Features Doing Falcons Right

Hi Kevin,
I have to admit that I haven't run them yet, butI do have 14 x 6 tru spokes on my girls wagon. We have 185/75X14 cornell narrow whites from Pep Boys on them at this time. Mine have a backspace more like 3" or so (been awhile since I measured), so yours must be the more deeply reversed "low rider" version of the wheel. Any way you look at it, clearence is tight with stock but lowered suspension. Right now at ride height I have just a finger full of space at the front wheel arch, So I'm thinking rubbing will happen at full turning lock like parking and things. On our wagon, the rear fit is really close as well. We are going for a mid sixties L.A. mild custom vibe with this car, so I will do what I need to make them fit. I do have a narrowed Maverick V8 rear under my other Falcon and I think it might end up under this one before all is said and done. I will have to plug and redrill the bolt pattern to get back to a four lug pattern though. On the front I believe that I will probably narrow the lower control arms just a touch To bring them in just a bit with less shims needed for the upper arms. We'll see. Oh, just to add some info for those that might need it in the future - I have ours on the front with a set of Scarebird disc brake for a four lug Falcon. I had to do just tiny bit of grinding on the out side face of the calipers to make this deal work. Super easy conversion all the way around. Just have to finish up the plumbing and bleed them and we're ready to test.

 

Hope this might help with your choice of back space

Sedan was way ahead of its time , built as my daily driver back in 1986
Both cars ran 185/60 tyres on the front & 205/60 on the rear







Sedan ran 13x6" with 3.5" back space on the front / 13x7" with 4.5" back space on the rear



Wagon ran 14x6 front / 14x7" rear with the same back space as the sedan

 

How much is that falcon lowered in the back? That looks too nice

 

Sedan had 2" blocks in the back , wagon was stock but was going to reset the springs in it 2" .
The sedan did plenty of miles when I had it at that height , no probs doing 1200 mile round trips .

 

(way back on Page 20.....)

Hey, Russco....what brand are those slicks?

Rob

 

Hurst Slicks

http://www.hurstracingtires.com/

 

Damn those are cool....thanks, bro!
Rob

 

im looking into a new steering wheel and was wondering if anybody else has switched out theirs? im thinking of doing a 3 spoke wheel since im going with a 60s custom look, anybody got any pics?

 

Ok fella's thought I'd put this out there... if any of you can use this info, I hope
you find it helpful. I used 185/70r14 Bridgestone insignias on 14x6 Wheel vintiques chrome OE style wheels with a 4in backspace front and rear. No problems with clearance. I cut 1 coil up front removed a leaf and drove it for a while. After some mock-up I've decided to drop the rear 1 inch further.

 

My projects move glacially slow until I’m actually ready to start spinning wrenches - then I usually forget to take pictures.

The other night I was “putzing” as my dad used to say, and took the 223 bellhousing off my T86/R10 and fitted the ‘63 Econoline bell. I’m still working out details of clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing, and clutch fork, but at least that basic fitment question is answered.

It’s no five speed, but it will let me run an overdrive and keep my column shifter:



-Dave

 

Doing it "right" Bakersfield 8/11

 

great launch pics!! What did she run?

 

Bump... Doesn't seem to be as much garage action lately!

 

I know.
I am still trying to figure out how to move some things around so that I have a place to work on it. I may be knocking a hole in the back of my garage so I could drive through and work under the patio... Not quite the same as wrenching, is it?

 

Here's some great video of my Falcon doing it right at the ANRA Fuel and Gas race in Bakersfield 10/11.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TSST85BM3A best time was 10:47 @130

 

It launches nicely!

 

I got caught up on my body work and haven't done anything mechanical lately...Although I should have started my brakes by now...

 

The girlfriend had me "house rodding" this summer while it was too hot to be doing anything beyond customer work out side... Getting back on her car as we speak.

 

What shock do you have on the front?

 

90/10 adjustable.

 

Here’s one local to me that I always thought was done right. It’s a ‘62 Futura set up like a phantom A/FX car (302 is dressed up like a 260). It’s for sale right now.

-Dave

 

Just thought I would bump this to let some of our new members know that there is a techincal Falcon thread too... All the answers to your questions are somewhere in these pages!

 

Another great thread for Falcons. Looks like some serious work being done here. Thank you to all who contribute!

 

Since your 'bird has one of the most drop dead beautiful stances I have seen on a Falcon, how about a description of how ya got there suspension wise? Bet lot's of folks would find it interesting.

 

Louvers, thanks for the kind comments. As fas as suspension goes it's as basic as it can get. Front springs are cut and blocks in the rear. I also put brand new bump stops, bushings, and trimmed the tunnel a bit. I've been on the fence as far as swapping out for air ride/bags for years but just can't justify the $$$. The bird has been able to handle the messed up so cal freeways loaded with my family on numerous 100+mile trips so I couldn't be more satisfied.

I also noticed you have a wagon and a ranchero. Both look sweet. Love the tru's. I've been on the hunt for some time now.

 

There are days when I would gladly trade the TRUs for a pair of 4 lug Cragars! The TRUs look great, but the backspace is not very advantageous for a Falcons wheel wells. It's causing me to do a bunch more suspension twiddling that I intended for a car that the girlfriend is just going to "take to Home Depot, or the dogs to the doggie park"... I have to update the pictures again as I have the rear suspension redone and modified now too. The stance is flat dead on! Not to high, not to low, even for the girl to drive! I wish it could be as low as your car.

You mentioned that you put in new bump stops, Did you use stockers or something lower? If so, what?

I should be able to get back to the Ranchero soon. Sucks building other's dreams for a living when you really want to work on yours! I do need to throw an idea that I know better about to the general Falcon population though. I ran across a set of Ansen 14X6 four lug slots that are NOS. Now my wisdom would put a 60 or 65 series blackwall on, polish them to death and run. I'm actually considering a 75 series thin white wall on these too. I have always been the first to say "never whitewalls on aluminum wheels", but I have been diggin' the thin lines lately... Anybody ever see this done? I even have nos 3 bar spiners for these wheels!

 

I replaced the bump stops with stock replacements. The originals were so worn I would bottom out. It took awhile to find me some decent Cragars to roll on as well as the Firestone FR380 185/80/13 rubbers.

I'd like to see some more pictures of your girlfriends longroof. I'm sure it looks as good as you describe it.

As far as running those Ansen slots, my vote is throw on some thin whites. Some blackwalls wouldn't be bad either so if you get sick of it just swap with the girlfriend. Best of both worlds..can't go wrong!

 

Well, it's been a bit since I updated on the G/Fs wagon. And since it's not quite done yet, it still stays in Doing Falcons Right instead of Falcons Done Right. Got the rear end set up to my desires this last month in the first bit of personal project time I have had in quite awhile. I ended up dearching the rear springs 3" and doing all the bushings in urethane. I finished it up with some light gas shocks that were left over from another project around here. It's not nearly low enough for MY personal tastes, but I have had to be mindfull of who the proper owner and end user is. This is the same girl who once informed me "I'm a great driver! As long as I'm going straight!!!"
Let's just say my usual too low was not an option...

Right now, I have to put some oil in, drop a battery in, hook up a few wires, bleed the brakes and she's a runner. Then it's on to fixing "Arizona rust", looks bad, but it's just the outer panels from the windows leaking. She's in Hong Kong with family this month, and I have been informed that she would like to drive it when she gets home! Oh, and I love to shoot in my cactus garden front yard...

 

That wagon looks good! She will be stoked.

 

Thanks! Look for it soon rolling down I-10 in Phoenix with an adorable Asian gal behind the wheel and probably the left turn signal permanently on...

On another note, does anybody out there in H.A.M.B.land have a pair of wagon washboards? I have a set of coupe/sedan for trade...