64 mercury comet caliente questions and info needed

I've had my '65 Sunbeam Tiger sitting for 9 years now. These Hot Rods keep getting in the way.

 

Hey Paulie, I didn't want you to think I thought this car was a good deal, I don't. Plenty of better cars in the Dallas area. If I was interested in this car I would give him $500 for it max, it has rust issues, it's a 4 door and it's a 6 cylinder with 4 lug brakes and steering. There's a 65 Falcon 289 hardtop in dalls area that's way better for $1500.

 

I have a 65 futura that is a two door post.

 

easiest and quickest wasy to tell if its a v8 (64 was a 260, hi po cars were 289, both 5 bolt bells) is to see if its 4 or 5 lug..6's had 4, 8's had 5...Falcon and Mustang tanks are smaller than Comets, and they can be a pain to find. I haven't read through the rest of the posts..I'll add if There are more questions Looks like most of it is covered haha...I shoulda read further.

 

They made a Futura Wagon as well. We have a '65 Futura Wagon w/ the 200 I6/Auto. The gas tanks in those are not being reproduced either. We had to have ours cleaned and coated. And the gas caps are a better investment than gold at the moment, esp. the "FA" Futura caps.

 

I bought this 64 Cyclone from a drag racer. It was a late build with a real 289 HiPro and factory 4spd with the Cyclone tach on the dash..........just like the Falcon Sprints.

It was a terror and had a set of long tube headers and 4:56's in the 9 inch rearend. I added a new Holley, put some 351 4barrel heads with steel shim gaskets and it flew. The year, 1970/71. Oh yes, the trunk was HUGE!

 

I just wanted to add that it can be a real challenge to find 4 lug wheels for these early Fords and Mercs as they are 4 x 4 1/2 bolt pattern. Just one more thing to consider.

 

Good looking car. I'll be dropping a 289 in mine some time this year I hope. What are those bars that extend towards the back under the springs?

 

Man I've got half a dozen 4-lug wheels laying around. Stock 13's, small center 14's, big center 14's, chrome reverse 13's, and I can't give them away. Even saw some of the goofy 4-lug Cragars on craigslist a while ago. Seems like everybody I know is going to 5-lug, just like I did.

These cars are great, but I don't think I'd give a car that new the flat black/red wheels treatment. It deserves at least gray primer, a nosebleed rake, and a turbo on the 6.

Check critesrestorations.com for all your Comet/Falcon needs.

 

Those would be cool-e-o rear facing traction bars. One of those goofy experimental 60's things.

 

Hey mercury Kid. Sent you a PM.

 

There is no better drag bodystyle in the world than a '64 Comet.

 

I agree 100%. That's too much for a 4 door.

 

I have two 64 Comets. A 404 and a Caliente. Parts have been surprisingly easy to come by as suspension goes. OReilly got me everything for entire front end rebuild a lot cheaper than some of the aftermarket companies. I learned the hard way about the motors though. They did come with the 260 V8 and the 289, but these were 5 bolt bell housing engines. These motors were made in 64-65 and then changed in 66 to a six bolt housing. Got to watch out, the 5 bolts are hard to find and expensive to rebuild if that's what it is.
The reason I bring this up is, if you cant here the engine run before you buy it, be careful. The 5 bolt are expensive to rebuild and rare. $1500 does sound a little high for the car, but hard to make a judgement without seeing. Good Luck!

 

The 5 bolts were made in 63 and 64, 65 was the first year of the 6 bolt. There may be some 65's with 5 bolt blocks, but that is pretty rare. I always convert over to the 6 bolt blocks, makes life much easier. You can buy 5.0 HO (225HP) motors for $300-$500 all day long up here.

 

I bought a '64 Caliente for parts for my '64 Falcon, thinking they were the same car.
Well, they are, mostly. Differences are as follows, as best I recall:
Comets have a 4" longer wheelbase, made up after the door, before the wheelwell. Gave the Mercury better rear seat leg room.
Comets could be had with 289 and 3 speed Cruise-O-Matic, though all the parts will fit Falcon as a bolt-on.
Doors are the same, as are all chassis parts save for a driveshaft that is 4" longer.
Summary - it's a stretch job on a Falcon, with most interior pieces being a shade more luxurious. The seat is more comfy, for instance.
True, sixes have four lug wheels, and V8s have five, but the brakes are different, too. Sixes have 9" drums that are criminally under spec'd, the V8s have 10" drums that are not a lot better. Disc brake conversion from Mustang best bet.
Lowering the upper front suspension arm mounting holes by 1" will lower the front and improve the handling for nothing more than your time. Add a GT350 sway bay, and you will be amazed (it all bolts on). This was THE front suspension mod done by Shelby.
Note that the correct transmission will be a five bolt C4, and a narrow band C4 at that (no, the wide bands will NOT fit). Trans is NOT expensive, as the only difference is the bolt-on bellhousing.
AFAIK, the Comets did not get the 2 speed Ford-O-Matic for 1964 and up.
Cosmo

 

i have a 64 comet caliente it came 289 hp 4 barrel carb.

 

They used the 2-sp on 6-bangers in 64, my Dad bought a brand new '64 Comet 202 4-door and it had that miserable POS tranny.

 

Hey they made Caliente four door sedans

 

I kinda like the rear quarter panel and tail lights on my 65 better....

 

271 hp 289s did have solid lifters but not 4 bolt mains. Only 4 bolt motors were boss 302.