My 1962 Falcon (Martha)

[JLP1977]

Hello! I discovered a card for this site on my windshield last night and was super excited to know that this Club exists!

My grandpa transferred the title of his 1962 Ford Falcon (4-door, 3-speed) to me shortly before he passed away last summer, and I had it trailered from his home in Pittsburgh all the way to Seattle. It took a good amount of money to get the old girl up and running, but mechanically, she's pretty sound now. Definitely still a fixer-upper, as the radio, defroster, and heater don't work, and the paint could use some retouching in a few spots. But despite her flaws, I love this car so much!

The mechanics (at Emerald City in SoDo) who got the old girl up and running named her Martha, and it seems to fit...sounds klunky and loud, but sweet at the same time.

-J

[SmithKid]

What a nice gift from your Grandpa (and what a nice way to remember him). She's a good looking car!

Feek free to keep posting here, the membership is a pretty helpful group and seems to enjoy working with people honestly looking to learn and better their ride.

Do you plan to use your "bird" as a driver or are you going to restore to show condition or something in between?

Anyway, WELCOME.

[Nathan289]

I have a guy that fixes old tube radios.. usually chrages around $75..
It takes him a while to locate parts, but I have 3 working Am radios.. kinda nice though I don't listen to them..

Nathan

[Jeff W]

Kenny (Club Secretary) and I work on Harbor Island. One of our Co-workers live not far from you, and Kenny had her tag you. It is a very good looking car.

[JLP1977]

Thanks so much, all of you, for the replies!

I drive the Falcon several times a week, but since I work out in Bellevue, I still own my more "functional" car to go back and forth in. I can't afford too many extreme restorations so I'm just enjoying riding her around how she is, flaws and all. I plan take good care of her, though, so she stays in good, running shape!

The one bad thing about my Falcon is she HATES hills. You can smell the clutch burn if the hill is too steep, so I really have to plan my routes when I drive her. Is this a common problem in these older stick shift cars or is this something that can be improved?

Also have a few spots on the exterior that could use some sanding down and retouching. I'll post some pics later to show the extent. Is this easy to do cheaply (can I do it myself?). I have the old can of paint my Grandpa had mixed (he repainted it the original color), but there's barely any left now. Is car paint similar to wall paint, as in you can take a swatch someplace and have a color custom mixed?

I would love to get the radio fixed! Any contact info would be appreciated!

Thanks again! Glad to be here and have a source of help and support for my car!

J

[Jeff W]

It's not normal to have a clutch burning smell. It could be either you are still getting used to driving a stick and slip it too much until you get back in practice or the clutch and pressure plate may be worn out... not a hugely expensive thing.

You can bring you car to a good paint supply store such as Wesco Autobody Supply (closest may be Lake City Way or Kirkland) and they can custom match a quart or may be able to put it in spray cans for you. If you have some left in your can you could even drive your "good" car to the paint shop and show them the can. If you bring the can they can be sure to get a compatible type.

You can easily touch up the body yourself. Just keep the rust at bay and enjoy it. Do a little research on the web or pick up a book on basic auto painting. You will also get some good pointers here.

Be sure to plan on bringing it to the All Ford picnic in Bellevue at the BCC on June 7th. It's more of a gathering than a car show. There are many daily drivers showing original patina. They even let my car in :ROTFLMAO:

http://www.efv8psrg.org/ford_picnic.htm

[redfalken]

Welcome,

Nice ride! Glad you found the card. Bring it to the Bellevue show if you can for sure. We usually have a pretty good Falcon turnout.

My wife had an early `62 fordor deluxe just like that. Except it was dark blue and got totalled just before we met. I still have her washer fluid bag in mine.

Hope to see you at some shows this summer. We meet every 3rd Wednesday at the Burgermaster near the U. Village.

[JLP1977]

I would love to meet up at some point! Picnic sounds super fun. Good to know my car doesn't have to be tip-top to be included... :]

Are the Wednesday meetings only in the summer or are they year-round?

As far as the clutch, I think it's probably a combination of my amateur stick shift driving skills and poor compression. Even my dad had a hard time trying to get it up some of the hills in West Seattle, but as I get better shifting, I'll start on some small hills and she how it goes...

J

[Luva65wagon]

Well, here's what I tried to post last night....

Hey J-

Know what you mean about those clutch issues. You've got a lot of car (really) and the clutch size is only 8 1/2 " in diameter. Really, about the only thing I found to do is to utilize the e-brake to allow me to hold it on the hill as I let out the clutch and released the e-brake as soon as you feel it starting to hold. There's a tendency to worry so much about rolling backward on a hill (esp. in Seattle!) and high revs and not going anywhere will smoke and glaze the clutch surfaces pretty quick. Getting a good clutch set is getting hard as well, but if you stick with a brand like Perfection, you're probably pretty safe. They are the same clutches as in the 6-cyl Mustangs, so they'll always be around -- even if you have to order them. But I am very surprised someone hasn't designed a hi-torque clutch -- considering there are a few places making hi-torque 6's (like one of our members is getting ready to do). Of course, the best move, later model 6 with a c4 transmission.
Cruise-o-matic :3g:

And glad we're tracking down a few of you out there! Welcome[thumb]

[Luva65wagon]

Joanna (hope that's right), Nice to get to meet you and your father tonight at the meeting. I hope you found it worth your while to attend.

Just wanted to give you a few things to work towards to make your car fun and safe:

1) Consider a dual master cylinder for the brakes. We should almost require this mod to be a member, but we don't. But we've all just about done it. Almost. A dual MC from a 67 Mustang with manual drum brakes can be had from a Napa parts dealer or on-line (someplace like Rock Auto) for about $40 with the core charge (you won't have an old core of the same type to return). A few fittings and about two hours and that is a possible life-saver.

2) A Pertronix ignition module to replace the points. The performance gain can be significant and these little 6's can use all the help they can. 30 minute job at worst, but typically 15 minutes!

3) Doing a swap for the gas filler. It can be done without changing the tank, though a Mustang tank would be a plus. I have the filler neck from a pickup, which is yours for the asking if you want to do this. This will require a couple hours if done pretty.

4) The fuses on your car are on the top of the headlight switch (I know, not one of Ford's better ideas -- they didn't come up with that slogan until later in that decade, I guess). So to check them is a pain for most people. There are two ways to check these really -- one it to pull the dash cluster away from the dash and fumble the fuses out and check them. The other is to remove the switch. Both ways involve first disconnecting the battery (NEG terminal) before doing anything. The dash cluster has just a few screws holding to the dash, but you can't pull it away very far with everything all connected to it from behind, but you may get it far enough away to get to the top of the switch where the fuses are. The other option of pulling the headlight knob starts by reaching up under the dash feeling around the switch for this little push-button and while pushing it down pulling out the knob and shaft from the front (what you pull to turn on the headlights). Then you loosen the chrome bezel that says "lights" and the switch falls out the back. And there are the fuses. The radio and heater not working may be due to fuses being blown -- or the fuses blew because one of those had a problem. Anyway -- not fun. Some of us can do it pretty quickly though.

Vacuum wipers are a pain as well. You can convert to electric wipers and I have "most" of what you need, which you can also have. May need to track down some other parts. I'll ask around, but we do live where it rains a lot and nothing worse than accelerating and having the wipers stop. Probably a two hour job for this one.

Windshield leakage is no fun. Fortunately glass and rubber parts are easy to find and pretty cheap as well. I just replaced my windshield, which is the same yours (60-65) for $115. You'll need the rubber seal too, which is about $60. We can put it in... in about an hour or so.

That's about all I can offer at the moment, but be sure to request a tech day as we offered at the meeting. If we can muster 4 or 5 members to help you, and you have enough parts collected, we can make quite a transformation on your car in one day.

Also, be sure to get a catalog from places like Dearborn Classics in Oregon and Dennis Carpenter. Also don't hesitate to go visit Jake in Ballard who sells Falcon parts (Original Falcon Interiors). He's not cheap, but he has a lot of used parts as well and may have mercy on a newbie Falcon owner if you ask nicely. :)

[Jeff W]

... don't forget to add replace "Parking Brake" cable to the list.

[Luva65wagon]

oh yeah -- that was the other thing I meant to mention -- thanks Jeff.

[JLP1977]

Hi, you guys! It was so great meeting all of you. Thanks so much for making my dad and I feel welcome.

Let me gather up all this info (thanks so much for it, I'm so excited to hear that all these odds and ends can be addressed fairly easily...) and then get back to you on a tech day!

I have been taking my Falcon to Emerald City Auto on 4th Ave for all repairs, but would I order these parts myself? Seems like it...

-Joanna

[redfalken]

Joanna,

Glad you and your dad came to the meeting. You've got a great Falcon and it won't take too much to get all the little things fixed.

Some parts you can get at a parts store and some you'll have to get at a Falcon vendor since there only available as OEM reproductions. Of course you can also check eBay and some vendors for New Old Stock (NOS). Sometimes that's better and sometimes it's not.

Check the resources (http://www.rainierfalcons.com/index.php?page=resources) page for lots of links. Falcon Enterprises is a pretty good one to start with.

[SmithKid]

I finally got around to ordering a '67 Mustang master cylinder for my Ranchero today. Can someone volunteer what fittings and small parts I will need to make this conversion?
Thanks, Gene

[Luva65wagon]

Gene,

The 62 Falcon has the brake switch using 1/8 pipe thread screwed into the front of the single fruit-jar master cylinder, as well as a 4-way tee with one part being 1/8" pipe thread. Because this is hydraulic pressure, I recommend a Loctite-based pipe-thread sealant for this job. NOT teflon tape or plumbers goop. You can get the good stuff at most auto parts stores.

First of all, though, you'll need to get two fittings for the new MC to adapt the ports to 3/16" brake line, which is what the Falcon uses; a short piece of 3'16" brake line -- about a foot long; and a 1/8" female to female pipe coupler. You must use the Falcon push-rod in the new MC, so don't put the new one in or your're going to dread its removal later.

You can use the original Falcon 4-way tee that is on the front of the old MC by; a) using the two-sided female 1/8" pipe coupler join the old brake switch to the tee using the good pipe thread sealant; and b) tie the two existing front brake lines to each end of the tee (as they are now) and c) using the short 12" long 3/16" brake line connect the rear-half of the dual MC (the largest reservoir goes to the front brakes) and to the center part of that 4-way tee. So that's 4 connections to the existing tee: brake switch, two front brake lines, and short line going to rear/largest section of new MC.

Now you connect the rear brake line to the front port on the new MC. If the line seems too short to reach, you can get a short section of line and a 3/16" brake-line coupler. I just loosened the clamp for that line at my firewall and made it reach.

As an alternate for the brake switch, you can use the newer style brake switch on the brake pedal under the dash, but that will require getting one of those and rerouting the wiring as well. If the hydraulic brake switch is OK, that's the fastest method.

Hope this makes sense.

[Luva65wagon]

Gene,

Never mind what I posted -- since I didn't connect you with you, but with Martha which is the 62 Falcon Joanna started this thread from. Dang headless chickens strike again!

You just need a 3-way 3/16 brake-tee, a short section of 3/16 brake line, and any adapters to make both ports on the MC 3/16" from what they are now. The rest of what I wrote, sans the brake-light switch part, is correct and the same -- including using your push-rod.

[Jeff W]

instead of the adapters to go from the big MC holes to the smaller line nuts, I like the idea of cutting the old nuts off and reflare using the correct size tube nuts. You can order from here.

http://www.ultrastang.com/Page.asp?PageID=4

I can't remember which two of these three you need for the '67 MC.

Kenny, do you recall?

[Nathan289]

You can also buy short sections of brakeline with two different sized fittings on each end..

I think I used the 1/4 to 3/16 brakeline..
The quarter inch size fits the master cylinder and then you just use a brass three way tee to connect it to the front brakelines..

The rear line I either use and adapter or the conversion brakeline and a 3/16 union adapter..

Nathan

[EdsFunny]

Nathan, could you give me the name of the radio fella? I just discovered today that a 1964 radio isn't going to fit a 1962 radio slot. I've got a line on a beat-up 1962 radio, but it doesn't play. ( I guess I've also got a potential great deal on a pristine 1964 radio... )

[SmithKid]

I'm interested in the "pristine" '64 radio. I believe it is the correct unit for my '65 also. By "pristine" I am assuming it plays and tunes correctly as well as looking good? PM me with a price.
Gene