first post - 65 Caliente 4 door - questions

Wanted to jump in and say hello and start tapping your expertise about a new project I am getting ready to undertake.

First off I'll tell you about myself, I am a frequent poster on Stangnet, StlMustangs as well as being a every once in while poster on Hardcore5.0 (go by washmo66 over on those boards). I currently own a 66 Mustang coupe (I have owned it twice) that is a street strip car with a mild late model blocked 347 in it (500FWHP), it has lots of neat goodies, Currie 9", disk brakes, rack & pinion steering, TCP suspension pieces, the list of parts and money spent over many years goes on and on. It's a fun car that runs bottom 11's on pump gas, I swap the slicks off and drive it to work all the time and I am going to keep it around for a long time. But with the moly cage in it and 4 kids who like to cruise (oldest son being 14, youngest twin boys being 4) it is just not practical to pile everybody in and have fun.

To summarize I am a die hard gear head in the worst way.......

Which brings me to this board. A friend of mine's father (who has upwards of 20 cars in dry storage at his farm) has had this Comet that I have had my eye on for a few years. It's a 1965 Caliente 4 door 289 2V car that has just 43000 original miles on the clock. It was his great Aunt's car and it has been stored (covered, dry) since she died in 1995. So I am going to make the leap and purchase the vehicle;

Here it is;







My plans are to get it painted, go through the suspension, drivetrain (questions), new carpet, upolstery and swap in the 347 out of my Mustang.

1.

Front suspension - I know the Mustang and Comet suspensions are very similar. I would like to go with air bags since the car is going to be a crusier and we want to drop this thing low. I know air ride makes the bolt in style shocks for my Stang but not for the COMET. Are the dimensions the same on the shocks? Will the Mustang kit interchange with the COMET?

2. Rear end dimensions - I also want to swap in my Currie 9" out of the Mustang and I am wondering how close the facotry widths are between the two cars.

3. Overall how good is the aftermarket parts availability for these cars?

For now that is all I have to ask but as soon as we pull the trigger on this project you will hear from me alot.

Thank you all in advance for your help. I really like expanding my hot rod relationships because I always meet some of the best like minded people.

PS - Here is a pic of my Mustang in Drag Trim, I normally run 16" Vintage Wheel works Vintage 50's on the street. Oh and don't worry about the Stang losing some parts to the Comet, I have some other plans for it down the road to make it a little faster....



Thanks again,

Todd

 

nice looking mustang. the comet looks like a fun family cruiser. though you probably won't get too much help on here for parts etc. this board is dedicated to the 69.5 to 77 maverick and the comets built on the same body style. your welcome to stick around and ask any questions though. there are lots of knowledgeable people on here.

 

Now that I have poked around a little bit I realize that..... Wonder if there is an old COMET board

Google here I come.

 

i believe there is and some of the other members may know of it. we like all cars so feel free to stick around a while.

 

that mustang looks pretty nice, i'd feel bad about stripping parts off it.

there isnt much aftermarket i know of, might want to try autokrafters, they tend to have a good selction. the body looks pretty nice so i dont think youll need to hunt down rust free body panels. that car being so original and low miles i'd probably be tempted to restore it to factory specs

 

Howdy and "Welcome"
That Comet is on a Falcon platform so I'm pretty sure you will be able to find stuff for it.

 

http://www.cometeastcarclub.org/
They encourage owners from all years of Comets through 1977.

http://www.ford-forums.com/ford-falcon/
Falcon owners

Not much in the way of forums for the Comet specifically.
I have a friend with a Caliente and a Cyclone. '63-'65
Comets have some specific parts that don't swap from
a Falcon and they are $$$ to restore. Hope you don't
need a gas tank. The only one repopped unless it has changed
recently is a fiberglass tank that Crites Restorations carries.
No much in the way of repopped trim etc.

Good luck on your restoration.

 

You'll find some help on http://fordsix.com/forum/,
They are "six" guys, but they also know fairlaines and comets

 

Don't feel bad about the Stang, it will be well taken care of. It's going to get back halfed and four linked and a high compression Dart blocked big inch Windsor.

Thanks for the info so far, I found some Falcon / Comet forums on Ford Muscle that might help, I'll check out the rest.

 

I love your plan for the Comet,,,, I always liked those. Would make a great restomod car. Good luck!
Dan

 

Welcome! Some more info,

www.cometcentral.com

www.comet-west.net

Legendary Ford Magazine, Nov-Dec 06 issue page 96 has some great pic's from the Mid-Maryland All-Ford Meet. Lots of mid-60's Comets and Chrisman's drag cars.

 

Damn nice stang, man. That thing is purty . Welcome to the board and dont worry much about the year of your comet, we like all kinds of fords around here and most of us have different model fords as well, so stick around and chat for a while . Jamie

 

I'm uploading some more pics of the Comet to photobucket but in the mean time here a couple more of the Mustang, we have a long jaded history together...

This is how she looked all the way up until 2005;



The PA Super Comp C-4 that went in late last summer;



Engine pic - (gonna look good in the Caliente!!)



Street Wheels & Tires;



Interior (bad pic)



Anyway I'll get a few up of the Comet and tell you some more about my plans for it. I never thought I would be this excited about a four door. My goal is to make it the nicest 4 door 65 Caliente (and pretty quick as well)

 

You may can get good info from a Fairlane forum as well. Nice cars.