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65 Falcon Convertible


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#1 _LS1 Taxi_

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Posted 12 October 2014 - 07:06 PM

OK, so this won't be to every Torana persons tastes but for those interested, here is my latest project.

 

It's a 65 Falcon Convertible from California.

Stock as a rock.  Electric/hydraulic top that works, 200ci 6 cyl, cruise-o-matic auto, drums front and rear, no power brakes, no seatbelts at all :o

It was imported in March this year and sat in a blokes shed for a few months until I came along  :)

 

No rust that I can find, floors look perfect, shell is mostly straight and has a nice old sort of patina to it (looks like it's been rubbed back with 1200 paper or something to take all the shine off it).  

 

The interior is snotty. Seats are held together with 100 mile an hour tape, door cards rooted/missing, carpet yuck....dash is good.  Convertible top is torn and crusty too.


It runs and drives remarkably well for a 49 year old car.  It's actually still registered in California   :lol:

 

Plans for it are very much up in the air.  As soon as I got it home, the wife claimed ownership & loves it so that may make things interesting.

Obviously, long term, the 6 banger has to go.  The interior will need to be done.  Safety items like seat belts, brakes etc will need attention.

 

Will probably just do what needs doing to get it on the road, then tidy up/improve things as time goes on.

 

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#2 eyepeeler

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Posted 12 October 2014 - 07:08 PM

Nice score Daz, will be a great summer cruiser.

#3 lxsstorana

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Posted 12 October 2014 - 07:15 PM

This thread should be locked and deleted.  He even used the "F" word.  :gun:

 

But seriously, nice car, enjoy the ride. :spoton:



#4 kiwi-lilj

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Posted 12 October 2014 - 07:24 PM

Looks like a fun cruiser.

#5 wot179

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Posted 12 October 2014 - 07:30 PM

Leave the 6 banger in it.



#6 Ice

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Posted 12 October 2014 - 07:37 PM

Stock as a rock look will be grouse with some nice white walls

#7 IMORAL

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Posted 12 October 2014 - 07:57 PM

Should you have sprayed it with something first so your torrid doesn't catch anything. Hahaha

Looks good. Should be a ton of fun to cruise around in

#8 _76lxJAS_

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Posted 12 October 2014 - 08:51 PM

Yes i think the torana next to it will beat it to death when you close the doors on them. Like stickimg a pitbull in the same room as a chook.

Does look like a good car though.
Would be great in the summer for a cruise.
Do Enjoy it mate.

#9 WhaleOilBeefHooked

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Posted 13 October 2014 - 05:25 PM

"Obviously the 6 banger has to go" Well at least you won't get booked for speeding with a bent 8 powering it, So do as WOT said and leave it alone !!!



#10 _Lazarus_

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Posted 13 October 2014 - 05:54 PM

Looks kind of like the mutant lovechild of an XP and an XR.

 

 

Good one.



#11 _oldjohnno_

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Posted 14 October 2014 - 06:34 AM

Love the car. A six cylinder Barra would be almost a bolt-in and as quick as a SBF.



#12 _Macca97_

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Posted 14 October 2014 - 01:42 PM

Great looking machine, id leave the 6, will be a great cruiser



#13 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 14 October 2014 - 02:11 PM

It was just recently registered here too...those are newer series of number plates.


You really should find another shed to store it in though before the ford germs spread to the Torana :P

#14 _LS1 Taxi_

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 06:30 PM

OK, so been busy working on the Falcon these past few days.  Good progress.

First job was to strip out all the old interior and give the floor and tidy up.  No rust anywhere I can find yet. Original 50 year old floors.  Wow.

 

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Then I pulled off the crusty old covers, fixed any broken springs, shot foam and fitted the new red covers.  I'm no trimmer but it's come up really well. Once it sits in the sun for a bit the covers should tighten up a little further.  I have a heat gun if needed but I don't think it will be.

 

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I went down to the mustang shop in Carrum and dropped close to $1000 on new red retractable seat belts for the front and lap belts for the rear.  Fitted them up also and came up nice.  Had to overcome a few challenges getting the retractables mounted onto a car which had never had them before....but got there in the end.

 

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Next job is to fit a B&M shifter as the column shift is sloppy and drops into gear out of park which worries me as the wife will be driving this so don't want anything stupid to happen while she's behind the wheel.

 

I've also got a brand new rear bar to fit up and the boot lock is rooted so need to come up with something workable there.  Planning to give it a service and a good going over then it's time to clock up some km's on the old girl.

 

Cheers.

 

 



#15 _LS2 Hatch_

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 08:05 PM

Mate that came up great!
What did you do to the drivers door trim? The first pic it looks rooted, then walla! Perfect

#16 _LS1 Taxi_

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Posted 26 November 2014 - 06:34 AM

Thanks Grant.
Door trims are brand new. There was no trim beforehand!

#17 _LHSL308_

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Posted 26 November 2014 - 12:05 PM

Just seen your thread Daz. Mate that thing will be cool driving around on a summers day. Gotta love American machines, i'm becoming attached to them watching these American car shows. Might even sell mine and get a mustang/camaro or something. I like those Falcons I reckon they look better than the Aussie version from the same era.

#18 StephenSLR

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Posted 26 November 2014 - 01:06 PM

Looks good!

 

If you have any questions you may want to check out the US Muscle forum.

 

http://www.usmuscle....Forum/index.php

 

It looks like it shares quite a few similarities with Mustangs of that era, it may be also worth joining the Mustang forum.

 

s



#19 DanWA

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Posted 27 November 2014 - 11:50 AM

Nice pickup

 

Turbo Barra engine maybe?



#20 _LS1 Taxi_

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Posted 01 November 2015 - 07:39 AM

Ok, so this needs updating!

A while back I picked up an EFI 5.0 out of a 96 fairlane which was a good runner. Pulled off all the efi, AC and power steer stuff, made up a bracket with an idler on it so I could retain the serpentine system and late model water pump (spins different direction to the early carb versions).

Bought an aftermarket inlet manifold, Holley 600, dizzy, coil, set of headers from the states, radiator, starter motor and fitted up all the bits.

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Also picked up a good condition c10 auto.

Also, as previously mentioned the brakes were drums all round without power assist so after a bit of research I picked up some XF stubs with discs, calipers, an aftermarket 7" hotrod booster, XW master cylinder and a bunch of fittings and Bundy tube to make up new lines.

Then it was time to pull everything out.

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I didn't really get any photos of the brake upgrade but on this pic you can see the xf discs and calipers....just

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And voila! Job done :)

I made up a simple exhaust....2-1/2 out of the headers down into a twin 2" system that dumps before the diff. Not too loud and has a nice note when cruising along.

Done a few thousand kms and it really does cruise nicely. Great power upgrade and it pulls up really well too.

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#21 _Bomber Watson_

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Posted 01 November 2015 - 09:19 AM

SHoulda put a barra donk into it, would have been way nicer. 

Coolest car though. 



#22 GMH-01X

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Posted 01 November 2015 - 05:04 PM

Just read your build thread Daz, nice score mate - luv it
The interior came up great with good satisfaction I'd bet seeing you did it your self.....well done
I like your motor choice a V8 and the conversion done to the engine back to carb, Looks sweet - thought you would have done a clean up of the engine bay when you had your motor out but hey ya gotta stop somewhere otherwise it blows out to a full rebuild.
The Falcon looks perfect as it is.

Cheers Aaron

#23 neglectedtorana

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Posted 02 November 2015 - 08:54 AM

Nice car Darren and well done getting it on the road so quick.
You got a team of Santa's elves in the garage to help?

General question, what is a Barra engine? Engine out of a fishing boat?

I have always liked that sort Ford similar to the XK/P or a mid sixties Galacie, enjoy

#24 _LS1 Taxi_

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Posted 02 November 2015 - 10:18 AM

Haha, thanks guys.

No team of elves....just plenty of time spent spinning spanners!

Barra engine is the straight 6 DOHC thing fitted to the BA and on Falcons. For me, I wanted the old school look and sound...and I think the Barra would be too long?

#25 _Bomber Watson_

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Posted 02 November 2015 - 10:24 AM

It would fit anywhere the old 170s and 250s fit, but yeah there a giant lump of an engine.

Looking at putting one in a mates valiant atm, very squishy even in a tank that big.




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