Cobra lettered bellhousing

[CompClassics]

I bought a 1964 Comet that had a correctly date coded 289 Hipo and a 4-speed transmission out of Michigan about 9 years ago. Supposedly 289 Hipo Comets are a myth. I can tell you that the VIN number had a “K” in it although that is also not a telltale sign of a factory Hipo Comet. This Comet had a single exhaust with standard 289 cast iron manifolds. I have lots of photos from this Comet on a computer that is in storage. It originally came out of Las Angeles, went to Salt Lake City and then to Michigan. Needless to say the rust was so bad the car was not restorable. Everything on the car was date coded perfectly for a factory built car, it was white with a blue interior. I still have access to the engine which was complete from the oil pan to the carburetor and from the water pump to the bell housing, the bell housing was the standard aluminum production part not any kind of scatter shield. I still have the transmission (T10) and the bellhousing.

[MAStuart]

Regarding the top loader front bearing retainer size. Yes the 5 bolt Cobra scatter shield takes the small front bearing retainer. The narrow bolt pattern top loader has a small front bearing retainer. The sunbeam tiger and the 64 fairlane takes the same length top loader. That trans is shorter than the one that come in a cobra. The cobra used a galaxie length trans. So there was 3 length of top loader trans with the small bearing front retainer. The mustang top loader is the shortest of the 3. 641/2 mustang's were 5 bolt so they to used the small front bearing retainer. Also the 6 bolt top loader could be fitted to a 5 bolt bellhousing by changing the front bearing retainer. They can be swapped with no problems. The 6 bolt trans also has 8 mounting holes also.

[MAStuart]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

I bought a 1964 Comet that had a correctly date coded 289 Hipo and a 4-speed transmission out of Michigan about 9 years ago. Supposedly 289 Hipo Comets are a myth. I can tell you that the VIN number had a “K” in it although that is also not a telltale sign of a factory Hipo Comet. This Comet had a single exhaust with standard 289 cast iron manifolds. I have lots of photos from this Comet on a computer that is in storage. It originally came out of Las Angeles, went to Salt Lake City and then to Michigan. Needless to say the rust was so bad the car was not restorable. Everything on the car was date coded perfectly for a factory built car, it was white with a blue interior. I still have access to the engine which was complete from the oil pan to the carburetor and from the water pump to the bell housing, the bell housing was the standard aluminum production part not any kind of scatter shield. I still have the transmission (T10) and the bellhousing.

Did the car have a 9 inch rear end ? If it came from the factory with a hipo it would of had one. Also the mercury line did not use the k for the hipo engine code. When I find where the info is at I will post more on this. In the past when I played with comets I came across several k code comets, None had 9 inch rears. All were single exausts. And I think they were all 289 4 barrel carbs. Bob Mannel's book has some info on the Hipo comets and there engine codes. Ok I found some of the info. A k code engine in the 64 comet line up means most were 289 4 barrel reg fuel engines. Also if it was a special order it could also be a 289 hipo.

[msper]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

I bought a 1964 Comet that had a correctly date coded 289 Hipo and a 4-speed transmission out of Michigan about 9 years ago. Supposedly 289 Hipo Comets are a myth. I can tell you that the VIN number had a “K” in it although that is also not a telltale sign of a factory Hipo Comet. This Comet had a single exhaust with standard 289 cast iron manifolds. I have lots of photos from this Comet on a computer that is in storage. It originally came out of Las Angeles, went to Salt Lake City and then to Michigan. Needless to say the rust was so bad the car was not restorable. Everything on the car was date coded perfectly for a factory built car, it was white with a blue interior. I still have access to the engine which was complete from the oil pan to the carburetor and from the water pump to the bell housing, the bell housing was the standard aluminum production part not any kind of scatter shield. I still have the transmission (T10) and the bellhousing.

Hi......I would like to discuss that Comet with you....Please contact me. I love these very special cars and have been researching/hunting them for decades. I have owned and seen/inspected, talked to owners of the majority of the small handful that still exist over this time period.
I own both a 1964 and a 1965 Factory 289 Hipo Cyclones. I am currently working on a document/book which will have the history of these vehicles and it will document the similarities & differences between a 64 and a 65 Hipo Comet and the special components they are comprised of…..this will be very Comet specific, I am not going to get into “what is a 289 Hipo motor”...Bob Mannel’s book covers that. This is a labor of love to assemble and I am taking the time and due diligence to assure its accuracy….I am not sure when it will be completed as free time is far and few between lately. I hope there will be a few of us that would find it interesting.....hopefully it will clear up a lot of the BS and confusion that surround these cars. If there is ANYTHING anyone would like to discuss regarding this effort, please reach out to me directly......Thanks Mark