1964 Ford Falcon

Got so wrapped up into the truck thing from FTE, that I didn't even notice the car section here. Well, here's the deal. As most of you know, my mom was killed. January 2010 is the final court precedings, in front of a jury. After that, it's all over. So, here are the tentative plans to be started next spring.

Moms car was our 1964 Ford Falcon Futura 2dr Sport Hard Top. Man what a long sub model to give something. It cam stock with a 170 C.I.D straight 6, and a 4 on the floor, with a factory Hurst shifter with the reverse lock out that you gotta lift with your two fingers. The car is real straight, and mom and dad weren't too particular about light or dark side rigs, as long as it had taste and style, and wasn't some hack job custom that looked like butt. This car, however, is going to stay bone stock. I know that doesn't fit with the theme here, but there's no place for the car on FTE, and I really don't need a 20 site list of forums in my favorites, so you all are stuck with me, and it. Sorry. Well, I do think, that I'm gonna at least upgrade the cam, and I know I will have to go slightly over bore on the cylinders, .010 should do it as they aren't too bad. Other than that, it's going to be concours perfect. It's Wimbledon White, with the red interior. If things go well in January, I'll document the entire restoration with photos, and write ups for all to share.

Hmmm... A Hurst 4sp. on a 170 straight six. I think that one was a little bit Darkside from Henry to start with. The six and the 4sp kind of make it unique in my opinion.

I do remember you saying something about your mom's death before butt beyond that I know nothing about it. I'm sorry for your loss. I was an only child and I had a great reationship with my parents. I would never have learned the stuff I have if it weren't for the countless hours my Dad spent with me after long hours and travel working construction. I lost him 30 years ago and my mom 21 years ago. I tried to do the same with my son but now he lives 600 miles away. We are still very close and talk to each other every day.

Many moons ago my parents had a '64 Comet Caliente' convertable with a HiPo 289 with a 4bl carb. That was basically the same body as the Futura you have. That was one really neat car. I wish I had it like it was. If I did you can bet I wouldn't Darkside it. Well, maybe I'd upgrade the sound system. I remember that thing was fast.

Later Man...

'64 Falcons are neat no matter what. The local JY guy I got my Meteor from (and '48 F1)is a collector of Falcons. His 2 dr. Vert is a real eye turner, with the same color combo as yours. My '66 Bronco (same JY-was his plow rig)had a 170 cid and it caught on fire a couple times...but it still ran. If I said it before, it's worth repeating: Sorry for your loss.

Scott

PS: since my Fairlane won't be a gasser, I'm considering either an early 60's Falcon/Comet or '64 Polara 330. Last project on the list of many.

Yeah, my dad spent a lot of time figuring this little bird out. When we bought it back in the mid 80's, some one had yarded the 4 speed out and put a 3 speed auto in it. My dad discovered the manual trans stuff by accident one day when he pulled back the carpet to see what a soft spot under the floor was. There it sat, the clutch pedal stille all intact, just pushed to the floor. After a year or two od research, dad finally identified the correct 4 speed for the little 64. It turns out, that it was even a little more dark from Henry, and a little more unique. It was the aluminum case Dangehiem (don't know how to spell it). I don't know, but I guess it's not very common to find that 4 speed in the Falcons. He spent another 5 years searching for one, and finally, stumbled across a '60 that some one put a newer engine tranny combo in froma 64/5 Falcon. Bought the car for $200. I remember it being late in the week, thursday or friday, when we got the donor car. Dad paid a finders fee to the guy that told him about the car. I remember us going for a drive that weekend after getting the tranny, and mom being all jazzed about having a little 4 speed in her Falcon. Man, the gear set in that German trans kept that 170 right in its power curve too. It was all of a sudden a fun little car to drive.

Hey Joe,
I fixed it so your signature shows. You have to set it to show after you make it in your profile. Don't feel bad, I had to figure mine out too. I really like the looks of this board but it is way differebt than the V-bulletin boards you mostly see used.

The '50s & '60s cars were the new cars of my youth so I remember a lot about them. In '64 I remember the 260 V8 being used in the Falcon Sprint with a 4sp. That car you have is probably a rare one.

We had a 64 2 dr sedan with the 260, and a 2 speed auto. Man that little short stroke small block is a zinger. I know we got offered money several times for the white Falcon. Dad always turned it down, because his research led him towards finding that combo in that particular car was extremely rare. Oh, want to talk about dark straight from Henry.....dad scored a 65 Falcon sedan. Mustang K-code gold exterior, factory. Gold interior, factory, and best of all, mustang K-code 289 with an auto trans, factory. Some old lady ordered in new in 65 that way. She lent it to her grand daughter for college comuting, and some yahoo wacked the right rear QP. Dad got it for a song, and dance (like $800 or something low like that) Absolutely mint condition, except for the quarter panel. Even had the factory plastic on the floor, and seats still. Man, that car was a tire frier, and man would that thing haul some serious booty.

I also owned a few Falcons back in the 60's. Had a 64 Falcon Sprint with 260 with a 4 speed, bucket seats and console, a 63 1/2 Falcon Futura, 260 with a 4 speed. Wish I had em back. They weren't very old when I owned them. The 64 had a little less than 20,000 mile when I bought it. The 63 1/2 had a few more miles, about 40,000. The 260's were a little short in the breathing department, but still fun to drive.

I managed to locate a photo of the 63 1/2, still looking for the 64.



This car was black with a gold interior. As you can see, we teenagers in the 60's copied the look of the Super Stockers of the era.

Andrew

Pretty sweet looking old ride. Yeah, growing up, dad was quite the wheelin and dealin man. When we lived in Estacada, Oregon on a 5 acre rental, we had 23 60-67 Falcon, Comet, Fairlane type cars, and 17 53-56 F-100 thru F-350 trucks. The stable is far thinner now days, but man it was cool having all them cars. We had a guy from Australia buy a windshield out of a wagon, because it was a perfect original with all the script, and tinting without bubbles. We took care of a retired dentists 10 acres of pear and apple trees, and got to use his 58 Skyliner Retractable on Sundays. It had every option on it available. I kind of miss them days, had a lot of stuff to keep a young car/truck fan busy.

Yes indeed, those were far better times than we see today. I have a lot of fond memories of cars that my family, friends and I owned. Also a few memories that were not so fond, but wouldn't trade them for anything.

Andrew

nuttin' wrong with the six , and if you get a wild hair you can always run out and find the i believe 250 six outta a fairmont etc. as they were the same thing but obviously a bigger bore and stroke . also i heard somewhere that there is supposed to be an aftermarket crossflow head for the little ford sixes with a removeable intake , on the market . i had a 65 falcon ranchero 289 4bbl that was a fun little ride , wish i'da kept it . factory red with red interioir . aw hades hindsight is always 20/20 .

Pic is an Aussie crossflow head mounted on a sbf bell 200cid. The 250 cid sits taller and has the SBF bolt pattern as well. The early 170/200 bells are different than the SBF IIRC. The aftermarket made aluminum head patterned after the Aussie crossflow is $1500. That's a good chunk of change that could go towards a SBF.

Cool. This one's gotta stay stock though. We had a 2dr sedan that was a perfet candidate for a hot rod, but this little coupe was moms baby, and she always dreamed of it getting a concours restoration. I've been considering finding one though, for myself, and building a little tire frier.

some places this'd get me shot , but i had a 62 fairlane 4 door that was given to me. nice little car . white , green interior , the 170 with a two speed auto . wasn't fast enough and all i had laying around to play with was a buick turbo v-6 outta wrecked t-type i got that'd been hit .....well ......... sold it before i got it finished .

55f350 wrote:some places this'd get me shot , but i had a 62 fairlane 4 door that was given to me. nice little car . white , green interior , the 170 with a two speed auto . wasn't fast enough and all i had laying around to play with was a buick turbo v-6 outta wrecked t-type i got that'd been hit .....well ......... sold it before i got it finished .

I can understand that. If you think the 170 was slow you ought to have tried the 140. I had one of those in a '63 econoline short cargo van. I eventually went to a 170 and it was quite an improvement. I should have went to a 300 six because those things hsd more low end torque than a 302 V8.

Later Man...

now there's an idea , albeit a dain near physically impossible one , a 300 disguised as a 170 in a lil' lightweight falcon ..... hmmmmmm .... wmjoe you seem to like shoehorning stuff in that shouldna fit so get that other falcon out and a BFH and start working !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know about the Falcons but the 300 or the 302 would fit in the old first generation Econolines. Although the 302 took a bit of doing because of the extra width. Maybe in the Econolines the extra weight was not an issue as much as it might be in the Falcons.

Later Folks...

55f350 wrote:now there's an idea , albeit a dain near physically impossible one , a 300 disguised as a 170 in a lil' lightweight falcon ..... hmmmmmm .... wmjoe you seem to like shoehorning stuff in that shouldna fit so get that other falcon out and a BFH and start working !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, I resemble that remark.....that Cat fit just fine, you can't pin it on me, you have no evidence But, I do know what a mean. Actually, I think the next project (besides the Falcon, and 55 F-350) is gonna be different. I've always wanted an old FJ-40 Land Cruiser. A friend may be hooking me up with his Jeep Wrangler, and I've often wondered how much fun a Cummins 4BT powered Jeep would be. Put it on Dana 70s front and rear, with an Allison auto. HMMMMMMM interesting.

wmjoe1953 wrote:

55f350 wrote:now there's an idea , albeit a dain near physically impossible one , a 300 disguised as a 170 in a lil' lightweight falcon ..... hmmmmmm .... wmjoe you seem to like shoehorning stuff in that shouldna fit so get that other falcon out and a BFH and start working !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, I resemble that remark.....that Cat fit just fine, you can't pin it on me, you have no evidence But, I do know what a mean. Actually, I think the next project (besides the Falcon, and 55 F-350) is gonna be different. I've always wanted an old FJ-40 Land Cruiser. A friend may be hooking me up with his Jeep Wrangler, and I've often wondered how much fun a Cummins 4BT powered Jeep would be. Put it on Dana 70s front and rear, with an Allison auto. HMMMMMMM interesting.

Man this is the place for you... You are so dark you are over toastedand burnt to a crisp.

Later Man...

Well, like I say on the FTE. I am open minded. I love em stock, but I, like most everyone, have a very clear open spot in my heart for a wild ride. Depends on the rig, and depends on the purpose. The Jeep would be one kick ass ride though.

land cruiser ???? hmmmmm . dont see them much round here as that asian steel usually rots away in no time in the salt .... me i got too many freaking crazy thoughts running around in my noggin' to pinpoint one i'd relly like to do . but i am really thinking hard on the late t-bird equipped effie thing . can't say as i'd rip my new daily apart for it but i do know of a couple of derilict ones sitting i've spied since buying mine . found a 5.4 4 valve mod motor in a yard 3 hours away in danville , just the motor and nothin' else from a navigator of 04 or 05 vintage with 75,000 miles on it for $350 ........ sheez and i wonder why iz always gettin' in deep stuff ............... like i tell her though at least it aint alchohol or drugs . i can point to my piles of rusty metal and show ya where my money is !!!!!!!!!!!

55f350 wrote:like i tell her though at least it aint alchohol or drugs . i can point to my piles of rusty metal and show ya where my money is !!!!!!!!!!!

That's been my excuse for years too.