Help my Falcon

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Anonymous

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Hello, I'm new to this Forum.
I recently got a 61 Falcon 4 dr. off E-bay, and have been trying to figure out a way to get it back on the road for my son (as cheaply as possible). I'm not looking to make it a full on show car, but rather just a decent daily driver. I don't know what six is in it, and it's a 3 speed on the tree. I don't know if I want to keep it stock, or modify it, I'm open to both. It has sat for many years, but I did get it started, but looks like it is getting a bunch of foam in the radiator. Is the six worth fixin or should I look for something else to convert it to?

Thanks Scott
 
i think the six is worth fixin

if you can get us the casting numbers, or how many freeze plugs are on the side of the block, we should be able to tell you what the engine is
 
Where are the casting #'s and what side of the block for the freeze plugs?
 
I'll have to take a better look later it's raining like mad at the moment, and it's out in a huge puddle.

What you think the foam is from? head gasket, head, or block? What are the common weak point for these motor's.

I had thouight the main reason it was parked years ago was the brakes needing work, but maybe it had engine problems too.

Thanks for you comment's, Scott
 
I was the winning bidder for $107.00. I was just tring to figure out how to add a pic to my post, but I haven't figures that out yet.

Scott
 
This is attemp to add a pic, sorry if it doesn't work.

a0_12_sb-vi.jpg
 
first you need to get it hosted

you can get a host at www.photobucket.com after signing up there
it's a pretty straightforward system there

once you get it hosted, you need the URL of the picture, at photobucket it should look something like this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/ ... /mjk15.jpg

copy that, paste it here, highlight it and hit the "Img" button at the top


as for the radiator, does it have enough fluid? and does it look oily?
if there's no trace of oil in the coolant, and vice versa, i wouldn't worry about the headgasket too much
 
The fastest, cheapest way to get this old bird back on the road might be to install a later engine and transmission, possibly even buying a running parts car.

Keep surfing Ebay, or look for a running falcon, comet, or mustang. An engine from a later car will bolt in, so don't rule out late model fairmonts, zephyrs, granadas, etc.
 
Thanks for the photo help, I feel better now. LOL.

I haven't had it running for a very long time, but I didn't notice oil in the water (which I added it was as dry as a bone).

I allready bought a new starter and battery for it, to get it to this point. Next I need a new fuel pump cause that isn't working...I just hate to keep buying six cly. part's if it isn't worth it..
 
well, at this point someone usually asks what you want from the motor

200HP at the wheels can be done, but with the stock head, that's about the limit of it

what is your goal with this thing? what would it take for you to consider the six cyl "worth it"
 
Cheap, reliable, fixablity with the ability to operate safely at or near the freeway speeds here in Northern Ca. approx. 70 MPH. LOL

I'm not looking for a wheel standing speed demon. LOL
 
junkernutz":397emezd said:
Cheap, reliable, fixablity with the ability to operate safely at or near the freeway speeds here in Northern Ca. approx. 70 MPH. LOL

I'm not looking for a wheel standing speed demon. LOL
Click to expand...

cheap, got that, reliable, install a duraspark II, or Petronix system and you've got that, even without and you've got it, fixability, when i started on my six, i knew nothing about engines, but i kept it running (and for most of that time i didn't have the help of this forum)

as for safely, upgrade the brakes and rebuild the suspension and i'd say you've got a good car
for freeway speeds a T5 would be great for gas milage, but not necessary (i think one of our members got close to 30MPG on the interstate with a T5 and a relatively stock engine)


i think pretty much all of that can be done relatively easily, might take a while before it's all done though, but it should be an easy process
 
junkernutz,

the following was posted by this forum's ownder MustangSix.

MustangSix":3jszvlof said:
I have a Mazdaspeed Miata with 178 hp. It weighs about 2600 lbs and it is fairly quick and very nimble. The base Miata weighs about the same but has 142 hp. Within that range of power to weight ratio, you get pretty decent acceleration.

I think if you were to build toward the same range of power to weight, you would end up with a nice running, streetable 200. The engine would still build enough torque to pull that rear gear. An engine build of about 165-170 hp would be nimble, relatively quick, and still get decent economy.
Click to expand...

just my $.02

DB
 
You guys got me excited, can't wait for the next sunny day to go out and work on it.
 
Close? Close!? I kick 30mpgs butt when I'm on the highway!
Unfortunately, I see that aluminum argie head and know that those frugal days of squeezing the last bit of distance out of each drop of gasoline are numbered. I NEED one of those heads. I wonder if there is a triple DCOE manifold available for them...
The electric choke crapped out on my 1946 a month or two ago, and rather than spend the day at the pick'n'pocket looking for a replacement, I figured I'd just tough it out 'till the weather got warmer. But now I think I like no choke. It reminds me of starting my old GTV (twin delortos). Pump about ten times, turn it over, catch it and bring it up to 1600-1700rpm for about 30 seconds and I'm good to go.

As for that 1961 (what a chick magnet! never paint it!), foamy coolant sounds like a head gasket, or worse a cracked head. A leisurly headgasket change on a 144 or 170 should take about half of a saturday afternoon, and two and a half beers. Hose down the exposed headbolts with wd40, if they are rusty, the night before. Also fabricate some guide "studs" by picking up a pair of cheap 6" bolts and cutting the heads off. Helps a lot when putting the head back on. If the head turns out to be cracked, there are still plenty of 200/250 heads in the junkyards. If your concern is about spending the least amount of money available to have a running car, then pick any decent looking head, any head you get find will likely be better than the stock 144/170 head. Just remember to swap the valvetrain, your 61 has solid lifters if it's the original motor. So you'll need to use the adjustable valvetrain. Since you are adding .030" with the new gasket you will have to adjust the lash in any case. An old six is a great engine to teach kids on. It's simple, dead reliable, and as long as the oil is changed and coolant topped, there aren't very many things that EVER go wrong with them.
Heck, how many 2005 Acuras are going to be running on their original engines in 2050?
Rick(wrench)
 
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