63 Comet Wagon

I just bought another wagon, a 1963 Comet 4-door. Been watching out for a good solid 60-63 Falcon or Comet, but distance or price always kept me from pursuing. That and I already have too many projects (bet that sounds familiar on here )

Anyway, this was on craigslist and only 1.8 miles from me!!!

Went and checked it out, it's been garaged and is in nice shape, floors and frame rails are excellent, body is solid all around, only sheet metal problem is bottom of the tailgate which is swiss cheese. And it's removed and taken apart. So I need to get it home and under cover until I can find a replacement. Six cylinder appears to be a 200 or 250, automatic tranny. Red interior is good, rear passenger door panel needs replacing. Door bottoms, rockers and quarters are all nice, really hard to believe for a 46 year old eastern car.

Anyone know which year tailgates would fit a 63? Are the 60, 61 and 62 Comet tailgates interchangeable? And anyone have a lead on a tailgate?

SWMBO gave me the go ahead (reluctantly), but now that I'm dragging this home, my 69 Colony Park has really got to go. Ad is in the classifieds, still available, still not running but a great deal. Bring a trailer and make me an offer!

 

Looks like a great find!! Much fewer Comets than Falcons around it seems. And even the Falcons are hard to find, so it really looks like you found a winner!

 

Thanks, I'm excited. My wife, not so much

 

If you're interested in hopping up that six you'll have to visit the forums here:
http://fordsix.com/forum/index.php
Duraspark ignition will be a good place to start.

 

I have been looking for an early 60s Falcon, too. Not much around here, either. I really want a manual tranny and that makes it even more difficult to fine. Guess I would take an automatic if I found a nice one. Good luck on your new project!

 

Yeah, I'm probably going to get more familiar with the engine in the car before I decide what to do with it, but I can see a header and a few tweaks like that to add some pep. This is the second comet I've owned, and only the second 6 cylinder. Looking forward to driving this.

I've been watching a bunch of places for falcons and comets. Surprisingly, one of the best sources for decently priced examples is in the classifieds at
The H.A.M.B. Check it out.

 

Not sure if they made a 250 that year. Seems like 144, 170, & 200. I had a 61 Comet with a 170 and 2 speed automatic and got about 27 mpg on the road bone stock. In cold weather, it wouldn't come out of low gear until the tranny warmed up. Then it was fine the rest of the day. By the way, 69ColonyPark, what size is the Shasta camper? I have a 13 foot '66 Shasta.

 

The seller of the Comet said it's not the original engine. I'm hoping it's a 200, will have to be patient and wait for warmer weather to get more familiar with it.

Got it home yesterday in one piece. Water pump appears to be leaking, but I think it also needs a heater core and a tune up. Seller put the tailgate back on but window can't go up, so I've got plastic taped over it and a tarp on top of that and it's tucked in under the carport.

As for the Shasta, it's a 16 footer, pretty standard, no toilet or shower. I've got most of the interior done, replaced birch paneling where it was needed.


Still need to go over the exterior and add the two-tone paint scheme with the Z-stripe, and I haven't begun to update and check the propane connections or fix the water supply, but I plan to have the camper on the road this year. My daughter is dying to camp in it, so at the very least it will get used in the driveway!

This is kinda what it will look like when done

 

Sweet car, please keep us updated on your progress and what you plan to do with the engine. I love hoped up inline engines.

 

Love the trailer, it screams Americana.

 

Another Mercury owner. Great! It's probably a 170 or 200. Since it's not original hopefully a 200. 7 main bearings! Almost indestructable.

 

Here is my little 13 foot 1966 Shasta.

 

HEY!! CoNGRATS....i have 1st gen Falcon wagons and would love to find a decent 1st Gen Comet!!!!!

as for the tailgate...any Falcon 60-63 will fit too....good luck!!!

as for the identity of the motor...its alil confoosing
the 144 and 170 are easily identified by the frost plugs...theres only 3 on the carb side!
(heres where it gets wierd tho)...the 'early 200's' were the same
the later 200 had 5 frost plugs...when they went to more main bearings!

although they all look the same:banghead3:...the 70's 200's had great big ugly exhaust manilfolds tho...they'r easy!!...unless someone changed the manifold...then its conffooosing again

mind you...the cast year is stamped on the motor...so that helps

 

Did a little more nosing around under the hood and the engine appears to be a 200 c.i. from a '68. Got a couple leads on a tailgate but nothing decided yet. I got the same answer about tailgates that will fit from a couple other sources, so it looks like the 1960-63 Falcon, Comet and even the Ranchero tailgates are the same sheet metal. Hopefully I can find one that's in decent shape and doesn't require a lot of work.