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Rust Included: 1966 Ford Galaxie 7 Litre

1966 Ford Galaxie 7 Litre

I have mixed feelings about this Ford. I really like the big Galaxies, they are good looking beasts and with 7 litres (428) of power, this one could be fun. What’s the problem then? Like usual, rust and this one has lots of it. It’s so bad that the seller is throwing in a new chassis, which has been refinished and looks good. That doesn’t address the body’s rust issues, but patch panels are available and anyone with a grinder and a welder can figure out how to install them. Of course, being a body on frame car, you could just leave the body alone and move it over to that nice new chassis. It would be eye catching, that’s for sure! Find it here on eBay in Saint Petersburg, Florida with an opening bid of $3,500.

1966 Ford Galaxie 7 Litre Engine

The decision to call the 428 a “7 Litre” seems like an interesting choice to me, well at least for a car that was targeted at American buyers. For whatever reason, it sounds more impressive to me than 428. I imagine the goal was to separate this car from the cheaper and smaller muscle cars Ford was building at the time. Remember, the 7 Litre was targeted at adult buyers that wanted a comfortable car that just happened to be powerful and fast.

1966 Ford Galaxie 500 Interior

I think the interior is proof of that! Look at those plush bucket seats and all the trim. This was by no means a bare-bones weekend drag racer, it was a high speed highway cruiser that just happened to be capable of drag racing!

1966 Ford Galaxie 500 Chassis

The more I look at this car, the more I want one of these as my long distance cruiser. Between the 345 horse big block and the comfortable interior, it seems like a car that would eat up the miles in style. This particular car has a lot of issues though and is going to need a lot of work before seeing the open road. The starting bid seems a bit high to me, but considering the engine runs, the transmission is freshly rebuilt and that it comes with a rust free chassis, it might actually be worth it. What do you think? Has enough of the heavy lifting been done to make it worth $3,500 or more?

Comments

  1. Avatar grant

    Always liked the 7 litre Galaxy, but I have to wonder if there are any survivors that aren’t this color of red…

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    • Avatar Alan (Michigan )

      Read (red) my mind!

      First thing that hit me was “Of course, it is red…”

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  2. Avatar Martin

    The 7 Litre Galaxie was how Ford first introduced the 428, and I suspect it was a way to make it stand apart from the other 7 Litre–the 427. These cars are out there, unfortunately some of the unique badges and steering wheel (among a few other goodies) for these cars are rare pieces, and to properly restore one requires some $$$ above and beyond the usual. But, the 65 and up Galaxies are real nice cruisers, as mentioned in the article–I’ve racked up some serious miles on my 66 390 car, matter of fact, I just now got back from a cool evening road trip.

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  3. Avatar wuzjeepnowsaab

    Love these. My favorite year…just before the more angular, striaghtline penned 67+ and just after the boxy 65- The big block just makes the package sooooo much sweeter

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  4. Avatar Matt

    I had a ’66 LTD two door hardtop, in baby blue with a 428.. It was such a beautiful car. Not technically a “7 litre”, because it carried 428 call outs on it’s fenders and it was an LTD.. Man that thing was clean, inside and out.. Such a good looking car. And it was absolutely ruined by that boat anchor under it’s hood. If that piece of junk wasn’t overheating or puking oil, it’s because it wasn’t running that day. Whoever designed the joint between the intake manifold, head, and block on FE motors should have to install that eighty pound manifold correctly, without oil leaks, every day to collect his paycheck. Interference thread adjusting screws in the rocker arms pretty much guarantee that ten miles after a valve adjustment, everything backs out, and the motor sounds like a sewing machine. I even rebuilt the motor.. mild cam, some head work, locknuts on the valve adjusters.. Nothing over the top, just a solid rebuild with thought toward future modification.. The car was still slower than my bone stock ’66 383 Fury. I wanted to like it.. I tried very hard.. It was doomed by it’s FE motor.. Before I get called out as a shade tree weekend warrior, I’ve worked in the automotive industry as a mechanic for years.. Most recently maintaining, restoring, modifying, and race prepping vintage sports cars.. I may not be the best mechanic in the world, but I don’t just hit stuff with hammers, either.. That stupid car was more frustrating to work on than clapped out eighties Alfa Spiders.

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    • Avatar Martin

      The FE engine does have a few areas that require special attention, to be sure. I acquired my 66 with the 390 FE at a reduced cost because the previous owner had the engine rebuilt professionally, but they clearly were not FE-savy–it burned oil profusely, and it was an easy fix . High volume/high pressure oil pumps are typically installed, with the block having additional passage grinding done for the oil pump adapter, allowing for much better oil flow. Unfortunately, if one is not aware that the oil must then be drastically restricted at the rocker/cylinder heads, you will flood the valve covers and burn oil–big time. Resurfacing heads also causes fitment issues with the intake, so there are definitely areas where close attention and some FE experience (or access to FE experience–thank you wide wide world of web) is required. Also, the bolts for the rail rockers/stands are specific and must be used in correct position, or there will be issues (as you found out). Your comments on the Fury, though, lead me to suspect we aren’t comparing apples to apples, as your LTD likely had a much more mild gear in the diff. The FE is a nice, low RPM torque monster (like a 383), and they will roast the tires incessantly–if it doesn’t have a highway gear.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Mark S

      I agree Matt these were a pain in the a$$ to work on as were most fords. That’s why chevy’s are so popular. That being said this to me looks like a fair deal, you’d be in for a lot of work but I think in the end you’d have yourself a nice looking solid driver that you could cruise in all day long. As for the engine I alway thought that the 390 CID was the better engine and the c6 is a solid transmission. As for the price opening bid was very reasonable considering all the extra goodies he is throwing in.

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    • Avatar james burton

      i’;ve got a 66 sport fury too and i’ve never seen a old ford yet to even come close to out running it drag race or highway cranking over the century mark which my fury will do all day long

      Like 0
  5. Avatar Matt

    Hi Martin..

    I didn’t mess with oil passages at all, in fact I installed a bone stock oil pump, because 90% of street engines don’t need anything more than that.. It didn’t burn oil after I rebuilt the motor, it was just a slug. Both cars had similar 2.xx gearsets.. The Fury had an 8 3/4 rear, and wasn’t a performance model.. The LTD had an 8 3/8 rear. Both were stock four barrel cars, both converted to electronic ignition. The LTD was just unlucky.. As I had it for sale on EBay, somebody set fire to a scooter behind it (Richmond VA..) and melted the paint and tail lights off the back of it..

    I’ve been a Mopar guy forever.. I still like anything old.. Ford’s straight sixes, 289/302, and 351/400 are great power plants.. I’d not think twice about owning one.. But I’ve had four FE motors, two 390s, a 360, and that 428. They were just dogs. But, a difference in opinion is what makes the world go ’round, and your mileage may vary..

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  6. Avatar Dan h

    Enjoy as is.

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  7. Avatar Fred W.

    I would agree that the 351/400 is the perfect blend of power and weight. I owned a 351 Windsor in a ’41 Ford street rod in the 70’s and currently drive a ’66 T Bird with a 390. The 351 would be better in this car, but the 390 is a torque monster. My kickdown linkage isn’t hooked up but I don’t really need it, the car pulls like a freight train.

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  8. Avatar Mr. TKD

    For some reason, I always thought the the idea of calling the engine a 7-Litre was to give it a more European flair.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Doug M. (West Coast)

      Mr. TKD, I was around back then, and that was my take, too! European flavor.

      Like 0
  9. Avatar Old geezer

    Im currently finishing up a 66 galaxie with a 428. These galaxies are much nicer cruisers than their era rivals thanks to their rear coil suspension. They also do not hop as much as regular leaf spring rear suspensions which is nice with the 428.
    Theae fe have issues as mentioned here, but they make great power and sound great with a mild cam (mine is 270).
    My previous fe was a 390 S code (factory high compression) in a 69 torino and thar was a pretty brutal engine.
    My 62 tbird has another 390 and is no slouch either.

    I would consider these cars slow by that eras standard.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar James

    I’ve looked at this car in person and have been tempted by his asking price. He used to have it listed here locally with a much higher price and “FIRM” in large letters. The body rust is not as bad as it looks but the pot metal is pitted. The interior looks decent, but it will all need freshening if you do the body. I’ve sold date coded 1967 428’s for over $3,500 alone needing rebuild to those wanting them for a real “numbers matching” 67 Shelby, but the 66 date coded engines don’t bring as much. The only reason I didn’t buy it is there is no real way to tell it is a true 428 from the outside. If all the date codes match, it probably is, but no way to be sure it wasn’t replaced with a 390 at some point.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Jack

    I’d like it just to be just mechanically safe and drivable and keep it as it is to drive. Class of its own cruising down the road

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  12. Avatar Jay Bree

    I like the mechanics “to keep your carpet clean” floor mats.

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  13. Avatar Steven Tutty

    Have a 1966 Galaxie 500 four door hardtop with disc brakes and 428 “Q”-Code backed by a C-6. The car is loaded with power locks/windows, etc, accept AC. I have the nicer dash, chrome and wood grain trim package, console, buckets seats as common on XL/7Litre models. My car was built in Oakville, Canada and easily identified by the round mirrors.
    As far goes the FE series engines, they are bullet proof on the street or track. Many engine re-builders today, lack the solid knowledge when over-hauling these engines because they are more experienced with the 350 Chevy or 302/351W Ford engines. An experienced FE builder can build these with their eyes closed. I have owned several FEs over the years and in my opinion, it is one of the best engines produced. One should learn everything about their engine, regardless of manufacturer or type, if they want a solid performer. My 1976 F-100 has 663, 000 miles on the original engine and still does not consume oil. Regular oil changes and routine maintenance is key.

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  14. Avatar Jorge Briceno

    After seeing all these posts they sure brought back memories of my childhood years. My father, who is still living at 77, had a 66 Galaxy 500 with a 390, red on red with beautiful chrome. Unfortunately due to a faulty door switch the car caught fire one day while we were all gone. Very sad, my father loved that car, as so did I. Had lots of fond memories with my dad in that car, cruising down to L.A. picking up short blocks and tranny’s to install on other cars we’d work on together. I still recall a couple of time when one or more big Continentals or truck with their big 460’s would get into a fwy race with my dad. His 390 was no slouch, let me tell ya. It kicked some tails for sure. Sure would love to have one that needed a little work so I could work on it and hopefully give it to my dad before he passes.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Dee

    I have a 65 custom im workn on 352 v-8 mx trans. I had a hard time finding the correct trans filter and gasket . I love these old fords takes me back to my high school days! some day will be my grandsons car!

    Like 0

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