Saving Granddad's Falcon

[Luva65wagon]

I looked in the old pictures, and it was slightly different than how I have it now. It still went left, but didn't hug the metal lines like I have it doing now.

It's bad enough that they didn't add a heater control valve to shut off the flow of water through the base of the carburetor - so even in the middle of summer hot water flows through that. It's just not needed except on those cold foggy mornings which are perfect for inducing throttle plate icing. In general fuel likes to be cool. On my wagon I added a manual heater control valve to stop the flow of hot water through the heater hose. Car ran so much better in the summer after doing that. Anyway, a heater hose hard-up against the fuel line should always be avoided when you can. Easy fix, though you'll have to drain some water to do it.

[dhbfaster]

Roger, do you feel like taking the upholstery stuffing and my old gas tank to the upcoming swap meet- is it worth any money for the club? Also- what about the engine stand? I don't have any room for it, but if it will bring the club some money it's a good thing. (Although I do hate to jinx things...you know how that goes. ) I also have some other salable stuff if you feel like taking it.

Unless anyone wants the old hood (tweaked a bit) it's also going to recycling Saturday. It's some great yard art or painting practice for someone...but it has to go. This darn storage unit is costing me a fortune. Storage unit costs more in a year than all the stuff inside it is worth.

[dhbfaster]

One more question Roger...do I need to buy some kind of "ratchet strap" (I'm sure you called it something else) for the suspension, or are you confident we can get it done with the strap I have? or do you have one you can bring?

Meanwhile, I also have your cherry bomb to get back to you...and (of course this could be anywhere in my garage...but) I seem to be missing a 5 point 1/2" 3/8 socket if you happen to see an extra one floating around in your bag...

[Luva65wagon]

Don, I'll have a look at the stuff you have for the swap and advise when I see it.

I still have all the same bags and stuff we loaded last Saturday, so we'll look in them for the socket. I assume you meant 6-point 1/2" 3/8 socket. I've got oodles of spare sockets from a variety of collections over the years. I'll check to see if I have another spare and bring it just in case.

I was using the ratcheting strap to try and compress (foolishly) those hard rubber bushings. If I need anything like that, yours was OK for the need.

I hope I'll have time to get you headed in all the right directions at once.

Should be there about 9AM if I can get out of here by 8.

[redfalken]

Whew....endless thanks Roger.
Saturday is a go as far as I am concerned.
Kenny, any chance you feel like making it down to finish the doors? or help with these last 2 brake lines?

I wish I could but I'm booked this weekend. I'm shooting for a yard sale in a couple of weeks so I'm pulling up my stash from the basement. And am going to detail my old Ranger to get it ready for sale. Plus my poor Falcon is covered in a thick layer of pine tree pollen! And taxes!!!

But next time, I'm there. It's getting close!

[dhbfaster]

Thanks Kenny...I know how it goes. good luck on all that this weekend. ( Taxes? Glad my wife does that.)

[PhilC]

Too much to read to catch up right now. IIRC, Ford's name for the advance system used on the early Falcons was Load-o-matic.

I did like you Roger, ditched the original and went DII when I built the 200 for my '62 with 32/36 Weber clone.

Many replaced the rubber bushings with polyurethane when they became the rage. Poly is great when the suspension components are built to handle the additional stress placed on them, not so with the meager Falcon parts.

As mentioned before, it's been about 15yrs since I messed with this stuff, but if my foggy memory is close, there was a compromise between poly and rubber in a material called "milodyne" or some similar name. This material was stiffer than rubber, but not as stiff as poly, and prevented problems with cracking strut rod frame mounts. I can't remember now if I actually found a correct set or ended up using the more plastic version (not true polyurethane).

Anyway, a few thoughts before I head off to other demands.

Phil

[ew1usnr]

Many replaced the rubber bushings with polyurethane when they became the rage. Poly is great when the suspension components are built to handle the additional stress placed on them, not so with the meager Falcon parts. ... there was a compromise between poly and rubber in a material called "milodyne" or some similar name. This material was stiffer than rubber, but not as stiff as poly, and prevented problems with cracking strut rod frame mounts. I can't remember now if I actually found a correct set or ended up using the more plastic version (not true polyurethane).

This may be what Phil is referring to. From my notes:

High performance strut rod bushings:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Global-West/45...oductId=760572

Fits 1962 – 1965 Ford Falcon. “If adjustable strut rods are not in your budget, high-density rubber strut rod bushings would be your best alternative. The rubber bushings are stiffer than the factory type and have just enough forgiveness to allow the suspension to move without overstressing the strut rod. These bushings are recommended if the car is used as a daily driver and is not raced.” “High durometer bushings will control lower control arm location with limited deflection and still allow pivot over standard factory durometer. Provides better alignment, cornering, and braking control. Easy installation. No modifications needed. Too high of a durometer bushing in this location can cause strut rod failure due to too much resistance in the direction of pivot. That is why there is rubber in this location over other high density plastics.”

[dhbfaster]

Thanks Rogers help this morning...Falcon purrrs like a kitten. Carb perfect now. Strut rods on. Air cleaner on. Holes drilled for mirrors with Rogers coaching, all brake lines on (still have to bleed it all). Heater hose also rerouted.
After the Sounders game tonight I plan to install the sway bar and call it a day.

[Luva65wagon]

Too much to read to catch up right now.

No doubt my meaningless ramblings.

IIRC, Ford's name for the advance system used on the early Falcons was Load-o-matic.

Yep, that's it. I like Spark-o-Magic better tho.

...a material called "milodyne" or some similar name. This material was stiffer than rubber, but not as stiff as poly, and prevented problems with cracking strut rod frame mounts.

Don will just need to watch these. See how they last. I'm pretty familiar with Poly, these were not that, but it might be this Milodyne stuff.

[Luva65wagon]

Thanks Rogers help this morning...Falcon purrrs like a kitten. Carb perfect now. Strut rods on. Air cleaner on. Holes drilled for mirrors with Rogers coaching, all brake lines on (still have to bleed it all). Heater hose also rerouted.
After the Sounders game tonight I plan to install the sway bar and call it a day.

Wish I would have had another hour to give today, we might have got the brakes bled. It was good to hear it purr though.

[PhilC]

No doubt my meaningless ramblings.

Not at all Roger, just too many demands on my time and brain cells these days. Do enjoy reading your posts, always good.

I checked and that material is milodyne. One of the other issues with poly is breaking strut rods and that issue continued into mid-60s Mustangs.

Falcon strut rods are different 62 and later, so a fit issue will be realized when used on 60/61. Check this link - http://www.falconparts.com/ford-falc...-61-18p268.htm

Falcons with a date of manufacture 10/15/61 and earlier require a different busing. Don't know which ones Don got, but my guess is they were for a Falcon built after that date. I remembered this because the strut rods for my son's 61 Futura were noticeably smaller than those on my 62 Futura.

Not that it will be a problem, highly doubt there will be any spirited driving in Granddad's Falcon. Under those conditions, plain old rubber would do well.

[redfalken]

Glad to hear the engine's running like a top now! Sounds like you're pretty close to a maiden voyage around the 'hood?!

[Luva65wagon]

I checked and that material is milodyne. One of the other issues with poly is breaking strut rods and that issue continued into mid-60s Mustangs.

Falcon strut rods are different 62 and later, so a fit issue will be realized when used on 60/61. Check this link - http://www.falconparts.com/ford-falc...-61-18p268.htm

Hopefully Milodyne is good in reality. My first experience with it.

I'm pretty sure Don indicated getting one of the two bushing sets from FalconParts.com - and looking there now they say you have to reuse hardware. I also looked at RockAuto and their kits were showing as OEM rubber on pre-61 listings only. Everything newer (larger) were POLY and out-of-stock IDK.

He received hardware with both kits he had. He also indicated being aware of the mid-year switch-over. He'll have to fill in the blanks regarding what kits he got and where, if interested. I just recall that one kit was, in general, all too big (I think these were from FalconParts). One set had ID holes correct to fit the strut, but didn't fit to the frame holes. This was the Milodyne set and carved easily, so I carved then to fit into the frame hole pockets. That, combined with machining one bushing on each side, got these installed.

So this was a real mis-match of stuff we saw. Both kits had washers and nuts, and neither had the same size nuts and neither set of nuts fit his struts! One set was too big (in the kit we never touched) and one set was too small (or metric?), and it was from this kit the bushings we used - along with his original washers, which were smaller OD, which helped a lot.

All in all I think we pulled off a good Cuban retrofit.

[dhbfaster]

Yea...on the strut rod nuts...the nuts from both new kits were too big. The first kit was from Macs., 2nd kit after whatever that date is...was from Falcon parts. Neither fit. Fortunately I painted the "big washers" before Roger came over so we could reuse them.
I haven't had time to put it all together yet...but plan to when I have a chance to enjoy this investigation. For now I'm slammed at work with a bit of OT lately and probably some business trips coming up...and I want to focus on getting the car on the road and then finished so I can invite my Dad out for a ride on fathers day. I already sent him (and my mom too) Alaskan airline gift certificates as their xmas presents...

I got the sway bar on yesterday...and unfortunately all the other stuff on the non-falcon list trumped getting any further. Hopefully I can pick off the other things on the list one by one over the next couple weeks...