‘63 Ford Fairlane 500 Engine Rebuild

[RobertKB]

I have just finished a 10 month project of having the 260 V8 in my ‘63 Ford Fairlane 500 rebuilt. My other three old cars are all old Mopars with the flathead. 
 

I bought the ‘63 in 1979 and ran it for a few years as a second car. It eventually became a keeper and has lived indoors since around 1985. Lately it started smoking badly and compression was not great. Last fall I made the decision to go ahead with a rebuild. A local old time mechanic did the work. Parts were harder to find than for a flattie. 
 

Anyway, I’m very happy with the results. Just got it back yesterday and have already put 40 miles or so on it. It’s not a Mopar but really is a sweet car. 

Car last fall. 
 

 

Engine today. Yes, the engine colours are correct for the year. Ford blue came a few years later. 
 

 

[greg g]

Had a 64 Fairlane that was my third car.  Was a 2dr sedan burgundy metallic with a tan interior.  200cu in 6, threespeed.  Bought it for 500 cash in 1968. Nice solid car, good 0n gas and adequate power.  Had to sell it in 70 because my wife didn't drive standard, and I was going into basic training from my reserve unit.  So we traded it for a 66 mustang fastback that was a 289 automatic.  When we did the trade in the dealer wanted 1399 for the Mustang. We got it down to 1250, the he gave us 825.00 for the Fairlane.   That was without a doubt the best deal we ever did concerning cars. We financed the 425 balance for 18 months so our payment was 37 bucks a month give or take.  Had the Mustang for three years, sold it to my brother in law for 650.  So six years of driving those ford's cost us virtually nothing...

Edited August 1, 2021 by greg g

[Dan Hiebert]

Nice, that engine looks really good.  My parents had a '63 Galaxy for many years, I recall the road trips to the grandparents in Illinois from Dallas in that car, my brother had the seat, I had the package tray for sleeping accommodations.  My dad rebuilt the engine (260 also) in our carport.  I remember being fascinated by the process and my dad actually being patient showing me what he was doing (I had to be annoying, was only 7 or 8 ) - I guess we all started somewhere.  My mom totaled it and we got a '62 Falcon as a replacement.

Edited August 3, 2021 by Dan Hiebert

[Worden18]

Looks really good!  Have fun with it.  It's amazing you've owned it for 40+ years. ?

[Los_Control]

On 8/1/2021 at 2:35 PM, greg g said:

traded it for a 66 mustang fastback that was a 289 automatic.  When we did the trade in the dealer wanted 1399 for the Mustang. We got it down to 1250, the he gave us 825.00 for the Fairlane.   That was without a doubt the best deal we ever did concerning cars. We financed the 425 balance for 18 months so our payment was 37 bucks a month give or take.  Had the Mustang for three years, sold it to my brother in law for 650.  So six years of driving those ford's cost us virtually nothing...

I hear ya, I bought my 1969 fastback mustang with a 351 windsor/fmx trans for $700. Drove it for years, a few times from Seattle to Las Vegas. Then traded it off.

Of course we could wish we had them back today .... but they were fun cars while we had them.

[Ulu]

She’s really clean. One of my favorite Fords.

 

My first Ford looked just like that under the hood, except it was a ‘66 500 and the engine was Ford blue…. LOL

 

And it was rusty and had 100,000 miles on it. I put a new 289 bronco engine in it (thanks Dad) and painted it black under the hood.

 

But when I got to the trunk, all I had was dibs and dabs of odd paint, so I mixed them all together and painted the inside of the trunk this funny mahogany brown color.

 

But when it dried, it came out this horrible peach! ?

 

That Ford was my first car, so I could go on for days talking about things I did to that old Ford.

 

But not on P15….

 

 

Edited August 5, 2021 by Ulu

[RobertKB]

9 hours ago, Ulu said:

That Ford was my first car, so I could go on for days talking about things I did to that old Ford.

 

But not on P15….

 
You can tell us. That’s why this forum is called “Off Topic”.

[Ulu]

It was a ‘66 Custom 500 coupe. Sky blue with 100,000 miles of Minnesota rust. $125 OTD.

 

I rebuilt the whole car when I was 16, and my dad paid for all the parts.

 

It’s all been told on this forum before actually, but there are no pictures in existence to my knowledge. The one single part that I know remains in my custody is the sticker from the spark-O-matic floor shifter.

 

Before I could afford a Hurst, it got smashed up by a busy mother with a big ‘64 Buick, a baby & no car seat.

 

The court took pity on her because she was so stupid and her baby had dashed off the instrument panel.

 

They only awarded me half damages. Eventually I got $500 out of my insurance company too.

 

I was heartbroken and I sold that car is soon as I was able to get another one.

[RobertKB]

Thanks. There’s usually a story with a first vehicle!

[JerseyHarold]

That's a sharp Fairlane and definitely deserves to be the keeper that  it is.

My first car was similar, a '64 Mercury Comet Caliente that was given to me by my cousin's friend because it didn't run.  Within a half-hour of getting it home (my father pushed it with his '65 Coronet using a tire as a cushion) I had it running up and down our street.  It had a 260 as well and was very reliable.   The non-integral power steering let go so I sold it on.  Good memories!

[Kilgore47]

My first car was a 1961 Comet.  Dad gave it to me.  Probably should have been sold for scrap metal.  Burned oil so bad that oil dripped out the tail pipe.  Didn't scare me (probably should have).  Rebuilt the engine (inline 6), fixed the leaking automatic transmission and put it back on the road.  

 

In the beginning, the Comet was designed as an Edsel model and not officially a Mercury until 1962.  I called it a Mercury Comet for decades until I found this info.