History Wanted!!! 1964/65 Ford Falcon A/FX Pics!

While I'm waiting for my rear quarter panels to arrive, my energy has turned to the front end. Taking a page from Fast Eddie's Falcon wagon project, I've stripped most of the sheet metal off from the firewall forward. In the process I found that the car had been hit & repaired (or maybe just fatigue). The passenger side frame rail dropped about 3/16" when it was cut loose from the firewall. Its only .3 degree off level & I think I can pull it back in place when I put in the support strut from the firewall to the front of the frame. On to mounting the front axle.

 

Mike;one reason it drooped is you still have that big iron lump sitting in there!!! You took most of the support away when you cut out the inner fenders,these cars are called "UNIT BODIES" for many reasons!!!If you look at the firewall where the subframes are spot welded I bet there is distortion!!I bet if you pull the engine and support the subframe stubs that you will be able to square and level the frames!!JMO,ROY.

 

Roy

I hope you are right. Driver's side is still dead level & a 3/16" shim brings the passenger's side back to level front to rear & left to right. Cudda been a lot worse.....Mike

 

Its axle time. I got everything assembled on the fixture & slid under the car. Let the fun begin.....Mike

 

Mike;I hope you have the original wheel center line marked!!! I've seen too many that have the tire off center to the rear!!! I like your front spring mount/tow bar brackets!!!I don't see any reason why you could not get 3/16 droop out with your planned support bars,they really tie the front end into the rest of the car!!! I had forward bars installed when I had the roll cage updated,made a HUGE difference in stiffening the front of the Comet!! ROY.

 

Roy

I measured & marked the original C/L then measured to the bumper bolt holes. The bumper bolt holes are true so I built a jig to index the front spring mount brackets to the center bumper bolt hole. I wasn't shooting for an exact amount of axle movement so it was just easier (and probably more accurate) to mount the spring brackets at a known location & let the axle fall in place than wrestle that whole assembly around by myself chasing a plumb bob.

Thanks for the complement on the spring brackets. My first 3 racecars were flat towed so I'm kinda partial to the tow bar tab look. Charlie Innerst at Arcplasmacutting.com has made a lot of my 1 of a kind brackets. I just draw them out on cardboard (with all the measurements of course), send them to him & he cuts them out. Prices are really good too.

I'm leaning toward locating the forward brace to the spot on the firewall as Hubert Platt's Georgia Shaker. The corners look pretty strong (3 layers of metal between the firewall, inner & outer cowl) & it still leaves plenty room for building fenderwell headers......Mike

 

Mike:

Your right, your kicking my ass on the project. What axle set-up did ya use??

FE

 

Eddie

65 Econoline straight axle, narrowed 7" (28 1/2" between spring bolt locating holes). Mr Roadster 26" roadster springs from Speedway Motors. Cross steer tie rod ends, weld bungs, jamb nuts, spring bushings & U bolts also from Speedway. The rest is fabed.....Mike

 

Mike- your build-up is looking awesome!! Attention to the small details is what really makes it stand apart from the rest! Continue the march onward!!!

Now, Eddie!! Take the hint from Mike and get that fire lit!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks Dale. Your stamp of approval means a lot.....Mike

 

Mike
Have you put the weight of a motor/trans on the front to see what the spring sag does to the rear shackle position?

 

Judd

I jacked the axle up until it lifted the weight off the jack stands. With the original 6 cyl & auto the spring only elongated about 3/8". A FE & C4 plus the glass front end will weigh a bit more but these little short 26" springs are pretty stiff (may have to take out a leaf if it rides too rough). I'm thinking not more than 3/4" max elongation so the shackle position should be fine & if it settles too much I have plenty of adjustment holes to bring it back to desired ride height.....Mike

 

Mike - you give me WAY more credit than I deserve! Just ask Fast Eddie. I'm really just a moonshining drunkard family kinda guy...

 

Mike
I've noticed on the speedway kits when you set them up empty the shackles stretch (or roll back) to the frame and bind when you add the weight of the motor. My buddy tacks them so he can move them when the motor is in.

 

Judd

This is my first straight axle build (although I've had a few straight axle gassers back in the day, they were original straight axle). In the words of Dirty Harry "a man's gotta know his limitations" and I do. I was at least smart enough to seek advise from Dale who has built a number of these cars. I guess the area of most concern is to still have a little aft bias in the shackle when the wheels are off the ground so the momentum of the axle dropping on a wheelstand doesn't yank the shackle over center (that can really spoil your day when it comes back down & the shackle can't decide which way to go).

It sounds like the spring rate on your friends car may have been too light for his set up & "flattened out" or elongated too much causing binding. My 26" springs were meant to be used as a single cross spring on T-bucket roadsters (probably 1000# to 1200# ea) so I've got 2000# to 2400# of spring for a 2800# car with only about 55% of the weight on the front end (a bit stiff but I can always pull a leaf). Even if I flatten the spring out it only elongates to 27 1/4" & that is not enough to make the shackle contact the frame.

Sorry to be so long winded.....Mike

 

Is this A/FX Falcon the real deal?

 

Steve;NO,that is a recreation! Nicely done though,FE powered. ROY.

 

Bad ass ride right here!

 

Mike
It probably wouldn"t have made a difference on a track only car but Mine was so stiff when I bought it that it would jump off the ground when I hit a bump in the road. Scarry as hell the first time it did it on a corner! I had to remove a leaf on each side.

 

That is a recreation of Phil Bonner's '64 car and is one of the best built cars I have ever looked at. Jim Cagle had it built, with Bonner's approval and help, he was the second owner of the original '64. The orignial was later owned by Joe Johnson, that is the last I know of the car.

 

Injectors anyone

 

Awesome

 

This one for sale on E Bay Now









http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dave...1479278?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3f155ee16e

 

Ken;surprised it is still around!!! That is one of three 64/65 Rancheros that I threw in DFs face when he said there were NO Ranchero A/FX cars!!!!Like talking to a wall!!! ROY.

 

It Does Look Cool

Like all three Paint versions

 

Is Brannan's Falcon 1964 Ford Vintage Burgundy?

 

Mike;yes it is,looks brown in that picture.I got to see it in person at Carlisle in 2004. ROY.

 

http://www.collectorcarads.com/Ford-Falcon/44897

Seems like a good deal!!

 

It looks to be the same color as the Thunderbolts, I'm not sure what Ford called it back then.

I apologize for stealing the first photo from Plum, the second is my shot at Dick's Ford South show at Cumming Ga.

 

Mike;looks nice but has been seriously tagged on the drivers side,look at the inner fender,hopefully the subframe and tower are straight!! ROY.