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Drag Racing Discussions => Gassers => Topic started by: opa1 on November 13, 2019, 10:18:37 AM

Title: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on November 13, 2019, 10:18:37 AM
After selling my FED, I needed something to keep me busy. I bought this a few months ago. I intend to build a street legal ride with a mild SBC. Going to keep it very simple and use what old parts I have in the shop. Some will be period correct and some won't.
I found a 8.5 posi rear with 3.42 gears so I used it. Installed with Competition Engineering slapper bars and fresh shocks. Still lots to do.
Working on front now.

  I'm guessing no one is allowed to post to this thread. Not sure what happened.   :(
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on November 13, 2019, 12:23:00 PM
Nice.
I like Falcons.
Mine '64 Sprint had a 240 ci six. Ran 13s.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on November 13, 2019, 12:55:41 PM
This one would of had a 144 or 170 six in it. I just bought the body. It is light. I'll have to put quite a bit of bracing in the subframe area. If this one runs in the 12's I'll be happy with that. Just wanna have fun.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: Roger on November 13, 2019, 01:02:48 PM

Fun. That's what it's all about!
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: Paul New on November 13, 2019, 07:52:43 PM
Cool project I remember as a kid there was a little yellow Falcon that would come to the track with a 4 speed and launch with the front wheels sky high and would go through the traps in the 12’s wasn’t the quickest car but fun to watch
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: jeff/21 on November 14, 2019, 02:18:25 PM
the idea is to have fun! a friend had a 64/65? square body ran M/SA 289 2 BRL. C4  it was wheels up on launch ran not bad fun to watch
enjoy!
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on November 18, 2019, 02:57:36 PM
Front axle showed up today! I'm still working on the front strut supports. Hope to have a roller again this week.   
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on November 19, 2019, 03:36:34 PM
Front supports are in. Also welded the plates on the bottom of the frame rail for the axle shackle mounts. Got it all square and solid again. Hope to mount axle this Friday.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on November 20, 2019, 02:56:05 PM
More progress. Shackles are tacked in place. Going to set caster on the axle and weld it all up. Might roll by this weekend. :)
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on November 20, 2019, 03:06:35 PM
How much caster are you dialing in? I ask because I originally put 11 degrees in my Willys and had shimmy problems. It worked better when I used 7 degrees. Also, I added a steering damper (from a Fiero) for insurance.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on November 20, 2019, 08:44:58 PM
I was told to run between 5-6 degrees. It was also suggested I move the axle forward between 1-2 inches. I increased the WB by 1". I'll most likely put 5 degrees caster and see how it works out. 
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on November 21, 2019, 07:54:58 AM
IMO five will be plenty. The most I could take out of the Heim adjusters put me at seven on my Willys. I had an Econoline axle in my '64 Falcon. It worked well with a similar setup as you are doing.

Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on November 27, 2019, 11:34:22 AM
I didn't make the weekend but, it's done now. Rolled it out of the garage. :) Ended up with six degrees of caster and took off two leafs from the springs. Had to order the cross shaft for the steering. Should be able to connect it all up next week. Engine and trans mounts are next on the list.
 
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on November 28, 2019, 07:32:14 PM
Wow - you worked fast. I can tell this isn't your first rodeo.
My builds generally take years to complete.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on December 01, 2019, 01:51:31 PM
Well I tried the SBC/glide set up this weekend. It's not going to work for me without a lot of firewall/trans tunnel mods. So looks like this will get a SBF/C4. All this will bolt in and 66 Mustang parts work also. Found a 289 and a 74 C4 trans today. 
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on December 02, 2019, 09:07:05 AM
I guess that's one advantage to having the distributor in the front of the motor. Now check out the late model 5.0 Fox bodied Mustang twin sump oil pans to get needed clearance for the front axle.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on December 09, 2019, 08:30:41 PM
Well I bought a 289/C4 and tried the fit. The exhaust port was very close to the steering box. I tried a few sets of 65/66 Mustang headers but, no go. So I tried the 350/350 combo again. This time I got it to work without cutting the firewall. The crossmember I ordered for the C4 made the 350/350 combo fit.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on January 11, 2020, 12:34:40 PM
Small update. Built and installed the subframe connectors. Also have all the motor mounts installed and welded in place. I found a 283 engine and I built a fresh 350THM. Getting closer. lol.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on February 11, 2020, 09:42:49 AM
283 is done. Flattop with small Compcams 260H. Weiand 8004/eddy 1405 for now. I have a edle C4B I'll install later. I need to finish the rear quarter cut outs. Still looking on how I'm going to do it. :)
 
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on February 11, 2020, 11:57:38 AM
I need to finish the rear quarter cut outs. Still looking on how I'm going to do it. :)

I much prefer that a small flare be used on the rear wheel well cutouts. Although many racers just took a sawzall / torch / cutoff wheel to the quarters and called it done, it would be cleaner looking / safer / structurally better if a flare was added to the cutout.

Lots of times guys just bolted a circular piece of plywood to the hub to use as a template.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on February 11, 2020, 09:29:14 PM
I have them cut. Just need to figure out how I'm going to join the inner fender to the outer. I've been looking at a bunch of different ways to do it. I'd like to match the rear flare to the front fenders.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on February 14, 2020, 08:57:51 PM
Started on the quarter panels. Should be done tomorrow.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on February 20, 2020, 10:07:45 AM
Finished up the joining of the inner fender with the outer. Sealed it up and primer. Drive train install coming up.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on February 22, 2020, 03:58:02 PM
Engine and transmission in today!
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: Roger on February 22, 2020, 04:24:27 PM
Lookin' good!
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on March 15, 2020, 02:04:28 PM
First fire of the engine today! Ran it for 20 minutes to break in the cam. Ran cool 160 degrees and held a study 45 lbs. pressure for the break in period. I'm happy! No leaks, oil, trans fluid or water. Just brakes, front shocks and a throttle pedal left to do before driving.
 
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on April 09, 2020, 10:37:44 AM
Slow progress lately. I have the lights working. Took the original harness and modified it for what I wanted to keep in the circuit. Also finished the battery box. I haven't bolted on the front fenders yet. Still have to do the brakes.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on May 14, 2020, 04:26:58 PM
Drove the bomb today. Still needs lots of work. At least its moving at this point. :)
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on June 08, 2020, 02:28:44 PM
Falcon is driving. The shifter is junk as are the rear axle seals. Ordered a set of c-clip eliminators, 4:10 gears and a pro ratchet shifter. I also installed new rear springs. Now the slapper bars need to be shimmed. I think I'm going to build a old school long square tubing set of bars instead. It's come along way. lol



   
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on June 12, 2020, 01:21:32 PM
4:10 gears are in. C-clip eliminators and shifter. Big improvement. lol
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on June 14, 2020, 08:38:50 AM
First road trip. Drove to Dirty South Gassers race at Alamo City Motorplex. I didn't run the car at the track. It's not quite ready yet.

Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: Paul New on June 14, 2020, 08:17:07 PM
Congratulations it’s on the road
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on June 14, 2020, 10:16:51 PM
Thanks! You don't know how many times I just wanted to give up.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: Paul New on June 15, 2020, 11:22:44 AM
I can only imagine I have a couple of long term projects and sometimes I just wonder what am I doing lol
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on June 15, 2020, 12:54:42 PM
From roller to road worthy in seven months. That's fast. Congratulations. My builds take years.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on June 18, 2020, 11:39:22 AM
Thanks all. I had a small grease leak. Fixed that today. Also had driveshaft cut down a inch. The yoke was to close. I added some small Dynamax  Mufflers to the collectors. It's still loud but not so shrill. Going to drive it some and see what else comes up! :)
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on June 21, 2020, 10:55:38 AM
Did some sanding work today. Time to clean it up some. :) Made in the USA!
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on July 18, 2020, 11:46:05 AM
Scored a small journal 327 today. It has about  .125 forged dome pistons and a set of chevy 186 heads. This should work good with my CB4 intake and solid cam. :)
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on August 02, 2020, 01:56:49 PM
Tore the 327 down this week. It's in very good shape. Standard bore, crank, all in great shape. Factory steel forged crank , rods and pistons. It's the L79 short block. It had a Lunati solid lifter cam in it. I called Lunati to id it but they couldn't find the lobe profile or didn't want to look.  The numbers on the gear side are DPA2, 320, 112. The back side has D294. If anyone has a old Lunati catalog, maybe you can find it. I'm sure it's at least 30 years old.
Took the 186 heads apart and sent to machine shop to get blasted and checked for cracks. If they are good, I'll pocket port and use them. I'm sure they will need new valves and guide work.   
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: opa1 on August 18, 2020, 11:31:17 AM
Got the parts back from machine shop. Heads were good but, needed all new guides, valves. Block was tanked and new cam bearings installed. I cleaned all the threads today and honed the lifter bores. It's almost time to assemble it.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: Paul New on August 18, 2020, 09:15:13 PM
Is it a Chevy II L79 block if it is, it’s worth some big bucks
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: Roger on August 30, 2020, 11:55:01 AM
Looking good:) Doesn't appear to be a Chevy II v-8 block, they all had a recessed oil filter mounting flange cast into the block.
Title: Re: 61 Falcon
Post by: Paul New on August 30, 2020, 04:07:17 PM
Is it a Chevy II L79 block if it is, it’s worth some big bucks
The id pad has some numbers on it. I looked at all the block id sites. Couldn't find the number/letters that mine has on it. Someone might have decked it and re-stamped, not sure. It does have all GM parts in it.

Have most of the engine put back together. Stopped here today.

It’s not a Chevy II block I can tell by the oil filter boss.  Looks like a good find though