank was tied back up in the car using some spare safety
chain. I then made it home and managed to weld the tank brackets back
together with my Sears buzz-box
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