My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

The Era of The Square Body Racing Comets
Post Reply
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 »

Getting the frame ready to roll in under the body to see how it's all going to line up.
I have to give a shout out to Fairlaniac, without Doug, this chassis planning/building would have been a nightmare ! Thanks a ton Doug, can't do it without you !!
Attachments
20190629_104608.jpg
20190629_104608.jpg (163.33 KiB) Viewed 5008 times
20190628_155529.jpg
20190628_155529.jpg (207.62 KiB) Viewed 5008 times
20190627_160600.jpg
20190627_160600.jpg (240.55 KiB) Viewed 5008 times
1964 Comet Caliente/1964 Galaxie 500

User avatar
Groover
Posts: 1795
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2010 11:36 pm
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by Groover »

Looking very good. Lot's of hard work paying off there.
Image
1964 Comet Caliente Convertible
30,000 miles on our rebuild

All Comets start out as dreams...

1964hipo
Posts: 36
Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2019 8:26 pm
Location: Walnut creek california

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by 1964hipo »

Amazing workmanship! Do you know what engine your going to run yet??

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 »

1964hipo wrote:Amazing workmanship! Do you know what engine your going to run yet??
The power plant will be a 427 FE somewhere around 502 cid.
1964 Comet Caliente/1964 Galaxie 500

popscomet
Posts: 9689
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:19 pm
Location: Jacksonville, Arkansas

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by popscomet »

WELL,for your 1st comet project,,it's a dandy so far...looks awesome and your engine choice is over the top 8) pop
Image
pop/glenda

User avatar
fairlaniac
Posts: 227
Joined: Wed May 07, 2014 8:37 am
Location: Denver, PA

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by fairlaniac »

Red Lehr wrote:Getting the frame ready to roll in under the body to see how it's all going to line up.
I have to give a shout out to Fairlaniac, without Doug, this chassis planning/building would have been a nightmare ! Thanks a ton Doug, can't do it without you !!
Red, we're here to help each other. Texting and cell phone technology sure cuts a lot of time out between questions and answers. I'm here for you bud! Don't leave out the times I needed your help as well. Thank you!
Doug Bender
1964 Comet Caliente
1966 Fairlane 427/4 Spd
Image

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 »

Cutting out the old frame rails to fit the new chassis.
Attachments
20190713_111447.jpg
20190713_111447.jpg (161.23 KiB) Viewed 4906 times
20190713_111422.jpg
20190713_111422.jpg (156.67 KiB) Viewed 4906 times
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 »

Cutting out the old frame rails to fit the new chassis.
1964 Comet Caliente/1964 Galaxie 500

lavron
Site Admin
Posts: 4710
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2003 9:17 am
Location: Missouri, Ozarks
Contact:

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by lavron »

All very cool, that is about all I can say except really awesome project.

See Ya,
Mike
Mike's build thread
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13058
Image

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 »

Well after 16 weeks after ankle fusion surgery, I'm back to work on the Comet. Very close to landing the body onto the new frame. I found out that a self leveling laser level is your best friend when lining up the frame and the body. We cut out some rot in the trunk area and replace with 2x3 and 2x4 square tube to support the bumper mounts.
Attachments
20191030_165035 (1).jpg
20191030_165035 (1).jpg (153.19 KiB) Viewed 4528 times
20191114_160050.jpg
20191114_160050.jpg (123.98 KiB) Viewed 4528 times
20191103_120031.jpg
20191103_120031.jpg (171.32 KiB) Viewed 4528 times
20191103_120011.jpg
20191103_120011.jpg (162.26 KiB) Viewed 4528 times
1964 Comet Caliente/1964 Galaxie 500

lavron
Site Admin
Posts: 4710
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2003 9:17 am
Location: Missouri, Ozarks
Contact:

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by lavron »

Yep, it is still cool 8)

See Ya,
Mike
Mike's build thread
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13058
Image

User avatar
Groover
Posts: 1795
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2010 11:36 pm
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by Groover »

lavron wrote:Yep, it is still cool 8)

See Ya,
Mike
X 2
Image
1964 Comet Caliente Convertible
30,000 miles on our rebuild

All Comets start out as dreams...

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 »

Well, I ran into a little problem with the new frame,...While setting the body down onto the chassis I discovered that the new frame was higher than expected. Instead of a 4 3/4 inch rise on the frame at the firewall I have a 6 inch rise. I was trying to incorporate the old frame rails by sliding them over top of the new chassis. When the front of the body was resting level on the frame , I was still 3 inches too high from where I want to be to weld the 4 link crossmember onto the inner rocker.

The only thing I could think of to do is cut out the old frame rail on the top and inner side but save the outer frame wall that is attached to the wall of the engine bay.We will see how everything drops into place tonight after work....Stay tuned..
The first picture shows how far off we were in the back of the car. The body and frame were in line and both the frame and body are near perfectly level.
Good thing I'm going with a "Tear Drop" hood !!
Attachments
20191116_152127.jpg
20191116_152127.jpg (221.84 KiB) Viewed 4504 times
20191120_172256.jpg
20191120_172256.jpg (211.5 KiB) Viewed 4504 times
20191120_172239.jpg
20191120_172239.jpg (202.13 KiB) Viewed 4504 times
1964 Comet Caliente/1964 Galaxie 500

User avatar
poboyjo65
Moderator
Posts: 7037
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:40 pm
Location: Camden, Tenn.

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by poboyjo65 »

I was admiring that frame in a frame but sometimes the car decides what it wants & easier just to go along with it . :lol: really cool build so far ,thanks for sharing! :D
Image
Johno

Lip Ripper
Posts: 1870
Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 6:47 am
Location: Lake Placid, Florida

Re: My first 1964 Caliente/Comet project

Post by Lip Ripper »

Wicked! FE Baby!
66 Cyclone GT; 245/60R15's on 15x8's and 215/70R15's on 15x7 Magnum's.
There's nothing like the sound of a pushrod V8 singing at the top of her lung's.

Post Reply