60's 4 dr Falcon 6 cyl for family car?

[averagef250]

Wife and I are putting a lot of thought into what vehicle would work best for our family. Our current 99 expedition is more than we need, we got it with the idea we could haul all the (four) kids around in it, but we rarely have all the kids at once and the back seat is useless when you have all the stuff that goes along with that many people to carry as well. Initially, I was still thinking in the SUV mindset and wanted to pull the Cummins out of the expedition and install it in an FJ80 Landcruiser. The landcruiser's a much better built vehicle, can be easily made into part time 4x4 and the rear seats are more practical than the expedition. Then there's the whole we really don't need a vehicle this size or an SUV or even 4 wheel drive in our family vehicle at all. When we get snow, ice, tow trailers off road, camp, hike, etc. we use my truck. The family vehicle just zips around town and drives to the bay area a couple times a year to visit family.

We're now considering buying a simple decent mileage 4 door car and want a nice older one since that sort of thing suits us better than a newer car. We narrowed it down to a 4 door 49-52 Ford sedan, a 67-69 AMC Rambler American or a 64-65 4 door Falcon. The 49-52 Ford is probably out because of the cost of a nice original, the work to update things (probably not going to get the best service/mileage from the flathead and we need an automatic). The Ramblers are great little cars, nice condition, garaged originals don't seam hard to find, but replacement parts seam to be. So we're left with the Falcon. I know Mustangs pretty well, like how poorly they're put together, but any part for one is available brand new. I don't think every part is available for the Falcon, but a lot of the Mustang stuff is the same.

I was hoping for a little better idea of how a 4 door 6 cyl automatic 64 or 65 Falcon would hold up for a family car? What kind of mileage is the norm for around town/freeway? Is 200 six power enough to pull out in traffic and cruise at 70? Are the little car six engines as rugged as the 300 or did they have problems?

[forrestbump]

Probably Apples to Oranges, but I had a '66 Bronco with a 200 CI Inline 6 with a three on the tree and that thing wouldn't get out of it's own way if it had to...gutless comes to mind, but it was all stock.

The motor, on the other hand, was a joy to work on due to accessibility and tough as nails, I don't think I could kill it if I had to.

A Falcon (which is the foundation of a Mustang) is lighter so the 200 Six just may be more than enough to keep pace with traffic. I would vote for a manual trans over an automatic.

...my

[george worley]

I had 1964 Falcon Futura (sport roof model) I bought new,it had the 170 cu engine and 2-speed fordomatic.It was a sharp looking little car but it was really slow on take off,if it would of had the 260cu sprint option it would of been a great little car. The best I could do with the 170 was 20-21 mpg. My friends 260 got that much and was so much more fun to drive.If you get the 170 or even the 200 I don't think it would handle air conditioning very well.Our dailey driver is a 1992 Taurus with all the popular options,we bought it in 97 used and has been pretty much trouble free.It has the 3 liter engine and will average 27mpg on the freeway going 75mph with air and is a comfortable car to ride in.

[Swegner99]

You have a cummins in your expedition?

[averagef250]

You have a cummins in your expedition?

[MaxKlinger]

Not really flexible on the old car deal. New cars just don't do it for us. Call it "emotionally driven" or just stubborn, but that's how it is.

I have a lot of respect for that, I hope you can make it work. Your wife must be a special lady to go along with it, I've never dated a girl who would have gone for that (still looking...).

I hate automatics. With a burning passion. All vehicles should have 3 pedals!!!

Amen, brother! But you also said it "must be automatic"; does your wife know how to drive a clutch?

When I spent a year working in Maryland I was at a diner one night and saw someone who had, as a daily driver, a '60 Bel Air, column shift with a straight six. Complete with booster seats for the kids and all. Way cool.

[averagef250]

But you also said it "must be automatic"; does your wife know how to drive a clutch?

She does, not very well and too stubborn to put in the time to learn. She thinks that sometime, somewhere she will be in a life and death situation in the car and "forget" how to drive a stick causing a horrific accident which is all easily avoidable by owning a vehicle with an automatic. I don't understand it, but it's entertainment listening to her reasoning behind all this nonsense.

[Swegner99]

That expedition is awesome, I bet you have some hours into that swap, any kind of build thread on that anywhere? By any chance?

[averagef250]

That expedition is awesome, I bet you have some hours into that swap, any kind of build thread on that anywhere? By any chance?

Wanna buy it? I didn't document it very well. Took help from a few friends and 7 16+ hour days start to finish. Normally a conversion like that would take me 5 weeks, but we had a family vacation to go on and I wanted to break the new engine in on a nice long drive. I do like the expedition, but I have some sort of project/vehicle ADHD and if I don't develop a strong attachment to a vehicle I have to change it or get something else every so often. The expedition was more of "see this is what I do" kind of thing than what we really wanted. I don't need that kind of advertizing anymore so somebody else can enjoy it or I'll recycle the drivetrain into a customers vehicle and sell the expedition shell.

[basketcase0302]

Dustin,
No cooler ride as far as I'm concerned. It was real hard for me to get rid of my 61' Ranchero, (Falcon body style) and grew up with Falcons through the years. Man if you could find a Falcon Futura with a small block in it! I used to have many links on them, but here's one I've never forgotten that might help:
http://www.falconclub.com/

[Swegner99]

That expedition is awesome, I bet you have some hours into that swap, any kind of build thread on that anywhere? By any chance?

Wanna buy it?

I would seriously consider it if I was in the market for a new vehicle, im a huge diesel fan, I think the girlfriend would be a little upset about me bringing home a new toy right now though. Whats the price tag, if you dont mind my asking....?

[Mancar1]

49 coupe was my 1st ride. It was sweet, but now-a-days they can be very pricey.

[averagef250]

49 coupe was my 1st ride. It was sweet, but now-a-days they can be very pricey.

I really like them too. Dead simple, lots of steel, fine looking dash/interior. Sedan prices aren't so high compared to coupes, but more than a Falcon or Rambler and with less amenities. I've noticed nice sedans in the $5000 range and a couple that were small projects with good paint/body/interior for less than $3000.

[crazyhorse]

You might consider 64- 67 Ford Fairlanes, they are roomy, looks great, gets decent gas mileage
with the 289-302.
Parts are available & easy to work on and very reliable.
Good luck & let us know what you get.

[fordman]

i had a 65 falcon once with a 6 cyl and c4. it done anything i wanted it to do. it was a 4 dr. i had that car when i was 18 or 19 years old. i got married in 81 and that was the car i had at my wedding. i should have kept it. but i was broek at the time and when i burned up the transmission i had to sell it as is.