My 1969 Fairlane (Pic HEAVY!)

[Gadejfan]

I love this car to death! Been a project of mine for a little over a year and a half now. It is officially my first car. I got it at the age of 15 (i am 17 now). Came from the factory with a 302 and C4 auto, but im going way outside the box and dropping in a true beast.... a 460 big block! The engine is bored .60 over (was bored .30 when we got it). The 460 and the C6 has around $8000 tied into it.

HERE IS THE STORY​

We had the engine and transmission built for a work truck of my dad's, a 1979 Ford F100 custom. Though the truck ended up being a red light to redlight, pedal to the metal, balls to the wall truck lol. This truck was MEAN AS HELL!!! The sound of that 385 series just got me all worked up everytime it revved up! haha
He promised me the truck for after i graduated highschool, but flipped it 3 months after getting it on the road. (Warning: Never take a vehicle with weak tie rod ends down a rough dirt road going about 50mph.) So, he said that since he couldnt give me the truck, he would do the best he could and give me the engine and tranny. So dad told me he would save up a $1000 for me to buy a car or truck to put the engine/tranny in. So i sought out after a new "host body" for the old truck's soul. I was looking for any old ford pickup 79 or older or a midsize old ford/mercury 69 or older.
About a year later, i found it. I was lookin on craigslist in the atlanta area one morning before school and found what is now my car. I thought about it all day at school, and the wait to get home to phone the guy, was just killing me. I got home and called him, he still had it. So i called dad to my room (he knows nothing of the car yet) and showed him the ad. A week, about 300 miles, and $700 (plus the money for gas) later... i had a 1969 Ford Fairlane in my back yard
I still remember the moment we come over the top of that hill and seen the car for the first time. The bright grabber blue and the muscular body lines just broke me down. I honestly cried, i knew i was finally getting myself a classic muscle car. My dreams were coming true.

What i have bought and done to it:
- All new brakes (everything except master cylinder)
- Replaced the 8.8 mustang rear end that was under it with a 69 Torino GT 9 inch that i bought from junkyard for $75. 3.00 gears (gearing it up to 3.55's?, 31 spline, and trac-lok eventually)
- Bought custom headers and engine mounts from crites (engine is still not installed) boy is that gone be a tight fit in between them shock towers! crites is the only people that i know of that makes headers and mounts
- Extra 68 GT grille (Only $15 from junkyard!)
- Stock hood scoop (only $15 from junkyard!)
- Replacement dash pad with NO cracks! (only $15 from junkyard!)
- Hood and cowl is in a friend of my papa's paint shop getting painted satin black, hood pins and lanyards, ford letters removed, and scoop and turn signals installed
- Started painting the engine bay last weekend (after im done painting the engine bay, ill be dropping the engine and tranny in)
- New tie rod ends and idler arm installed
- Lower control arms, ball joints, maier racing 700 coilsprings, strut rods and bushings, upper control arm shaft kits, and shocks all waiting to be installed after engine drop (still have yet to purchase larger sway bar)
- New tail light lenses that i picked up from local swap meet for $90 for the pair
- New wheel bearings, seals, and race (can you say pain in the ass?)

IM SURE THERE ARE PLENTY MORE SMALLER THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE. JUST TOO MUCH TO REMEMBER AND LIST LOL>

What i still need to buy before i can finish it enough to get it on the road?
- Battery (and reloacation kit)
- Radiator 9and tranny cooler)
- Exhaust (Dual Thush tubes!!!)
- Driveshaft to be cut and to accept the C6 and 9 inch rear
- Tires
- Maybe a new fuel tank if the one i have isnt worth cleaning

I got a job just so i could afford to build this car. I would say that 95% of the money put into it (other than buying it and building the engine and transmission) come from my pocket. Everything done to it has been done by me, my papa, and my step father.... well except for painting the hood. lol

HERE ARE SOME... alot OF PICTURES!!!

WORKING ON RESTORINNG THIS DASHPAD NOW

THE DASH PAD TO BE REPLACED (IM SURE YOU CAN SEE WHY)

THE 9 INCH

AFTER REDOING THE REAR BRAKES

THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU DONT REPLACE TIE ROD ENDS AFTER 43 YEARS LOL

THE OLD STEERING SET UP

MY EXPENSIVE ASS COILS

HOOD AFTER ALL FILLING AND SANDING

NEW STEERING SET UP INSTALLED (YOU CAN ALSO SEE NEW BRAKE DRUMS)

THE 460/C6 COMBO HOOKED TO ENGINE HOIST AND READY TO GO!!

STICKERS ON QRTR WINDOWS WERE ALL REMOVED LOL

HEADERS

ENGINE MOUNTS

Sorry guys.... really didnt mean for it to get this pic heavy.... hope you enjoyed! Looking forward to your comments!

-Chris

 

[infantry grunt]

Man,that is a nice ride,ive always been a fan of the fairlane but its hard to find one in descent condition and affordable,i like it though.I love OLD Fords

 

[jhammel85]

That is really nice! You don't see too many of that body style around.

 

[Gadejfan]

Thanks guys. She has been a lot of hard work!

That is really nice! You don't see too many of that body style around.

And check this out man! This is a friend of mine's convertible 1968 Torino (with 69 tail lights and grille) that he let me take to homecoming earlier this year! Keep in mind that 1968 and 1969 Torino and Fairlanes are the same car just different trim levels and then of course the differences between year models.

 

[Z3CHYD]

my dad had a 69 fairlane as a DD a couple years ago, it was 302 auto, drove like a dream, I wanted it to be my first car, but he sold it It was a mix of baby blue/primer lol

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Really nice!! You'll have to show how the headers fit. I have a 68 Torino that I put a 429/c-6/9" in when I was 18. That was over 30 years ago. It was a fun car. I was doing 105 mph at the end of a 1/4 mile and got 17 mpg[canadian]. I still have the car but its in pieces.

 

[Mac]

Just got to say Congrats! Can't believe you were able to get what you did in a JY, would be gold up here. That hood scoop is really kind of rare, only came on the 428 Cobra jets assuming it has the bulit in turn signals. I finally found one at a swap meet for $175. Most of the surviors have the front turn lens and the "eyebrows" (crome outside top of fenders) dented. Not sure if you have found Dearborn Classics yet but they have a very good supply of Fairlane parts. Found the one below up the road a couple of miles, no motor, trans and only drivers seat but roll cage, rust free and low miles. Almost forgot to warn you about being really careful when opening/closing the hood. They have the same problem as some of the Cheby PU's, strong hinge springs causing the hood to bend just in front of where the bolt to the hood.
Dave of the Nord

 

[trail B2]

There was one when I was in high school had a 427 4 speed.With 13 to 1 compression needed a lot of head gaskets but when it ran nobody ran with it.

 

[Gary101386]

woah! those headers are neat lookin!

 

[Gadejfan]

Thanks guys! Yes the headers are very weird haha.

Mac, I hope u keep that car with the stickers and paint on it. Keeps the history alive. That car looks truley amazing! Thanks for lookin out, i have found them. There arent many suppliers for 68/69 Fairlane/Torino/Racheros so its hard to do what u need to on them without a reliable junk yard and/or parts car. But that's what makes these cars even more special. They are a challenge to build, unlike mustangs or camaros lol

And alwaysfloored, what are ur plans for yours?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I still plan on putting it back together. I just recently picked up 2 460's and one 429 and two c-6's and one 4-sped, a '68,'69, and a '70. I had planned on making my own headers but if I can find them pre-made that would be ideal. Do you have a link to 'crites'? I couldn't find it.

 

[gw33gp]

Glad to see another Fairlane enthusiast. Joining the Fairlane Club of America is a good idea to find information and other Fairlane lovers.

Just keep those hood hinges lubed well and you should have no problems with them distorting the hood. My Fairlane is a 69 Cobra Sportsroof with original 428 CJ engine and C6. I love driving it and take it to shows.

 

[shovelmike]

Nice

You guys are stirring up a lot of memories, I was in the middle of my 66 Comet project when I met my wife (1973), she pitched right in handing me tools and parts. 390 4 spd. top loader, 427 hyd. cam, 428 Cobra Jet valve springs, TRW 12.5 pistons, balanced rotating assembly, Hooker headers, Holley 750 double pumper. 9" 3.25 gears.
Melted down the Mickey Thompson Indy Profiles and would pull a wheelie grabbing 2nd gear.
Dang the road salt, the whole floorboard rotted out of the thing, pulled the engine and trans, finally gave up looking for something to drop it in, sold it and got down to the business of raising kids.......and messing with Harleys.

 

[Gadejfan]

I still plan on putting it back together. I just recently picked up 2 460's and one 429 and two c-6's and one 4-sped, a '68,'69, and a '70. I had planned on making my own headers but if I can find them pre-made that would be ideal. Do you have a link to 'crites'? I couldn't find it.

Here they are man, just click enter and find the correct column on the left! Scroll down to find what you need. They also sell radiators, transmission crossmembers, and all kinds of other crap. The order can take a while to process due to limitations at certain times dealing with supply and demand. Service is good. Well unlsee u get a girl named jessica (i think) on the phone. She is kind of unmannerly lol. the prives alwayus fluctuate as well. Good luck on ur project man! Or should i say projects haha. Post some pics!
http://critesperformanceparts.com/

3w33gp: i would join but i dont really want to pay membership fees lol, im already sinking enough of my small paychecks into parts haha. but i am on the facebook page!