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Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 8:46 pm
by Red Lehr
Here is where the body will sit. Definitely going to need a tear drop hood !! You can see where the old frame was and where the new frame will be, almost 3 inches difference.
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2019 10:49 am
by vicegrip
I don't know,Red.You might be running into other problems with that arrangement...Like coilovers being too short and not enough adjustment left to set the camber if you want to keep the car level.Guys usually want to keep the motor as low in the body as they can.It's your car and I definitely see that you know what you're doing but IMO,I guess I would modify the "S" at the firewall.Would be a lot of work and I would hate hacking up that frame.It's the kind of pickle I usually end up with.Kinda hurts my brain thinking about it.
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 5:54 pm
by Red Lehr
vicegrip wrote:I don't know,Red.You might be running into other problems with that arrangement...Like coilovers being too short and not enough adjustment left to set the camber if you want to keep the car level.Guys usually want to keep the motor as low in the body as they can.It's your car and I definitely see that you know what you're doing but IMO,I guess I would modify the "S" at the firewall.Would be a lot of work and I would hate hacking up that frame.It's the kind of pickle I usually end up with.Kinda hurts my brain thinking about it.
Modifying the curve at the firewall was my first instinct also. I called the company that made the frame and they suggested against that move.Any altering I do to the frame is going to change the wheel base, or something else. I'm still scratching my head over this one.....I'll be doing a lot of mocking up to see how it will all work. I really don't know what I'm doing, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night !! LOL
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 8:53 pm
by loman
If the guys who built the frame say not to modify the s next to the firewall, did they offer any suggestions on what they would do? Could you cut the entire s out of the frame and have a new one made at the correct angle to tie it all back together. That way your not modifying the s and weakening it. You would then be welding on the straight sections of the frame which would be easier to weld and beef up at the splices.
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:22 pm
by Red Lehr
Here is how it looks with the body tacked on.....
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:27 pm
by loman
It looks like it has a nice stance in those pictures.
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 11:13 am
by Red Lehr
loman wrote:If the guys who built the frame say not to modify the s next to the firewall, did they offer any suggestions on what they would do? Could you cut the entire s out of the frame and have a new one made at the correct angle to tie it all back together. That way your not modifying the s and weakening it. You would then be welding on the straight sections of the frame which would be easier to weld and beef up at the splices.
That was my first thought also and that was the idea I suggested to the fabricator who built the frame and he said that I should not go that route. I don't have enough experience in that area when it comes to frame work, but what would be the difference in doing that as opposed to tying in new frame rails to the old frame rails at the firewall as many people have done ? They actually did not have a solution to the problem.....
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 11:26 am
by Red Lehr
loman wrote:It looks like it has a nice stance in those pictures.
The stance does look good, but I only have about an inch of clearance when I turn the wheels from hitting the wheel wells. Is this too close for comfort ??? I do not have the fenders bolted on exactly where they need to be , I just put them om to get an idea of how things would look as a mock up.
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:34 pm
by SASSY
Hey Red great look!
As I understand it you are concerned about the wheels hitting the front of the lip when turning?
I doubt it will be a problem, your turning speeds will be slow so tire deformation will be almost zero.
Do the wheels contact the lip at the top when turned?
12 inches to the center of the front xmember,,! Man now I gotta go measure mine as the front of my car is quite low too!
Fred
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 10:13 pm
by loman
Red, do you have the inner fender braces on? If not, maybe installing the brace might get you a little more clearance. Or if the fender brace pulls it in, then maybe you could fab a new one a little longer to gain clearance that you desire but not too long as to put a lot of pressure to the lower fender.
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 8:37 am
by vicegrip
Red,that won't be an issue.Mine were at least as close and I was worried about it at first but drove the car for 10 yrs and the tires never hit. Running skinnies is way better than wider tires in that respect.The engine placement,header fitment,tunnel clearance,everything under the hood is going to change some.Mock things up real good before final welding.
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2019 12:01 am
by Oury10
fairlaniac wrote:
Looking good Red! I can see it in a few years at the FE Race & Reunion. (2) '64 Comets battling it out for Pro FE. It should be a nice brat hauler!
Hi, don't be afraid for questions we are here to help each other and i also think it should be a nice kid transporter
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 5:54 am
by Red Lehr
Well, It's been a while since the last post and I'm pretty well healed up after ankle fusion surgery last July. It's been a long winter not being able to work on the Comet much but that is gonna change.
Over the winter I acquired another '64 Comet Caliente pro street project that some of you are familiar with. Just couldn't pass it up....Does this make me an official '64 Comet hoarder ?? LOL The red Comet seems to have a shortened 60 Dana rear end in it, 4 brand new Hoosier tires, new Alumistar wheels, new frame with a Mustang II front end, 4 link in rear. If anyone is really interested I'd part with it, if not I will probably part it out.
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 8:44 am
by lavron
Red Lehr wrote:If anyone is really interested I'd part with it, if not I will probably part it out.
Wow that looks like an awfully nice project to just part out, hopefully someone will want it and finish it up, it doesn't look like it would take much, I assume it is a roller now from the second picture?
What is missing from the red Comet besides the floors?
Keep up the good work on your first Comet I have enjoyed the updates.
See Ya,
Mike
Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 3:14 pm
by Bkwudz
Fantastic work, love it