Formal top or fastback??
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1972-1976 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1972-1976 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=4168
Printed Date: 22-April-2024 at 7:23PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Formal top or fastback??
Posted By: bluecollar
Subject: Formal top or fastback??
Date Posted: 26-August-2010 at 11:18AM
Hey guys, new to this site have been looking around here for awile now as I am now a very proud owner of a 1973 gran torino
I have found allot of great info thanks to the site and its members!!! Although I do have what I feel is a really embarassing question Is my car a formal top or fastback???
 Believe it or not I have searched and looked at many pics but still not sure...what is the diffence? is a formal top only cars with vinyl tops? As per my vin it came with a 302, built in Oakville and obviously is a 2 door hardtop. My door sticker was painted over i tried to sand off lightly but still cannot make out trim codes ect has an axle code of 3 ? but cannot find out what that means? I am in the middle of teardown stage fixing rear floors under rear seat rotten and truck as well. finally recieved my catalog from dearborn classics and allot of things i need it asks if formal top or fastback ie headliner
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated
 cheersP S sorry the pics arent great need bigger garage for this beast
   ------------- Git-R-Done |
Replies:
Posted By: Eliteman76
Date Posted: 26-August-2010 at 6:14PM
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Welcome to the site. The car you have is a "formal roof". A starsky & hutch Torino would be a formal roof car. The sports roof {fastback} is like my car:     -------------  Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed RestomodPondering: #99Problems |
Posted By: HbMarine
Date Posted: 26-August-2010 at 8:29PM
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i second that, formal roof does not mean its vinyl top or not. good on ya though for fining one with out a vinyl top, mine was and it was a pain to get rid of.
------------- 72 gt 400m auto 10.2 @ 70mph in 1/8th "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. - George Orwell" |
Posted By: Regul8r
Date Posted: 27-August-2010 at 2:26AM
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Not sure if we say WELCOME to someone who has been lurking but... WELCOME TO THE SITE!
Formal and Sport roof are easiest described as Coupe(Formal) and Fastback(Sport)
Yours is the Formal(Coupe) and as you can see Andy's Yellow one is a Sport(Fastback)
It gets confusing when you have a 72 Gran Torino Sport that is a Formal roof. lol
The SPORT refers to an option package then you have to ask what roof. ------------- Carl Corey (Moderator/Event Coordinator) Contact ANYTIME! 1976 Ford Elite "Lola Mae" 97 Suzuki Intruder 1400 US Army Retired |
Posted By: bluecollar
Date Posted: 27-August-2010 at 5:27AM
Thanks allot guys for the quick response!! I just one 20 bucks  had a bet going with my buddy he thought it was a fastback for sure haha!! Andrew those are some really nice rides you have!!
Makes sense about the tops and yeah i can see how it could get confusing!!
Sorry about my phrasing I guess lurking is not the best choice of words...I try and search to figure out questions as I know that on these forums the same ones can always come up and get annoying.
I managed to get this car through a trade for my 1994 bronco straight up had her for 8 years and drove it hard thought time for a change and i found this Gran torino and could not believe the guy would trade me sure it needs work but thats half the fun right!!!!!
Now it has rebuilt 460
and a c6 trans but im sure it has an 8 inch bum in it if im just gonna drive this car as a cruiser and not take to track or do crazy hard launches with it do you guys think that the 8 inch will suffice ?Thanks again
Matt ------------- Git-R-Done |
Posted By: Eliteman76
Date Posted: 27-August-2010 at 5:54AM
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Thanks Matt. Mine is the yellow and grey GTS. The red GTS belongs to a nice guy names Tom. That Starsky and Hutch car, the gentleman that owns that, I forget his name, he is not on any of the web sites after talking with him at Powertour this year. Sweet car for sure.
With a 460...I would swap the 8" out, and do a 9 inch rear. Any of the 72-76 housings will work, a 74-up will have bigger bearings, but I seem to be fine with my small bearing 9".
Talk to Carl {cowboyupdjcarl}...I know for a fact he has four spare 9" axles from 351 cleveland cars that would be great for a street bruiser like yours. Should be a direct swap over without too much drama. He's in the middle of Kansas, so I don't know how far away he would be from you.
Any rear axle of a 1972 to 1979 intermediate Ford/Mercury car will work, just have to make sure it's off a Torino, Montego, LTD2, Ranchero 72-79, Elite 1974-1976 and Mercury Cougar 1974-1978.
------------- Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed RestomodPondering: #99Problems |
Posted By: torkair
Date Posted: 27-August-2010 at 8:50AM
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Your car SHOULD have a 9" under it as the 8" rears were phased out mid production year for the 72 models. Both of my 72 Gran Torinos are the Formal roof "sport", no clue what the real difference is but the early production 72 that I have has the 8" while the late production one has the 9", both cars came from the factory with 302 motors.
------------- 72 Gran Torino "sport"- in progress 73 Ranchero GT- Q code-460/C6/3.25 open rear |
Posted By: HbMarine
Date Posted: 27-August-2010 at 9:47AM
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I thought the 9'' was only standard for the 400m/429 cars ------------- 72 gt 400m auto 10.2 @ 70mph in 1/8th "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. - George Orwell" |
Posted By: moose0211
Date Posted: 27-August-2010 at 9:58AM
| Nope it was standard on most gran torinos. The 8 inch came on a few early build ones but mine is a 9/71 build and has a 9 inch. |
Posted By: bluecollar
Date Posted: 27-August-2010 at 10:08AM
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To be honest when i went to look at the car i was sure it was a 9 inch....but upon further inspection and some research(i thought because it had the removable third member it was a 9 for sure) i did the check to see if a deep socket would fit on the lower nuts and it fits no problem?? removed the tag and it says
wdy G5 3G0
2 79 8 824A
im interpreting this as an 8 inch with 279 gear ratio not positive though
Would be fantastic if someone could tell me for sure??
Andrew I would take your advise and talk to cowboy carl about the ones he has for sale but im in Ontario, Canada so im sure the shipping would be killer
Thanks again ------------- Git-R-Done |
Posted By: Regul8r
Date Posted: 27-August-2010 at 11:23AM
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THREAD HI-JACK WARNING!!
Ok, I am going to ask a dumb question now!
The 8 and 9 " housings...
Are the Housing and axles the same with just a different pumpkin/center section?
Or is the WHOLE thing different?
Another question... Andy, Small or large bearing? PLEASE explain!
I am putting one of these 9" rears in the race car... rather put the BEST one I can.
Also... What gears were offered in 72 and with what motor/tranny combo?
------------- Carl Corey (Moderator/Event Coordinator) Contact ANYTIME! 1976 Ford Elite "Lola Mae" 97 Suzuki Intruder 1400 US Army Retired |
Posted By: Torinogts73c
Date Posted: 27-August-2010 at 2:38PM
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Housings are different as well as axles. Can't put a 9" center in an 8" housing ------------- Gary 73 Gran Torino Sport 351CJ,17 Mustang Ecoboost,15 Jeep Grand Cherokee LTD, Ford Ranger parts hauler "Never complain Never explain" Henry Ford |
Posted By: Regul8r
Date Posted: 27-August-2010 at 3:16PM
Well there you have it!
the 8" will just have the brakes stripped and then take it to the scrap yard for scrap metal money!
OR maybe I can use it for a really cool bar stool!
I am using old BAD mags for the base to some hot rod bar stools for the outside bar at the house! ------------- Carl Corey (Moderator/Event Coordinator) Contact ANYTIME! 1976 Ford Elite "Lola Mae" 97 Suzuki Intruder 1400 US Army Retired |
Torinogts73c wrote:Posted By: Eliteman76
Date Posted: 30-August-2010 at 5:21PM
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I would not totally scrap that 8", some street rod guys may still want it. Hack off the 4 link brackets, weld on spring perches, and good basic hot rod axle. Anyways, on our cars, I want to say around late 73 going into 1974, they went to the large axle bearings. Bigger, stronger, etc, etc. I have my 1976 Housing I plan on swapping to, but that's another winter project, if I ever manage to toast my small bearing unit. Then the N case carrier is getting pulled for rebuild with 1350 u joints, instead of the 1310's it has now. I sware my GTS is a freak of nature. SORRY FOR THE HIJACK . Anyways, carry on! As far as the 8 vs 9 inch rear, the 9 inch refers to the size of the ring gear {someone correct me if I am wrong here}. Every single Torino and Elite I have owned, all 351C cars, some 351w, 460, have had 9" axles. The blue 72 4 door, was a 9", and it was a 351c 2 barrel engine. ------------- Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed RestomodPondering: #99Problems |