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

[STINEY]

Take your Falcon to that level John, and I'll give you $2800 for it in a flash. You've been doing neat stuff with it.

On that note, any chance of pictures of current progress? I need a fix man! Apparently it has some paint on it?

[milner351]

no paint, just sealer primer, it's all one color! well, the dash and tops of the doors are white, but they need a bit more attention to be "done"

Once I get some winterizing tasks done, and get the nephews trucks all squared away - then figure out what to do with the 54 and ski boat storage all winter - I'll get back to the falcon in earnest.

I'm going to pull the engine back out, removed the start we have going on the engine compartment wiring, then clean scuff and shoot the engine compartment, chassis and trunk with a gray solid enamel - or "titanium frost" according to the paint chip. It will be easier to deal with than body color, but still look finished, and not be black like every other car on the planet.

[SuperBuickGuy]

How's the healing going?

[milner351]

Not bad, I've got feeling back in the ring and fore finger, but not the middle yet. Flexibility is much better. Been working on nephews trucks and other things. Nephew is taking a bunch of limbs down off a tree by our driveway today that has been dropping sap on our cars for years, finally getting around to doing something about it. Unfortunately it's cotton wood, so not worth keeping for heat, probably haul it off to the dump.

Parting out the 89 GT has gotten off to a slow start, so far only the seats have sold, and nothing through CL yet surprisingly.
I'm keeping the EFI wiring, computer, engine and trans - which may end up being the shakedown power train for the falcon.
FEAD will go in Matt's highboy truck.
K member will go in Aaron's fairmont wagon.


I keep looking at the 4 bolt main boss 351 in the corner that came out of the ranger and the falcon... that would be a fun combination.... maybe some day. Same could be said for the 428 out of the jetboat - but that would be much more complicated, starting with different trans bolt pattern.

I need to get some winterizing things done, then I will get back to the falcon - as I continue to carve out 30-45 minutes a day, almost every day, for the carpal tunnel stretches.

[SuperBuickGuy]

I hate cottonwoods - but they do come down with a pleasing crash. We fell a bunch when I was kid - one drove a fence post 2' into the ground, that was cool

what was even cooler was when they blew the stump out with dynamite - it achieved LEO

[cantvalve16]

John, the Falcon would be sooooo bad with the Cleveland! The 302 stuff would be great for a shakedown setup right before the Cleveland steps into the batter's box.

[milner351]

Cotton wood limbs over our driveway are almost all down - 2 small ones go to. The big jonsered saw is a cutting machine - but keeping chians sharp ripping through this water laiden wood is a challenge. The craftsman saw is smaller and lighter and easier to work on the smaller limbs - and climb with - it's being a bitch. New carb, fuel lines, fuel filter, air filter, spark plug are ordered, if that doesn't fix it - off to ebay it goes, and a small jonsered is in my future. Then to fix the log splitter.... not for the cotton wood - but for the two oaks behind my shop that have to come down before I can do anything serious back there, like expand the lean to or put on an addition of larger proportions.

The Clevo is a tempting upgrade to the no brainer 302.
It's a genuine 1971 boss351 engine, with 4 bolt main block, and still sports the D1Z domed pistons.
I think it was factory rated at 11:1 or 11.5:1 - lends itself nicely to E-85 if I wanted to go there (iron heads).

The Clevo would allow me to keep the same transmission, unlike an FE or BBF.
I have an MSD distributor for it, a couple different intakes, and a set of headers for a 71-73 mustang that would probably work since I don't have shock towers anymore.
I would have to fix the hacked up oil pan that was in it in the ranger.
I'm not sure the FEAD would cross over but it should be close (I ordered the AC kit with brackets for SBF)

It would surely be fun, but if someone really wants a boss 351 engine and is willing to put up the $$$ - I think I'd sell it - I still have a low mileage original 351c2v that would make a good street/strip engine without the collector value.

Time will tell - I have to be realistic about getting my hand healed, and getting other things done that languished all summer as I thrashed on the falcon (Rhonda reminds me of this fairly often). While we have our nephew staying with us - knocking out projects that require manual labor is a good thing - as he can provide such labor in lieu of rent!

[STINEY]

Handy manual labor projects trump anything else............grab that opportunity and run with it!

(just wanted to let you know that my cheapy craftsman electric chainsaw has never given me carb/air filter/spark plug/fuel line trouble to date)

[milner351]

Electric chain saw.... man card please! haha

seriously - I wouldn't climb a ladder with an extension cord unless there was no other choice. My experience with 'lectric saws is they don't have enough power to cut much more than I could cut by hand with a cross cut saw, faster ;-)

[SuperBuickGuy]

I'm betting "he" wants a cordless electric chainsaw for christmas

[STINEY]

The two I've had were suprisingly ballsy. They won't win a lumberjack constest or anything, but will go through a 12" maple in about 30 seconds.

Climbing with a cord is a learned art, no doubt there.

FULL DISCLOSURE: The "Stock" chains that come with the electrics do need the strakes ground down a tad in order to "unleash-the-beast" hidden in the electrics. Hey, did you really think a BangShifter leaves anything stock for long?


The first one died an untimely death when I used it to cut a trench in pure clay while digging out my basement. I knew it was going to kill it, but it was a small price to pay to divert water in a hurry!

[TheSilverBuick]

Handy manual labor projects trump anything else............grab that opportunity and run with it!

(just wanted to let you know that my cheapy craftsman electric chainsaw has never given me carb/air filter/spark plug/fuel line trouble to date)

I got an electric lawn mower at my old house, and that thing is sweet! No screwing with the carbs, fuel, oil or spark. Every spring I plug it in and it goes the millisecond I hit the throttle. I'm crossing my fingers my John Deere is as reliable.

[Beagle]

Electric chain saw.... man card please! haha

seriously - I wouldn't climb a ladder with an extension cord unless there was no other choice. My experience with 'lectric saws is they don't have enough power to cut much more than I could cut by hand with a cross cut saw, faster ;-)

I have a 16" Craftsman that pulls 15amps, will cut whatever you put it in. Lose the "homeowner" chain. A 3/8 semi-chisel without the "anti-kickback" links (cutter every other link instead of "safe" weenie chain) will let it eat. I like them on a ladder because they stop running when you turn loose of the trigger. They're also usually lighter so they don't bust as bad if you drop it.

That said, I have a 610 McCulloch 61cc with a 24" bar that will handle anything around my area and definitely redeems your man card. Your carpal tunnel will be back with a vengeance though.

[STINEY]

Is this being parted by anyone we know?

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/pts/3345178302.html

If you don't end up using it, grab a measurement on the driveshaft will ya? I need a 1" longer shaft or a 1" spacer, just temporarily till I shorten the shaft I have now for the overdrive box.
I could also use the top radiator brackets? Maybe I should go home and make a list...


Does it have the 140mph speedo? That was a mid-year changeover. How are the taillights?

IIRC the '89 used slightly larger front brakes?

[SuperBuickGuy]

that is an awful color....