Falcons and Comets

Okay, so I've been trying to get my '64 Comet project going again (it's been sitting for about a month now) and I've got a few questions. The car is currently a four lug drum brake car with a single circuit master cylinder. The brakes are currently not working, so I'm trying to decide what to do. I've got a five lug rear end but can't afford to buy a 5 lug front end disc brake conversion kit so now I'm trying to think of other ways to get the car on the road. One option includes using the original drums and four lug wheels. How well do these cars stop with the stock drum brakes? IS anyone on here running a dual circuit master cylinder with the stock drums? Those of you who have converted to dual circuit, which master cylinder and or kit did you use? Does anyone know of an affordable four lug disc brake conversion? I'm familiar with all the different ways the front end can be swapped to discs and a five lug pattern, but still don't have a lot of money to work with. Does anyone have any different ideas?

A little off topic, does anyone have any pictures of that lowered green Falcon that was posted on here fairly recently. I searched and searched, but couldn't find the post. If you own this car please let me know. I've got a few suspension and lowering questions for you.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Just bolt on some 5 lug drums on the front to match the back. You don't need to do a "conversion".

 

get 5 lug hubs and drums from early mustang,maveric ,fairlane etc.v8 cars it's a bolt on swap i think 67 started the dual chambered master cylinders get one at any parts store. Run 2 new lines to the front and rear.You can just swap the axles/drums in the rear if you don't want to do a complete swap out of the rear.if you need to repair floor rot get mustang floor /trunk panels they are the same as comet/falcon

 

You can use a 67 Mustang dual master. Bolts right in place of the single one. All you need is another "T" fitting and a small length of brake line. You can use your existing brake lines if they're good. I have a link to do this conversion somewhere. I'll try to find it and post it.

 

Thanks to everyone so far. Keep those suggestions coming!

 

ok so you CAN just put the 5 lug drums on a 4 lug car and run 5 lug wheels?!?!?! I know early falcons with the 260v8 ran 13' 5 lug wheels

 

Many Falcon builders (like me) are switching to either a Geo Metro M/C and booster, or a Mercury Tracer ***embly. Try www.rainierfalcons.com They help me out a lot.

 

yep did the geo conversion on mine works great and power also ! didn't have to hack out the brace either !

 

To run 5 lug drums on a 4 lug car you have to do more than change the drums they won't interchange with each other. The front hub and bearing ***embly is smaller than the 5 lug set up so for the front you have to change the whole spindle ***mebly. On the rear you can't just change axles out as the six cylinder cars ( 4 lug ) used a smaller ring gear and spline than the V-8 5 lug cars.

 

Yep. I think I went with the 67 mustang dual res master cylinder on my 65 ranchero when the fruit jar started going out. it was pretty easy if I remember correctly.
Also, if you want to swap to front discs and 5 bolt pretty cheap look for granadas, they work and should be pretty cheap if you can find some. you will need to pull the spindles, calipers and rotors for the swap.

Whatever master cylinder you go with you should try to match it up with your brakes ie. if you go discs in front you want a disc master cyl. or drum for drums.

for what its worth I am still running the 4 lug drum brakes all around on my ranch and it works fine for me

 

You will get a ton of ideas here using salvage yard parts so click on: www.fordfalcon2000.com then click on restoration,Have fun!!

 

I did the 5 lug drum brake conversion thing on my 63 Ranchero. I put a Maverick 8" in the back and used 67 Mustang spindles and drums on the front. I used a dual master cylinder from a six cylinder Maverick (4 wheel drums) if I remember correctly. The biggest thing (most expensive) to deal with is the center link that needs to come from a 65 Falcon or Comet V8. Those are available new for about $150 I think.

I went with 4 wheel drum brakes because I didn't want to have to have the disc brake specific wheels although I have plenty. I'm actually running 15" steel wheels on the 63 Ranchero now from a late 70s Thunderbird.

I drove a 65 Mustang with the 6 cylinder brakes for a while. Pretty scary if you ask me!! That one got upgraded to 5 bolt too.

 

I used a disc conversion kit from http://www.scarebird.com/ works great. I had a hard time trying to find a non va*** ***ist dual master cylinder. Could not find an old stang one in stock. I think I used a ranger master cylinder. If you want I could check my bill to see what I used. Art Morrisson uses a Dodge master cylinder but not sure from what. There is a 103 page thread dedicated to 64/65 comets here on the HAMB. Lots of smart comet guys on there regularly.
Roger

 

Which scarebird setup did you go with and was was the final cost, if you don't mind saying?