Ford FalconFord Falcon - With standard features such as the exhilarating 6-cylinder Barra 182 engine, Control Blade IRS (sedan only), Sequential Sports Shift (on the optional automatic transmission) and an Intelligent Safety System which boasts a multitude of advanced safety features, the Falcon XT is not only a driver's car. It's also a car that the whole family can enjoy.
Cool thread. I'm getting ready to do the same on my 63 convertible. Without the power steering but with the disc brake rear. Also you're right, the Falcon IS 2" narrower than the Mustang and the Granada. Looks like your car hasn't seen much rust. Good lookin ride.
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32 five window, 63 Falcon conv., 65 2+2, 66 Mustang conv. ( what's left of it), 67 Cougar, 72 Ranchero GT, 76 High-boy, 94 Lincoln Mk VIII.
well after looking at the gloss black in the engine bay for a few days, I decided i didnt line it, everyone does gloss black or satin black. so i tried something new and I really like it. its called American Accents Stone. I got it at Home Depot. its black with some white specks in it. the top pic is more true color than the second one of the core support.
then i took the brake/clutch peddle assembly out of the car and cut off the clutch peddle with a part off wheel. and cleaned and greesed the brake pivot pin. the re-installed it and bolted on the new new 67 Maverick master cyl.
I had to use the orriginal rod for the m/c cus the new one supplied with the maverick m/c was too long.
then it was on to bending new brake lines. this is the passenger side and the hard line and flex line connect just under the spring.
thats all i got done today, when i finish up the brake lines, ill post some more pics. I should have the new wheels and tires this week too.
After looking over the pics here are some comments:
Please indicate the WIDTH of the Granada axle housing from FLANGE to FLANGE vs the same measurement of the Falcon unit.
I was told the Granada unit is an inch plus wider then the Falcon which will cause some clearance problems between the tires and inner wheel well. Yet your axle appears to be narrower then the Falcon's. The 63 1/2 hardtop which I talked the owner through the V-8 swap has a "Granada", or at least that's what he calims, and he had to resort to reverse offset wheels (more common to today's market because of FWD cars) to solve the clearance problem in his stock wheel wells.
I honestly can't say as I always use the narrower V-8 Maverick/Comet axle. I'm asking about your axle to obtain information, PLEASE, no one read I'm stating this conversion is not the way to go as that is NOT what I am stating
What size ring gear is in your Granada axle? A true 9" or 9 3/4 "?
Again, from the above mentioned 63 swap, I discovered that the "Granada" axle used was a strang 9 3/4" ring gear. There are only two ratios available from the factory for this axle vs the large number of ratios being offered for the 9" Ford.
Engine - You are going to need to replace that drive pulley on the crankshaft as it won't fit with the stock Falcon radiator position. Length of water pump nose may also be too long.
The water pump problem is solved with a short nose pump (talk to the counter person at a REAL car parts place that will cross index parts, not "What color is the passenger seat"-type that can only sell you what the computer calls for).
Pay attention to the thickness of the aluminum fan spacer, Ford made many different thickness for many applications (trucks and Mustangs used thick spacers, Falcon/Fairlane thin, etc.)
You will have to comb the salvage yards for the narrow pulley. I managed to find one from a non-power steering car (302 cid engine), as I recall it was a Fairmont. Ford made the correct part but you need to have a working knowledge of the applications to track the correct part down in the salvage yard. THERE IS NO NEED TO MODIFY ANY PART IN A SMALL BLOCK FORD INTO PRE-66 FALCON S FORD MADE THE CORRECT SIZED/FIT PART AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER
Steering arms:
Note that your steering arms are a different length then the Falcon's. This has an indirect effect on the correct length of the steering arm on the steering box AND the idler arm. The tie rod ends "should" be in a straigh line with the center link so that each wheel moves at the same speed when turning the steering wheel READ: GEOMETRY.
I remember when everyone thought it was cool to install a Shlbey 350 idler arm without installing the same length steering arm. They couldn't figure out why the front tires wore out so quickly/car turned better one way then the other. Then again most people never noticed, they just turned up the radio...
U bolt retainer plates. You did the right thing movong the shock tab. You could have moved the upper shock mount too but it's more work.
NOTE for people following this as a guide for a 63 engine swap: The 63 Falcon/Comet have a 2" WIDE REAR SPRING, THE 64/65 fALCON AND 64-66 Mustang HAVE A WIDER SPRING. If you follow thie above mods you will need to weld spacers to the retainer plates that will prevent the U bolt assembly from moving side-to-side on the narrower spring.
I see your engine has the "correct" driver's side exhust manifold for the Falcon chassis. or let's at least say one that fits better then the stright back manifolds ound on Fairlanes and Mustangs.
Other then that your conversion is very close to the ones I have performed.
Seems like my server didn't give me the full content of your posts before I sent a post. Here is something I noticed when I finally got to see page 3 and 4:
Diameter of Granada brake rotor hubs - Yes, they are larger. Ford stopped using the Falcon sized hubs during the 1970's. That's why you never see the 68 Fairlane GT wheels (unmodified) on later Ford axles.
Note: The Aussies had a factory production wheel that resembles the Fairlane GT with the correct sized center hole for the larger/later hubs. BIG seller in OZ and NZ, even modified GM products wore the Ford designed wheel, just the reverse of here in the States!
PLEASE DO NOT ENLARGE THE CENTER HOLE OF YOU EARLY WHEELS IF THEY WON'T FIT THE LATER AXLES. IT IS AN UNSAFE PRATICE!!!.
The car wheel DOES NOT ride on the wheel lugs, no matter how many people think so. The weight of the car is suppose to ride on the center hub by design. In many places, like OZ, NZ, and yes even U.S. FEDERAL LAW, your car can not pass inspection if the center of the wheel has been altered to fit larger hubs or if the center of the whell does not ride on the hub.
Seems the above message was post as I was writing the below.
NEVER increase the hole size of a stamped steel wheel, especially if it removes the stamped inflange.
Aluminum wheels, generally speaking it depends on the amount of material left after the cut. If in doubt, DON'T as there is a potential structual problem.
And no, I am not a "know it all", just someone who has an understanding of WHY parts were designed the way they are. It also helped to take a "Strength of Materials" class in college.
(Oops! have to continue later, late for an appointment)
Last edited by yank with ute; 04-19-2008 at 09:28 AM..
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