Projects '61 Falcon Street/Strip Gasser Build

The one thing that makes my '31 coupe unpleasant to drive is the small radiator. It will reach 210 deg cruising in warm weather and goes upward in heavy traffic. I didn't want to deal with that on the Falcon.
I got the biggest radiator I could fit; it's a 4-row Champion with a 16" X 24" core. It's wide enough that I had to put it forward of the steering box. Behind that is two Spal high performance 11" fans.
With all the engine setback, I would have needed a 2 foot-long radiator hose! I'm not sure I could have found one to fit. Instead, I extended some Afco radiator tubes to fit. It kinda looks like a Flathead install, or maybe a tractor trailer

 

You have an extra couple quarts of coolant through the extensions so in my opinion that’s a good thing.

 

So I have to ask, when using housing floaters like this what do you do with the alignment pin on the leaf springs? I have a 62 Falcon thats about to get the same treatment.

 

Some guys use monoleaf springs.

In my case, the housing floater "roller" is behind the pin on '65-'73 Mustang leaf springs. I moved the axle back one inch to allow more room for the fender radius cut.

 

I got her fired up today. 80 psi oil pressure and no leaks so good so far!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=7756049121118335

 

Ah okay thank you, just seen the video fired up! Killer man!

 

I like everything about it , except my name not being on title .. good job

 

Hell you’ll be driving it way sooner then ya thought

 

It depends how much redneck engineering I'll tolerate Mainly I need to hard-wire everything, re-do the trans tunnel and add seatbelts.

 

3" Porter mufflers are installed. Removing 4 bolts per side will allow it to be dropped for track duty. I'm planning on painting the exhaust flat black.

 

Stand tall and be proud ! She’s top shelf

 

Take us along on the first drive!!! Please!!!
Such a cool car!!!!

 

TWO THUMBS up fer sure!!!!!
6sally6

 

It's running really rich and the brakes are soft but we ride.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=6966552840112547

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=386236117104882

First drive with the wife riding along. Geez, I didn't even get into it!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=427966330188877

 

Obligatory HAMB Alliance firewall tag. I'll have to get the two lower rivets when I pull the headers for repaint.

 

This thing was running very rich. After the test drive, I pulled the plugs and they were black as coal. I figured that would happen. I had to turn the idle screw in to get a decent idle, which in turn exposed the transfer slots and pulled in too much fuel. Idle air screw adjustment with a vacuum gage didn't help. Some will drill holes in the butterflies to lean up the idle.
Since I'm not a great carb tuner, I sent it off to Big's Performance in Altoona, WI. Those guys take your carb, specs and goals and will ship back a custom , bolt-on-and-go calibrated carb. I'll tackle other details while I wait.

Flat black VHT paint made the mufflers and pipes disappear pretty well.


I added some harness but still need to put in the submarine belts and seat braces. I think I'll cut off those goofy belt brand name labels if I can get to the stitches without damaging the belt.
Next I'll try some vinyl cleaner on the nasty seats.

 

Do it cut off any seat belt info needed to certify the belts. But sure u know that

 

Yep I won't touch the date/cert labels just the logo.

 

Black magic marker the emblems?

 

Mr Clean magic eraser or soft scrub and a scrub brush.

 

Tuff Stuff upholstery cleaner is good on vinyl.

 

That came out really nice its a cool car!

 

That is as cool as a cool thing, I love Falcon's!

 

Thanks for the ride. And as expected it, is as cool as it looks.

 

From one Ga Cracker to another...... Thx for the ride along !
Please tell me you worked some magic in the distrib with light springs and (possibly advance limiter) !
The distrib when set up right will allow a LOT more adjustment of the carb. Lightening quick advance of timing and total advance around 36* seems to be the ticket for hot rods....
6sally6

 

I haven't mapped out the timing curve yet. I pulled the carb and sent it off for calibration since it was idling so rich. As soon as the carb is back next week, I'll play with distributor timing.

I had it on 12 degrees initial. These Kaase heads are very efficient and like somewhere between 28-30 degrees total, all in by 3000 rpm. I'm running a Pertronix distributor and my last Pertronix had 20 degrees mechanical advance. I'll likely have to change advance springs and add limiters to get it where I want it.

 

I like to run vintage parts on my old cars when I can. I wanted to use an old beer can for a radiator overflow tank as hot rodders have done forever. I found a 70's Pabst can on ebay and noticed the address said Pabst, GA. It turns out that when Pabst built the plant east of Perry, GA (about 30 minutes from where I live) in 1970, they created so many jobs that Perry temporarily renamed the town Pabst, GA. The plant sold and became something else in 1983. Anyway, local nostalgia is best nostalgia!

 

Mmmmm…. PBR…. Or as we call it around here, “HangOver in a Can”!

 

I buy it quite often, mainly in the bigger cans. Now and then I run across it in 24 ounce.

 

Honest officer, I only had a couple beers…..