Interchangeability of 66 Ford Wagon parts

Afternoon all,

I've recently bought a 66 Fairlane 500 wagon. It's on the road and cruising just fine, but I want to start building my knowledge of the other Fords in the range, and parts that might be same.

What I think I know so far, 1967 onwards was quite different in terms of trim (dash and rear lights etc), but what about galaxie and (I think I read someone mention there is a Torino wagon?) from 66 and before. Were the various Ford wagons kind of the same from that year?

I've got a basic understanding of the FoMoCo parts numbering, is there such a thing as a parts cross checker on the Ol tinternet? Or something similar?

I know it's a pretty broad topic, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

Your Fairlane is what would have been described as an 'intermediate' sized wagon back in the mid 60's. For 1966 though, the 'compact' Ford Falcon wagon was actually built on the same platform as the Fairlane, so there was virtually no difference in size. The big Ford Galaxie for '66 is quite a bit larger. None of the sheet metal will interchange with your wagon. As for mechanicals, the Galaxie and Fairlane did share engines, all the way up to the 390 V8.

As to different year stuff. The Fairlane body was the same for '66 and '67, with different grills and tail lights, a bit of trim, etc. All sheet metal should interchange between those 2 years.

For '68, the Fairlane was completely restyled, and the upper trims were given the 'Torino' name. Drivetrain components should interchange with your Fairlane, but that's about it.

Can't help you with your parts checker question...

Marshall

 

Thanks for the info Krash.

I was keen to find out the size, ie large or intermediate. The other thread about ASWOA is kind of related. On their page are 3rd row seats for 'Ford full size wagon' 66-68. I was hoping to pick them up and put them in mine, but if I'm intermediate, they'll be no good.

Would you take that to mean Galaxie wagon?

Cheers

 

Yes, Galaxie wagon will be the full size or large wagon. Same as the Country Squire or Country Sedan. I'm pretty sure that 3rd row seats were not an option in intermediate Ford wagons until the '72 Torino wagons. The full size 3rd row seats will definitely not bolt-in to your Fairlane wagon. Do your research. Perhaps you could make something fit with fabrication. It would be much easier to find 3rd row seating from something newer, like an 80s or 90s Country Squire or LTD wagon. Just throwing out suggestions. I have no idea if it's even possible. Good luck!

 

A rear-facing third seat was optional on the Torino wagon in 1970, but I can't find any indication a third seat was available in the '66/'67 Fairlane or '69/'69 Fairlane/Torino.

 

Good to know. I wasn't sure about that.

 

Sorry guys, I may have been a little unclear. I didn't mean (or think about) rear facing seats, I meant 2 small seats running lengthways in the boot like this. My car has the 'well' required to put the seats in, and spare tyre in RH qtr panel, and by the tag on this page, it's a 67 Fairlane 500 wagon.......

Perhaps I've answered my own question

Now if only ASWOA will get back to me about the ones they have on their page!! Shhh, don't tell anyone they are there. Are they as hard to find as I suspect they might be?

Cheers

 

And then I found this sales brochure for Ford/ Falcon and Fairlane wagons 1966 that shows them.....perhaps I'm in luck?

Also, the grill in this pic, with the extra lights, is that a country squire add on?

 

Nope. You're referring to what is called Dual-Facing Rear Seats, or in shorthand, 'DFRS'. Those were ONLY available on the full-sized Fords and Mercurys. The picture you posted is not a Fairlane. It's a full-sized '66 Country Squire.

 

Howdy guys,

I have done some extra digging on a Fairlane forum with regards to the door plate and trim info of my car, and found that it was manufactured as a 9 seat wagon. One of the chaps there has provided m with this picture of a single rear facing seat. I had no idea they existed, having only seen the dual seats in pictures. Looking back, Krash I think you eluded to it as being a thing, but I didn't click.

My car is 71B trim Fairlane 500 9 seat, and looks exactly like this picture, albeit the picture car is in better condition than mine. Now I doubt there won't be any available anywhere as spares, but I might as you suggested look into a fabrication of one.

Would anyone know if I might be able to get some schematics/diagrams etc of the measurements?? (I would be surprised if the answer is yes, but I'll ask anyway!)

Cheers

 

Well, I was apparently sunk by the lack of correct brochures from my on-line source. He's got quite a lot, but for the '66/'67 Fairlane, I had my choice of two - one in German, and one in French (for Quebec). Unfortunately, I speak neither.

I did do a bit more investigative work just now. Mercury's version of the Fairlane in 1966 was called the Comet. The Comet and Fairlane were built on the same platform, differing only in trim and grill/headlamp details. The '66 Comet brochure does show and mention an optional third seat. Here it is:

So, to conclude, you need to look for a third seat belonging to any of these vehicles:
- '66/'67 Ford Fairlane
- '66/'67 Mercury Comet Voyager/Villager (non-wood wagon/'woodie' wagon)
- '68/'69 Ford Fairlane / Fairlane 500 / Torino Squire ('woodie')
- '68/'69 Mercury Montego / Montego MX Villager ('woodie')

I can't say positively that the '68/'69 stuff fits, but I believe it will. The wheelbase was the same 113" on all these vehicles, so I think the new body for '68 was just that - a new body on the existing platform. . The floor pan should be the same, and as a result, so will the third seat mechanism.
Hope this helps.
Marshall

 

Thanks Krash, much appreciated!