Figure I would start a fresh thread for a beginning to end of my build. Cars a 62 falcon deluxe wagon. 302 swap, t5 tranny, ford 9", mustang 2 conversion, disc brakes and all original minus the swap. Car has 96k and is from cali. Car has seen better days but i have been making progress and I figure i would share. First thing I went after was my engine bay. Before- After
Get rid of that single circuit master cylinder!A dual circuit master from a Mustang,using an adjustable connecting rod,will make it stop better [plus be safer] than the original! JMO , ROY.
Looking good. I wonder why the battery was moved to the driver's side. Every Falcon I can remember it is on the Pass side.
I wondered 'bout that, too- makes for a looong B+ cable to the starter relay/solenoid...and the fender apron for the battery tray mount looks decent. I like it! Nice change but'cha really need to do somthin' with the brakes.... Edited to add: I figured it out- alternator mount is in the way of the battery tray in the stock location....
What's wrong with suicide brakes?! Haha I'm ordering a new master cyl and radiator this week along with a steel battery tray and 20' of battery cable and then its going in the trunk. Clean it up some more. Now I just have to find or repair the seats they're in need of some love and get some tires
I'm putting the battery where the spare tire was in my Wagon.The 13" spare looks like it never touched the road from 1960
Does anyone know where I can get two rear wheels that are wider but not offset wise. I don't want a deeper dish but rather the two inches of room I have twards my leaf springs be filled with rubber lol. I hope someone understands what I'm trying to explain. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
You'll probably have to have new rims custom made. I swapped a Versailles 9 inch into a 61 wagon. Rear axle measured 58.5 wheel flange to wheel flange. I stuffed it up in the car and took a bunch of measurements. Ended up with 15x7 inch steel wheels with 5 1/8 inches of backspace that let me squeeze 245/60R15 tires in without cutting. They rub a little when the suspension compresses a bunch over big bumps though. A rim with 5 1/4 inch backspace would have been better. I'll bet 235's would never rub. Had mine made by Stockton Wheel, but there are several others, including some Alliance vendors, who can make some up for you. If your axle is a different width, these measurements won't apply, but could be used as a guideline. Edit: I guess I should mention that to pull a tire, I have to disconnect both rear shocks and unbolt the rear spring hangers. Sort of a pain in the ass, but I still haven't committed to radiusing the rear wheelwells to put a real tire under it.
A 245/60R15 on a 15x8 wheel is as large as you can go and you will still have some rubbing because its 8" wide that's what's on the rear of my Wagon but like frankenfords said that's it without a lot of work and then good luck changing the tire because your going to need it.Thats why I moved the torque boxes to the inside of the frame along with the bottom two links
Yeah I will need to measure my rear end width exactly. Really wanna go wider I will have to contact those people to see if I can get a custom steelie made. Also need to figure that my rear end ratio is. Does about 55 at 2100 rpms in 4th and i still have 5th. Figure I may get more tq is I change the rear gear and maybe a limited slip if it already doesn't have one.. haven't really romped on the car much yet Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
if you are not hung up on width, there are far better choices concerning tire sizes for the back if your Falcon. A 215-65-15 will fit on a 7" or 8" width wheel. Back spacing will be determined by your rear end width. A 215-75-15 will also fill up the wheel well nicely as will a 225-70-15 on either a 7"or8" wheel. The 7" wide wheel will always be preferred. On my '63 Ranchero, I stretched the wheel well opening 3" towards the front and all of the above tires fit easily.
Wheels is not going to matter a 245/60R15 is max unless you tub Her an 8" tire is all that's going to fit
There 14s now but I think I wana run 15" for the vast size choices Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I ran Datsun 240Z wheels to get a slightly wider 14" on my wife's Comet wagon that was still 4 lug, but disc braked.
Right now it has 14x7 with a 3.5" backspace on it. 195 up front and a 185 in rear. Rear is flush and rubbing lol Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Yeah I have 205s on my other falcon. I feel like 215s would fit nice. I wanna get 15" wheels now Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I have never used one but Summit has a tool called a wheelrite #PHP01201 no more guessing on wheels up to a 30" diameter.I think it might be a good tool to have.My Wagon there to the left has the jeep wheels on they really don't look bad and they are cheap here $30 for 4 wheels with maypops
Took a ton of measurements. I have almost 3" of space before my leafs. Wheels are a 14x7 soo if I ran a 15x8 with a 4.75 backspace it would gain me a inch on my fenders and leave me about a inch spacing to my leafs. Soo I could run a 225 on my 8 or about a 9.5" tire total. I have 11" of fender well Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I hear you but you still have to be able to get a wheel off and on that's all. how about a side shot of Her
Birdman, I have a 63 2 dr sedan with a 8.8 rear end that the PO had cut to 55 3/4" it has 235/60/15s on it and I think the b/s on the wheel Is 4-4 1/4" with no rubbing. Also running a 95 cobra roller motor and a 95 T-5 trans. It halls %&**#^^. Go here: http://public.fotki.com/falconeer Butch Evans(Falconeer) Thomasville NC 70s and 80s Crown vic and Merc. and Granada will have a 6-7" wheel with a good back space that will prob. work on your wagon.
That's nuts that's almost the same setup I have driveline wise. What gear are you running in your rear end I mine are crazy high gears it does 55 in 4th at 2k and in 5th I'm at like 1500 rpm at like 58 mph lol. Need more tq hah Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Birdman, My gear is a 4:10 posi. 25-2600 rpm at 65 mph. 235/60s are fairly tall tires. Butch Evans (Falconeer) Thomasville NC
Yeah I just went on a 6 hour trip with the car and 5th gear at 73mph is 2100 lol. I'm thinking if I put 3.23 I may have a nice mix of tq and mpg. What would you reccomend? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Here's a little update since I haven't been on in a long time. Ive been working on the car a lot in order to make it 100% reliable for a big trip. Last October my little brother was diagnosed with advanced stage 3 lymphoma and he's been fighting for 6 months and his outcomes looking good. When he's better I wanna take a trip to all his favorite places. Soo far I've done a ton of work. I've done a full header back with bbk shorties, downtubes to a x pipe then to borla pro xs muffs Also have done a polished oversized radiator with a proform elec water pump and a jegs slimline fan and relay. I shaved the rest of my engine bay by putting the battery in the back in a box. I'm doing a few new floors so I'm also doing a factory replacement carpet and some Eastwood sound proof. Along with that new door seals and window seals and felts to rid of the rattling. also need a gas tank and straps but cant do everything at once lol. I have not uploaded any photos yet seeing as its soo cold and i stopped working on it but I'll toss u guys a fall shot and get some up soon!
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