62 Falcon - $5k challenge, how will it rise from the ranger's ashes?

[VTJUNK]

You are right about not gaining much with a mini tub kit with moving the rear rails. Look at the bottom of the inner wheel well where it meets the trunk floor. See how close it is the rail already? Lots of work to gain an inch.

As far as the front shock towers go, 65-66 Mustang headers work, some brands with no issues, some with. The towers can be easily modified, no kit needed. trim back your upper control arm mounting bolts where they extend into the engine compartment, and you can cut the two bulges on either side of them, and also the center rib above that. Weld some flat plate steel in place to strengthen it. There's nothing to it and it looks factory.

My '63 hardtop was done this way in 1970 when a Boss 302/727auto was installed. I know, 727?

[VTJUNK]

Also, that rear bumper I had as a spare isn't that great either. I'd fix the rear, buy a plain front, and paint them

[Bob Holmes]

I've been in that hell Bob which is why I'm considering spending the money up front to hopefully "do it once and do it right"

In a moment of weakness (and fiscal solvency) I bought a PowerProbe II to help with troubleshooting wiring. Now I only have to figure out how to use it!!

[SuperBuickGuy]

how fast do bumpers make your car go?

[Beagle]

I think they're for stopping... suddenly.

[Silver68RT]

Did you see that they released the route for the 2012 Hot Rod Power Tour? Starts June 2 at the GM Proving Grounds in Milford. Think you'll have it ready by then? I'm thinking it would be a blast to do the first couple of days. I'll have the '68 Mustang GT ready by then. We could probably get a bunch of guys from work.

[milner351]

That would be tight - but possible? There's no excuse not to join the tour at least from Milford to Muskegon, even if it's not in the falcon, the '54 should be capable as it sits.

[milner351]

Well, now I have a pinched nerve in my back, at work, but moving slowly like a guy with a fused buncho vertebrae.... chiro appt tomorrow was soonest I could get.

After much consideration - I ordered a wiring kit from Rebel wire in TN - for $240 the price can't be beat - got good reviews from a few guys on the TFFN.net falcon board.

http://rebelwire.com/rebel-wire-products.php?cat=Wire%20Kits

If this re wire goes smoothly - I'll do the next one on the 54 - it's part 6, part 12v, and cobbled.... tail lights have never worked right.

[STINEY]

That sucks. One word for you......inverter. As in full-body inverter (not power inverter, though that might be fun to hook to your neck and experiment with?)

Christy bought me one 3 years ago, I went from limping/hobbling to the chiro every 2 months to not having been back at all since the inverter showed up. At $120 shipped on Amazon at the time it paid for itself many times over, and I don't have that terrible feeling of staring back surgery in the eye anymore.

Good on the wiring harness! Having wired up a few street legal sandrails from scratch that money sounds like it is well spent.

[SuperBuickGuy]

a 110v plug and two bare wires do the same thing.... kind of tingles

[Bob Holmes]

a 110v plug and two bare wires do the same thing.... Kind of tingles

roflmao!!

[mlcraven]

how fast do bumpers make your car go?

Hey! Lay off, wise guy! I'd already flipped the air cleaner lid and needed to get to the next level.

[SuperBuickGuy]

Hey! Lay off, wise guy! I'd already flipped the air cleaner lid and needed to get to the next level.

[milner351]

Technically - wouldn't lighter bumpers make the car faster?

Yea - I will be happy to see the chiro tomorrow and I may look into one of those magic tables Stiney - I've popped this area of my back out of whack probably 5 times in the last 10 years - and it's a week or so and usually 3 trips to the chiro before I'm back on track.... Lee isn't helping being overf 30lb and still feeling as if he needs to be carried around like an infant (then lunge at things knocking you off center while trying to carry him).

The wiring harness will be a new adventure for me I've not done a complete rewire before, but I've done a lot of sub assemblies so I expect this shouldn't be too hard, just a bit tedious. Can't beat the price for sure.... already has circuits for additional upgrades like power windows seats, locks, ac, etc.... so I can "grow" into it per se (already have power seats from a mark 8 so that will be handy)

[mlcraven]

Excellent article by Jim O'Clair in the Nov 2011 Hemmings Muscle Machines #98 on Ford alternator upgrades. See the "Tech: Swap Meet" column. You'll be able to take advantage of all those extra circuits and add loads of electrical gimmickry.

Sorry 'bout that, here's the link:
http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/...hmn_tips2.html