I bought this car about 6 years ago and started to pro street it for my daughter. I have it caged, narrowed 9" with 4 link, frame is clipped in the rear with a Heidt's Mustang cross member in the front. I have 2 of everything for the car so I have it all. I got overwhelmed with projects about 4 years ago and decided I needed it gone so I gave it away to a good friend thinking it would make a good father son project for his 16 year old son with the understanding that I got first chance at it if they ever got rid of it. Well I got the call the other day and he wanted to know if I wanted it back. I found it in the barn less the 289 and the front end all tore apart but it looks to all be there. Other than an inch of dust it hadn't been touched. I mentioned to my daughter that I was getting it back and I couldn't believe the excitement and anticipation she is showing in it. I didn't realize it but it really crushed her when I got rid of it the first time. This time I'm going to see it through for her. Questions, Thinking about a 289 and cam'ing a mild lope into it with a c4 for her. Or I was thinking about possibly looking into putting a Chevy throttle body on the 289 and see if I can make that work? I think I want to fill the thing up with Aluminum? A Tall center console with an aluminum cover from the back of the front seats to the back window. I think I want too turn it into a true 2 seater for her. Suggestions or advice? My daughter is now 22 and about to graduate from SDSU and I really want to make this happen for a very deserving hard working daughter. I think I might let her pick the color?
Not sure how much help you will get on here with the prostreet thing going on, but I personally think that will make a *****in little ride. Love what it looks like already. We are kinda doing the same thing with a Fox Capri my one Son owns, cage, aluminum interior, 514 Ford BB, etc. Sounds like you have a pretty good plan, and depending on how much room you have between those towers any Ford sb will fit. I am personally fond of the 302 based 331 stroker as that is what I am running in my 27. It makes great power and the cost isn't much beyond just a good rebuild on a 302. Good luck with the project. Don
Good input, thank you. The shock towers are gone so anything goes up front now. I really don't want to go too nuts with the power plant realizing that it will never get used to its full potential. But your right the 302's are great engines and very available.
The first thing I will say is, that is a cool car!....cause I got one too, but mine is a Futura 2dr ht...I didn't think the sprints came as 2dr ht...The other thing I will mention is that car was only built for 1/2 year, so it is also kinda scarce. With that said, I plan on doing a mild pro street thing too. I need rear quarters for mine though. Considering framing mine with a 4 link rear and MII front to get the shock towers out so I can put a stroked 351W....
I had no idea that it was only made for 1/2 year? So Im guessing the last half of 1963? It is a Sprint right?
Neat car. Make sure you get at least a late 289 or 302; no need to have an orphan five-bolt bellhousing motor in a hot rod. Consider an AOD. You can run a pretty moderate motor with relatively steep gears in the rear to get sporty performance in town, and fourth gear makes it nice to go places on the highway.
it's either a Sprint or a Futura. Basically the same car, just different trim and performance levels. And Sprints ONLY came as hardtops, where Futuras could be either post or hardtop. The hardtop was considered a 63 1/2, so technically it was half year only. I think you answered your own question as far as power. A 302 cammed up a bit and AnimalAin's suggestion of a AOD is about as good as it gets. Not sure how much actual performance driving your daughter has done, but it just might be a good idea to kinda limit how much is on tap to start with. The fORD only guys will loose a nut, but with the Mustang II in there, a small block Chevy would be a good fit too. As long as it ends up with an overdrive.
I want to build a 63HT into a roadracerish 302/T5,PS,PB,A/C etc. Drive like new Mustang and look bad ***. Not like the cartoonish Pro-Touring things though. or this Point and Shoot, Prostreet went out for me in the 90's
Yeah, I think that's the way to go... low and slow till she gets some wheel time. I did some checking on the vin number and it is a sprint. It doesn't really matter being its all hacked up anyway. And you guys are right, overdrive is a must. Im even thinking 2 barrel to start with and chain down hood so the boys wont be tinkering under there.
Yeah, think that's about what I am going to shoot for. All ready has the cage so no going back on that. I"m thinking she would appreciate it being toned down as well.
63-1/3 didn't tell you if it was a Sprint, 64 & 65 were the only years that did...You can make it a Sprint in 63-1/2 if you know what your doing with ease.....Your right, as hacked up as it is, matters not, build what you want.....but I would stay with a 289 or 302.....better chain the daughter as well!! lol Good Luck in what ever you do!!!
Looking at the tail panel of that Sprint above made me think of one thing nobody ever thinks about with these cars. Plan on doing an inside the trunk fill for the gas! There is nothing worse in this world that trying to use a California/Arizona filler nozzle to put gas in these cars! With that big nozzle condom, it takes for ever and spills or "recirculates" half of what you pay for in gas. Trust me on this, I know...
straight axel under the front but not too high lower and lengthen the ladder bars under the rear to raise it up a little tuck a pair of hurst slicks under the back 302 roller motor with a carb c/4 or AOD trans and make it a g***er cruiser
The main thing is to keep the body lines. I believe eliminating the shock towers is an improvement. The guy that owned mine before me, cut the rear wheel openings, and was going to weld in part of some front fenders in to the rear wheel openings...to make them the same as the front. I am looking at mini tubbing, replacing the rear quarters, and then attack the suspension. I wasn't aware you could get the Sprint package as a HT, I thought that was part of what made the Futura HT more appealing. I have a mild 302 in it now, but working on cooling and some trans issues before I make too many changes... The flat black was not my doing, but I did temporarily refresh it just to get rid of some scratches and bare spots. This will see paint once I get the body repaired...
Here are some round H/T Falcons I like... Edit. Second to last pic is not a HT, but I still like it...
Yeah that second one looks sweet! Surprised he is still running the chrome fender markers on top of the fenders. Seems the weight and wind resistance would be on your mind if racing?
If you go with an AOD you will need to modify the floor brace that ties the subframes together.If you don't,the trans angles down too much and causes vibrations.That is a big trans and it gets plenty tight in the tunnel,I've done three of them and hope to never do another!! JMO,ROY.
Yes, that is a concern. An unhelmeted noggin could hit the roll cage and knock you out or worse in a crash. We are considering that with the cage we are putting in my Son's Capri. He needs it as the car should be in the 10's, but he is also going to street drive it occasionally. Maybe rollbar padding is what we will be going with. Don
Man I love these babies! And, I'm a Chevy guy. But if this was for my daughter I'd go with the jacked up 302 (cam, 4 bbl, headers). That's enough to give you plenty of performance and a fairly good mpg. As far as the aluminum interior...forget it. Girls don't like 'em...ugly, noisy, cold. A good diamond tuck or tuck and roll would be much better for the girls. Ya gotta make it bad *** and comfortable for her or she'll never drive it.. hum...is this a trick? Anyway, a well-balanced ride for her is the way to go. Good luck...man, I love these babies!
stick a turbo 2.3 or V6 into it the V8 falcons didn't handle as well as the straight 6 ones did use a light motor.The shorter 4s and 6s will give a bit of engine set back for better weight distribution . If she drives stick put in a 5 speed otherwise the smaller autos for the 6s and 4s will fit the early trans tunnel better than the bigger V8 trans.
My daughter grew up in my shop and often was right in there twisting metal with me. She is a pretty little thing without the the yuckie girly hangups. I hate to say this about my baby but she is going to make some guy a great sole mate when she is ready. Most pe***e motor head I know and you would never know by looking at her. She loves louvers, rivets, and shiny aluminum. I always back the aluminum with Naugahyde to reduce the rattles. That's my baby!
There is only 75 lbs difference between a 170 Six and a 289-302. Put on an aluminum manifold and aluminum heads and a set of headers and you are now lighter than the six, with less weight in front of the front axle line.
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