Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

[The X Garage]

New to the site...Found it through FordFE.com. My name is Rob Wagle, and here's some pic's of my project. Bought it off ebay-came with a small block, and original crappy driveline. In process of Transformation into my version of an early 60's Factory Drag Car. Finished a Mustang II front susp. graft and then a full cage to stiffen up the unibody. In process of mocking up FE motor/toploader 4spd trans/ 9" 4:11 N-cased Detroit Locker for driveline. Everything got put on hold when I started a website. Will be back into it soon though. Thanks for the space, and Hello from MI...

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e355/wldfab/?action=view&current=DSC04965.jpg

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e355/wldfab/?action=view&current=XGarageIMG_07151.jpg

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e355/wldfab/fairlanefrntsusp/?action=view&current=DSC04923.jpg

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e355/wldfab/fairlanefrntsusp/?action=view&current=DSC04911.jpg

[Mr.WFO]

Re: Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

wow, that is downright wicked. Nice work.

i'd like to see that finished. keep the pics coming.

[BluLightning]

Re: Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

Sweet! The wife wants one of those.

[DanStokes]

Re: Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

Nice car, but you made a mistake putting the engine together. The valve covers are hanging over the intake manifold - let us know how you fix that.

What part of MI? I'm from Ann Arbor, but retired to coastal NC a couple of years ago.

Dan

[The X Garage]

Re: Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

Hey Dan; I'm from just outside Detroit-Near Metro Airport-A small city named Romulus.
Not sure what you meant about the valve covers??? Might have been the picture. Here is another view before I established final set-back for the engine. The motor is not together yet; only a block and cast iron heads used for mock up. When finished it will sport some aluminum Edelbrocks (painted black along with the block to look early 60's). Thanks to all for the positive replies... It lets a guy know he's on the right track...

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e355/wldfab/?action=view&current=DSC04936.jpg

Here is a view of the firewall with the engine in its final location.

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e355/wldfab/fairlaneengine/?action=view&current=DSC04970.jpg

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e355/wldfab/fairlaneengine/?action=view&current=DSC04969.jpg

[DanStokes]

Re: Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

I was funnin' you about the valve covers. As you know, the FE covers seal partly on the intake. Just one of the things that makes 'em unique. I always like the weird stuff, so I like FEs. And Nailheads, and aluminum 215s, and Studebakers, and 250 inlines, and BB Buicks, and Caddy 500s, (etc, etc).

Later
Dan

[henny496]

Re: Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

That's a real sharp looking car. I really like it and look forward to further pics
take care
Tom

[winr1]

Re: Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

That is too cool!!!

Cant wait too see more pics.

...funny..my valve covers hang over my intake also, lol.


Richard.

[FEF100]

Re: Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

Very sharp car. I love the look of an FE. They are just plain cool.

[milner351]

Re: Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

Another FE brother and another neighbor!

I'm in the Belleville area - I'd LOVE to see that car!

Were you selling some FE parts on craigslist? I think we exchanged a few emails if you're the same guy.


GREAT looking car! can't wait to see that thing at MILAN!

Just how much farther back are you placing that FE than the stock power plant? Sure looks like you've moved it back quite a bit - the fab work looks excellent - can I come over for some welding lessons?

[blu65ramb]

Re: Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

Great looking fab work, did you keep the stock wheelbase? nice Fairlane project.. keep the pics coming

[ws6transam]

Re: Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

Sweet car!

BTW, Any of you folks know Dave Wood out of Willimaston? He's a pretty big FE fan but I did manage to get him to assist me with my little Chevvy stroker motor... Dave Wood and Ray Paquette have a water brake dyno setup in these parts for making some pretty fancy FE engines, from what I hear...

[Rob R]

Re: Some Pic's of my 62 Ford Fairlane. "Pre-Thunderbolt"

Nice car...

[The X Garage]

"Prequel" pic's to the Fairlane project... Part 1

Here are some pic's of the work done to the car already. Thanks to BIGBLOCKMOPAR and Squirrel for the Pic posting tips. I built a Rotisserie to help with this project-Too old (45) to work that hard anymore. I will NEVER do a car without one again. It cost approx. $1000.00 to build last year. Searched the internet for ideas-used some of my own ($29.00 Harbor freight farm jacks instead of Hydraulic).

The project Before the PROJECT...

Let the games begin

Loaded and ready to go... There is something insanely fun about watching a car spin???

Rear suspension removed

Front suspension gone... ready for sandblasting

Cut outs for subframe connectors (Unibody cars-UGH!!!)
Removed just about everything

Inner wheelwells cut out for 12" Slicks

[The X Garage]

Part 2 of the Fairlane Project "Prequel"...

Here's the next installment of the work up to date... This deals with the roll cage. I wasn't going to do one-but it really stiffened the car up. Had to buy a tubing bender to get it done. Pro-Tools in FL makes a nice manual unit. Went with 1 5/8" x .134 wall DOM steel tubing. Here it is...

Mounted the bender to an $80.00 piece of 300# 1 1/2" thick scrap yard find steel plate.
Still had to drill into the cement with (2) 3/4" drop in bolts to act as shear pins on the base

Used a piece of masonite as a templete for the main hoop. Cardboard is too flimsy...

View of cage under construction

Another view of the cage. The Rotisserie made mocking/fitting easier; just flip the car...

Forward bars through the firewall and to the front of car

Out of the firewall and forward of the front tires