The Fairlane is on the road. After selling my M Coupe, I needed some wheels. While my original intent was to take my time, buff the paint, and restore the trim before reassembly, I decided to put it together and circle back at some later date to do those things. However, that's not to imply the car is stock or slammed together quickly. Let's review some of the things I've done.
I bought the car with a small crunch on the passenger rear quarter panel. I bumped it out from the inside, getting the taillight positioned properly. I also hammered and stretched the rear bumper into the right spot (though it is still a bit tweaked). I repaired two quarter-sized areas of rust in front of the rear wheels -- the factory put WAY too much seam seal in there (it was gooped), which collected dirt and subsequently water. I cleaned out the seam seal, the rusted sheetmetal, and butt-welded in new metal. I then prepped the metal, sealed it, and went on with the rest of the body. The rest of the body had many layers of filling primer applied to get it straight. I then painted with 2005 Mercedes Silver on the bottom, and 2005 Mustang Legend Lime on the top, in a two-tone configuration that I hadn't seen on a Fairlane. The paint is a two-stage (basecoat / clearcoat) that I applied at the end of summer in 2005. At that time, I also painted the new 351W I had purchased.
The motor is a 351W I had bought from S&S Engie Remanufacturing while in Spokane that year. It's a 1974 high-nickel block with Speed-Pro STE-H336CP Hypereutectic pistons, a cam with .450/.474 intake/exhaust lift & 280/290 duration. It has the 1974 heads heads as well, which are supposed to be better breathing. I topped it off with an Edelbrock Performer intake, an Edelbrock electric choke carb, and a Mallory HEI distributor. In front of it, I fabbed in mounts for a Summit Racing aluminum radiator (much cheaper than a custom fit radiator).
Fast forward to 2006. I had to move from my place in California to Portland, OR. I dropped the motor into the car quickly so everything could be put in the back of a 40' enclosed trailer and hauled up here. That meant that all the trim, bezels, weatherstripping, etc had to be packed up or put into the car and shipped out.
Now it's summer 2007, and I finally got the car together. It's been a lot of work though. I had a number of major issues I had to work through.
- First, I used the stamped steel plate that goes between the motor and trans from the 351W donor motor I had. Mistake... the C4 never fit up to it after a bunch of wrangling. I ended up dropping the transmission and putting in the original 289/C4 plate, which actually worked.
- Second, the power steering setup has been a major hassle, and it's not yet completely worked out. I have a new power steering setup from Chockostang (nice folks there, BTW), and the Headman 1 5/8 headers interfered with the ram when turning to the right. It was so bad that my car wouldn't turn right of center. I ended up taking out the motor mounts (1 at a time while supporting the motor), elongating all 6 holes (4 at the frame, 2 at the motor) on each side, then pushing the motor to the rear as much as possible. Though this didn't give me all the room I to crank the steering to the right, it does allow me to drive the car acceptably.
- There is a small water leak at the timing cover that I need to eradicate.
- I also have a strange rattle (header? exhaust?) that I need to figure out. This one bugs me.
However, there are many very nice things about the car.
- Battery has been relocated to the trunk, opening up a huge amount of space in the engine compartment.
- Aluminum radiator, which should cool the care nicely.
- Power steering is nice to have.
- I converted the car to disc brakes, which makes it stop MUCH better than the drums (much straighter and confidence inspiring). The brakes were from a 1970 Mustang Mach 1. The conversion was easy: put on the spindles with new rotors & bearings, and replace the cylinders rebuilt Autozone ones. I also used some fittings & AN braided lines to improve the pedal feel.
- I rerouted the front end wiring (no voltage regulator, no battery left up front) for marker lights and headlights through the driver's inner fender, meaning that there are no wires forward of the shock towers except for the one going along the motor to the distributor (HEI), and the one going to the electric choke.
- I mounted the add-on transmission cooler in front of the radiator, but it's actually mounted to the grill support, which looks pretty cool.
- Car has relocated lower a-arms (aka "Shelby trick") to lower the front end some and make it handle better. I don't know if it does yet, but we'll see.
And LOTS of work left to do:
- Remove trim & buff paint
- Restore (tap out dings, buff) trim
- Replace carpet & headliner
- Replace front glass (good time to do the headliner is then
- Paint the glove box door (it was ready, but I missed it when I was painting!
- Touch up some various paint spots
- Replace some weatherstripping
- Replace the driver's wing window which is currently plexiglass (I have a good assembly, but haven't installed it)
- Then lots of fun stuff, like a locking rear, a 5-speed conversion (I have the flywheel & pedal), etc.
This car has been a lot of work, and it's good to see it finally coming together.
