Homebuilt Ford Falcon by Greasegirl #4   Tonight was primer night! We'd finished the prep and masking last night, all that was needed before starting was to clean up our workspace and do a last surface prep. I used a tack cloth and Kustom Shop's wax and grease remover to cover the surface to be painted and ensure it was completely clean. It's always amazing how much dirt those tack cloths pick up! I'm signed up to spray the color paint, so Ethan called dibs on spraying the primer - designating me as the paint mixer. I didn't get started with that job too well. I shook the paint can as I'd do with any other paint then opened it up and poured it up to the mix line after giving it a quick stir. Then I added the reducer and took it to Ethan. It looked awfully thin and he asked me if I'd stirred it - and I had a little bit, so I said "yes." We pondered over how thin the paint was... but hey, I've never sprayed primer on a car and assumed that's just...

Homebuilt Ford Falcon by Greasegirl #3 Last night, we finished prep on the engine bay and started masking. With 9 days to go until Mooneyes Xmas Show, we completely masked off the rest of the car - as the engine bay and hood are the only thing we're painting. Our 1960 Ford Falcon still wears its original white paint which is in pretty good condition. The hood however, appears to have been replaced and looked ugly with just white primer on it. The ugly hood combined with having the engine out is why this whole paint job began. I've chosen a metallic-suede Hot Rod Flatz paint in a contrasting color for the task (you'll just have to wait and see!) After masking the car, we didn't want to apply primer that we'd be smelling all night while we slept. So instead Ethan turned back to cleaning suspension parts and taking apart the brakes while I shined the grill and headlight rings. I'd finished shining the grill with 0000 steel wool and was considering turning in for bed a little early when I remembered the hood. If Ethan planned on...

Homebuilt Ford Falcon by Greasegirl #2 The goal for tonight was to wash and clean the engine bay, apply rust remover where needed, and mask for paint. With a sudsy bucket of cleanser, I went to work while Ethan began cleaning suspension parts. It's amazing when you've done so much sanding and scraping - that you'll still find more! After I'd gone over the entire engine bay with cleanser followed by water - then dried and air-dried it - my husband came along and pointed out a couple of areas that I'd missed. Grrrrr! I went back over those after giving him a scowl. After one more wash and dry I moved on to the rust remover. Only small bits of rust are left, mostly hiding in corners. Bedtime was approaching, so the only masking that was accomplished was the holes in the firewall...but I'd say we reached our goal tonight. 9 more days to go!   In the Garage Until: 11:36pm Want to catch up? Here's where everything started:  12 Day 1960 Falcon Build #1   For more Falcon fun, check out Pikesan's project: 1963 Ford Falcon Wagon...

Homebuilt Ford Falcon by Greasegirl & Ethan The last time you heard about the Ford Falcon project, I was getting everything off the engine in order to pull it... that was nearly a year ago! In between here and there you've hardly heard from me. It's been quite a year - not only did I start a new job (in which I'm writing articles every day), I got married, and moved. Those things haven't kept me from the garage though - I helped build a demolition derby car with my car club and also took part in my first SEMA build project with the SEMA Businesswomen's Network. I can only make excuses for so long though - and the time has come to follow through with the Falcon. In bits and pieces over the past few months, the engine has come out, I've done my first bits of body work using hammers and dollies, and I've sanded the engine bay. Originally, this was to be a quick job - sanding just enough to lay some rough paint down. Well, the moment that Chicago Pneumatic sander uncovered bare metal I...

Super Clean 1960 Falcon Ranchero   Did you see the race car version of this car? When I saw this Ford Falcon Ranchero Race Car at Bonneville, owner Alan Moss said he's got another Ranchero, and it's for sale! Check it out:   1960 Ford Falcon Ranchero: Completely sandblasted inside and out, patch paneled (welded) running a 302 small block Ford with flat top pistons, a mild cam, balanced, a 500 cfm AFB. In total, there are 12,000 miles on engine and trans. It's got an AOD 4 speed auto with A+ od servo, .6:1 OD, shift kit, with updated clutch packs. It will hold any gear.   Out back, there's an 8" Ford rear with five lug Ford pattern, 3.50 ratio, open. With the 3.50 gears it is very lively in traffic but with the .6 od fourth gear it goes down the highway nicely.Up front features a Mustang II front end, disc brakes on five lug Ford Mustang II rotors, manual rack and pinion steering, 205/60x15 tires on 6x15" steel wheels.     Inside, there's a tilt column from a Cherokee, 60x40 seats from a Ranger pickup.  ...

280Z powered Falcon Ranchero Race Results   Remember this car? Just looking at it's low, built-for-racing stance, it was easily one of my favorites from Bonneville - and that's before I saw under the hood. With a Nissan 280Z inline six suppying the power, I had to ask the owner to keep me posted on his first year racing results from 2012 Bonneville Speed Week. If you need to see so more pictures, check out this 1960 Falcon Ranchero here.   Here's what Alan Morris out of Montrose, CO had to say about the first time out with his Ranchero:   "I apologize for not replying sooner. I've been busy cleaning the car, removing the engine and assessing the engine damage. Plus I needed a rest. I have thrown most of my energy at the car for about two and a half years. At 70 years old I don't seem to have that much energy anyway.   The first run (the maiden one for the car and me as well) they only want you to run to the two mile mark and pull the parachute. They don't want you to...

Nissan Z-powered Land Speed Racing Falcon Ranchero   So I'm riding by on the XR70 bike my buddy Erock loaned to me (a sight to see with my long lanky frame) and I see this wicked looking Ford Falcon Ranchero.   Anyone following this site knows I'm partial to the round bodied Falcons... so much so I'm building a 1963 Falcon Wagon myself. It's your typical summer remake that's taken 4 years so far. Anyways, that's another story.   As I walked up on this bad little pickup, I saw only one valve cover poking up... I thought, SWEET! He's running a Ford six just like me. To my surprise, Alan Morris out of Montrose, CO chose a 1980 Nissan 280Z motor to chase the F/CFALT record of 165.224 held by the Cohn Jucewic Monza.     I was surprised because in addition to being the owner/editor/janitor of MyRideisMe.com, I'm also a test engineer for Nissan. One of my favorite Fords combined with different and unexpected powerplant that's also from the folks who pay my mortgage... win, win, WIN!   The sixer runs a healthy 14:1 compression and triple...

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...

1960 Ford Falcon Project I recently pulled my Ford Falcon into the garage with plans of figuring out what’s going on with it. This weekend I dug in and really enjoyed myself! For years, most wrenching days have had a deadline. When Studie was my only car I had to get things fixed right away, which meant some stressful times in the garage. This weekend’s job was nice and relaxing (albeit dirty!) Here’s what I did… I began with a good solid de-greasing of the engine. Boy was this a messy job! Every inch of the engine and oil pan was covered in oil and grime. One can of engine gunk, one can of brake clean, a good amount of Purple Power, some wire brushes, a scraper, and a roll of shop towels later… The engine was clean but boy was I greasy! Once the engine was clean, I figured a good place to start was the plugs. Not knowing the history of this engine, I have no idea what’s been done to it! As I pulled the plugs things didn’t look too bad until I got to spark...