64 Falcon Suspension Upgrade

Ok so I didn't take any pics this weekend because I didn't get to work on the car.Too much going on with the family and all.But I did put a second coat of paint on the uppers.

I took all the rust and corrision off with a grinder and wire wheel by the way be careful got a chunk out of my thumb while being distracted by a friend walking up.

Second after they were down to the metal which looks kind of cool like that I cleaned em up with acetone.Then layed on the primer generously before finally hitting them with the first coat of paint.

Thinking about scuffing em up a little then hitting them with another coat before ***embly.Question I remember when I took off the control arm shaft kits ( this was back in November ) That they only came out one way.So here I am in February trying to remember how to install them back on.If they only go on one way then there shouldn't be a problem.

Can anyone verify this ?
Hope to re-***emble the whole uppers last coat of paint and all by Saturday.

 

Any ideas on how to take the under coating off of the inside of the fender wells.Man s****ping it with a puddy knife isn't going to cut it....

 

Heat up a little with the torch to get it gooey and then hit it with the s****er.

 

Thanks Rob.

 

Anyone ever have any problems with aftermarket control shaft kits.I opened mine up and the ends won't screw into the a-arms.I took the old ones off and combined them with the new shafts and they went in no problem.I doubled check my part numbers and the straight 6 and v8 from rockauto call for the same part...?

 

bttt

 

I was going to do the MII deal in my girls 63.....I spent some time talking to Brent at Fat Man Fabrications. He suggests that removing all of the stuff that guys do when converting to the MII is not a good idea. He was considering(I beleive) doing one in his early Mustang, but didn't like the structural integrety removed by taking out the towers and related hardware.

Instead he now makes a set-up to put (now it's my turn to get in trouble)later model mustang bits under the Falcon. Instant rack and pinion, disc brakes etc. You can even trim out a significant amount of the shock tower for clearance without sacrificing structural integrity.

I think that's how I'm going...But I'll still read with interest how your build goes!!!!

 

Not to highjack this thread, but anybody know if the early mustang clutch pedal ***embly will work in a Falcon? I have a '61 thats a auto on the column I want to put a 4 speed in.

 

I dont know about your 61, but the 65 mustang pedal ***embly will bolt right into the 64-65 Falcon.

 

I've compared the two, and the Mustang pedal ***embly looks totally different than the Falcon in every way. I don't know if it will bolt up, but the early Mustang is basically a sectioned Falcon, with the dash about 2.5" closer to the floor pan. So it would make sense that if you used a Mustang pedal setup, the pedals might be a bit too high off the floor. All Falcon and Comet pedal setups are the same configuration from '60-'65 so it shouldn't be too hard to find a good one.

-KK

 

Ok found the culprit the threads on one side only of the upper I was having problems with are just a little worn to where they won't catch.I talked to the parts guy from our Houston falcon chapter and he has extra uppers.Going to pick up one tomorrow.I was looking around and found the whole uppers complete with ball joints and control shaft kits already asembled for about 67 $ from Falcon Enterprises if anyone is looking for some.I just don't know what brand of parts they use in the uppers.Iwas trying to save a few bucks so I bought all moog and refurbished my uppers.If that one and only side's threads weren't a little worn I would be good.

 

Small update my uppers are ***embled just need to buy some spring perches.Been looking around Kanter has them for 39 $ Falcon Enterprises has them for 29 $.And Napa has them for 70$ listed online.So a quick question what's the difference between the parts ?
Anny suggestions guys on where to go with this ?

Thanks.

 

ttt

 

Man the Napa parts seem to be of better quality.I tried ordering them once back in May got an e-mail said they werre not in stock to call a local store.Did that the parts person over the phone didn't have a clue to what they were.So I wait hoping they would be re-stocked by now.Put the order in last week.Contiued checking my bank account since last wednseday to see if the order cleared.Checked my e-mail today and here we go again out of stock call a local store to have them special order.Been there done that ****s.Found some from performance Mustang and they seem to be of good quality but they do not come witht he rubber on them for the bottom of the spring to sit on.I have haerd that the regular stock one my present a problem with linning up the shocks any suggestions on where to go ?

 

Have a complete 64 Ranchero Factory V8 complete frt. suspension with Power steering gear box, Power pistons, tie rods, strut rods, Disc Brakes, Also a set of race style headers with 3" exh. with flomaster mufflers 289/302. Call cell 951 533-9831 will discuss $

 

Check this thread out, it really improves the handling on Falcons/Comets:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321287

 

Thanks for the info drivem
mj pm sent.

 

You need to know Falcon Jimmy from down on the South side of Houston. He's been buying, selling, building Falcons since Hector was a pup! That means since the days NO ONE gave a damn about a Falcon except as a parts car for a MUstang.

 

Yes sir I do know him, good guy.I have been to his garage several times to get parts from him.His ride isvery nice as well.

 

the people over at tffn.net helped me out big time...check it out

 

There's some good info on the MII type of suspension on Mustang/Falcon installations. A bit pricey but worth looking at never the less.

http://www.rcmotorsports.net/

Thinking of a Turbocharged ECOTEC w/ T-5 and a nine inch in a '60-'63 Round body.

Should make a nice every day driver.

 

any updates on this build?

 

Yeah I have some pics I need to upload.Pretty much all the front suspension is done.Hand sanded all the engine compartment and rattle canned it.Outside front inner wells have been s****ped clean of all undercoating and painted as well.About 3 weeks ago I got under it with a grinder and wire wheel and went at it.Took off all the undercoating from the back right up to the back seat.Man that wasn't easy.Then snaded it all by hand and rattle canned it in primer.Also did the rear wells.Found some small areas that need to be patched.
Just ordered my floors yeysterday they should be in next week.Once they get here my homeboy will be over to weld them in.That's when we'll do the trunk as well.I had to fab out some patch panels for the whole trunk area they were pretty rusted out.
Took about 3-4 hours cutting them with a cut off tool out of 16 gauge.
**** might even just run a fuel cell inside the trunk if I don't like the way it comes out.But hopefully it will.
If I had a donor car that would have been a hell of alot more easy.I am pretty much doing this all by myself.Rebuilt my uppers had to search for everything from the spindles to rear end to the transmission.What

 

******** cluster bang to say the least.Falcon parts aren't exactly out there in abundance.Unlike with the mustangs the parts are plentiful and ready availbale.Plus they are cheap.Would of been better if my car was an original v8 then I could of saved some serious coin if you know what I mean.Just buying the parts I needed is one price.Then you got to spend the cash to get them rebuilt like with my c4 and rear end.Im trying to get there man but it isn't easy.Got two kids in college one about to get married and another about to hit high school **** isn't easy but I hope to make the roundup.
I'll post some pics hopefully in a week or so after the floors are in.Thanks for asking about the build.
Laters,
Muncie

 

Here is a couple of pics engine bay was a little dirty in this one....Cleans up real nice.

 

Sorry I thought the picture had been resized...Mods please delete above post.Once again sorry guys.

 

A couple of more shots haven't installed my springs yet might try and get that done by the end of the week.How snug should the lower control arms be when re-installing my springs ?


Shot of the center link above shot did not have it ...

 

A few shots of my floor replacement...Tacked in and ready to be welded in.

 

I have gone thorugh my uppers completely with new control arm shafts,upper ball joints and new spring perches.Brand new lower control arms with all new idler arm idler bracket and center link from Falcon enterprises.All new inner and outer tie rods with new sleeves all moog from rockauto.Also new bump stops it's not much but at least I did it all myself.Was a real pain to remove the undercoating on here without a torch.Had to resort to a tall boy can with gasoline in it to slightly heat up the coating and then s****ed it off.Not very safe but I was very careful and it worked for me.
Then went at it with a grinder a couple of wire wheels before hand sanding everything and then rattle canning all my coats of primer and paint.Two coats of gray primer and two coats of red oxide.Followed by 3 coats of black dollar cans of paint from home depot.Its preety dirty in the pics because it sits oustide but washes off real nice.

 

Nice work so far, what body style you working with?

-KK