Thread: Might take home an FE

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I have the opportunity to pick up a '64 fairlane 390 4 speed, CHEAP!

I am sure that I am going to buy it, but I think it is too far gone in the body and frame (mostly behind the rear wheels) for me to fix it up. I kind of plan on raping it for the drivetrain and selling what I have left.

My questions,
How many horsepower as the motor sits now?

Can you give me a ballpark figure on the cost of rebuilding this motor, machine shop charges, and parts for a stock rebuild if I do it myself?

Thanks,
CHAZ

t the very first Fairlane with a 390 was a 66. Are you sure of what you are getting your hands on? I mean a person could of put a 390 in a 64 but they'd have to modify the heck out of the shock towers, the front suspension and other parts to get it in there and then you'd almost have to pull the motor just to change spark plugs!!!!

I put a 390 in a 61 Falcon, but it required a dropped front axle with parell leave springs, no inner fender panels, a different steering box, and the two sub frames (front to rear) being tied to gether.

Or maybe it's a Galaxie??? If it is a Gal and a 64 there are lots of parts you can get a pretty good buck for. The pedal box and tranny hump are well sought after. Hopefully the 4sp is a toploader and you can get a good buck for that also. Anyhow the 64 390 4bbl has 300 hp and 427 tq. Rebuild cost will depend on if the block needs a overbore and new pistions or just a hone and reuse the pistons. Also if the crank will polish or needs to be turned. Block bore and hone is around $240. Pistons would depend on if your reusing or getting new. Crank turn is around $95. Rebuild kits are $100-200 depending on whats included. Then you need to look at the heads, valves, rockers, water pump, carb, dizzy, cam, lifters etc... to evaluate what can be saved and what needs to be replaced. If everything is in pretty good shape you should be able to rebuild it for around $1000 including all the machine work, rebuild kit and a few new parts here and there. Maybe less if she runs good and just needs gaskets and a quick cleanup. If your lucky it might have had a recent rebuild and really not need much if anything or the other extreme and will need everything which can be around $2000 complete. It's hard to say exactly how much it will cost as you see.....

G.

OK, I have seen the car and I am sure it is a 64 fairlane, obviously I have been mislead as to what drivetrain is in the car. It is a four speed, what motor is it likely to be?

It could be anything including a 390. Ford put 427's in those cars in '64 and called them a Thunderbolt. It's much more likely that it's a 221, 260 or 289, but like I said it could be anything.

289 is most likely what it has with the 4 spd. Could be a hipo engine.

G.

I just remembered that it had 390 emblems on the fenders, and I am pretty sure from looking at pictures of other cars that it is a '64. I will have to go look and take some pictures. Maybe it will be worth restoring after all if it really is a 390 four speed as I had been told.
CHAZ

Originally posted by techinspector1
It could be anything including a 390. Ford put 427's in those cars in '64 and called them a Thunderbolt. It's much more likely that it's a 221, 260 or 289, but like I said it could be anything.

Well, actually the Thunderbolt wasn't made by Ford but by an outside firm for Ford and sold through Ford. Only roughly 50 or so were made and they required special shock towers, upper control arms, tied subframes, nine inch rear and a lot of work.

Whatever it is if it has a 4 speed it's a hipo car, or has a hipo car drivetrain. A decent hipo car drive train is easily worth $2500.

Could it be a 1966? That would explaine the 390 / 4 speed...

I saw the car, just didn't check it out real close. It had the side by side headlights and side trim of a '64. I will get some pics ASAP and post them.

http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclec...istory-2.shtml

OK, got some clarification, it is a Galaxie 500. Just went out to look at it, and the guy told me again it was a fairlane and I told him I didn't think so and he said oh wait, a galaxie, so that is straightened out.


2 barrel I guess by the looks of it, kinda rough, but it is all there including a 4 speed on the floor. Thats not the really cool part, look what is in the next barn over!


Could be my lucky day!!

DST was contracted to make the Thunderbolts. What is the asking price for the Galaxie?

G.

It is an older lady who has the cars (I am talking to her mechanic son in law) and someone told her the Galaxie is worth around 1k. It is a 390 4 speed. He also told me the same guy said the '34 tub should be worth 4k? It is in good shape, but not that good. I think I found something else anyway. This guy has just got stuff around all over. I am now looking at a '72 Thunderbird.