63 Falcon Gasser

[Barber]

Well seeing how it's going to be a while until I start on the restoration of my Mach 1, I figured I might as well post a thread on here on my 63 Ford Falcon Futura period correct Gasser build...

I've been doing this thread on another site I'm on, so this will be a copy and paste up until I get to the piont I'm at now.... enjoy

It's a 1963 Ford Falcon Futura, I bought it back the first of the year with plans on building a weekend toy, street/strip car.... It has a stock 289, C4, and 9-inch under it..

I'm building it in stages, focusing on one section at a time...

Phase 1.. the underneath.. subframe connectors, traction bars, wheel tubs, ect

Phase 2.. interior.. headliner, bucket seats, roll cage, ect...

Phase 3.. exterior.. body work and paint, front wheels, lettering, ect

Phase 4.. drivetrain..

Unfortunately I work for a living so this will not be finished over night, but hopefully I'll atleast be driving it next summer if all goes right...

Here's what it looked like in the 'For Sale" thread I bought it from..

So Myself and a few friends made the 8 hour drive over to Illinois to pick it up... Here we are on the way home..

and safe back in her new home...

I then made a trip up to Crites Restoration to order some parts... Like a Hood, radiator, sub frame connectors, Traction bars, and a few other small things... It took me a little while to get it, but I have to say the quality is top notch...

Her she is with the new hood...

I then loaded it on the trailer and took it to a good friend of mines house to weld the sub frame connectors, and Traction bars in, plus fix the tubs... It's not that I can't weld, it's just he welds for a living welding, and I only do it every now and then... so It was common sense to have him do it..

Subframe connectors in.. now time for the traction bars..

Here's the Crities traction bars that's going in..

And that's where the trouble started... I was at work when my buddy called me and said man you aint going believe this, but when who ever narrowed the rear end only cut one side... yep, you read that right... an automotive genius had in his infinite wisdom cut one side down four inches, instead of two inches on each side.... and then to beat all, he welded the flange back on crooked...

Notice all the little sparklys..

So.. I bought a 9-inch out of a 72 Mach 1 Mustang off another friend of mine, which is 61 and 1/4 inches wheel mating surface to wheel mating surface.... just perfect..

While it was at my buddys place we noticed that the front axle wasn't exactly square, so it was straightened and moved forward a couple inches for good measure.. I don't have pictures of that, but I do have a couple video's of it backing out of the garage where you can kinda tell it's been moved forward..

Just for the record, the engine hasn't been ran for a while..




and heres when I brought it back home...

The passenger front fender never fit right so I finally found one in Texas... took me a couple weeks to get it, but I've got it on and started body work....

and It's amazing how much better the body lines all line up with the new fender too...

Picked up a couple front wheels that better suit the car...

then I got the headliner in...

And then got the roll cage is finished... (incase your wondering, those are paper clip like things holding the head liner from going anywhere while I haul it without the windows)

Then after all of that was done, I took it another buddy of mines place to get some color on it...

and back home in my garage...

Next set is to get it lettered up in old school brush strokes... which should really set it off.... I also talked to Phil Bonner Jr. and he gave me permission to run his dads famous logo on my door to honor his father that recently passed away.... I'm sure you all know who Phil Bonner is ??

Here's basiclly what the lettering will look like (don't make fun of my drawring skills)

and the last picture for now is of the view from the driver seat...

Now unfortunately all progress has pretty much stopped until I go back to work... The refinery I was working at went on strike, and I'm a union man so I refused to cross the picket line and kinda lost my job... oh well...

 

[sicndhed]

Car = very cool.

Lost job= not so cool but I hope you find something you like better.

 

[DK73]

Cool CarB-) Sad that you lost your job! I'm hoping that you soon get a New one ;-) Regards Lars DK73

 

[Barber]

Thanks guys... Not really a big deal about the job part, I'm a construction worker so I'm use to being laid off here and there... I just wasn't expecting this time...

 

[Luke]

That's cool and then some. Really dig it.

No job no dough not cool.

 

[Boss1Ray]

Good luck on the job hunt.

Here's a related pic I found a week ago>



Ray

 

[sicndhed]

Looks like maybe the green car needs rings....unless it's got a sbc in there. They tend to smoke a bit till they warm up :angel:

 

[Barber]

Finally got it lettered.... now I just have to finish the engine and get it in it...

 

[Luke]

Looking good love it.

 

[timachone]

Cool car, nice build and a top look - I like it ::thumb::

 

[Barber]

Thanks guys.... preciate it..

 

[sicndhed]

Darn, that looks great!

 

[Barber]

Thank ya sir...

 

[Luke]

What's going in the pointy end any ideas yet, I vote SOCH 427 jokes well only if you dont have 1

 

[Barber]

lol... I wish I had a sohc... It's getting a destroked 390.... 390 with a cut down 361 steel crank, I forget what rods, pop up pistons, 427 Middle Riser cam (324/324 dur, 525/525 lift), 428CJ heads, old school 2x4 intake, topped off with Carter AFB's.... end up with right at 366 cubic inches... should be a screaming little engine....

 

[sicndhed]

That really sounds perfect but you're killing me. My gasser project stalled after getting the axle in. I need to get back on it.

Keep the progress shots comming. I'll be living through yours for a while longer.

 

[Barber]

Don't get to jealous.... I didn't do this overnight.. I've been working on this one for better than two and a half years, and there were times I never thought it would be anywhere near the point it is now.....

But, I already have the short block built at my buddies shop in Maryland.. plus he called the other day to tell me he picked the heads up from the machine shop.... and I've got the car loaded down with blow proof bellhousing, intake & carbs, push rods, valve springs, gaskets, ect.... Between the two of us we should have enough to finish it up, or at least make some noise....

Game plan is.. the Ford plants in Louisville are having pretty good sized shutdowns next week... So I'm going down to hit one and money up some... two weeks of 7-12's will heal a man up... so when I come home from that, I plan on loading the Falcon up and heading to Maryland to "hopefully" finish this bomb up....

 

[Machman]

Wow , you did a great job on the Falcon , it looks fantastic. ::thumb::

I really like the old Falcons as we had one when I was growing up

I look every once and awhile but there's not too many of them around anymore in the northeast as the evil "rust bug" gets them & sends them to "auto heaven" so treasure that beauty.

A guy last month saw my Fastback when it was out and uncovered and offered me an old Falcon convertible and some cash for the stang, I haven't seen it yet but I'm tempted if it's a solid car

 

[Barber]

Thanks Man, preciate it... but don't trade that Stang for a Falcon..... yeah Falcons are cool, but the Mustang is so much cooler..... and unfortunately vehicles don't last to long around Caintuckee either.... It's rather humid here in the Ohio valley....