1966 Fairlane Wagon Journey

[sleepy127]

My journey started back in August. I have been wanting an older ford, something from the 60's but a little different. I stumbled upon this little wagon on Facebook market place and decided to give it a look.



I rode up to Columbus Indiana on a hot day at the end of August and kicked the tires. I told him I would think about it and I went home to get the money together. That next weekend I drove up, handed over the cash, and drove her home in the rain. No power steering, no power brakes, and a defrost that didn't work very well.



Since that weekend I have done very little to her but let her sit. This week I decided to work on correcting the main issue with driving her; the exhaust leak will kill you! I picked up a Flowmaster 2.5" exhaust kit, a set of headers and a few goodies to help everything go smooth.



Today I started working on the headers, sanding them down to put a coat of VHT on them and hopefully by the end of the weekend that will be done. I am pretty sure I will be waiting on the nasty weather here in Kentucky to pass through to attempt installing everything.



The project will proceed like this;

1. Prep and coat headers

2. Install headers and fit the exhaust under the car

3. Clamp all of the pipes, pull the rear end so I can pull the exhaust in one piece.

4. Weld the exhaust up

5. Put the exhaust back in

5. Clean and inspect the rear end and reinstall.



A few details on the old girl;

1966 Ford Fairlane wagon

Fresh 289/C4 transmission and I'm pretty sure that's an 8" sitting out back.

It has been lowered and the floor pans are all new. The tailgate needs some work. It has a nice big dent and the bottom of it is rusted out. Hoping to find somewhere to get some window felt to prevent it from leaking when I can finally get the rust fixed.



Here are a few pictures attached

 

[bad_idea]

I like it. I'm out in San Diego for work for a few months. Looked on CL yesterday and found a 65 with the 390 in fair original looking condition for $900. The listing says it runs and drives well and is currently registered. Love SD for that. I'm trying to talk the wife into it. I need another project like I need a hole in the head.

 

[WagonHo!]

Damn beautiful! Is the paint color original? All the chrome looks good and pit free. Somebody took nice care of her.
Join up on that “here come the wagons” thread, will fit nicely. Keep the project photos coming.
Could you post a pic of the back lights, trying to identify a wagon I spotted here. Thanks

 

[MP&C]

Nice wagon!

 

[captain14]

I think you like Fords!

My father bought a new 63 Fairlane wagon in the fall Of 62.

 

[Retlaw 66]

Cool wagon! I drove a 67 hardtop with 289 4 speed in my collage days, 1979-up. Fun car. Rust was a big issue with these. AMD is finally coming out with a line of replacement panels. Granada disk brake swaps were popular back then, don't know what is recommended these days since the donor Granadas disappeared from the junk yards.

 

[Slednut]

That looks really nice, exhaust it going to make it even better. There does seem to be a lot of parts available.

I had a 66 390 GT 4 speed, fuzzy photo (my first car).

My friend just bought a 66 Ranchero driver that's a little rough for $1200.

My SIL has a 67 GTA, when I get my current project done it may be next.

 

[sleepy127]

Damn beautiful! Is the paint color original? All the chrome looks good and pit free. Somebody took nice care of her.
Join up on that “here come the wagons” thread, will fit nicely. Keep the project photos coming.
Could you post a pic of the back lights, trying to identify a wagon I spotted here. Thanks

The paint is the original color with blue interior.
Here is a shot of the back;



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sleepy127]

I think you like Fords!

My father bought a new 63 Fairlane wagon in the fall Of 62.

That isn’t all of them, this is my Ranchero that is sitting in Alabama at my dads;

It will hopefully turn into a nice car for the strip.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pancho400cid]

Neat project!

Love Ford wagons as dad had a 69 Country Squire when we were kids.....

 

[captain14]

That isn’t all of them, this is my Ranchero that is sitting in Alabama at my dads;

It will hopefully turn into a nice car for the strip.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have never seen one like that. Is that based on the Falcon body style?

 

[sleepy127]

I like it. I'm out in San Diego for work for a few months. Looked on CL yesterday and found a 65 with the 390 in fair original looking condition for $900. The listing says it runs and drives well and is currently registered. Love SD for that. I'm trying to talk the wife into it. I need another project like I need a hole in the head.

That is a great price!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FANTM58]

I Love it , I’m a big fan of “long roofs”
And 66’s
I have a 66 Fairlane , 390 4spd 500XL
And a 68 Country sedan wagon !
I can only find. A picture of the wagon,?

 

[willymakeit]

The wagon that my parents had I would like to find was a odd one. It was a 63/64 Ford Country Squire, white with red interior , bucket seats center console and 4 speed. Dad and Mom had it about 1968/9. It always stands out.

 

[C91x]

I've got a 66 hardtop. Love these cars

 

[C91x]

 

[Slednut]

I like that, nice stance.

 

[bulletpruf]

'66-'67 Fairlanes are my favorite musclecars of the 60's. Love the lines on these.

I've had a bunch. Currently, I have a 66 convt. that started life with a 289/C4/8". Now has 428/4 sp/9".



Here's one of my former Fairlanes - super clean 67 that had a 289/C4/8" in it when I got it. When it was done with it, it had a 796 hp 514, built C4, 9".

 

[86turbodsl]

Awesome! I have 2 67's myself. #1 is my first car, a 67 Fairlane 500 2 dr sedan. Only 8000 made. Restored in 1989. #2 is a 67 Fairlane 500 convertible. Resto project.

I've wanted to make a 2dr wagon for a long while now, don't know if i'll ever get to though. Subscribed!

 

[bluebolt]

Nice! I have had several 1966-1971 Fairlane's and Torino's, still have my 1966 GTA hardtop.

 

[tweet66]

Love it. Had a 69 Falcon wagon for a few years. Basically the Fairlane with different fenders and hood. Miss the car, it's in Texas now with the new owner

 

[1930artdeco]

I soooooo want a station wagon from the 50-60's! Check out Stationwagonforums.com.

Mike

 

[ScottsGT]

Very nice!

Window felt should be easy. I had to order some for my window channels in my ‘66 Mustang. Check out NPD.

 

[kerrynzl]

The project will proceed like this;

1. Prep and coat headers

2. Install headers and fit the exhaust under the car

3. Clamp all of the pipes, pull the rear end so I can pull the exhaust in one piece.

4. Weld the exhaust up

5. Put the exhaust back in

6. Clean and inspect the rear end and reinstall.



A few details on the old girl;

1966 Ford Fairlane wagon

Fresh 289/C4 transmission and I'm pretty sure that's an 8" sitting out back.

Twin exhausts or a Big Bore single?
SBF's sound like they are screaming with a single [the exhaust system of choice with road racing]
And sometimes they make more power.

While the rear end is out, check the brakes [new wheel cylinders and hoses are cheap at this stage]


My very 1st car in 1976 was a 1965 Fairlane 2 door LHD
This was a rare and expensive car in New Zealand back then [for a 15 year old]

It had all the "good ****" in it [air shocks, 15x8" Hotwire wheels, twin exhausts, and a blonde girlfriend ]
I didn't quite ruin it with the white "Starsky & Hutch" stripe that was popular back then.


So Fairlanes have a soft spot for me, I would love to own a wagon like yours .....nice car

 

[ScottsGT]

My first car....

 

[p_mori7]

Sweet Car.

Check out Melvin's Classic Ford Parts.

Ask for Randy Milner. Great Guy.

http://www.melvinsclassicfordparts.com/

 

[p_mori7]

I have never seen one like that. Is that based on the Falcon body style?

Yes, Built on Falcon platform.