Ok, the woman has her eye on a '63 Comet and I don't know much about em. I searched both Google and here on the HAMB and haven't come up with much. I'm guessing that I'll need to source a lot of parts from Falcon sources? It's a 6cyl car with a 4-speed and I'd like to swap in a 289 I have over the winter, what's necessary to do this? I'm sure I can get motor mounts and such from a factoiry V8 car, but what about the axle, suspension, brakes? Is there a Falcon/Comet forum? Is anyone repopping body panels for these? Specifically, it looks like it needs quarters or at least rear wheelwell lips. Also, I'm having trouble figuring out the right way to customize this car without breaking out of 'period-correctness'. Skinny whitewalls? Maybe early-muscle-car? Any help is appreaciated.
you can search the hamb for older topics on falcons, it all applies to the comets too. for forums, hit TFFN (the ford falcon news) and fordsix.com (undergoing a name change i believe to classicinlines). might i suggest you consider keeping the six in it, i've given the reasons a time or ten before, cheaper, easy on gas, more unique, etc. they can be hot rodded for not a lot of money. and as for a period look, you can't beat some chrome steelies with pinner whites, or even some redlines to be cutting edge mid 60's style.
As I recall most of the Falcon if not all of the mechanical parts will swap over to the Comet. Body parts, well thats another story. The motor mounts from a 289 Falcon should bold up just fine. Its kinda like Mustang/Cougar mostly the same car under the skin. As far as customizing I dont recall seeing too many of them done up radical style, I have seen a number of them with Crager SS wheels, red line tires, nosed, decked and shaved and lowered but thats about it for that body style
I'm kinda in the same boat, my gal has 61 Comet with a 6cyl 170. I'm looking for a donor car with a 250, c4, and 8". Much easier to do the swap, and you will still have room to get your hands in there to work on it. Plus you can pump up the 250 fairly easy for more hp. Not only that, but if her car was built to handle the weight of a 6 cyl, you'll have to up grade the front suspension. Try this site for now. http://tffn.net/phpBB2/index.php The Ford Falcon News They have a forum in there with some good info on Comets. I also have a 62 Falcon with a 351 Cleveland cramed in, so it can be done, it's just real tight.
Oh, I'm not deadset on the 289, it's just that I have a low-mile 289 that only needs freshened and I figured it would be a sweet car with it, but I can save the 289 for something else. We were kinda looking for something good on gas, anyway...
If it's a factory four speed car, it's got a Dagenham transmission. It's an english gearbox that Ford brought over specifically for use in six cylinder Falcons, Comets, and Mustangs. I don't think it's strong enough for a 289 (in fact, I don't think a bell housing exists that would bolt the two together), but if you go the V8 route, you'll get good money out of the whole setup to someone that wants to lose their automatic.
I was just figuring it would be an easier swap with there already being 3 pedals there. I never thought a 6cyl 4speed would stand up to a decent 289...
I just wanted to let you know that, when considering the price of the car, if you don't end up keeping the Dagenham setup, you can probably get a good chunk of your money back.
If you are considering keeping the six , or not, you should check out the FordSixPerformance site. Kinda' like the HAMB, those guys are a little different and do what they want rather than the norm. http://fordsix.com/forum/ I have a '63 Falcon wagon with a 170/Dagenham 4Speed - I use for a daily driver and a '61 Comet set up with a 250 six/Toploader which is a little different:
Heres mine, needs to be a bit lower and I think some Astros and pins would be better but the flaked roof is sweet!
"Woody's" is good site as mentioned. There is also this one http://www.network54.com/Forum/119417/ , Ford Windsor Small Block Engine Forum which is great for technical advice on your proposed engine swap. As you probably know the Falcon/Comet was the basis for the Mustang so you should not have a hard time getting parts. I can't answer your sheetmetal question but I'm sure you can find a junker somewhere with good quarters on it. Falcon's look decent "hot-rodded" with period mags and such but Mercury was going for the big car look with the Comet so I wouldn't try that. You might look at some of the early 60's Galaxies for inspiration.
Yeah, I love the early-60s Galaxies, but I'm not such a fan of the Falcons. Like I said, the woman loves this car more than me. I do like the 'fins'...
I like the back of the car too but the front is a little lacking, maybe puruse these sites. http://www.fordmuscle.com/ http://www.ford-forums.com/
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