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Thread: Out for a spin.

  1. #46

    Wheels & Tires

    Quote Originally Posted by MacDee View Post
    When I installed my front disc brakes, I had to convert to 14" wheels. The 185/70-14 tires I got are EXACTLY the same diameter as my original 6.00 X 13's.
    I didn't want to lose the look of the wire wheel covers, so I found a 14" set on e-bay. Turns out they were from a '63 Galaxie. I just swapped in the center "knock-offs" from my 13" wheel covers. Voila! Fourteen-inch Falcon wire wheel covers!
    Hello, Gary.

    That was a good idea. You have an exceptionally nice looking car.

    The weather forecast this morning said 20% chance of rain. I flew The Wonder Falcon to work and ... it rained at 3:00 and ... it rained again at 4:45 as I was driving back home.

    But any day that I get to drive my Falcon is a good one!

    I just maintained plenty of room between me and the car ahead so that I would not have to stop suddenly and possibly slide.

    The car starts instantly, with a satisfying deep "VaROOM!" It tracks so perfectly that I can take my hands off the wheel and it continues traveling straight. While moving, it steers so lightly that it can be guided with one fingertip. When stopped at red lights the engine idles so smoothly and quietly that it almost seems not to be running. Every time I drive it, I think "Gosh, this is nice!".
    Last edited by ew1usnr; July 20th, 2015 at 06:32 PM.
    Dennis Pierson
    Tampa, FL
    "The Wonder Falcon"

    '63 Futura Hardtop (260, Ford-O-Matic, bench seat)

  2. #47

    July 22, 1963.

    The Wonder Falcon will be 52 years old tomorrow! (The same as Kenny!)

    The car was built by members of Lorain Local United Auto Workers 425 on Monday, July 22, 1963 at the Lorain, OH, assembly plant and delivered to Jacksonville, FL. “Surf City” by Jan & Dean was the Billboard Hot 100 number one single music hit that week.

    union-hall-final Local 425 UAW.jpg
    See: http://danielebrady.blogspot.com/201...edication.html

    Mine was one of the last round body Falcons. Production of the 1963 models stopped a week and a half later at the end of July and the dies were shipped to Argentina.
    Dennis Pierson
    Tampa, FL
    "The Wonder Falcon"

    '63 Futura Hardtop (260, Ford-O-Matic, bench seat)

  3. #48

    Thanks for the link

    Quote Originally Posted by ew1usnr View Post
    Hello, Don.

    Having 14-inch wheel would give a lot wider choice of tires, but doing that would mean buying five wheels. The price of five wheels would cancel any cost saving on the tires. Going to a bigger wheel would also alter the accuracy of the speedometer and require a gear change.

    The general fashion trend for automobiles has been towards bigger and bigger wheels, but I will be in the minority and say that I like my 13-inch wheels. They weigh less, take up less room in the trunk, give the car a lower profile, and they are what the car came with. They may be an unusual size now, but they used to be extremely common. My 1981 Plymouth Horizon had 13-inch wheels. And I gotta have white walls!

    The V-8 Falcons have 6.5-inch wide rims and the six cylinders used 6-inch wide wheels (I think). Whenever I replace my present Milestar tires, I will try the Maxxis MA-1:

    Attachment 5027

    The wheels used on the Sprint hardtop model are 6.5” x 13”.
    The Maxxis MA-1 185/80R13 whitewall tire will fit 5” - 6.5" wide rims. “The Maxxis MA-1 is the perfect touring tire for almost any passenger car. With an attractive design and solid construction featuring double steel belts, solid center rib, advanced tread design to resist hydroplaning, and a stylish narrow (3/4”) white sidewall with serrated black sidewall.”
    SKU: 700403, Tread Width: 5.40, Section Width: 7.40, Overall Diameter: 24.70, Load Index: 90, Speed Rating: S, Max Load Capacity: 1323@35PSI, Rim Width: 5.00 - 6.50.
    See: http://www.cokertire.com/maxxis-185-80r13.html
    Amazon has them for $104.89 each with free shipping.
    Thanks for doing the "legwork" on this Dennis.
    1 tire separated near on I5 at Tukwila/southcenter, 35 mph to Griots
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Vikingblu; July 26th, 2015 at 10:33 PM. Reason: Revise
    Dave M
    1963 Ford Falcon Futura convertible 170ci auto.
    Arlington Wa

  4. #49
    Dave,

    I'm sure others are asking this too... what tire separated? The same one Dennis was espousing? Was it new?

    Saw your car at the mini. Looked like a nice, solid car.
    Roger Moore

    63 "Flarechero"
    powered by: 347ci stroker | Tremec T5 | 8" 3:45 TracLoc rear



  5. #50

    Tire seperation

    Thanks for the compliment Roger.
    All four tires were very old, 25 years or more.
    I thought it was the right front. So "we" swapped the spare to the right front. Drove around the block,,,nope. So "we" took the removed right front and swapped the left rear. Much better. Made it back to about Marysville, car started shaking again.
    Pic is my big brother posing. After the late arrival and fixing the Futura, there wasnt a ton of social time. My apologies.
    After dismounting all four tires, two looked like this
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Dave M
    1963 Ford Falcon Futura convertible 170ci auto.
    Arlington Wa

  6. #51
    Here's what I have to say about that...



    It should have looked like a Keystone cops car going down the road, or something.
    Roger Moore

    63 "Flarechero"
    powered by: 347ci stroker | Tremec T5 | 8" 3:45 TracLoc rear



  7. #52

    Clown car

    Quote Originally Posted by Luva65wagon View Post
    Here's what I have to say about that...



    It should have looked like a Keystone cops car going down the road, or something.
    Clown car definitely! Left front and right rear. Felt like a Seafair Pirate!
    Dave M
    1963 Ford Falcon Futura convertible 170ci auto.
    Arlington Wa

  8. #53

    I can see clearly now, the rain has gone. I can see all obstacles in my way.

    We have had some tremendously bad weather during the past week.

    "Tampa Bay is under a FLOOD WARNING until 6:30 p.m. Stay inside. Do not drive through standing water"
    bayshore_flood_small.jpg
    dale mabry & henderson.JPG
    South Dale Mabry.jpg

    But.... there is only a 20% chance of rain tomorrow so I will get to drive The Wonder Falcon to work tomorrow morning!

    I'm doing the happy bannana dance.
    Last edited by ew1usnr; August 4th, 2015 at 06:39 PM.
    Dennis Pierson
    Tampa, FL
    "The Wonder Falcon"

    '63 Futura Hardtop (260, Ford-O-Matic, bench seat)

  9. #54
    We're all under the impression that at some point all of Florida will be under water. Is that not true?

    Roger Moore

    63 "Flarechero"
    powered by: 347ci stroker | Tremec T5 | 8" 3:45 TracLoc rear



  10. #55
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Federal Way
    Posts
    906
    Looks like a boat might be more appropriate!
    Don Bartlett
    Federal Way, WA
    61 Four Door Sedan
    144-6, 3 on the tree



  11. #56

    Exploring

    The weather finally cleared (for a couple of days) and I drove the perfectly running, instantly responsive, whisper quiet, silky smooth Wonder Falcon to work yesterday.

    I took a slight detour on the way home to look at something. The Falcon makes it fun to go driving just for the heck of it.
    1-IMG_1951.jpg

    This main road passes right in front of this place, but it is behind a fence. You have to to turn off onto another road before you reach it in order to get to it. It makes it a bit confusing to find the place, even though it is plainly visible from the highway.
    2-IMG_1952.jpg

    A friend at work told me that it had used to be a bait and tackle shop, but it had not been open for a long time. No one was there when I visited, but it looks like maybe someone want to make a souvenir shop out of it (?). They have put a lot of work into the place. Look at the painted hand prints on the driveway surface.
    3-IMG_1953.jpg
    Dennis Pierson
    Tampa, FL
    "The Wonder Falcon"

    '63 Futura Hardtop (260, Ford-O-Matic, bench seat)

  12. #57
    I wonder how many boat owners in the town have said over the years, "Dang-it! Someone stole my floats again....

    Good to see it drying out enough for you. Erica skirted you it appears. I hope to finally take my Ranchero "Out for a spin" too this weekend after all the work it's seen. Weather is supposed to be somewhat cooperative for the long Labor Day weekend. Not 100%, but you take what you get.
    Roger Moore

    63 "Flarechero"
    powered by: 347ci stroker | Tremec T5 | 8" 3:45 TracLoc rear



  13. #58

    Crotons

    A guy at work gave me a wild coffee plant from his back yard.
    See: http://naples.floridaweekly.com/news...doors/033.html

    My wife and I went to Loews after I got home from work in order to get a bag of potting soil in which to plant the coffee plant. While at Lowes my wife added three large crotons into the cart.

    croton.png

    I said "You do remember that we drove the Falcon?" She said "They will fit!"

    The crotons were too tall for the trunk so I tilted the passenger side front seat forward and two of the plants went on the floor behind it and one on the floor in front. My wife sat in the back seat on the left.

    That was the first time since I have had the car that someone rode in the back seat and used the rear seat belts that I had added.
    Last edited by ew1usnr; September 10th, 2015 at 03:13 AM.
    Dennis Pierson
    Tampa, FL
    "The Wonder Falcon"

    '63 Futura Hardtop (260, Ford-O-Matic, bench seat)

  14. #59
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    1,430
    Interesting:

    Wild coffee berries were once used as a coffee substitute even though they do not contain caffeine. The plant produces the chemical compound dimethyltryptamine, which is hallucinogenic.

    Kenny and I work for a little coffee company based in Seattle - sounds like this would add something unique to the Latte.

    Jeff Watson
    Seattle, WA
    '63 Tudor Wagon (170 - 3 spd.)

  15. #60

    Really "Wild" Coffee

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff W View Post
    Kenny and I work for a little coffee company based in Seattle - sounds like this would add something unique to the Latte.
    Hello, Jeff and Kenny.

    I read a bit more and found the following:

    METHOD OF PREPARATION: Flesh of the seed is edible raw, seeds can be roasted and ground for a black drink that may give you a headache.

    A woman said that her dog ate a lot of the berries and: "... for a moment she was unsteady, then suddenly took off to run wildly for a few minutes, very out of character. She finally drank deeply (water) and started coming out of it."
    Dennis Pierson
    Tampa, FL
    "The Wonder Falcon"

    '63 Futura Hardtop (260, Ford-O-Matic, bench seat)

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