COMET CENTRAL

I picked up another project a couple months ago off ebay, I borrowed a friends trailer & drove about 1600 mile round trip to pick it up. I have been working away on it & I have made a bit of progress so thought I would put some pics on, Its a 1964 Ranchero but I have some spare Comet bits, so I will build it as a 64 Comet, it will just be a daily driver to replace my 64 Fairlane which I have been driving for over 20 years & is in need of a rebuild. It was a rust free Arizona car but the previous owner decided to build it as a drag car so cut out the whole floor from the passenger compartment & removed all the suspension & running gear, so it was very cheap. I ended up making some chassie rails to join the front half & rear, moved the rear springs inside the rails to fit some bigger tires, also the rear rails come out at an angle so I cut them & switched them side for side & cut the tubs out to move them over, I can now fit 275/60/15 tires easily & it will sit about 2" lower than my red Comet, I still have some more welding to do but hopefully will have it sitting on the ground in a few weeks so I can fit the motor & gearbox to make the gearbox mount & floor. I will be running a 331 windsor & 4 speed toploader & not sure if I will use a 8" or 9" depends on what housing I have lying around, I am using all the leftover bits I have around the place. Many thanks to Joe (comethead) who chased up a fiberglass hard cover for the tray for me, its on its way over in a friends container, it was on ebay but the guy wouldn`t deal with me being from overseas, Joe kindly helped out, cutting a deal & getting it down to my friends depot. There are some great people on this site & he`s at the top of the list. John

That is cool! Going to make a sweet car!

I agree, it will be sweet! I also agree that cometheaded Joe is at the top of the list. He is a helpful soul & I'm proud to call him my friend. I pick at him but it is just for laughs & I wouldn't change a thing about him even if I could.
keep the updates coming on the Ute! it's gonna turn some heads !

John the Ranchero looks real good in the pics. Its gonna be nice, especially with the drive train your going to have in it.

Thanks for the good words Aussie John and Tennessee John. I try to help as I have been helped here. Roy still lends me a helping hand with parts and knowledge all the time! I guess its good to pass it on

Joe

Joe;those were secrets I was telling you!!! Let these blokes fend for themselves!!! ROY.

WOW that's a serious piece of sheetmetal you have there, should be awesome when done. one question what side are you mounting the steering wheel....

That looks to be a clean,rust free Falcon to start with! What is the hood made for?Looks too short in the picture with the Comet fender mocked up. ROY.

CALIFORNIA CALIENTE wrote:Joe;those were secrets I was telling you!!! Let these blokes fend for themselves!!! ROY.

Yeah next time I'll get a security clearance first!

That's gonna be sweet!! Finally a Comet pick 'em-up with the correct headlight orientation!

JH

The plan is to change it to RHD, I have a garage floor full of steering boxes & drag links working out the best combo, I will start cutting the dash when the floor is done, hope to have it rolling on wheels in the next week or so, then I can fit a engine & gearbox & do the floor & trans tunnel.
Roy the body is in great shape, its a shame the floor was cut out but it would not have been so cheap, the previous owner had the hood custom made in fibreglass, its for the falcon front, its not the style I would normally go for but has grown on me, your right its short with the Comet fenders so I am going to have the front edge modified so it suits the Comet front. John

I have a bit more done, most of the chassie work is done in the rear, just need a few more finishing welds, I have the rear springs mounted & now I have to cut a diff housing down, I have the front end fitted with the shelby drop done, should be able to have it down on wheels soon & I can drop a engine block & box in so I can make up the trans tunnel, floor & firewall. I sat a wheel in the wheel well to see how it fits, its a 15" x 8 1/2" with a 275/60/15, fits with room to spare, looks a bit small, might have to find some wider wheels for the back now. John

Looks great! You move fast John!

Joe

MANY years ago OL POP took a 65 and put it on a frame and installed a stright front axle and put a 460 C6 narrowed 9in and was getting it ready for a MUDD drag truck.But at the last minute the track owner called and refused to let me race it in the class I wanted to race it in.So I cut it up and hauled it to the scrapper..over at my old shop I still have the most perfect complete front cap and grill a person could ever hope to find(if no one has stolen it) for a 65 ranchero. OH WELL !! POP

your on a roll! lookin good!

I have had some time off, so been working away cutting & welding, I have it on wheels now, with the front end fitted, & RHD steering conversion done, also I cut the dash & what was left of the firewall out, to convert them to RHD, I have a block & gearbox fitted & gearbox mount done,. starting to make up the floor, & I cut the strut braces out & will make up some adjustable ones like the ones they sell. I will also cut the shock towers for some more clearance, I am finding Boss/Cyclones step by step pictorial very handy as to where to cut. wont get much done for the rest of the week, loaded the comet on the truck & heading to the summernats street machine show tomorrow, its probably the largest event here with about 2000 entries & goes for 3 days. John









I mocked up a couple other setups for inspiration, better save them for the other comet, might not be the best for a daily driver





looks more like a comet with the grille & headlight buckets mounted