What to do?

I LOVE old straight 6 cylinders, love their sound, look, just love them. And at $4.00 a gallon they make sense.Of course you can modify it if you want and that's ok too. But, have you noticed at car shows, the cars that people look at are the different ones from the norm-the norm being V-8's. Most Novas ,Camaros, Mustangs, Coronets, and Falcons have been switched to v8. I could see converting the 6 to throttle body efi and it would be a great driver. Just what my opinion... I love the old Falcons- Did I mention I also love straight 6's ??

 

Then this link is for you 7tvista.
But you have to like Fords!
http://www.classicinlines.com/PhotoFordSix.asp
These show some of the possibilities for the straight six.
Nothing for this engine is a bolt-on like say, the 302.
If you want to modify it it will usually require some creative fabrication.
Fordsix is about the only place that has any performance parts for the I6.
There used to be Clifford, but that's sort of gone by the wayside.

 

http://www.myrideisme.com/Blog/green-gas-runnin-ford-falcon-turbo/

Will and Kelly McLearran have a '63 she drives at the drag strip.
Probably one of the most heavily modified small sixes ever, a turboed 250.
She is a breast cancer survivor and races for the cause.

 

It would seem to make sense to make this as comfortable and fun to drive for your wife as possible.

 

That Paint Job

Falcons lend themselves to two-tone paint jobs. Even three or four-tone paint jobs. Those body contours, and all. Go with what pleases your own eye. As you yourself said, "only original once". Although, I remember someone once explaining, why cars are better than women. A woman is cherry--- until she's not. But a car can be made cherry, over and over again. If you want, go modified now, and cherry later...

 

There's a nice 200 with a 170 head for sale, $1200.
http://fordsix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=86&t=68777

 

Upgrading so it is useful and usable for the entire family makes sense. Upgrading the brakes is almost a must do! Single circuit, 4 wheel drums are just fine, if you are strong of leg and brave. They work well until something breaks. That is where the more modern system comes into play. Also, power assist is more than nice to have. Much easier on the leg muscles. I would also think about power steering. If you are going to be driving the old girl, the manual steering box is just plain slow. It is quite easy to move to a faster box with the power assist, and keep some road feel. Way back when, I remember Ford recommending the V-8 for power steering and brakes, although both were offered on the I-6. Come to that, in the late 60s and early 70s, G.M. and Chrysler had the same recommendation. The 6 cylinders were not considered powerful enough to handle both by any of the manufacturers. Also, upgrading the six for power is going to cost more money up front than dropping in a small V-8. Biggest advantage to the 8, though, is economy. It has enough inherent torque to be geared for fuel economy in the real world. With the right gearing and transmission, that little wagon could easily match any of the new 'economy cars' for mileage, especially on the highway.

 

just my .02 - your payingthe bill do whatever you want to enjoy it. mine was a 283/powerglide with manual drumbrakes and steering. no radio no comforts. i would never have as much enjoyment if it were stock . hours on end with a powerglide would sure be noiser, use more gasand more wear and tear. no radio sometimes thats ok . no a/c no way , if your gonna drive it enjoy it . if you just wanna show it keep it stock

 

Herb...you got a plethera of opinions and angles

and heres my 2 bits......I get accused of being a "Tinhugger"...thats the car version of a 'treehugger' I guess

I..myself...like bolt on additions...wheels...tires that sorta thing...but prefer my cars pretty much 'original'....or at least 'returnable' to original !

but brother...as others have said...ITs Yours !!....do what makes your heart skip a beat....thats what its all about in the end

 

I sometimes get this way with my wagon. It shows 34k on the clock, might be 134 but if it is it was well kept. Its clean and rust free and very original, so my usual M.O. of modification seems a bit misplaced on this car.

Then I look at the flip side. Its a 1978 Colony Park...it has about 0 desirability by anyone, I'll probably only improve its value (what little there is) by some tasteful updates and in the meantime I'll have the car I want.

I'm doing my best to keep mods reversible, but overall its full steam ahead to make it a fun and interesting car that I like.

 

For what it's worth I'll throw my own PERSONAL opinion out. Again, as others have said & I agree with, it's yours, do what makes YOU happy. Back to MY opinion, never been a fan of '6 in a row'. Give me a V-8. I'd love to have something like that with a 289/302 in it. Even a 265 would be nice.

 

Colony Parks

78 Colony Parks "undesirable"??? Apparently you haven't caught on to the people who subscribe to this site.(just slightly exaggerative and sarcastic) Come "tax time" (when returns show up) I'd gladly pay thousands for a 78 Colony Park in good condition. Although, the Colony Park IS "The Lincoln Continental/TownCar Of Stationwagons", and I see people modifying THEM, all the time. I'm biased towards the Colony Park, myself, as I have owned two(a 68 and an 86)and easily believe them to have been the two best cars I've ever owned. Modifications I have seriously considered have been; to give one a bio-diesel drivetrain and(this was also a former girlfriends idea for the 68)put camping trailer window curtains up in the back-back and around the backseat area, to facilitate privacy when a double mattress is installed in the cargo area. Also had a dream once, where my 68 had hydraulics and could hop over the hoods of copcars making a roadblock, but, I'm not so sure that would work out well.:confused: In the dream it didn't, the car crashed and burned.

 

Those 6 cylider engines

I understand that the inline 6's of the 60's and 70's really weren't much to brag about, but they did have their virtues. Damn near everybody's(and this includes those among the "not the Big 3")were bulletproof. Yes, compared to V8's they were underpowered, but they filled a niche and served a purpose. In the 60's and 70's, it was the economy niche. Earlier than that, 6's were one of the hotrod engines you could count on for dependability. 4's were economy engines and 8 and more were towncar engines. / 6's can be built up! A Ford 250-CID-6 had as much bhp as the esteemed 5.0 had for much of it's history(150), and could be super-stocked and cammed and what all else, as much as a V8. AND, they're easier too keep cool(radiator wise). Many of the older diesel blocks, from the Big 3, were diesel verions of their 6's. If I ever have another chance to buy up an old Colony Park, getting one with a 6, would not be out of the question, for me. A 250-6 could easily be pumped up over 200bhp, and, with even a throttle-body-injection system, be given a better mpg rating. An actual EFI system would make that improvement even better than that! / On a tangent, Mercury Villiager wagons could be got with 289's, so that's not out of the question either.

 

Amen to that.

Thanks for all your advice guys, food for thought.

Love this forum.......

 

Herb what ever upgrade you a must do is brakes auto and diff if you choose a V8 we have done many and they drive great but often over looked is a 250 2V mabye you should check it out. I think this is an Aussie only but are available here at reasanble cost $800/$1000 including C4 auto in good running order and with this combo its still wise to go 8 inch diff (mustang/fairlane pre 66) also not sure if you are aware to make a nice driving car out of a earley Falcon with a V8 you should upgrade front struts/shocks,stabilezer bar. Whatever you do its really great to see you keeping this tropper alive and well