Register now to get rid of these ads!

*MrModelT Builds.....A Falcon?*

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by MrModelT, Mar 18, 2011.

  1. MrModelT
    Joined: Nov 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,745

    MrModelT
    Member

    Mr. ModelT is of course a Model T nut, but I am also Ford Falcon man at heart...

    Well its pretty obvious that I have several projects in the works (as do most of us here on the H.A.M.B.) that I am struggling to devote enough time to: There is my well known '26 T roadster , The "Becker Special" T speedster, my replica of my Grandpa's '29 A-V8 roadster, a brass era touring, etc. All of these cars have build threads, except one previously not mentioned.....my '65 Ford Falcon. My Falcon was my very first car and my "in" to the old car hobby. I have horribly neglected it here on the H.A.M.B. and will now rectify that injustice.

    My other projects will continue, but the poor Falcon has been without any "love" for so long...its time it became a priority.

    My '65 Falcon (170 6-cyl / 3-speed) rolled off the assembly line on February 23, 1965 at the Lorain, Ohio plant as the 90,453 car produced in 1965. Finished in Wimboldon White and red interior, she lacked any options of any kind: No radio, seat belts, carpet, power steering or even a cigarette lighter! She was then shipped by train to Seattle, WA and then by truck to an Astoria, Oregon Ford dealership. She spent most of her early days in Longbeach, WA until the early 1970's before being sold to 2 more owners and traveling across most of Washington state. When I found the car in 2001, she had not aged well cosmetically. Never the less she had survived surprisingly well over the years of abuse regardless, racking up just 74,983 miles since new. I persuaded my father to let me buy the car on November 19, 2001 at the age of 17. We brought her home and immediately went to work. The previous owner had not had the Falcon running in over two years, so Dad and I started with the motor. The motor had seen the most neglect as it contained no oil what so ever....only an 1 1/2" inches of black "slime" was found in the pan and the valve cover was not much better. After we got the engine cleaned up a bit and the carburetor rebuilt, it was time to start it. I had dumped a gallon of gas in the tank while Dad was pulling the plugs for a compression test. All plugs were out except for cylinder # 2 and when I hit the starter for the compression test, it fired and ran on only one cylinder! Dad and I shut her down, put the plugs back in and it has run flawlessly ever since.

    I drove the Falcon as a daily driver until 2006 and as an occasionally until 2009 when the motor started getting tired. The car is 98% complete, original and unmolested. It does however have it's fair share of rot in the lower quarters and doors and since November of 2009 I have been working on disassembly, the first time it's been apart since February of 1965. Once I have the car stripped to the bare shell, it will be ready for media blasting and body work....

    ...then the fun part :D

    Being a "plain jane" 4 door, 6-cyl / 3-speed car, it is remarkably simple and reliable...but a tad boring. In that regard I plan to hop her up a little. Lets start with the motor shall we?

    The car will retain it's 6-cylinder power plant (with a slight upgrade to the stronger post-'66 7-main bearing block) upgraded with aluminum pistons, a healthy Clay Smith street/strip cam, Classic In-lines aluminum racing head (have not decided on the comp ratio yet), my own "Tri-Power" intake manifold running 3 2-barrel carburetors feeding directly into a Paxton Supercharger (draw through system) that feeds directly into the head. The motor will be fired by a Vertex 6-cyl magneto. The motor will be backed up by an original T-10 4-speed with a Ford 8" rear axle with 3.55 "Trac-Loc" limited slip gearing. It will also run '62 - '64 Galaxie 427 Hi-Po only 15" steelies and vintage rubber.

    As for the suspension, I plan to fit the Falcon out with complete front and rear suspension kits (road race prepared) for a Shelby GT-350R for the best handling, stance and feel.

    All details will be done period / factory correct: Tires, wheels, decals, shocks, instruments....everything.

    ..Anyway, enough of that for now, here are some pictures: Before, disassembly and today.

    Enjoy!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. MrModelT
    Joined: Nov 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,745

    MrModelT
    Member

    Here are a few more....
     

    Attached Files:

  3. MrModelT
    Joined: Nov 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,745

    MrModelT
    Member

    Of course any input, comments and suggestions are welcome, since much of the engine details may have to change.

    ..Any "love" for this ol' 4 door? Fellow "Falcon-ers"?....Bueller?.....Bueller? :D
     
  4. 62rebel
    Joined: Sep 1, 2008
    Posts: 3,233

    62rebel
    Member

    bravo, sir. it's refreshing to see a Falcon treated like a treasure for a change.
     
  5. 117harv
    Joined: Nov 12, 2009
    Posts: 6,586

    117harv
    Member

    I would like to have that bone stock, but your plans sound great too. Good to see that you are keeping the six. I like that color combo, are you going back to that?
     
  6. low-n-slo54
    Joined: Jul 25, 2009
    Posts: 1,920

    low-n-slo54
    Member

    I got love for that 4 door. Cool little build.
     
  7. 41 Dave
    Joined: May 23, 2005
    Posts: 2,594

    41 Dave
    Member

    .Clayton, So you have finally cam out of the closet . . . . The treatment for this illness is to pass the Old Falcon on to a good friend. Then you can return to hopping up T's and A's etc etc .
    Really though that supercharged six sounds like you will have one hot little mill ! Will stay tuned for updates !

    Dave
     
  8. Bigcheese327
    Joined: Sep 16, 2001
    Posts: 6,734

    Bigcheese327
    Member

    You and I have chatted about your plans before, but I gotta say once again: This. Flat. Rocks.

    I wish I moved fast enough on my bird to warrant a build thread.

    -Dave
     
  9. Clayton, that is a cool ride, but this is depressing me, because somewhere near me, is my late Grandmothers 65 Falcon, 6 cylinder 4-door, that was unfortunately given to my cousin 10 years ago, who has done nothing with it, except lose it due to non-payment of storage. Oh and it only had 32,000 original miles.:( Of course, he was going to fix it up one day.:mad: I love your build plan, and look forward to seeing the completed project. All the best, and have fun.
     
  10. MrModelT
    Joined: Nov 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,745

    MrModelT
    Member

    I did enjoy her stock for almost 10 years, but the 105 hp 6-cylinder (with only 25 hp at the rear wheels) is a bit "lacking". The car's stock restored value is not much...not that that matters to me at all. I feel she deserves a little "attitude" and I aim to do both my build AND the car justice. All of the modifications are based on authentic modifications done on Ford cars during that period that were either sanctioned by Ford or by Holman-Moody, Carroll Shelby and AK Miller. The suspension on my Falcon will be done using the same techniques and equipment that Shelby America applied to the GT-350 and GT-350 R models. As early as 1960, both Holman-Moody and AK Miller were experimenting with the Falcon Six as a potential factory option for the 144. They built an impressive array of experimental prototypes including a "Tri-Power" version, a Supercharged "Tri-Power" version and a full-house Stu Hillborn fuel injected versions that more that doubled their HP ratings on the dyno. I plan to put these techniques into my car...with my own touch of course.

    I will certainly be retaining her original color scheme...I could NEVER change that.


    That just made me laugh! I just don't need (or want) the cure :D

    Thank you kindly, I hope it lives up to you expectations :D

    .That kind of story is ALWAYS sad :(
     
  11. koolkemp
    Joined: May 7, 2004
    Posts: 6,006

    koolkemp
    Member

    That little car would be considered rust free around here ! I love what you have planned and am looking forward to the build!
     
  12.  
  13. Yup
    I like them falcons!!!
     
  14. MrModelT
    Joined: Nov 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,745

    MrModelT
    Member

    After following your '47 Ford build...I know what you mean!

    Me too...it's been 10 years in the making thus far!

    I'm not slouchin' on the A-V8 though...was just out tinkering on the flathead for it getting it ready to fire soon. :D

    Same here, always have.
     
  15. No Clue...
    Joined: Mar 1, 2010
    Posts: 106

    No Clue...
    Member
    from Lusk, WY

    Loved them since I was a kid. Currently have three. Summertime driver is equipped like yours, but a 64 Post. Am trying to sell it for funds on the kids car. Have a 62 Ranchero and a 63 1/2 hardtop. Both of them are 6 bangers as well. Also have a 65 200 out of a Mustang, with a weber. Will add a cam and header, then drop it in one of them. :D
     
  16. 41 Dave
    Joined: May 23, 2005
    Posts: 2,594

    41 Dave
    Member

    Clayton, Wish you all the best on your Falcon build. My Falcon is a '64 Hardtop. Power is six cylinder, 3 speed. It is a mild custom. About 140 louvers in the hood, cut front springs, mag wheels and frenched antenna. I have a Ak Miller intake (3 one bbl carbs !) and also the aluminum valve cover (says Falcon 216 - believe the kit Ak had cam and all made 216 HP !). Would love to have my six popper hopped up like that !

    Dave
     
  17. I'm not slouchin' on the A-V8 though...was just out tinkering on the flathead for it getting it ready to fire soon. :D



    Don't put the heads on yet...
     
  18. Very cool car! I like the four door cars, as i have a 61 falcon sedan. I six cylinder is a sweet little engine that can sound very mean when done up. The have very a very good torque curve on them from stock so when picking a cam keep that in mind!! I am still waiting to take my 68 200ci mustang six out of my 65 falcon to put in my 61 sedan, and its getting the six hop up as well! If you look on classic inlines website they have a vintage article of hopping up the six I am going to be going with the side draft webbers on this one!
     
  19. P.S. thanks for looking at my build! hope you like it!
     
  20. JEM
    Joined: Feb 6, 2007
    Posts: 1,040

    JEM
    Member

    Very good. Though my preferences tend to lean toward the '66-up 'big' Falcons for family-historical reasons.

    None of the following should be considered authoritative:

    Your triple-carb intake sounds like more work than it's worth and I'm inclined to think a draw-through hairdryer on a straight-six is going to need some truly heroic fiddling to get any kind of balance to the cylinder-to-cylinder air-fuel ratio. I'd think a blow-through setup with a couple 2bbls or big single jugs would be period enough and more functional.

    If you were willing to commit a sin of unoriginality, I'm sure that engine would appreciate and could comfortably make use of a T5. In which case the late ('80-81) 200 block has most of a 6-bolt smallblock bellhousing bolt pattern and will take a Fox (horrors!) T5 bellhousing with relatively little work.

    Obviously you're going to do the usual control-arm lowering, etc. but you might also want to sneak in a couple tweaks like some roller spring perches and some RCD Bilstein shocks. Don't worry, they're all black. Use the old-style Moog replacement steel-cups-in-rubber-bushings strut rod bushings if they're still available (they were 1.5yr ago when I bought a set for my '65 Mustang), not TPR or urethane.

    I think Falcon rear springs of even that vintage are longer than Mustang springs, you can play with adding leaves to what you've got and an extra half-leaf on top of the front half, or you might pick up something like a set of Maier 4 1/2-leaf 160lb Mustang springs, pull them apart and reassemble the secondary leaves on your existing main leaf.

    I'm assuming you're probably going manual steering with a power steering (3 3/4-turn) box, an integral-assist box conversion like the Borgeson Aisin setup is a little too impure and the stock Ford linkage-boosted power steering a horrid monstrosity. 15in Moto-Lita wood-rim steering wheel, don't go any smaller you'll need the leverage. The small-hub original-GT350 style tends to be pricey, the ones that use the larger 8-screw (or whatever it is) hub can usually be found more reasonably. I scrounged one that needs refinishing (wood is good, clear peeling) off eBay for ~$40 for the '64 Country Sedan, not sure yet whether it was a deal or not...

    How much brake do you want? Can't recall who it is who has reproed the big Lincoln Kelsey-Hayes calipers (the Boss 302 Muscle Parts T/A update setup) in aluminum for the 12in big-car rotors. Otherwise I'd think the '65-67 Mustang 'small' 4-piston KH discs would be the right way to go.

    By the way, you came within a hair's-breadth of being a co-respondent in my divorce proceedings. I shook off your influence just long enough to avoid bidding on a '24 T phaeton project in the 'bay, so I'm still married. If that's still the case once the current three projects are rolling, there might be room for something that goes chugga-chugga-chugga then.
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2011
  21. MrModelT
    Joined: Nov 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,745

    MrModelT
    Member

    Excellent information JEM! I'm not really sure in which direction I will be going on some aspects of this build yet, but it still in the early stages. Don't know if I'll run disc brakes. Ford didn't start messing around with them until 1966 if I remember right and they only started appearing on a few prototype 427 Fairlanes and the Shelby Mustangs...so I would assume they would have used the 10" V-8 drums on all fours. I also have a complete set of 10" drum brakes for the car. :D

    My goal is to keep this car as "factory" and "period" correct as I can (decals, hoeses, etc), so I would like to stick with the right 4-speed.



    Yikes! Well hopefully we'll see something like that soon then....without threatening marriages of course :)
     
  22. MrModelT
    Joined: Nov 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,745

    MrModelT
    Member

    On a side note, I did finally score a good 7-main bearing 200 motor for the project. No pictures yet...but soon.
     
  23. -Brent-
    Joined: Nov 20, 2006
    Posts: 7,714

    -Brent-
    Member

    Mr. Model T... Have you lost your FALCON mind??? :D Working on one of these has to be the EXACT opposite of the stuff you've been playing with for the last few years. I like the idea of period stuff and that really sticks to your persona, too. Should be a neat car.
     
  24. dallasdrifter
    Joined: Apr 7, 2011
    Posts: 72

    dallasdrifter
    Member
    from dallas tx

    I should of kept the 6 in mine :( I have a 302 in now,sadly(seemed ideal at the moment). The 3 speed that was in it blew out on my way to austin last year, and pissed me off after I got the tow bill. I researched the transmission and the 3 speeds are a weak design until ford redesigned them in 67. At least you are using a 4 speed. Your thread gots me thinkin its time to switch back to the good ole inline 6 for a winter project.
     
  25. MrModelT
    Joined: Nov 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,745

    MrModelT
    Member

    No, I haven't lost my mind....not yet anyway :D

    I have a wide range of automotive interests, including 1960-65 Falcons and just about anything pre-1916...especially Brass and Nickle era stuff. I have owned my poor Falcon since 2001 and it's her turn now. I built my T and it's almost "DONE" done. Once the Falcon is complete, I'll go back to my "Roots"....something early, like the 1917 Hupmobile Model N I'm looking at :D

    That right there may be proof that I'm nuts though...

    The period look is the most important to me. Stuff like that (the right carbs, transmission and drive train components) make the car....just like the right tires and license plates. I really want my car to look like it was actually something that Ford may have built in 1965 as a Holman-Moody built performance 6-cylinder package.

    Those 3-speeds are actually really stout. Never had a problem with one from my car....and I wasn't always gentle with it :rolleyes: One of the main reasons I wanted the 4-speed was because 3rd is just not enough. At 60+ mph, that little 6 is just screamin' for a 4th gear. It also would have been something Ford would have put with a hot six.
     
  26. GOTGOAT
    Joined: Mar 8, 2008
    Posts: 4

    GOTGOAT
    Member

    I just stumbled across your post...I just finished my 65 falcon...now back to my '31. Good looking Falcon...
     
  27. MrModelT
    Joined: Nov 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,745

    MrModelT
    Member


    Good lookin' '31! :D I'm just ready to get mine back on the road!

    Got any pics of your '65?
     
  28. kooldaddy-o
    Joined: Jul 29, 2006
    Posts: 119

    kooldaddy-o
    Member


    Just know that 3rd gear in a three speed is the same as fourth gear in a 4 speed, both are one to one. The only way to get the RPM's down is with a 5 speed or better yet for what you want to accomplish a 3 speed OD , very very cool !!
     
  29. MrModelT
    Joined: Nov 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,745

    MrModelT
    Member

    That is true, hmmmmm...makes one rethink some things. I guess I've been messing with T's and early stuff too much :rolleyes: A few of the bigger 4-speed cars pre-1916 are 1:1 in 3rd...4th is overdrive :D

    I could do a 3-speed O.D., but I already have the T-10 and I now for supplied the 4-speeds behind the sixes from '62 to '65.
     
  30. Bigcheese327
    Joined: Sep 16, 2001
    Posts: 6,734

    Bigcheese327
    Member

    I had kind of been thinking about that lately, but had convinced myself you must be planning to use the RUG aluminum-case Toploader where fourth is overdrive.

    -Dave
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.