Best Ford Falcon Engine Ever???
So I am starting with a 63 Ford Falcon base model with the 144 ci straight six and the (three on the tree) manual transmission. It would seem to me that starting to build the car the way you want you would start with the powertrain.
SIDE NOTE: Might I kindly suggest that some of the experienced and super wise people of the Falcon Forum start a "how to restore" section on the site. I think it would draw a lot of interest and input and I'm sure you have learned tons of stuff through the years that would help us new guys.
I would like to put a V8 in my car and it looks to me like the 260 cid is the largest they put in it originally. I have also heard you can put a 289, 302 and I think I saw someone in the forum with a 347 stroker! So whats the best or most reliable, powerful engine that will fit the standard mounts of the car?
(please forgive in advance any stupid or unlearned things I might have accidentally injected as I admit to being new)
Bring on the wisdom!
Hoping for lots of feed back/opinions,
Dan
Best Ford Falcon Engine Ever???
I am glad to see you want to build a good street worthy Falcon and since I have accomplished about all you are wanting to do myself (help from all here, especially Roger) I will give my pointers.
What Roger is telling you is from vast years (old dude) of doing all of these tasks. There is no one with more experience anywhere around here. People from all over the country read this forum to get this knowledge.
The main concern that you must deal with is cost. I installed my own IFS system from Heidts. I had to buy a welder, and the system. I cut out the shock towers, welded the system in and it wasn't what I would call a hard job, but definitely takes some work.
I bought a very good high performance 302/347 short block on ebay that was built by DSS racing. I got it for less than half what DSS wanted. I added a lot of things to that engine and even doing it all myself it is above what your $5,000 listed cost is. I bought the T5Z transmission, bell housing, clutch, pressure plate, T10 short housing, cable clutch, etc from modern drivelines. It was around $3,500. I installed it myself.
I welded a rotisserie, did all my own body work, all my own paint, own electrical, built my own fiberglas parts, powder coated my parts, had my brother in Arizona get all my chroming done for less than a third of what they wanted around here.
Believe me, the list goes on and on and on. I just put my car up for sale on ebay a couple of weeks ago, it didn't sell. It got a final bid of $23,000 and that was $3,000 less than my reserve. Even at that $26,000 price I would still lose some money and that is when I did it all myself.
I would gather a guess that if I would have paid someone to do the level of work that my car is at, it would have cost me well over $50,000.
I am not trying to get you to not build this car. Just the opposite. But, bite off small pieces. Take the time to learn and do this yourself unless it's just impossible. Use the knowledge from these great folks.
If you decide to go ahead. I would suggest starting with the IFS and don't go with power rack and steering. I love mine, but most folks I talk to like the manual rack better. You can get the motor mounts with the kits usually. Spend a little bit more and go with a known company like Heidts or??
I would recommend the 302 engine because you can take it as far as you want in power and drive ability. Just make sure you don't want to stay with the 6 before you do anything.
Good luck, welcome and don't get discouraged. You can do this. Larry