Projects A Falcon and the poor kid

So here goes. Thanks to student loans I can finally afford a car. I bought a 1962 Falcon Wagon that I really adore. A nice little 200 for the engine, seems like it's details to make it run. It was a steal at $900, even though I knew it would take some work.

This is going to be a journal of sorts as I learn about the car and sort out what the heck is going on with it. Being a student and paying my own bills, it's always nice to see how far I've come on a project like this. Also I have a time limit. 7 weeks and I have to be able to at least drive!

So far I cleaned out the interior. This was a lot of mold (YAY WASHINGTON!) and a former resident I think is now a mummified mouse. Got the windshield wipers running, still have to sort out the headlights not working.

I need to adjust the brakes, haven't gotten there yet. Changed the front tire with the spare, turns out neither holds air. Boo. Have another tire hanging out, going to switch it as soon as I have time.

Other things to consider. The interior has good bones, but needs some major work. Needs an exhaust gasket, and I'm not sure anything in the dash board is actually hooked up properly. I found a random tape deck in the center console, but there's no speakers so who knows what that's about.

Cancer issues. The bed in the back and rear panels mostly (and the tailgate, such is wagons) SO MUCH WET IN THIS STATE! Half-assed repairs have been made, but it's not my biggest concern right now.

The tailgate is dented due to an accident (per seller). Replaced the cracked tail light already. I was fortunate enough to get a replacement skin and a crap ton of other parts in buckets from the guy who sold it to me. Someone put in a weird modern sunroof, I have the half to replace it. Meybe.

So here we go. Little to no budget, trying to turn this thing into the best it can be!

 

How 'bout some picts?

 

Sounds like a good start. X2 on pics, we love pics here.

 

Hey I was A poor kid once now poorer and older. If I was closer would give you some tires that held air.lol Good luck and some pics please

 

half the "fun" in a new project is trying to determine exactly what the PO was doing..... smoking... drinking.... while they were "improving" their car!

from what i've learned, South Carolinians believe in house wire and "tiger hair"; road signs and duct tape. and coat hangers. lots of coat hangers.

 

YES! I will post some photos as soon as I'm able. There are definitely a couple head scratchers on this one. At one point during the cleaning it was very apparent that some of the chickens got in the car!

 

Congrats on the new longroof project. Keep us posted and post some pics when you can...

 

Sounds like you are having fun ! Keep us posted ......

 

Are those pandas eating rainbows or throwing them up?

 

Throwing them up...

And I think it's one three headed panda.

That's my girl...

 

Hey! It's memorable. I spew happiness like that!

 

Coolness. Good thing I read your bio. If you were a dude I was gonna give ya crap about the pandas and rainbows.

 

I am a dude. Jack is totally gay bones for me

 

LOL!!! Nice.

 

The wagon doesn't look too bad in your album, at least it's a 2 door. Good luck with it.

 

Well........I have nothing to say.

 

I had one of those, a '63 Futura, hard to find wagon. Good luck !

 

If your 62 is like my 61 ranchero, there is no fuse panel but there is a fuse on the headlight switch itself, that could be your headlight problem. Great project, have fun.

 

That car looks great for $900! When I was a poor 16 year old I bought a 66 Falcon for $700. It also had the straight 200.

 

Just teasing. I am a girl, I just like to give Jack heck every now and then!

 

HMMM! Thanks for the tip. The PO installed a weird sorta-fuse box, but all the fuses are good. I will check out the switch itself a little closer. The interior light works!

I promise photos soon! It makes everything a little clearer.

 

Nice ...

Hows that student loan money working for ya.

I'm sorry ,

you already said that,

let them eat cake.......(Right)...

 

Alrighty! Headlights got fixed after some searching. I replaced the dimmer switch in hopes that it was the cheap part. No dice. Traced all the wires and grounds, tested the headlights, all bueno. SO! That left the headlight switch. $27 later I was in business. It was super easy to switch out too. There's a button on the back side of the mechanism, opposite of the fuses. Push that, pull out on the knob. Then I used a big flat blade screw driver to remove the piece on the dash, and it came right out! Easy peasy.

Got a new tire, it's on the original 13 in size so that was interesting to find. Inflated the air shocks (Thanks Marty!). Discovered there was zilch for brake fluid so that got filled up too.

It's runnin like a dream now, but the breaks will need to be adjusted more (and possibly fixed in ther rear). That's waiting on a better jack, I don't wan't to get squished under my car!

Should have a phone this week or next, so photos are soon to come!

 

INTERESTING....are you a chic or a dude ?
"AND THE BOWTIE ROLLS ON"
OH YEAH, NICE WAGON

 

Umn... I'm female. Why?

 

Doesn't look too bad. Should be a fun and somewhat economical ride I must confess I have a soft spot for plain Jane early 60s compacts. Definitely easy to work on. When I had a 63 Rambler as a daily driver the generator quit on me. I was able to take it out in 2 minutes using wrenches after coming home from working the night shift I suspect you'll have a similar experience with your Falcon.

 

I want a wagon bad, I have two falcon coupes. Very simple cars, good luck with the build

 

I LOVE how easy it is to work on. The dash isn't stock, so I wound up upside-down on one of the seats while working on the switch issue. Thank goodness for small hands! Aside from that everything is easily accesible and easy to find parts for.

 

Love the wagon. You remind me of my daughter - dog groomer, animal science degree and into cars big time. Welcome aboard and good luck. Don't forget Craigslist for tires, can find some great deals from the Honda Civic guys that destroy their cars but then sell tires that may fit your falcon. Keep postin pics.

 

Or not. Threw a rod last night. Impressively threw a rod, but crapola. Now on the hunt for a cheap in-line six that I can drop in.... oh... Sunday?