My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

The Era of The Square Body Racing Comets
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popscomet
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Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by popscomet »

yes sir, I under stand,,,,good luck !! thank you...…….pop
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Red Lehr
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Location: New Athens,Illinois

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by Red Lehr »

Trying to do a little every day....
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1964 Comet Caliente/1964 Galaxie 500

lavron
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Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by lavron »

Red Lehr wrote:Trying to do a little every day....
I don't know what your little today was but it looks like you did plenty so far. Keep it up.

See Ya,
Mike
Mike's build thread
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13058
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Red Lehr
Posts: 127
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 10:32 pm
Location: New Athens,Illinois

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by Red Lehr »

Little bit more today...and she's still level. Lot's of house cleaning to do.
I had to slip a tire under there , Lol Doug says that's motivation !!
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1964 Comet Caliente/1964 Galaxie 500

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SASSY
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Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by SASSY »

Red Lehr wrote: I had to slip a tire under there , Lol Doug says that's motivation !!
Yep! Set the body at the height you want and squint,,,, works for me!!
I'd rather do it myself if it's done right or not,,,isn't that what hotrodding is all about

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afx1964
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Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by afx1964 »

Have you considered having your Comet dipped? I am not too far from you in Illinois and take my cars over to Evansville to have it done. In my opinion it is well worth the money. It will make it a lot easier to weld and do the body work.

A/FX
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Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by A/FX »

afx1964 wrote:Have you considered having your Comet dipped? I am not too far from you in Illinois and take my cars over to Evansville to have it done. In my opinion it is well worth the money. It will make it a lot easier to weld and do the body work.
I have had a few restoration projects chemically stripped including my Cyclone. It is the only route if you are serious about the final results. I highly recommend that after the chemical strip that all metal work is done then send the body for e-coat this will protect all the surfaces including inside all the difficult to reach areas. The chemical strip will remove everything even from deep inside the panels so it needs to be protected otherwise the car will rust from the inside-out.
A good painter will know how to prep the body and parts for epoxy primer after the e-coat process.
I use a shop near Milwaukee, the e-coat is done in Detroit.

This is after the strip but before e-coat:
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‘64 Cyclone/ Boss 302,quads,4spd, Winters 9”

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afx1964
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Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by afx1964 »

E coat is nice but to my knowledge there isn’t anyone around southern Illinois that does it. I have had good results with cleaning any residue and spraying with ppg epoxy primer. For inside areas like rockers there are products with flexible wands that allow you to coat those.

Red Lehr
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Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 10:32 pm
Location: New Athens,Illinois

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by Red Lehr »

afx1964 wrote:Have you considered having your Comet dipped? I am not too far from you in Illinois and take my cars over to Evansville to have it done. In my opinion it is well worth the money. It will make it a lot easier to weld and do the body work.
Thanks for the great insight ! My original plan was to have the car dipped , but the local fellow who did the dipping just retired, just my luck.... :evil:
When you mentioned Evansville I'm assuming you meant Indiana, because there is an Evansville Illinois very near by me LOL.
I've worked with air craft stripper and it's not fun to mess with, but you do what you have to if you don't media blast. For now I was just going to get the metal work done a section at a time, strip that area and treat the metal then figure out which way would be the best to clean the car up.
We will definitely talk more on the car dipping !! Thanks again for the help and advice !!
Red
1964 Comet Caliente/1964 Galaxie 500

Red Lehr
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Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 10:32 pm
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Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by Red Lehr »

I found out in a hurry that you can't take the inner rocker off in one or two easy pieces.. I for sure have to replace the whole inner rocker from front to back, drivers side and passenger side. I the picture .
The outer rocker is fine thank goodness. I was great working in the shop today, 67 degrees when last Sunday it was 7 degrees....
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1964 Comet Caliente/1964 Galaxie 500

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Groover
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Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by Groover »

And now the fun begins :). You are making a ton of progress, Red. I'm going to have to get up there and see it this summer.
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1964 Comet Caliente Convertible
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All Comets start out as dreams...

mark
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Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by mark »

I have a '66 factory spec bone stock +.030 HiPo 289 clone with a (needs to be reconditioned) genuine '66 K-code (with stamped VIN) close ratio 28-spline toploader if you are interested. The engine has less than 1000 miles on it. A few things about it: 66 block, genuine 63 HiPo heads fully reconditioned (47cc chambers), genuine Hipo Rods, factory correct bobweight, Hipo grind solid cam and lifters from Marvin Shaner, upgraded Boss302 style rockers (1.6 ratio) with Boss fulcrums and locknuts, Hipo repro main caps including a genuine factory HiPo 289 rear cap, 289 Hipo harmonic balancer, Cobra intake with new Holley 715 Lemans carb, Cobra valve covers, factory dual point distributor (with pertronix but I also have the dual point stator plate), repro 289 Hipo exhaust manifolds. New cast iron water pump. 289 Hipo 4-blade fan. No fuel pump or alternator. It is basically a Hipo replacement engine with the correct specs and build. Professionally built by Darr Engine Service.

By the time that you build a 390 and fit it in there you are looking at some serious cabbage. Don't twist that car up with a big block when you can run the correct set-up...

When I sold my '66 fastback GT-350 tribute, the buyer didn't want to pay the premium for the Hipo so I put the 302 back in it for the sale.

Mark

Red Lehr
Posts: 127
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 10:32 pm
Location: New Athens,Illinois

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by Red Lehr »

Groover wrote:And now the fun begins :). You are making a ton of progress, Red. I'm going to have to get up there and see it this summer.
Hey buddy !! Let me know when you are in town visiting your parents, text me six18-977-916five . Stop by anytime !!!
1964 Comet Caliente/1964 Galaxie 500

Red Lehr
Posts: 127
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 10:32 pm
Location: New Athens,Illinois

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by Red Lehr »

mark wrote:I have a '66 factory spec bone stock +.030 HiPo 289 clone with a (needs to be reconditioned) genuine '66 K-code (with stamped VIN) close ratio 28-spline toploader if you are interested. The engine has less than 1000 miles on it. A few things about it: 66 block, genuine 63 HiPo heads fully reconditioned (47cc chambers), genuine Hipo Rods, factory correct bobweight, Hipo grind solid cam and lifters from Marvin Shaner, upgraded Boss302 style rockers (1.6 ratio) with Boss fulcrums and locknuts, Hipo repro main caps including a genuine factory HiPo 289 rear cap, 289 Hipo harmonic balancer, Cobra intake with new Holley 715 Lemans carb, Cobra valve covers, factory dual point distributor (with pertronix but I also have the dual point stator plate), repro 289 Hipo exhaust manifolds. New cast iron water pump. 289 Hipo 4-blade fan. No fuel pump or alternator. It is basically a Hipo replacement engine with the correct specs and build. Professionally built by Darr Engine Service.

By the time that you build a 390 and fit it in there you are looking at some serious cabbage. Don't twist that car up with a big block when you can run the correct set-up...

When I sold my '66 fastback GT-350 tribute, the buyer didn't want to pay the premium for the Hipo so I put the 302 back in it for the sale.

Mark
Hello Mark ! Thanks for the info and kind offer, much appreciated !
I've been planning this build for years and I have a bunch of FE engine stuff laying around I can throw at this car. I know that it's a lot easier all around with a small block up front, but I've got the "FE" bug and the plan is starting with a 427 block and go from there. I've already rebuilt a 4 speed toploader 31 spline big in, big out for this car. If plans change I'll let ya know !
Red
1964 Comet Caliente/1964 Galaxie 500

Red Lehr
Posts: 127
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 10:32 pm
Location: New Athens,Illinois

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by Red Lehr »

Finally getting new metal on the inner rocker.
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1964 Comet Caliente/1964 Galaxie 500

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