64 mercury comet caliente questions and info needed

ok so Im looking into buying this 64 Mercury Comet Caliente from this guys shop around the corner from my work... I was wondering what size motor was originally in the Caliente cuz Im finding different motor sizes that came with it.. One said that it had a 260 2.3L V6 and another said that it came stock with a 289 V8 in it... also what is the correct barrel size on the carb... was it a 1, a 2 or a 4?
It only needs a new carburator, starter, exhaust manifold, and a new front bench seat and the guy is asking $1500 OBO... hes tired of it sitting at his shop and hes desperately trying to get rid of it because its taking up space at his shop... so im thinking of bargaining with him starting at a couple of hundred due to the fact that hes so animate about getting rid of it,...

so if anyone can answer those questions that would be much appreciated

 

They came with a 260 v-8 with a two barrel carb, now that being said some had inline 6s with 1 barrel carbs, but most had v-8.

 

According to the sales brochure, the 1964 Comet Caliente came with four engine choices: a 170 or 200 inline 6's and 260 or 289 V8's. The only way to find what engine that was originally installed in the car is to check the VIN. It is the fifth number/letter.

U = 170 I6 - 1 barrel Carb
T = 200 I6 - 1 barrel Carb
F = 260 V8 - 2 barrel Carb
K = 289 V8* - 4 barrel Carb
4 = I70 I6 low compression - 1 barrel Carb
6 = 260 V8 low compression - 2 barrel Carb

*note that K code for 1964 does not mean it is the High Performance engine that was found in Ford products the following year. The K code for 64 was equivalent to A codes. Though there were some Comets equipped with Hi-po 289, as I understand it, the only way to verify that would be to find the build sheet or take the engine apart to see if the engine has solid lifters and four bolt mains.

What shape is the body in? Trim pieces are a pain to find. I know.

 

well the guy told me that it had a 1 barrel carburator that needs to be replaced but he runs a Mustang shop and thought id pop on here and ask instead due to the fact that yall are alot more credible than the people I have dealt with in the past ....

now the awesome part is that ALL of the trim and molding is there just needs to be cleaned up and the only rust through on the entire car is a very small portion of the floor pan on the drivers side which I can easily weld a new piece of sheet metal into...

 

So ... what body style is it ? hardtop or sedan ? They are cool cars and hard to find these days in good shape.
Doug

 

pics?

 

Not super common and can be hard to find certain parts (gas tank for example.) If it has a 1bbl carb, I would assume that it is an inline six. Might want to double check he number of wheel studs too. 4=6cyl 5=8cyl (unless motor has been swapped.) A neat looking car, but mine has been an absolute headache - not to say that yours will be.

 

falcon man, i thought calientes were like sprint, or futura falcons. i thought they all were hardtops. i'm not for sure though.

 

64 1/2-66 mustang gas tank fit???????????64-65 falcon too???????you can get those at autozone.

 

Alright another HAMB'er in the Shreveport area! A Caliente should be a 2 door hardtop. I have a 1965 Mercury Cyclone myself. A Mustang gas tank will not work. If you want me to check it out give me a yell. Don't worry I am not trying to get it, I have 6 project cars already!

 

You could buy a 4 door Caliente. In the two doors, Calinetes only came as hardtops.

In the comet world, the cyclone is like the sprint. The difference is the cyclone is void of most trim, the sprint is an upgraded futura.

 

Unless you think he will wiggle, I would not even haggle. Especially if it is a 2-Door. I had a beautiful 64 4spd Cyclone that I regret selling. They really are sweet little cars when done. I guess I personally would not even haggle much since I saw many guys asking more than his price for gutted out rust free rollers (back when I was searching for a 64 Comet). Just my opinon. Good luck with it if you get it.

 

thanks for intell.

 

Comet Caliente's also came in ragtops. Definitely a neat car, something you don't see everyday and has cool lines.

 

ya its a 4 door hardtop... I will check out the wheel studs today since its around the corner from my shop all in all...

also bluebolt I will shoot you an email later when I get home from work and possibly meet you down there if you would like to help me check it out... its on N. Market street at McKelveys Mustang... the guy hasd a heart attack 6 months ago and is tired of looking at it... I need to call him today and find out if he still has a clean title on it or not.. so I can further information soon

 

My buddy has a 64 comet 4 door, its okay but he bitches about getting parts. He has the 260 in his.

 

Ford didn't make a V6 at that time,,,inline 6 only,,and a 260 is a V8,,most likly a 2 barrel carburator,,,

I had a neighbor back in the late 60 that had one with a 289 and 4 barrel,,,4-speed,,,FAST! HRP

 

The gas tank for the '64 Comet is specific to that year and as far as I know not being reproduced by many companies - if any.

 

They did not make a 4 door hardtop, it's a sedan. A 4 door hardtop is pillarless between the doors. Post some pictures when you get it !

 

If that's the case get it! I've had a string of total performance era fords and my '64 Comet had a 1 barrel 200 i6. Driver side floor rot is common on these cars and probably due to dry rotting weatherstrip around all windows and doors. This stuff is available and should be replaced before welding up the pan or you may as well leave a hole in it for the water to run out. Rain water will puddle up and rust your new floor pan otherwise. $1500 is pretty reasonable these days for a complete comet project. Mechanical parts are easy to source. The trim, moldings, and quarters are harder to find for this car than for the some of the others like falcons. Now make haste before you let everyone know where there is a decent project or it will disappear on you! The 200 has five freeze plugs and the 170 has three on the driver side for both engines BTW

 

I had a 65 Comet Caliente. It was a 4 door sedan with a 289 4 barrel. My Great Aunt bought it new and from what I remember the Caliente was a sport package, but you could order it on any body style.

I could not find a replacement gas tank, but the local radiator shop was able to clean and repair my old one. This was 12 years ago, someone might be reproducing them now.

 

I have two '65 Comet Calientes, they are both hard tops. One has factory A/C with woodgrain dash, courtesy lights, extra chrome trim and nicer upholstery. It is a factory 200 inline six car with an automatic tranny. The other car has a very plain interior, and is a stripped down version with a factory "A" code 289 and a four speed. I guess you could order them any way you wanted.

 

I stopped by and looked at the car a few minutes ago. Rusted through on top of the fenders was kinda strange. Trim tailights and bumpers were surpizingly good. Engine is probably not original, 6J12 date code on intake means head at least was made in October 1966. 5 freeze plugs so it is probably a 200.

 

sweet greatly appreciated brother... ya I need to call the guy tommorrow and find out if he still has the title for the car or if I need to file for a lost title... drop me a line sometime brother

 

I had a 64 caliente wagon, was a nice car, 260, auto, fake wood on the sides
JimV

 

Mine also has slight rust through on the tops of the fenders - as well as other places.

 

ya once i get this and get the rust through dealt with I will more than likely flat blacking her and cleaning up the chrome trim before its put back on ... then prolly have her pin striped when I go to either the lone star round up or the texas rockabilly revival

 

Someone did that very thing to my Comet - I've been trying to undo it for almost two years now.

 

Good luck on it.

I just excavated and pulled my '64 Comet Caliente (2 door,hardtop) out of the garage just this passed weekend, after having it lay dormant for eight years.

It's amazing how much time can pass when dealing with raising kids...

 

ya I feel ya brother... I have had my 63 cadillac layin dormant for at least 2 1/2 years now and still tryin to get her runnin ... I have alot of friends that have kids and since I dont have any of my own, just my 2 year old pit bull, and no significant other my time can be resorted to work and workingh on my cars... but ya I know how it can be with trying to raise em all in all