Saving Granddad's Falcon

[Luva65wagon]

- Be absolutely sure you have the carpet tucked tightly against the transmission hump before cutting the sides. Any looseness will quickly steal carpet from your freshly cut edge and you will see the silver Dynamat showing along your new gap.

I sense a little "been there, done that" in this hint...

Question for Roger - is the 144 pump a 5/16 hex? I thought it was 1/4 and 200ci was the 5/16" based on the ability to install the larger distributor...

Actually, I think 5/16" is the small size and they have a larger 3/8" shaft on the later motors. I had Don put a socket over the shaft and it was a 5/16" socket. I have a couple later-style distributors and will verify this larger sizing, but I think 1/4" is too small.

[Luva65wagon]

OK - Hold The Phone - now I'm confused. Just a quick search seems to call out 1/4" and 5/16" shafts over and over (on one thread of The Hamb, anyway). This added to the oddity that the shaft Don was given back was about 1.5" longer than the new one he bought. The new one fit the pump and fit between it and the block. He didn't get the old pump back, so no clue if it would have accomodated a longer shaft like this. Had us all scratching our heads. I will swear we put a 5/16" socket over that thing. And I think the one I had in my Ranchero and then moved into my wagon when I transferred all that DSII stuff over to it, was bigger than 5/16. So, I'll know more after I look at my spare parts pile.

Looking at Classic Inlines site:
All 144ci engines, and 1960-mid'64 170ci engines, had a 1/4" hex drive-shaft. The mid'64-UP 170ci engines, as well as all 200/250ci engines had a 5/16" hex drive-shaft.

[Jeff W]

That is why I questioned it. The link to the Oil Pump Priming Tool was a 5/16" drive. I think the little distributor is 1/4". Something isn't going to work here.

Do you have to install a new pan gasket when the other one is only 1 week old?

[dhbfaster]

Nice find Jeff! No worries...I came home early so I could work where it's quiet before a 5pm conference call....read this, so I checked it. It's 1/4". No doubt about it.

The long shaft (that we didn't use) fit perfectly into a quarter inch socket, so I put the socket on an extension, slipped it down into the opening in the block and it fits perfectly. I did a double check with a 1/4" replaceable bit screw driver shaft too...fits perfectly. I'll search for the quarter inch version on ebay.

More later...have to get back to work for a bit.

[Luva65wagon]

Yep, found an old shaft from my two 200 blocks and it's 5/16 - so I guess I thought we used a 5/16" socket on Saturday, but it must not have been. Both Gene and Don can attest that I did most of the work on Saturday lamenting about my having forgot my readers. It's tough to see that close-up any more. But all this time I thought the V8 shafts were 5/16" and 1/4" seems just too small. Guess not...

[dhbfaster]

Questions.....

Carpet..Roger, you said in the front the carpet would tuck UNDER the firewall pad an inch or two?? I have about a foot there...it could go way up OVER the firewall pad (tucked behind the heater) which seems like it would be kind of nice (warmer, quieter, cleaner looking, etc.). Anyone done it this way or am I out of whack on this?

Img 84 attached shows the carb spacer and the new gasket (came with the carb kit) on the spacer and the old gasket beside it. (I think it's the old gasket...it looks almost new, but it has impression marks from the compression.) The old one looks like it fits better...and it's also a little thicker. Use old or new?

I can not seem to find a gasket for the bottom of the carb spacer. (Although the parts123 site some of our suppliers like Melvin's uses is down tonight.). Any idea where I find the right one?

Img 86 attached is the heater hose strap for the engine compartment. It is useable, but brittle. Anyone know where to find a nice "as original" one of these?

Thanks as always...

[Luva65wagon]

Ooops - I meant 'over' the pad a couple inches. Hurry-up replying between phone calls. Yeah, that's it.

The carpet will be sandwiched between the heater box and the floor, so that is OK to leave higher, if you want. The bolts for the heater box are long enough. On the driver side the kick panel and steering column rubber will hold the carpet up on that side. The "cut edge" will be up under the dash high enough it will not be seen and should not unravel over time. I have seen some cheap carpet replacements that sag on the driver side over time. If worried, you could use a screw or two just into the cardboard of the pad. Probably not needed.

You may need to make a gasket for that one you can't find. I find it easier, often, to make my own. They fit better and seal better. Most are a little too universal fit for my taste. Especially thermostat housing gaskets. It's a pretty thick gasket, so get a roll of thick gasket material and get crafty.

If the old gasket looks good (no tears), and it fits better, use it.

[Luva65wagon]

Oh, that strap... I make my own. I've made a few for other members too. Not 100% exactly the same, but I think better. Dennis even got one in Florida, if I recall. I can do the same for you.

http://www.rainierfalcons.com/forums...1&postcount=41

I'm not sure they are reproduced, but you want the original (which I might, if I were you) I might try mixing a bucket of hot(!) soap and water and see if it softens enough to clean and reuse.

[dhbfaster]

ON the strap...nice!...but good point on staying original. I'm going to try to do that. I checked it out a little closer at lunch and it's tough enough not to break. Looks like the top side was painted black. I think I will clean it up, try some rubber conditioner, and paint the metal tabs with the Eastwood stuff (not sure what it's called...supposed to look original) and see how it looks. Thanks for the offer.

Carb gasket material...I was thinking about that...cutting my own that is. Where can I find the right material? Also no need for any sealer there I take it?

Generator adjustment (sliding) bracket...(the one between the generator and the water pump) this is another one of those illusive parts like the rear lic plate bracket, but I know exactly what this looks like...just can't seem to find one. I've been through every bin in my garage at least three times looking for this thing. Anyone know where I can find one?

[Luva65wagon]

Making gaskets is pretty easy to do. You can trace them or use a small ball-peen hammer to transfer the shape you need to cut by peening around the item. Then cut. Get some hole punches from Harbor Freight.

Here's a YouTube where he made the template for a gasket with thinner paper, but I usually do the same thing, but only peen enough to mark the gasket paper and then use razor knifes/scissors/hole_punches to make the gasket.

https://youtu.be/HWbNw7moKl8

You can buy gasket material in many types and thicknesses from any good auto parts store. For carb gaskets - no sealer!

Bracket? Have you checked to see if it is still attached to the generator? I have the parts to convert it to an alternator, but I suspect this is not your desire. I may have a generator bracket somewhere, but if I do I have no idea where it would be. I hope to go through my backyard shed this weekend, as part of my spring-cleaning (a little late, I know), so maybe I'll stumble across one.

[ew1usnr]

I have the parts to convert it to an alternator, but I suspect this is not your desire.

I like generators.

It is cool to see the little red "GEN" light on the dash come on at an idle and then go out as the motor speeds up. My buddies in high school would ask why the warning light was lighting up in the Falcon wagon that I had back then.

Referring to the strap: "Dennis even got one in Florida, if I recall."

Thanks, Roger!

Dennis.

[Luva65wagon]

Referring to the strap: "Dennis even got one in Florida, if I recall."

Thanks, Roger!

I'll take that as a yes? I was pretty sure I did, but not sure you installed it ever. Though I suppose it could have been the reason you won the ribbon last week, as fine a piece as it was.

[dhbfaster]

Ok...back to my rear lic plate bracket...I'm seriously on the hunt here..

I finally found a pic of this thing in the parts book (am I the only one challenged with using the soft copy parts book??...please tell me no) and I do remember that it looks like the bracket in the pic attached PN 17A778. I remember it being very rusty...and now I can't find it. I can't believe I'd be dumb enough to trow it away...but who knows. Anyway it seems to be the same on a 62 and 63. Now I just have to find one...

Oil dipstick...so if you remember a ways back in the thread I didn't get the dipstick fitting back from the engine rebuilder. Steve said he had one and he gave it to me...but alas, it doesn't seem to fit. So, I ordered a new one from falcon enterprises which says it should fit...says 1960-1970 "oil dipstick & tube - 6 cylinder" It's 2 inches longer and has the same tube Steve gave me.
(and when i put it in the block, it hits the bottom and sticks out about 2 inches.)
I look at the label on the other side of the bag...it's made by ACP...and it says "65-67 Oil Dipstick 6 Cyl., 170/200." Part FM-EO00B. I look it up on the ACP website and it say...for Ford Mustang 65-65....

So, I emailed Rosie and we'll see if they've got the one I need or not...doesn't seem to be anything else on their website. (Of course...I found it in the parts book...but the fitting looks still different than what I had...

[ew1usnr]

Hello, Don.

I have see those brackets on e-bay before, so there will probably be more:

Correct licence plate bracket back.jpg

Correct licence plate bracket side.jpg

Correct licence plate bracket.jpg

The bracket was missing on my car when I bought it and the top bolt holes had been covered up when the bumper had been re-plated:
My rear bumper.jpg

I had to make a bracket from an old licence plate (desperation inspires creativity). It worked. The bracket hold the light and the license plate is attached to the two separate metal strips that attach to the bottom of the plate. that You could probably do something similar as a temporary measure until you find the actual bracket.

license plate bracket 2.jpg

[dhbfaster]

That's it Dennis....what are you searching on ebay to get that to show up in the search?

Falcon parts says my dipstick must have been changed...I'm thinking that's a pretty quick comment. That post would be more than a press fit into the hole in my block. I need to find someone else with a 61 with the 144 to go check.