63.5 Galaxie

Mustang Australia

Author Topic: 63.5 Galaxie  (Read 15212 times)

Offline jiffy

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63.5 Galaxie
« on: August 02, 2019, 03:48:12 pm »
Here's my journey so far. Found a lovely looking 63.5 on Craigslist.

Had it inspected by Auto Appraisals Group and it got a clean bill of health by their Ford expert.

 (tip: DO NOT USE these MF'rs...)

Car turned up and after rebuilding the suspension, steering, diff and replacing the exhaust, work started on these issues:




This is the painter/panel-beater. Great work, and a hard worker, but young - with all that implies.

So now comes reassembly. I have the majority of the trim on, the lights and grille are in, just about to put the bumpers on, then comes the headliner and windscreens, then I need to figure out the electric windows, lob in the interior and drive.

I think it'll look exactly like the car I bought, only it will BE sound rather than just LOOK sound....
« Last Edit: October 07, 2019, 01:33:17 pm by jiffy »
Black '69 CJ 4SPD car under construction (425/504)
Black 2002 SVT Cobra - 2003 Terminator Clone (575rwhp/716rwtq - SOLD)
Black ‘63.5 Galaxie 4SPD fastback (just you wait...)

Offline 69candy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2019, 06:19:06 pm »
Good story!!! sort of. It will be a killa car when your done. Then you can get back to the yucky old 4 speed, if you stop playing with the 67 soft top :grin: :grin: :grin:

Offline Clubman7

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2019, 06:37:11 pm »
Wow, clean bill of health.
Good luck with the rebuild.
Will be an awesome car.

Offline GLENN 70

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2019, 07:36:31 pm »
This is why I tell people / buyers not to trust anyone when buying a classic without checking it out themselves .  You learnt the hard way ,but I hope it all goes well for you 👍

Offline mwizz

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2019, 09:28:20 pm »
Can't wait to see the finished product. It looks like it will be amazing.

Offline SXTY8

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2019, 11:11:26 am »
This is why I tell people / buyers not to trust anyone when buying a classic without checking it out themselves .  You learnt the hard way ,but I hope it all goes well for you 👍

Yeah I thought that having a 10 page report with nearly 100 photos was enough for me to outlay $55K for a car in the US. I now realise that I was incredibly lucky that body-wise it was everything the seller said it was......mechanically, not so much.
When I bought my Corvette it wasn't too difficult to convince 2 of my sons to accompany me on a trip to the US to look for a car. This time we were able to go over the car pretty well and it was everything it was supposed to be.

Offline jiffy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2019, 12:35:45 am »
Making some progress...


Headliner is next, then front/rear windscreens.
Rear bumper is a tad too far left and the RHS rubs the passenger quarter trim. A job for another day....
Black '69 CJ 4SPD car under construction (425/504)
Black 2002 SVT Cobra - 2003 Terminator Clone (575rwhp/716rwtq - SOLD)
Black ‘63.5 Galaxie 4SPD fastback (just you wait...)

Offline mwizz

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2019, 03:36:07 pm »
Looking great

Offline 69candy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2019, 06:34:35 pm »
I'm liking a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Offline jiffy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #9 on: October 07, 2019, 01:23:29 pm »
So - a while back I saw an advert for a '63 427 driveline "pulled from a wrecked galaxie in 64" and sat under a bench since.

Of course - another one of them. Yup...

So, I pulled the trigger and bought it - and unbelievably it was as described.
The shipping company 'lost it' en route, which was nice, but it eventually turned up in a warehouse in New York, so I got it in the end.



I opened the box, and there it was - a 63.5 dated 427 CO with twin carbs, T-10, long-tube cast-iron headers etc. So, I pulled the box apart and put it on a stand.





It was missing the distributor, valve covers and fuel canister, but it had the correct carbs, original fuel pump, original Autolite 'black-cross' plugs, there was no witness marks on the flywheel - so I was increasingly confident that it was actually as described, so I thought if I removed the heads, then I'd know:




So, the original head gaskets, bumper pistons and the condition of the bore suggests that it is indeed a very low mileage engine. I haven't tried to turn it over, so it can sit and wait until the Galaxie is on the road, and probably until the Mach1 is finished, then it can get looked at.
I found an internally balanced 428 crank and some nice H-beam conrods, so it'll get freshened up, compression lowered and stroked before it goes back in.

Should be able to get out of its own way after that...
« Last Edit: October 07, 2019, 01:32:03 pm by jiffy »
Black '69 CJ 4SPD car under construction (425/504)
Black 2002 SVT Cobra - 2003 Terminator Clone (575rwhp/716rwtq - SOLD)
Black ‘63.5 Galaxie 4SPD fastback (just you wait...)

Offline 289 vert

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #10 on: October 07, 2019, 06:45:17 pm »
Lookin real good!! Makes me wish I coulda bought that white one that was on the FE forum ... wrong colour for you though. With your luck, did you get those pulleys? Or did they get lost?
"Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience."

Offline jiffy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #11 on: October 07, 2019, 07:21:42 pm »
Pulleys????
Black '69 CJ 4SPD car under construction (425/504)
Black 2002 SVT Cobra - 2003 Terminator Clone (575rwhp/716rwtq - SOLD)
Black ‘63.5 Galaxie 4SPD fastback (just you wait...)

Offline 289 vert

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"Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience."

Offline jiffy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #13 on: October 08, 2019, 10:41:50 am »
You - know, I have no idea if I got them or not, or if I ordered them, or not.

Memory loss in seniors is a grave thing.
Black '69 CJ 4SPD car under construction (425/504)
Black 2002 SVT Cobra - 2003 Terminator Clone (575rwhp/716rwtq - SOLD)
Black ‘63.5 Galaxie 4SPD fastback (just you wait...)

Offline 289 vert

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #14 on: October 08, 2019, 03:06:39 pm »
Just to refresh your memory
https://www.fordfe.com/427-428-cj-390-parts-nos-mustang-cougar-torino-t151184.html
You told me at the time that they were on the way.
I'm starting to forget what parts I've already got ... find them when I put another one on a shelf.
Should try to find time to put some on the car so that I can see whats left.
A very grave thing.
"Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience."

Offline jiffy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #15 on: January 06, 2020, 01:06:28 pm »
ha - yes, I know what you mean - I thought (as they were missing from the 427) that I better get a set of Adjustable rockers sorted out.
So, I looked through my boxes, found a set of used adjustable rockers, stripped and cleaned them and checked them out.
Several were pretty badly scored up where crap had come out of the oiling hole, so I thought about 6 could use a reco.

I managed to find a half dozen good ones in the US, and ordered those, plus a pair of new rocker shafts, so when they arrive, I can clean, oil and assemble them.

All good!!

Then a mate came around, asked if I had a waterpump. Was looking around to find one suitable, moved a box that was a lot heavier than I was expecting, so wondered what was in there. Turned the box around to read the label (NEW ADJUSTABLE ROCKERS).

A full set I'd bought a few years before...
Black '69 CJ 4SPD car under construction (425/504)
Black 2002 SVT Cobra - 2003 Terminator Clone (575rwhp/716rwtq - SOLD)
Black ‘63.5 Galaxie 4SPD fastback (just you wait...)

Offline jiffy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #16 on: April 06, 2020, 05:21:21 pm »



Unbelievably waiting on a mounting plate for the power window switch for the rear interior quarter panels - not sure I can fit the rear seats etc until this is in.



Had all the aluminium polished around the front seats and they look terrific, can't wait to fit them!
Black '69 CJ 4SPD car under construction (425/504)
Black 2002 SVT Cobra - 2003 Terminator Clone (575rwhp/716rwtq - SOLD)
Black ‘63.5 Galaxie 4SPD fastback (just you wait...)

Offline 69candy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #17 on: April 06, 2020, 06:41:05 pm »
Getting there. self isolating can be rewarding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Offline mwizz

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #18 on: April 06, 2020, 10:35:22 pm »
Loving the updates

Offline jiffy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #19 on: April 15, 2020, 02:39:26 pm »
Late, late night last night....

Black '69 CJ 4SPD car under construction (425/504)
Black 2002 SVT Cobra - 2003 Terminator Clone (575rwhp/716rwtq - SOLD)
Black ‘63.5 Galaxie 4SPD fastback (just you wait...)

Offline 69candy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #20 on: April 15, 2020, 06:13:05 pm »
Nice, they the originals?

Offline jiffy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #21 on: April 16, 2020, 03:43:44 pm »
yup - in great condition considering...
Black '69 CJ 4SPD car under construction (425/504)
Black 2002 SVT Cobra - 2003 Terminator Clone (575rwhp/716rwtq - SOLD)
Black ‘63.5 Galaxie 4SPD fastback (just you wait...)

Offline jiffy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #22 on: May 29, 2020, 08:55:17 pm »
Have been battling with a speedo that wouldn't work for the past month or so.
Tried all sorts of speedo gears on the end of the cable - have a spare T-10 and had the same issue with both: the worm gear on the output shaft wouldn't turn the speedo cable gear.

This is the existing cable and gear:

so had my local machine shop (https://www.yellowpages.com.au/vic/rowville/c-w-davis-cylinder-heads-12257719-listing.html) who made up a new spigot for the end of the speedo cable - in which the centre boss the cable runs through and the gear sits on - was at a 3mm off-set so I could turn the cable around to bring the gears closer together so they could mesh, and the worm gear on the output shaft would turn the gear and the cable and therefore the speedo would work.



Tested it and all seemed ok, so cut the end off the cable, then crimped the new end onto the speedo cable and wouldn't you know it:


Happy days are not far off....
« Last Edit: September 07, 2020, 09:13:41 pm by jiffy »
Black '69 CJ 4SPD car under construction (425/504)
Black 2002 SVT Cobra - 2003 Terminator Clone (575rwhp/716rwtq - SOLD)
Black ‘63.5 Galaxie 4SPD fastback (just you wait...)

Offline jiffy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #23 on: June 25, 2020, 02:29:46 pm »
And - we have a ROADWORTHY!!  And club plates!! And several successful drives!

Photos to follow once the windscreen surround is done and it gets a cut-n-polish....
Black '69 CJ 4SPD car under construction (425/504)
Black 2002 SVT Cobra - 2003 Terminator Clone (575rwhp/716rwtq - SOLD)
Black ‘63.5 Galaxie 4SPD fastback (just you wait...)

Offline 69candy

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Re: 63.5 Galaxie
« Reply #24 on: June 25, 2020, 06:31:00 pm »
Bullshit!! Pics or it didn't happen!!! :grin: :grin: :burnout: :burnout: