Mike
I just got done reading this thread(that you posted for Don) what a great story and build. I guess this was all done a couple of years ago but nice link!Are you still driving this car? Any videos of the engine roaring to life. Update us. Steve.
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Mike
I just got done reading this thread(that you posted for Don) what a great story and build. I guess this was all done a couple of years ago but nice link!Are you still driving this car? Any videos of the engine roaring to life. Update us. Steve.
Wow that looks great down in there! So nice to hear an engine fire and run for the first time. Congrats!:D
Well with all the spare time on my hands I got the 64 Ford back in the shop. I’ve moved the car around a few times and with all that motor trying to stop it with the emergency brakes can be interesting. I’ve had all the stuff to do a disc brake conversion sitting in the truck for quite a while now and figured it would be a good time to get it done.
I found out I was luckier on the car than I figured. Looking at it, the front end had been rebuilt and brakes done just prior to it being wrecked (they even had put new springs in it and a new rear brake hose). I really hadn’t been looking forward to the front end rebuild.
The rear shoes and drums are beautiful (the shoes are riveted so I have no problem re-using them. I did put new rear wheel cylinders in, and as I have a real problem trusting the original 45 year old steel brake lines so all those got replaced.
I’ve done this conversion before, and it’s really straight forward. 79 Ford T Bird spindles and brakes are virtually a bolt on. If you are using the original tie rod ends. where they bolt up to the steering arm needs to be thinned a bit so the nut goes down far enough to get the cotter pin in (I have heard that using latter tie rod ends would eliminate having to do this). A 79 T Bird master cylinder also bolts up. The spindle is just enough different that the front end does need realigned but not a big deal there either.
While I was in there I also got rid of the clutch peddle and changed the brake peddle pad to one for an automatic.
Looks good Mike, nice job on the discs! Good plan on the new brake lines, a lot easier to do it now then waiting till the old one's start leaking....
I've only seen it happen a couple of times but brake lines tend to rust from the inside out....they can look great, right up until they burst. It's one of those jobs I really don't care for, especially doing it on a creeper, bu tthe piece of mind is well worth it.
While It's still up in the air and I'm under there I think I will also be running a new tank to engine fuel line. I don't know if they were all this way or if it's just because this was originally a 6 Cyl but the current line runs down the pass side of the car but on the FE the fuel pump is on the drivers side.
Hey Mike, is the '64 a front steer car??? Wondering what would be a good rear steer spindle to use on Greg's '68 Galaxie.....???? Any good ideas????
The 64 is a rear steer spindle and this conversion is supposed to work on the full size Fords thru at least 1966. JUst a thought, you might check an interchange manual and see if the earlier spindels interchange to 68, if they do this should work.
There is also an outfit called Scarebird that makes a conversion that uses the original spindles (from what I've heard it mounts the calipers on the front of the rotor). I never used any of their products so can't speak to quality.....here a link.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...mZ220146908849
Thanks Mike! Sure do appreciate the help! I'll let Greg know, we want to have the disc conversion parts on hand when we do the engine swap.....
Just in case you can/do go with the 79 T Bird setup (check the interchange book as there are other years/models that will interchange) the 79 Bird MC works very well, even in a non-power setup. Although mines not on the road yet I did this exact swap on a 63 1/2 Galaxie a few years back and it does stop really well.
Again if the T Bird stuff will work for you, as I recall using Granada spindles can also be used and will give a 1-2" drop if I call correctly.
Thanks again for all the good info Mike! Should it ever warm up, gonna go parts hunting!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike P
Nice progress Mike.
It’s probably a good time to bring back/close out this thread. The 64 was never intended to be a keeper, just a fun build and a home for the 401 FE I built. It’s always been kind of a fill in project to give me something to do for those few times I didn’t have anything else in the shop. When I stopped working on it the last time about 3 years ago it was down to hooking up the wiring, exhaust, body, paint chrome and upholstery.
I’ve got a friend who has been trying to get me to sell him the car since I brought it home and he mentioned it again a couple of weeks ago. I started thinking about it and really while it would sell for a lot more with the paint and interior done, I really wouldn’t actually make any more than I would by selling now (without spending any more money on it). The one kicker is he really isn’t interested in the Tri-Power, but I think we are pretty close to making a deal on it.
So I put a battery in it last week and brought it back in the shop.
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/SANY1860.jpg
I spent a couple of days changing it over from the Tri-Power to a later stock intake (which required new valve covers as the oil fill and PVC is on the Tri-Power is in the intake) and also decided that I would not separate the factory shorty headers from the intake. I also needed to keep the Mallory distributor (converted to Pertronix) the stock factory 64 choke cable, and fuel line from the fuel pump to fuel block.
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/SANY1846.jpg
So the car ended up with stock exhaust manifolds, stock intake (those FE manifolds get heavier every year LOL), OE distributor and a Holley 600 (vacuum secondary, electric choke).
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/SANY1851.jpg
Between unbuilding the 77 Mustang and putting stock parts back on this one, people are going to stop calling me a hotrodder. :LOL:
As far as the left over parts from the 64, I think I’ll be holding on then for a while. I’m kind of thinking about keeping my eyes open for a n FE powered 60s-70s Ford truck.
Wow, this really brings new meaning to the term, "I digress"!!!!!:LOL::LOL::LOL:
You put part of the pick up in just for a teaser too !!
"......You put part of the pick up in just for a teaser too !! ......"
LOL I really don't have anything nailed down yet, but I'm hoping to break my normal pattern and find something that is done (at least body, maybe paint and upholstery) that I can just bolt my fun parts on to and drive rather than dragging something home that needs a complete build.
Body work has never been one of my strong areas and the last 3 projects I farmed out the body work. The first shop (which is still in business) had my 57 in body shop purgatory for about a year and I was not very happy with the final product. The shop I had do the second project did an outstanding job, but had over expanded and when the economy collapsed they went out of business. Then there was the guy who did the work on the 83 El Camino (body line changes etc) …….he also did some great work. I happened to drive by his shop last week only to find it was now a repair garage. He had retired and moved to Missouri :eek:
That was actually one of the reasons that I’ve decided to sell the 64. It’s going to need a bit of work, especially as I was planning on going back to black on it and I really don’t want to deal with finding a new shop and hoping for the best.
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Yeah I just hauled home another major build !!
Ya know,,the more I read in here about you guys,,or some of you guys not liking body work..the more it feels like I could make a living driving from one city to another,doing the bodywork for some of you...and getting to see the country as well..Dont know if Lynda would be agreeable though..hehe..I would probably need a truck,,for my gear,and for sleeping in..and to haul ''treasure''back to the shippers as well..:D:whacked:
Well, the 64 is now officially gone. The original buyer I had lined up for it fell thru (isn’t the way it usually goes LOL). Anyway another friend heard I was selling the Ford and came over and looked at it. He liked what he saw and wanted all the speed stuff I had just taken off to go with it.
It got loaded up Friday and is now sitting in his shop. He’s good with body and paint and really into Fords so it went to a good home. He’s also got a vision for the car that is really close to how I was going to finish it so everything pretty much worked out like it was supposed to.
Good deal Mike! Always good to see a car go to a good home! It'll still be around so you can watch it progress, too!
"...Good deal Mike! Always good to see a car go to a good home! It'll still be around so you can watch it progress, too! ....."
Yeah, it really worked out great for both of us, he's a lot stronger at body work than me but doesn't like doing the mechanical so much which is pretty much done and the part that I like.
I volunteered to give him a hand putting the Tri-Power back on and dialing it in....and you know that is going to have to include a road test. :3dSMILE:
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Heck yeah!!! Just as good as owning the car except you don't have to pay all the bills!!!!!