Saving Granddad's Falcon

**dhbfaster** · June 27th, 2017, 10:45 PM

I didn't get the steering wheel done but I brought it back so I can drive the falcon this week. It seems at the rate I'm going I'll be lucky to have it ready for next season. BUT, Here for the long weekend on a "staycation."

I put 5o or so miles on the falcon last weekend and the odometer just rolled over 100 miles today. WoW! I still can't believe it's all working so well (knock on wood.) Drove it to work Monday just like it was my regular car except I was having more fun. Sunday I drove over to Ruston and back. What a beautiful drive. Mt Rainier was out and everything.

Man I miss it here. Over there in Ontario what they call "the mountain" is about 200 feet high and the lakes are just gray and boring compared to Puget Sound. Anyway, I ended up on I-5 and got up to 70mph for a bit and it ran great. It was quite warm out- and the wind beating on you through the windows felt just like it used to. The vents down below work amazingly well just like always. Unfortunately I was then down to I-5 stop and go traffic. I did watch the temp gage (picture) go up a bit...normally it has been right in the center or inside the right side of the circle. In the stop and go traffic it got a bit outside of the circle. Fortunately, things picked up a bit and everything was fine...but my question:

What is the point on this gage that I should get worried??

Am I ok all the way to the dot?

I heard the suspension noise again tonight...and found it seemed to be only when I bumped a speed bump. I think I found it- It turned out I left the steering loose where it bolts to the frame...that is rectified now. I'll test drive it to work again tomorrow. Got my new classic plates and the club plate on tonight too. I'll have to get some pics of that this weekend.

Also notice the falcon looks really great at night. I wasn't able to get the dash or interior lights to come on though. I'll have to play with that tomorrow night.
Hope all of you are enjoying the show season.

**BadBird** · June 28th, 2017, 11:17 AM

Don, I don't have that type temp gauge working on my car. My after market gauge gives numerical listings. I used to panic when mine would get to 220 but was told that not to worry unless it boils over.

Do you know what temp thermostat you have in the car? I would assume that if it gets to the dot, that would be 220?? Heck if I know, my response sounds like a dolts answer

, but after hearing the guy at the Maltby show so upset that no one answered his query??? Just have to chime in. Now you know a lot more than you did.

Kidding.
Glad you are getting to drive the car now. Hope it gets to a show soon. Larry

**ew1usnr** · June 28th, 2017, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by dhbfaster

What is the point on this gage that I should get worried??

Am I OK all the way to the dot?

Yes. You are OK. Do not worry about it unless the needle swings all the way to the right and stays there.
(But if a radiator hose breaks and dumps the coolant your engine will overheat without the gauge swinging to the right).

This is a temperature gauge for a 1963 Falcon. Notice the two larger outside marks and the two smaller inside marks.

Falcon temperature guage.jpg

The Falcon owner's manual says that the normal temperature range is in between the small marks;

Temperature Guage.JPG

The midpoint on the gauge seems to be about 190 degrees. The boiling point for a 50/50 antifreeze mix with a 13 psi radiator cap is about 257 degrees and that is probably approximately where the gauge pegs to the right.

Antifreeze-PeakChart.jpg

I have read that "A quality conventional motor oil will tolerate oil sump temperatures of up to 250 degrees, but starts breaking down over 275 degrees."

So, it is like Larry said, if you are not boiling over then you are OK.

**Luva65wagon** · June 28th, 2017, 11:16 PM

Fresh motors also produce more heat and less after they've broken in. I freak out when the temp gets near 200 on my Autometer gauge, but it is true that it is only when it boils over that it is too hot. But isn't that too late?

I have seen such a variety of temps from gauge to gauge on the same car/engine (other 'experimenting' I've done), so it's almost better the factory "safe range" as opposed to a number... that may or may not be accurate.

So, Don, should I mail you that dome light wire? Will you be there to get it? It would be easy to add while you're under there trying to figure out what's up with the dash and dome light, which sounds like a fuse on the headlight switch to me.

**dhbfaster** · July 4th, 2017, 05:42 PM

So far so good on the temp.
Well, I didn't really get anything done this weekend but it sure was a great visit with the family. Plus...I put around 100 miles on the falcon and got these new floor mats for Father's day. (which i found on sale a while back.) They look great.

**dhbfaster** · August 6th, 2017, 06:26 PM

Hi All...checking in. I was just thinking this morning I hadn't seen many forum updates...and probably because I haven't posted much! Then I ran into a guy with a 64 Comet. A two door with a 260. Finally I'm caught up.
I've been spending all my time maintaining everything else while the weather is good up here and making zero progress on the falcon steering wheel.
Looks like my parents are coming down for a weekend in September at the same time Carole and I will be home so ...my Dad will finally see the falcon!