Installing Disc Brakes for my Falcon Wagon Cruiser   If you've been to MyRideisMe.com much, you've seen my 1963 Ford Falcon Wagon Build. This might be one of the slowest builds in history, but hey, I'm doing it myself or with the help of friends and my pops. Not often enough, I escape from reality in the smell of grinding metal or the buzz of a MIG. Ahh... you with me?   One project I've wanted to do for a long time is update the front brakes. Trouble is, the disc brake kits for 4-lug cars are usually made from put-together kits with brake parts from a few different cars. For your brakes? OK, well maybe... we've all probably done less-safe things... but I wanted the best for a key safety feature like my brakes. So I got the Wilwood disc brake kit for 4 lug Fords. This kit works perfectly for 4-lug Mustangs as well as Falcons.   If you prefer a video, skip to the bottom of this story and check it out.   This is one side of the kit shown below. One of the best parts? Everything...

Drop's Good Enough for Shelby are Great for Me! Well, I finally got it done! After tons research, probably too much, and asking around about what's commonly known as the "Shelby Drop", if braved the Arizona summer and dropped my 1963 Ford Falcon wagon. Wish I could tell you how it handles, but it's still a project. Why the Shelby Drop? To find out, I did some checking in with my Falcon and Mustang buddies at Fordsix.com. Fordsix.com's a great place to learn about all kinds of six cylinder engines, as well as the cars and trucks that use them. There's folks from all over the world helping out... The main benefits of the Shelby Drop may not be what you think... it does lower the ride height (maybe up to 5/8"), just a little, but the biggest advantages are: Improved suspension geometry Improved body roll (resistance to roll) A higher tendency to oversteer instead of understeer as designed by Ford Better use of slightly wider, better constructed modern radials There's quite a bit of info out there, mostly for Mustangs, to look over. Check out these if you're still on...

My Friend Made it Look Easy! Custom Metal Flake Looking for help with: How to setup a Harbor Freight paint gun for shooting flake. Please email me.   At car shows, especially the good ones in California, you'll see some stellar custom metal flake paint... like the shot below from the NorCal Knockout, the custom paint of all types is well represented.   See some amazing examples in this story: Custom Metal Flake Paint   After observing, and of course digging the look and appreciating the skill, I wanted to try it for myself. Then, my buddy Joel helped me customize a severely worn out plastic trim piece for my 1963 Falcon Wagon. Here's that piece:     I watched Joel do it, looked easy. Soooo... I tried it myself. Step 1: Base coat of gold     Step 2: FAIL!   So let's hear it... what'd I do wrong? Anyone willing to show me how it's done in a good story with a few pictures, please get in touch: Email pikesan   I'm especially looking for stories about how to set-up a gun for spraying flake, and something like,...

Ford Falcon Gas Door Relocation - No More Gas Cap As I continue to fill you in on the progress of my 1963 Ford Falcon wagon build/restoration/customization/marathon, feel free to follow along here:  1963 Ford Falcon Wagon Build I had someone ask me about what I did on the gas filler door on my 63 Falcon Wagon after seeing it painted. Here's the update on that... Could there have been a worse place to put the factory filler tube? The filler was relocated on my 63 Falcon Wagon before I bought it, up onto the top of the rear quarter panel. The original owner shaped a piece of sheetmetal, then threw a hinge on it with a cabinet "pop-lock" thing to keep it shut. It looked bad... lots of bondo and for some reason, the door opened "suicide" or the hinge was on the back. I was afraid it'd pop up at speed. See below. Rather than try to fix what was there, I searched around and when I had the body work done (one of the only things the guy did well) I had this pop-up filler installed....

1963 Ford Falcon Power Tailgate or Squire Trim For those of you following along at home, I've been SLOWLY wrenching on my 1963 Ford Falcon wagon in between creating the website you've found here, MyRideisMe.com. I decided to fill you in on a couple details of what I've been up to. (see, I'm doing something!) On display this time is the crown jewel of my Falcon wagon, the chrome tailgate bezel found on Falcon Squire models and on some sedan deliveries. Even before I had it restored and re-chromed, it was my favorite part on the whole car. It oozes cool! Taking you back a few steps, here's what I originally purchased: (click to see larger pic) Sexy as hell, but pitted and in need of restoration. This is what happens to pot metal, so no need to panic. I did call in the help of an expert though, Norm Huie at Shine on Me Automotive Trim Restoration. Norm had a flawless 1965 Falcon Wagon I called, "Plain Jane". If you're a Falcon guy, it's worth a look. For a very reasonable price, Norm fixed all the pitting in...

Ford Falcon Inline Six Long Block Build Video I've been working on my 1963 Ford Falcon wagon for way to long now. Ever get the feeling about your project like... "It'll never be done!" Well, let's celebrate some progress! The short block's put together and waiting the next couple steps in the powertrain build:   Assemble the head and the rest of the long block Prep and Install of the T5 transmission (I know, I was planning on re-using the Dagenham 4 speed)   The video below is a step by step build of the 200 inline six. With guidance from my pops, a retired Ford mechanic, he shows me how-to, then I proceed to give it my best shot. I'm not always successful the first time, maybe like you might be... so, I hope everyone interested in building their own engine can learn a little something, and maybe have a laugh at the same time!   If you're looking for more info on building or modifying a ford inline six engine, make sure to check out this discussion forum:  Fordsix.com. With members from all over the world, including...

Ford Falcon Wagon - Get'n Buffed Crushed. Stopped dead and pissed. That's how I'd describe myself following my first paint attempt on my 1963 Falcon Wagon.   The After shot of the inner quarter panel.   How should I feel? The bodywork sucked, there were foo-boos all over the place from a careless painter who's been cheating everyone he meets since. But... that angry tone and deflated project is  almost completely back on track now! My wagon's got a new coat of flat gold paint and the interior paint's almost completely fixed thanks to my buddies at Infinite Detail.   I first met Jeff from Infinite cause he joined MyRideisMe.com and uploaded some pictures of his 1960 Falcon Wagon. I contact him and cried on his should some about the sorry state of my Falcon's paint. He showed me his website and the "before and after" pictures and said, "Let me take a look."   Soon after, Jeff and his brother-in-law Mike were over. They took a long look, then explained in great detail what they could and couldn't do and offered a written quote. That kind of honesty and...

Flat Paint Job for my Ford Falcon Wagon Finally. I don't think I could have taken a longer path to get there, but at least it's done. My Falcon's wearing new paint and the flat sheen or "hot rod flat" I was going for came out great. Special thanks to T.C. at FinishMaster in Mesa, AZ for help with the paint and advice to make this happen. I also took advantage of advice from Kevin Tetz from "Trucks" TV show. Kevin helped me with 11 Tips for a Flat Paint Job and sorta held my hand on this project.   It's a long story how I got here, you can read it all at this link: Falcon Wagon Build. It started with bodywork lessons and primer from Squeeg's Kustoms then a paint job gone wrong. Back on track, here's how my buddy Joel and I laid on this flat gold paint. I think it came out great!   Before Paint Prep:     You can see here what my wagon looked like right before we started on Saturday morning. Over Labor Day, my sons and I scuffed the clearcoat...

Flat Clear Coat Spray Paint from Kevin Tetz of "Trucks"   1963 Ford Falcon Wagon with a Flat Clear Coat Spray Paint Job. Every story I've written about this build can be found here: 1963 Ford Falcon Wagon Build   It's painted! In case you're just tuning in, I've been trying to put my 1963 Ford Falcon wagon back together for oh... 3 yeas now. It was supposed to be a quick-turn project that resulted in a cool daily driver. That didn't happen. We did have a great Overhaulin-style tear down party that left me with a shell of a Falcon.   After a total failure with my first paint job (a long boring story I won't revisit) I had to repaint my wagon, but this time, I wanted a flat paint job using flat clear. There's a bunch of forum-based info on painting with Hot Rod Flatz or using flat clear, but I wanted a trusted source with 30 years of painting experience. That's where Kevin Tetz from the Power Block show "Trucks" comes in. I met Kevin at SEMA a few years ago, and just like you'd suspect, he's...

My Ford Falcon Wagon's Finally Got Paint   It's been a long journey. I'm rebuilding/restoring/modifying (choose what you like) my 1963 Falcon Wagon. I'm way over due on what's been done, but here's where it is now:     Shown with premium primer from Squeeg's Kustoms (Squeeg's is a TOP QUALITY paint shop, not to be confused with the painter mentioned later)   OK, fine, the car's been sitting around way too much waiting for me to get off my butt. I'm kinda off now, but not completely. Thanks to buddies here in town helping me "get off the computer!" and back into the garage... there's been some progress.   So I have one question: Do you like GOLD?   It looks great in the sun here, but I would NOT recommend this painter. Terrific Paint and Customs, a Phoenix, AZ custom painter and body shop.     The great thing about MY Ride is Me is that I don't really care all that much if you like it.   I've been working with a Phoenix, AZ painter that specializes in affordable paint. The idea was to get a...

Ford Falcon Wagon Wheels Choice It's been a long journey. I'm rebuilding/restoring/modifying (choose what you like) my 1963 Falcon Wagon. I'm way over due on what's been done, but here's where it is now:     OK, fine, the car's been sitting around way too much waiting for me to get off my butt. I'm kinda off now, but not completely. Thanks to buddies here in town helping me "get off the computer!" and back into the garage there's been some progress. All that'll have to wait. For now, I just wanna ask a question.     Which cap?   At the LA Roadster Show, I found the Cal Custom spider caps on the left along with some Cal Custom trim rings, both still in the original, well worn box. Do you know the ones that fit on the inner ring of the wheel where a dog dish hubcap would fit? I've heard them called "Toby Rings" since a guy named Toby was the first to run'm. I don't know...  I later found the two-legged spinner caps on the right, also from Cal Custom on Ebay. Both of these...

I'm a car guy, not a web guy.   Yes, I've spent the last 3 years making MyRideisMe.com and spending a huge portion of my limited free time on the computer, but it's all been worth it. The community's growing, sponsorship is growing and that means there'll be more free stuff (see the freebies stories) and more content for everyone to enjoy.   That said, I had to spend some time in the garage this weekend to prove to myself, I am a car guy. My 1963 Falcon wagon's been neglected so that MyRideisMe.com's not. I've had a new radiator to put in for a while now and I have an Optima Battery to put in as well. My new yellow top's still waiting, but at least I've got the radiator in!     Why'd it take me so long? It was a hard day's work, but not as bad as I thought it would be. I have this tendency to over think to the point where it keeps me from getting started. Maybe that's how I'm wired as an engineer. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out....