YET ANOTHER '65 BUILD
Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 10:32 pm
65s are the best looking Comets at least in my opinion! 
You've got to be a fan of square cars though . . .
Little back story to preface this build thread. Around this time last year I was looking for a cheap project to keep me busy and outta trouble on the weekends. I found the below '65 202 V8 and it sure was cheap, the car was all there mostly straight body, needed new floor pans and rebuild on the motor. Pretty much a full resto. I always wanted a hard top but they seem to all be either too nice and out of my budget or too far gone for me, at least here in SoCal.
So I towed her home and started plugging away. Pulled the motor, gutted the interior and started cutting out the cancer. I slowly began to realize this was a much bigger project than I anticipated but, I had nothing better to do.
Given I don't personally know how to weld it was going to take a lot to get this car going. Thats about is far as I got in the course of 9 months all along constantly searching craigslist for other Comets. That's when I found this . . .
The hardtop I really wanted. After some negotiation (right place right time) I drove her home, much less of a project than the 202 and I could drive it around while gathering parts.
The dilemma came on what to do with the 202 I didn't have room for two project nor the time or money. I listed her up on CL and settled on a deal for a 4spd toploader and posi 8in that I would use in the Caliente. So here she is getting towed away, I joked the only pictures I have of the 202 are it on trailer coming here and it on a trailer leaving. Thats the way it goes.
So during all that I picked up a late 80s 302 and sent it off to the machine shop and have been collecting parts for the build. Now I've got the rear and tranny covered things are starting to move along. Subframe connectors are coming in (need to find a place to weld them in, any suggestions?), most of the engine parts are stacked up and I think I'll be slapping it all together over the next two months.
Tore into the 8in for fresh bearings and seals and some paint. Debating on whether or not to rebuild the diff, gears look good, so think I'll clean it up and slap it in the housing.
I am new to this and love all the info on this forum its been super helpful! Any idea where these "needle bearings" fell out of?
Lots more to come and happy to be part of the Comet community!
Ben
You've got to be a fan of square cars though . . . Little back story to preface this build thread. Around this time last year I was looking for a cheap project to keep me busy and outta trouble on the weekends. I found the below '65 202 V8 and it sure was cheap, the car was all there mostly straight body, needed new floor pans and rebuild on the motor. Pretty much a full resto. I always wanted a hard top but they seem to all be either too nice and out of my budget or too far gone for me, at least here in SoCal.
So I towed her home and started plugging away. Pulled the motor, gutted the interior and started cutting out the cancer. I slowly began to realize this was a much bigger project than I anticipated but, I had nothing better to do.
Given I don't personally know how to weld it was going to take a lot to get this car going. Thats about is far as I got in the course of 9 months all along constantly searching craigslist for other Comets. That's when I found this . . .
The hardtop I really wanted. After some negotiation (right place right time) I drove her home, much less of a project than the 202 and I could drive it around while gathering parts.
The dilemma came on what to do with the 202 I didn't have room for two project nor the time or money. I listed her up on CL and settled on a deal for a 4spd toploader and posi 8in that I would use in the Caliente. So here she is getting towed away, I joked the only pictures I have of the 202 are it on trailer coming here and it on a trailer leaving. Thats the way it goes.
So during all that I picked up a late 80s 302 and sent it off to the machine shop and have been collecting parts for the build. Now I've got the rear and tranny covered things are starting to move along. Subframe connectors are coming in (need to find a place to weld them in, any suggestions?), most of the engine parts are stacked up and I think I'll be slapping it all together over the next two months.
Tore into the 8in for fresh bearings and seals and some paint. Debating on whether or not to rebuild the diff, gears look good, so think I'll clean it up and slap it in the housing.
I am new to this and love all the info on this forum its been super helpful! Any idea where these "needle bearings" fell out of?
Lots more to come and happy to be part of the Comet community!
Ben
You'll not do better than working under his tutelage. Great start to your build thread. Lots of pictures, just the way we like it. 
