Hi all. My name is Harley and I recently bought a 1960 Ford Frontenac. https://imgur.com/a/UdGymaE I'm looking to restore it to near-stock besides some mild upgrades (like converting to an alternator and a dual master cylinder.) So far I'm waiting on parts to come in to really begin working on the thing. I have a question: I'm going to have to replace the worn-out front end parts. I've been researching and it seems like converting to V8 Mustang steering parts is the cheaper and better way to go. (https://www.falconparts.com/ford-falcon-auto-parts/pc/6-Cylinder-to-V8-Steering-Conversion-d19.htm) However, I don't want to upgrade to 5-Lug wheels and I want to keep the regular 6-cylinder spindles as I'm not going to swap out the engine or do anything to it. Will the regular 6-cylinder spindles work with V8 steering parts? Thanks in advance. I am very happy with this car - It is a piece of Canadian history and I am going to keep it for the rest of my life.
Not without modification. Why convert? If you're not planning on bigger brakes and a V8, just rebuild the six cylinder linkage. All the parts are available, and cheaper than the conversion parts to boot...
I agree with Steve. If you’re going to keep it stock and restore it, don’t start down the rabbit hole. Looks like a beautiful part of Canada on the map. But not some place where you’re jumping on a high speed highway and need more than the car, restored, can handle nicely. Fun project, enjoy the ride.
There is not enough room in the integrated steering arm of a 6-cylinder spindle to ream it out to take a V8 tie rod end. There is no point whatsoever in doing this. I drive a hyper-modified 1960 Falcon (oddly with a 1960 Frontenac grille), and run stock steering links. Not much else on this car is stock, and I drive the living hell out of it, without issue.
You are looking at about $100USD, all in, for something that would need to be done once every 10-15 years. https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...l+144cid+l6,1336485,steering,tie+rod+end,7428
My 1960 Falcon still has a 6-cylinder, and 6-cylinder spindles, and it has WAY bigger brakes. I agree, though. It is a rabbit hole.
Thanks for the responses, all. I guess it is better to not jump down any rabbit holes - that's good, they usually lead to rolled ankles. And thanks for the part #'s, Gimpy. I was hoping you'd reply - you seem to be the #1 authority on first-year falcons around here, so your advice is highly appreciated. Does anyone know of any other threads on here that feature the 1960 Frontenac? Or any little secrets or tips I should pick up on that relate to working on this car? Thanks - Harley.
54 years ago my 1st car was a '61 Falcon. I never knew Canadian versions were called Frontenac! Race car parts in the early days yes, but on a Falcon, never. Dang, I learned something today! Thanks. Dave
It is a 1960 Falcon, with different trim, tail lights, and a nicer grille. The same that applies to 1960-1961.1 Falcons applies to the Frontenac. About the only thing I would do to it, other than repair, is to swap the upper control arms, preloaded with ball joints, for 1965-1966 Mustang ones, reaming the hole to fit them. Early upper ball joints are very small, and failure prone. That's why Ford did exactly this, mid 1961.
Yes, like Gimpy said they were Ford of Canada's alternative to the falcon before the Comet was released. This one was sold at Stadium Ford in Winnipeg - the dealership tag is still on the back. I am the third owner. I also have the warranty paper for the radio, from 1960. Was taped to under the dash and fell off when I was driving it home. Cool stuff! Some sources say there's something like 16-20 still left in registerable condition.
Thanks, the ball joints are worn out on my car and it seems like the original 1960 ones are obsolete or otherwise unavailable. I won't have to mess with anything else to get the control arm to fit? Thanks, - Harley
The control arm itself is, aside from the ball joint area, and attached ball joint, is otherwise identical. The tapered pin and ball in later Falcon and all Mustang ball joints is larger than 1960-1961.1 Falcon/Comet/Frontenac ones (as applicable). The 1961.2-end ball joints are all the same size shared with the V8. That's the upgrade that is worth doing, for safety reasons. Lower control arms are nearly identical to 1965-1966 Mustang ones, except the holes where the radius rods attach are at a slightly different spacing. A rotary file can fix that.
To put a fine point on it, the spindle will need a small modification. The tapered hole at the top of each needs to be enlarged. Any machine shop can ream them bigger, or you can buy the reamer and DIY.
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