Saving Granddad's Falcon

**dhbfaster** · February 21st, 2016, 11:33 AM

Whew...all is well, but I think it might have been easier at the hospital.

You sure don't feel like you're in a Nascar pit stop when you are there waiting- I was thinking it felt more like a Seattle traffic jam at the time, but looking back, it's pretty amazing how it all got done in a day. Now the work is all in the recovery phase and everything is going fine.

I got a few hours into the garage last night, but have you guys ever lost something in your garage and then spend hours cleaning your garage trying to find it? then still not find it?

Of course whatever you lose shows up right after you finally give up and buy another one. I thought I was organized, but apparently not.

**BadBird** · February 21st, 2016, 03:00 PM

A couple of years ago, I looked for at least three hours to find a valve stem removal tool, I knew I had one, looked in every tool box and finally gave up. Went to Schucks bought a new one fixed the tire, put the new one in my tool box right next to the old one I couldn't find. I looked in that drawer at least 3 times. I still think Carol hid it for awhile.

When I was installing the engine in my car. I had just put it into the engine bay and was removing the lift tool that mounts to the intake manifold. I dropped a bolt, but didn't see which way it went. Spent hours looking for it, had Carol and my son look. Finally decided it went down the intake. Tried finding it with a magnet. Nothing, so before taking off the intake I crawled under the car for one last look. It was inside the engine lift support leg. It had to bounce 6 inches to get there.
That is why I don't have much hair. Larry

**dhbfaster** · February 21st, 2016, 11:32 PM

Yea, just went through everything again. Oh well, Melvins here I come. Someone's hot to keep these guys in business.

Hey, I'm having a hard time visualizing how to cut the hole in the carpet for where the parking brake mounts to the firewall. Can anyone share a pic? Dennis?

Anyone know where I can get new clips for the wire harness gage feed? There like 8 of these things and they are rusty, have torn up rubber and look like a pain to clean up. Pic of a few of them below.

Thanks

**Luva65wagon** · February 22nd, 2016, 10:05 AM

I usually take clips like this, if I can't buy new ones, and pull all the plastic off of them and then dip them into CLR for a couple days. That eats all the rust off and then I paint and then get some Plati-Dip and renew the protection. if the edges are too rusted away I put a sleeve of heat-shrink over it first, then dip them. If they are out of site, that's a reasonable thing.

Can you pull one off and give a profile view? I have a lot of clips I've pulled over the years. Some are in great shape, but I can't tell from your pic what yours look like.

Don't hesitate to look for Mustang Vendors to get parts. They usually have a lot more of this sort of thing. Melvins I've found to have more than any other Falcon vendor though - if you don't mind the wait and shipping. And they do love it when you lose parts.

I search all of the time for stuff I know I have only to finally recall I gave it to someone or sold it at the swap meet. Once I looked for days for my small Snap-On flat-blade screwdriver. Finally gave up on it. Then one night as I'm trying to shut my brain down to go to sleep, which is a very hard thing for me to do, I got an image of where it is. Have not pulled my rear seat out and the rear interior door panels on the wagon to retrieve it. I'm pretty sure that's where I'll find it.

**ew1usnr** · February 22nd, 2016, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by dhbfaster

I'm having a hard time visualizing how to cut the hole in the carpet for where the parking brake mounts to the firewall. Can anyone share a pic? Dennis?

Hello, Don.

I didn't cut any holes. The top edge of the carpet stopped at the bottom of the parking brake bracket and overlapped it just a bit.

Dennis.

**Luva65wagon** · February 22nd, 2016, 03:02 PM

I forgot earlier... I was going to mention on this too.

Because the e-brake cable comes upward behind the carpet you really can't fasten the carpet down with the e-brake bits. It should end just below it so you can feed the cable into the roller and then handle and still get the clip onto the end of the cable housing. You'll need to peel back the carpet to help facilitate this. The carpet should be held up with the kick panels and the rubber donut on the steering column.

**dhbfaster** · February 22nd, 2016, 10:01 PM

Ok, pics of the clips attached. They are not great due to taking them in the garage with low light, but I think they are good enough. Three styles I am looking for:

Syle R: pic 5701 were in a bag labeled (by Phil) "Rear Rocker Panel." I'm not sure, but I think they go in the trunk...? Haven't had a chance to hunt around yet, but if I can find someplace with clips- I need these too.

Two types on the gage feed harness
Style G1: Pics 5707, 5707(1), and 5716

Style G2: Pics 5710, 5711, 5712(1), 5712, and 5715

Hope this helps. I started looking at mustang sites today...so far haven't found them but these have got to be out there somewhere...otherwise, I just have to clean them up like you said. I did that with some other clips and they come out great, but it IS a - "mini project"

ON the parking brake...got it. Thanks.

**PhilC** · February 23rd, 2016, 12:47 PM

I check in once in a while.

The clips in the bag I labeled attach to the pinch weld under the sill plates where the harness runs to the back of the vehicle on the driver's side.

**dhbfaster** · February 23rd, 2016, 11:04 PM

Got it...thanks Phil. Any idea where I can find the other clips?

**Luva65wagon** · February 24th, 2016, 12:18 PM

I have a lot of these clips, but those don't look any worse than the ones I have. I have no new ones. I would be cleaning and painting those if they were mine.

The one with the double hoop is for along the front cowl. The smaller loop is for routing the smaller windshield washer hose, if the car had that option.

Now that I see them I will look to see if I have any in really pristine condition.

**dhbfaster** · February 24th, 2016, 08:38 PM

OK...Tech Day.!

When: Saturday Morning March 5th, starting at 9am-ish

The way I understand it tech days have two sides to it- learning by those who need to learn something (and helping someone with their car) and teaching by those with the wisdom and skills and desire to share their knowledge.
(As a minimum, Roger will be there.)

I'm working really hard to get Granddad's Falcon running before I have to leave town for a while, and basically what I have left is:

--Starting the engine for the first time! (and everything that goes along with that)

(Yes, Roger will be there....)

--Bending the brake line for the dual master cylinder.

--Door locks, and installation of interior door panels

--And a few other miscellaneous things to install that I could easily screw up like the mirrors.

I'm not looking to have a party yet (we'll save that for this summer when the car is done) but if any club member would like like to mentor or help with any of the above or if anyone wants to learn about the above topics so they can do it on their own car...I would love to have the participation and promise to feed you donuts or apple fritters (regardless of whether or not you need them.)

If you're interested leave a posting on this thread or send me a PM. My house is in Federal Way. I'll PM you my address and this will give me a count so I can plan how many donuts to buy...

Back on the clips...Roger, no worries. My clips are all restorable...and not critical path to starting the engine. I can do them later. I do know where they all go because I left them on the old wire harness...

**BadBird** · February 24th, 2016, 10:45 PM

If everything goes okay, I will be there. I will bring my tube bending equipment. Electrical and hand tools. Anything else you need us to bring? Larry

**ew1usnr** · February 25th, 2016, 02:30 AM

Originally Posted by dhbfaster

Starting the engine for the first time! (and everything that goes along with that)

Hello, Don.

Could you possibly video the 144's first start and post it on YouTube? I would like to see that.

Example video of first start a 1950 Mercury in 20 years: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyj7Yluxfnc

Thanks, Dennis.

**PhilC** · February 25th, 2016, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by dhbfaster

Got it...thanks Phil. Any idea where I can find the other clips?

Not really, a lot of these clips are no longer produced. Might find some at places specializing in restoration type hardware, but they don't usually come cheap.