Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
Well we've finally gotten to dig in on the Comet. Day one we got the engine all ready to pull and on day two (with some generous help from the folks who are letting us use the garage bay) we got it out and started tearing it down. Never seen so much gunk inside an engine, but I'm sure somebody else has. Stopped early today (since it's Christmas Eve and all). Back at it on Monday.
http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee5 ... 20and%202/
Merry Christmas all
http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee5 ... 20and%202/
Merry Christmas all
Last edited by Groover on Sat Jan 01, 2011 9:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Posts: 5933
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Re: Father and Son Days 1 and 2 on the Comet
You weren't kidding,that is a lot of gunk!!!It doesn't look like much maintenance was pulled on that engine! Great to see a father-son project,I helped each of my two sons build their first cars,a 65 Caliente Hardtop and a 65 Ranchero.Keep us posted. ROY.
Real Racecars have 3 pedals
Re: Father and Son Days 1 and 2 on the Comet
Well it's been idle for 20+ years, but they sure did a pretty re-paint job somewhere along the line to give it a "second-life." Looks like somebody even took the valve covers off once and scraped the tops free of some gunk."
1964 Comet Caliente Convertible
30,000 miles on our rebuild
All Comets start out as dreams...
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- Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2006 9:22 pm
- Location: Arkansas
Re: Father and Son Days 1 and 2 on the Comet
nice Project ,Enjoy those Father and son project days.Cant wait til my son gets old enough to start on his car
19'62 2Dr. Sedan, Black with Red interior.
1962 Comet S-22,Champagne w/beige and white interior
Black 1993 Ford Lightning
1962 Comet S-22,Champagne w/beige and white interior
Black 1993 Ford Lightning
Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
Days 3,4 and 5 are in the books. All major components are out of the Carbondale Caliente.
Most of day 3 was spent just trying to get the intake manifold off! In the end (and against my better judgment) we went with my son's idea of chaining the engine and stand to the floor via foundation beam, then using the floor jack, a pry bar and a 3 foot breaker tube to apply upward pressure on the front main water passage (thermostat end) from below. With who knows how many pounds of pressure now applied, we followed with several strategic hammer hits on the underside of one of the 4 manifold overhang points and it eventually popped up.
If anybody has any other clever ways of getting an incredibly stuck intake manifold off, I'd love to hear them before the next time I tackle this?
After that the heads came off much easier as did the pistons and caps. Timing gears were a bit stubborn, but came off and we got the block, heads, intake, crank and cam to the machine shop on Thursday. Should know this week whether we're good to go or need to start searching for a new block. We're assuming the block will be fine, but not going to spend any more money on major related items until we know.
My son did the carb rebuild last week on a "day off"
Today we got the transmission out as well as the gas tank so now it's something like this. Have the radiator and fuel tank checked for leaks, re-cored, etc. Rebuild the generator (or more likely have this done) and power steering pump. Soaking and cleaning all the parts that need to be re-used (timing chain cover, fuel and oil pump) as well as anything that needs to be painted for re assembly (valve covers, oil pan).
Transmission... haven't decided whether we'll tackle this or take it in. Haven't done a trans rebuild before. Anything I should look for?
With the load significantly lightened, we'll get Super Dave the Body guy to come back and see what needs to be done to make it safe. She needs some frame work in the back and some support plates in the front corner as well as floor pans all around.
Tomorrow should be a day off and then back to school on Monday so it'll be more weekend work for a while now.
Most of day 3 was spent just trying to get the intake manifold off! In the end (and against my better judgment) we went with my son's idea of chaining the engine and stand to the floor via foundation beam, then using the floor jack, a pry bar and a 3 foot breaker tube to apply upward pressure on the front main water passage (thermostat end) from below. With who knows how many pounds of pressure now applied, we followed with several strategic hammer hits on the underside of one of the 4 manifold overhang points and it eventually popped up.
If anybody has any other clever ways of getting an incredibly stuck intake manifold off, I'd love to hear them before the next time I tackle this?
After that the heads came off much easier as did the pistons and caps. Timing gears were a bit stubborn, but came off and we got the block, heads, intake, crank and cam to the machine shop on Thursday. Should know this week whether we're good to go or need to start searching for a new block. We're assuming the block will be fine, but not going to spend any more money on major related items until we know.
My son did the carb rebuild last week on a "day off"
Today we got the transmission out as well as the gas tank so now it's something like this. Have the radiator and fuel tank checked for leaks, re-cored, etc. Rebuild the generator (or more likely have this done) and power steering pump. Soaking and cleaning all the parts that need to be re-used (timing chain cover, fuel and oil pump) as well as anything that needs to be painted for re assembly (valve covers, oil pan).
Transmission... haven't decided whether we'll tackle this or take it in. Haven't done a trans rebuild before. Anything I should look for?
With the load significantly lightened, we'll get Super Dave the Body guy to come back and see what needs to be done to make it safe. She needs some frame work in the back and some support plates in the front corner as well as floor pans all around.
Tomorrow should be a day off and then back to school on Monday so it'll be more weekend work for a while now.
1964 Comet Caliente Convertible
30,000 miles on our rebuild
All Comets start out as dreams...
Re: Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
looks like yall are making fine progress. and sound as if yall have a great plan layed out. not sure on what to tell you on the trans, i never done one either. good luck with the rest and keep us posted it keeps the rest of us motivated.
Be Good and You Will Be Lonesome
- Boss/Cyclone
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Re: Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
What a cool project, nice solid looking starting point. Can't wait to see it done!
1965 Mercury Cyclone former drag car, 1971 Boss 351 engine, 4 speed, ladder bars, etc. Now returned to a street car.
Larry
Larry
Re: Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
WOW do you guys move!
Nice to see it's a 6 bolt belhousing
For the cost I'd probably toss the old oil and fuel pumps for new.
All the crud that has gone through that oil pump will have probably opened
up the tolerences.
While your waiting on the motor and ya have nothin to do(haha) don't
forget the brakes ,new is cheap and if JR is anything close to normal
he'll be all over them more than once!!
Hope the undercarriage isn't worse than expected.
Looking forward to more updates
Fred
Nice to see it's a 6 bolt belhousing
For the cost I'd probably toss the old oil and fuel pumps for new.
All the crud that has gone through that oil pump will have probably opened
up the tolerences.
While your waiting on the motor and ya have nothin to do(haha) don't
forget the brakes ,new is cheap and if JR is anything close to normal
he'll be all over them more than once!!
Hope the undercarriage isn't worse than expected.
Looking forward to more updates
Fred
Re: Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
Cool project and keep the pics coming. Common for 64/65 comets to have rot in the frame right under the firewall and even more likely for all 60's ford amd merc convertibles.
Roger
Roger
65 comet 7.61@96mph 1/8
Made in Canada, Built for speed.
Tweaked65 on instagram
https://youtu.be/JCVwEitXSi4
Made in Canada, Built for speed.
Tweaked65 on instagram
https://youtu.be/JCVwEitXSi4
Re: Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
"Working fast"? guess that's relative. It didn't seem like it as we stared at that manifold for an hour or more scratching our heads. Any speed comes from the motivation of talking about and searching for our convertible project for about a year, coupled with the two week holiday break from school (limited time to get a lot done).
As for rust, the whole front is solid right up to and including the firewall. The floor pans are shot and that plate that links the inner frame rail to the outer rockers is bad too. That's why I'm thinking once the new floor pans go in, it'll need a little fabricated reinforcement. The rust gets worse as you work backward, but the trunk is all good, so any fixing will be underneath and out of site. The rear quarters have been patched with fiberglass or something, but they're ok for now.
Previous owner had the seats re-done, so we get a pass on that one
Yes, we need to do the breaks all around. Front wheels are locked up so it won't even roll right at the moment.
The other thing it needs (and I'm hoping somebody can tell me if these are available) is the:
"every bushing in the entire front end steering/suspension" kit? Seriously.
...or do I have to just buy them one by one?
As for rust, the whole front is solid right up to and including the firewall. The floor pans are shot and that plate that links the inner frame rail to the outer rockers is bad too. That's why I'm thinking once the new floor pans go in, it'll need a little fabricated reinforcement. The rust gets worse as you work backward, but the trunk is all good, so any fixing will be underneath and out of site. The rear quarters have been patched with fiberglass or something, but they're ok for now.
Previous owner had the seats re-done, so we get a pass on that one
Yes, we need to do the breaks all around. Front wheels are locked up so it won't even roll right at the moment.
The other thing it needs (and I'm hoping somebody can tell me if these are available) is the:
"every bushing in the entire front end steering/suspension" kit? Seriously.
...or do I have to just buy them one by one?
1964 Comet Caliente Convertible
30,000 miles on our rebuild
All Comets start out as dreams...
Re: Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
Money can't buy time you spend with son!!My son and I have built many cars..trucks ..dirt track cars .We've done alot,together,,,know he has a son and he's right there . What you do with them while they are 3 to 4 feet tall makes abig diff. when they get 5 or 6 feet tall. JMO pop
pop/glenda
Re: Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
i agree Pop, we never built cars together but we raced go-carts and mountain bikes
those were the best times when he's in the zone and forgets your his dad and runs
you off the track! or punts you lose into the corner, i always smile when i think of those times
those were the best times when he's in the zone and forgets your his dad and runs
you off the track! or punts you lose into the corner, i always smile when i think of those times
Re: Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
http://www.springsnthings.com/Groover wrote:" The other thing it needs (and I'm hoping somebody can tell me if these are available) is the:
"every bushing in the entire front end steering/suspension" kit? Seriously.
...or do I have to just buy them one by one?
Found a Comet guy recomending this company on another site
Re: Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
http://www.springsnthings.com/
Found a Comet guy recomending this company on another site
This looks excellent. Thank you!
Found a Comet guy recomending this company on another site
This looks excellent. Thank you!
1964 Comet Caliente Convertible
30,000 miles on our rebuild
All Comets start out as dreams...
Re: Father and Son Comet Project (with photos)
65 mustang suspension parts with the exception of the centerlink are the same as comet/falcon, and a lots cheaper. check some of the mustang dealers and you can get the complete kit. I bought upper and lower control arms w/ ball joints, tie rod ends, idler bushings, strut rod bushings, sway bar bushings as a kit. several years ago when I did mine it was right at $400. also ebay has suspension kits listed fron time to time. as you delve into your project you will find quite a few parts are the same as mustang. more readily available and less expensive.SASSY wrote:http://www.springsnthings.com/Groover wrote:" The other thing it needs (and I'm hoping somebody can tell me if these are available) is the:
"every bushing in the entire front end steering/suspension" kit? Seriously.
...or do I have to just buy them one by one?
Found a Comet guy recomending this company on another site
you will find that there are very few sheet metal patch panels available. some for falcons such as floor pans, but no quarters or such. one company makes partial qtr patch panels but in fiberglass.
this is by far the best site for help and suggestions on your project. remember the only stupid question is the one that is not asked.
alan
64 Caliente 2 dr ht A/FX sold to a fellow forum member
http://www.picturetrail.com/alanan55 past & present rides
40 ford coupe sold 1979 found in garage sitting for 34 years back home again.
http://www.picturetrail.com/alanan55 past & present rides
40 ford coupe sold 1979 found in garage sitting for 34 years back home again.