This 1972 Galaxie 500 did need a few fresh parts as age had taken it's toll here and there. I replaced all hoses and belts and upgraded to radial tires. I did have to replace the radiator; I feel 25+ years from the original was pretty good! I upgraded the failing original distributor with a billit aluminum electronic distributor and replaced the single exhaust with a dual set-up complete with Dynamax Flowmasters. I also had to put new gas shocks all around, too. Otherwise it's just been regular maintenance.
I purchased the car from the original owner who purchased it new when he retired in 1972. He felt at 92 years of age that he just couldn't drive it anymore. The 351 Windsor with a two barrel carb and automatic transmission make this large car a good, solid performer. I feel this car is a wonderful road car; a large comfortable cruiser that makes long trips a real treat. I have to use 93 octane fuel for the best performance; but I do get 24 MPG while cruising along at 70 MPH. This is my second 1972 Galaxie 500 two door hardtop and I find them to be very reliable and durable. Most repairs so far have been from parts failing as the result of age or to modernize an antiquated part. In the years I have owned this car it has never let me down.
I also have a 1972 Galaxie 500 with a 351 2-V. I am getting 11.5 mpg in town with air conditioning, sometimes only 8mpg. Is that what yours gets too? I haven't taken it on a long highway trip. There is approximately 39,500 miles on it.
I bought my 72' Ford Galaxie 500 over a year ago for only $700. I also get about 12mpg on highway. 24mpg I just don't see.
My 72 Galaxie equiped with a 351W 2 barrel is completely factory original. It gets between 12 and 13 mpg.
Andy.
How often do you see a 429 in a 1972 Galaxie 500?
My 2-door 72 Galaxie was picked up by me in Detroit in July 1972. For over 21 years it never gave me an instance of trouble, but it was routinely maintained. When rear-ended in 1994 by an unlicensed driver in a Cadillac at 35 mph or barely slowing down from that speed, I found a replacement Galaxie 500. Each had the 400 engine. The original had cruise control, but I have not as yet transferred this to the replacement car.
I always use 91 octane, rarely 93. With A/C on the fuel consumption is about 16 mpg on cross-country straight/level roads. With no A/C I have done 22 mpg on a tank. A year ago I took a 6,000 mile 2-week trip and the whole trip averaged 16.5 mpg which included large city traffic driving.
I have added a Pertronix ignition, which has helped increase fuel efficiency by 10%. I've also added XM radio which is a delight. Ford got this car designed right in my judgment.
These cars were designed for best fuel efficency at highway cruising speeds. That was 70 mph back in the day. Before I replaced the distributor I only got about 20-21 highway, since about 23-24 mpg. Around town it's about 12 mpg. I've also had two 1972 Ford Customs (lowest level Galaxie trim) that had 429 Police Interceptors in them, they were ex-State Police cruisers. Pretty impressive performance considering they had lower compression than previous years, they were designed to run on regular gas. My first car was a 1969 Ford Custom with a 428 Police Interceptor; that was a REAL performer! I'm told that was basically the same engine Ford put in the Shelby Mustangs. I'd love to find one of those again. Who cares if it had four doors and was a crappy powder blue!
Please tell me how many bolts does the tranny have for a 72 Galaxie 500 hard top 400 big block engine.