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One thing I failed to plan for by using the 1966 floor pan, was the different style of parking brake cables between the 1964/1965 and the 1966 cars. The 1966 cars lacked the tunnels for the parking brake cables the earlier cars had. This required cutting that area out of the new floor to graft in sections of the original 1965 floor on each side.
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Here is one of the 1965 parking brake tunnels cut from the original floor being prepped for installation.
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Only those cars originally equipped with either the 289 HiPo or the GT option got factory dual exhaust. All other V8 and 6 cylinder cars received single exhaust. Because of this, those cars did not get the anti-crush tubes installed in their rear frame rails. With the trunk floor now removed and the frame rails fully exposed, this is the time to put those tubes in just like the factory did, so the dual exhaust tailpipes can be hung properly.
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With the anti-crush tubes installed in both sides, it’s now time to install the new trunk floor. Can’t forget to salvage that original spare tire hold down off the old trunk floor!
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Repair to the dashboard is just about done.
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Interior work is finishing up. The floor pan reinforcements for the dual exhaust hangers are now installed. The wheel houses that had been installed several years ago with the quarters were basically alright, but had only had a few stitch welds put in place to hold them. They were tweaked a bit and then welded in properly.
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New trunk floor is now in.
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The quarter panels that had been replaced several years ago turned out to be a lot of trouble. They had only been stitch welded in a few spots and the passenger side panel came in too much. Everything back there had to get cut to get it to square out. Unfortunately the original trunk lid which I thought had been good turned out to be bent. It may have been bent deliberately to get it to close with that right side quarter panel issue. While at the Ford Nationals in Carlisle I managed to turn up a replacement quarter that the shop will cut and section in. You can see the new Ford Original Tooling tail light panel has been installed too. Lastly, the NOS rear valance is hanging to start mocking up what modifications will be necessary to the quarters to get it to go in properly. Luckily I was able to turn up a panel without back up light holes, as this car did not originally have that option.
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Another view of the back. That new tail light panel will allow the fuel tank filler to properly be installed.
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The last of the original chrome pieces came back from New England Chrome Plating in East Hartford today. 😀
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HEY
Lookin good Youll have a triple crown winning horse when shes all done!!!
Hey, ya wanna try doin one of these ole ponies???
‘V’
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With the shell well underway, it’s time to continue the plan of using up old parts that have been taking up space for a while. I have the original engine from a Falcon Sprint that was pulled and stuck under a workbench back in the ’70s when it was replaced with a 302. It was still under there when that owner passed and his wife wanted the junk gone. Plan is to bore it .030 over, swap the 289 crank and rods for a 302 crank and rods, and bolt on the heads, intake, and distributor left over from a long forgotten 1965 Comet Cyclone. Amazing how we wind up with some of this stuff! 😆
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Ouch, it was an ugly sight when the shop opened it up for the first time since 1964!
After teardown was complete, it was into the oven and shot blaster to get the block cleaned up and ready for machining.
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With cleaning done, the block was bored .030″ oversize and then align bored with ARP Main Studs in preparation to swap out the 1964 289 crank for a 1976 302 crank to take advantage of the extra stroke and add a Canton windage tray.
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