By Tim Odell
After an extended garage stay involving a clutch, shocks, front disc brakes, and shifter rebuild, the Mad_Science Falcon is back on the road in full commute (and car show!) mode. After a few weeks back in action, I can say it’s very nearly a perfect answer to today’s Hooniverse Asks. There has been one minor complication: the day before I was planning on replacing the distressingly old and cracked tires, the sidewall of the right-front decided to bite the dust. On the I-5 freeway. Pulling over (being pulled, really) to the side of the road, I came to learn two things. One, a ’64 Falcon has no hazard light switch. Two, while the disc brakes I put on the front fit under 14″ wheels, they do not fit under the 13″ spare. Arg. Spare on the back, back on the front, and I’m good to go.
Anyway, if you’re interested in looking stylish whether stranded on the side of the road or not, I firmly believe a ’64 or ’65 Falcon is a great way to go. Here’s your chance to make that happen for not a lot of dough.
Today’s example is sporting a swapped-in 302 and “C5” (sic, probably means C4) combo, upgraded wheels and tires, pretty paint and a squeaky clean interior. You’ll lose points for the slushbox, but chances are very strong it’s faster in a straight line. If you want to add some Hoon cred, you could set up that C4 with a full manual reverse valve body.
There’s a day left in the auction, with an unmet reserve at a little over a grand. The Buy It Now’s at $5500, which is more than I spent (but not by much) to buy mine, but only if you don’t count the work I just did. In other words: a dang good deal.
Source: eBay Motors
Update: It auction ended with a steal of a deal at $3,300.
Jeff Glucker
Hope you get the spare swapped out lickitey-split. 13" on one side and 14" on the other probably makes for unhappy spider gears.
Very nice car. unfortunately I have existing automotive vices to contend with or else I'd think on it.
Same OD, just more tire on the 13". The fun part was accelerating from the side of the road to freeway speeds with an aged, greasy skinny tire on one rear wheel.
And I got 4 new tires at lunch, same day.
I remember a stern warning in the owner's manual of my T-Bird S/C saying to never put a spare on the rear or it would fry the limited slip in short order.
I remember a stern warning in the owner's manual of my T-Bird S/C saying to never put a spare on the rear or it would fry the limited slip in short order.
I was hoping that perhaps the C5 typo was meant to say T5, and not C4, but try as I might, I couldn't see a third pedal in there, even though the brake pedal looks a bit narrow fro an automatic, and the shift lever certainly looks the part or a manual.
I know that it's listed as an automatic in the stats as well, but as anyone who sorts by "manual transmission only" can tell you, sellers can often check the wrong box.
The billet transmission dipstick was the clincher.
Le sigh.
The C5 is actually a C4 with a lockup converter. They used them in Rangers and F150s in the early 80s, maybe others.
Yup, my bad: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_C5_transmission…
Some early-80s V8 powered car probably donated the 302 + trans such that this could live.
From what I can tell, the guts of a V8 Falcon (or 260 + 4spd Mustang) were pulled so that mine could live a better life.
Yup, my bad: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_C5_transmission…
Some early-80s V8 powered car probably donated the 302 + trans such that this could live.
From what I can tell, the guts of a V8 Falcon (or 260 + 4spd Mustang) were pulled so that mine could live a better life.
Pretty neat. But any $5500 of mine [not that I have any] could likely be better spent. Of course, there are worse ways to drop over $5k than on a car
$5500 for an automatic pillared coupe? Uh uh. However, I do think the gauges on the dash look nice.
What does a "full manual reverse valve body" do for you?
Going full manual valve body gives you the ability to ramp up the fluid pressure, and minimize clutch slippage, and the reverse pattern is more intuitive with upshifts being accomplished with a tug rearward on the shift lever.
You're still left with a slushbox, but it no longer shifts for you, so you have all of the power robbing benefits of an automatic, and none of that pesky convenience.
Going full manual valve body gives you the ability to ramp up the fluid pressure, and minimize clutch slippage, and the reverse pattern is more intuitive with upshifts being accomplished with a tug rearward on the shift lever.
You're still left with a slushbox, but it no longer shifts for you, so you have all of the power robbing benefits of an automatic, and none of that pesky convenience.
They have the added advantage of allowing you to momentarily forget that you've went reverse manual and completely smoke your trans by trying to do a burnout in what used to be L1. Sad, sad action.
They have the added advantage of allowing you to momentarily forget that you've went reverse manual and completely smoke your trans by trying to do a burnout in what used to be L1. Sad, sad action.
Going full manual valve body gives you the ability to ramp up the fluid pressure, and minimize clutch slippage, and the reverse pattern is more intuitive with upshifts being accomplished with a tug rearward on the shift lever.
You're still left with a slushbox, but it no longer shifts for you, so you have all of the power robbing benefits of an automatic, and none of that pesky convenience.
Common addition for drag racers or off-roaders.
Makes you have to (get to) shift your auto. As in, if you leave it in 3rd, it stays in 3rd no matter what.
Yeah, autos rob power from an efficiency standpoint, but they also multiply torque at low RPM, which is good for launches or hill climbs (provided you've got a good tranny cooler).
I'd do a Falcon. There was an oxidized gray one parked a block over from my house for a while. I kept meaning to go snap some pics of it, but then I'd get home and open a beer and forget. Hopefully it comes back. Damn good looking cars, cheap parts, and simple to fix. I can't think of a better commuter.
Gotta be a drop top for me. Or a REALLY nice wagon. Sedans are a non-starter at Rancho Federico.
Nice example, nice price. I'd hit it.
I'd do a Falcon. There was an oxidized gray one parked a block over from my house for a while. I kept meaning to go snap some pics of it, but then I'd get home and open a beer and forget. Hopefully it comes back. Damn good looking cars, cheap parts, and simple to fix. I can't think of a better commuter.
This is a good-ish price. I still like the black wagon one I sent in more, but not $5.5k more. The Falcon has always been quite the looker IMO.
Hey, I got one the same as that but bone stock with a 170 cid auto and beleive me, I would never let it go for 5,5K. Here in Canada, it's worth over 10K.