Project BLUEprint, 1965 Falcon

[Bryce]

Well, I drove the car again yesterday for the first time since my daughter was born. I actually found some free time, LOL.

I think I decided on my next project. Integral power box with a steering quickener. I keep finding my next weak link.

http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/produc...productid=1510

http://www.howeracing.com/p-7433-ste...quickener.aspx

[chunger]

Well, I drove the car again yesterday for the first time since my daughter was born. I actually found some free time, LOL.

I think I decided on my next project. Integral power box with a steering quickener. I keep finding my next weak link.

http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/produc...productid=1510

http://www.howeracing.com/p-7433-ste...quickener.aspx

I have that Borgenson box in my Ranchero. Overall, it's an improvement over the stock ford power steering, but it's no rack and pinon. You can use it with a stock ford power steering pump, but I'd recommend going with a Saginaw, they put out twice the psi of a Ford pump, and this box needs the extra oomph.

It's also 3" 'taller' than a stock ford box, meaning the rag joint mounts 3" closer to your firewall, this may or may not be an issue. It's not an issue on Mustangs/Cougars, it is an issue on Fairlanes. You'll also need to shorten your column to match.

I've never heard of a steering quickener, kinda neat.

[Badbird1963]

Project Blueprint is fantastic. I think what you've done so far is great for the Falcon followers. I look forward to adapting a lot of your ideas to my 63 Falcon Wagon. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing.

[Bryce]

Project Blueprint is fantastic. I think what you've done so far is great for the Falcon followers. I look forward to adapting a lot of your ideas to my 63 Falcon Wagon. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing.

Thanks badbird. I would love to have a wagon. Good luck with your project.

[Bryce]

I have that Borgenson box in my Ranchero. Overall, it's an improvement over the stock ford power steering, but it's no rack and pinon. You can use it with a stock ford power steering pump, but I'd recommend going with a Saginaw, they put out twice the psi of a Ford pump, and this box needs the extra oomph.

It's also 3" 'taller' than a stock ford box, meaning the rag joint mounts 3" closer to your firewall, this may or may not be an issue. It's not an issue on Mustangs/Cougars, it is an issue on Fairlanes. You'll also need to shorten your column to match.

I've never heard of a steering quickener, kinda neat.

I plan on using a KRC pump.

I have compared some pictures online and it looks like the pitman arm is mounted 1" lower than the stock box. Is your centerlink parallel to the ground?

The falcon has less room between the box and firewall compared to a mustang. I hope there is room, I built my own steering column so minor mods should be no issue.

[chunger]

I plan on using a KRC pump.

I have compared some pictures online and it looks like the pitman arm is mounted 1" lower than the stock box. Is your centerlink parallel to the ground?

The falcon has less room between the box and firewall compared to a mustang. I hope there is room, I built my own steering column so minor mods should be no issue.

Yes, my centerlink is parallel to the ground, or at least something close to parallel. I believe this Borgenson box has 1" more vertical height than a Mustang box. The Fairlane frame rail is taller than a Mustang frame rail, so that makes sense.

Sounds like modding your steering column should be pretty straightforward - for me the issue is that the additional height places the rag joint in the plane of the firewall. I had to enlarge the opening and since the rag joint now sticks through the firewall, the factory boot and lower column clamp aren't even close to fitting. Currently working a fabbing up a spacer to accommodate it.

Let me know if you'd like some measurements off the box to check fit on your car.

[Bryce]

Yes, my centerlink is parallel to the ground, or at least something close to parallel. I believe this Borgenson box has 1" more vertical height than a Mustang box. The Fairlane frame rail is taller than a Mustang frame rail, so that makes sense.

Sounds like modding your steering column should be pretty straightforward - for me the issue is that the additional height places the rag joint in the plane of the firewall. I had to enlarge the opening and since the rag joint now sticks through the firewall, the factory boot and lower column clamp aren't even close to fitting. Currently working a fabbing up a spacer to accommodate it.

Let me know if you'd like some measurements off the box to check fit on your car.

Thanks Chunger,

I will let you know if I need some dimensions. I will talk with their tech guys at SEMA. I also wonder if there are any differences between the box offered by ABS power brake and borgeson. I will use a universal joint instead of a rag joint so that should save some clearance issues.

[solarguy09]

Bryce.
Sweet Job on your Falcon. Bird of prey..Nice ......
You have done some sweet work....
I love the sound of a Small Block pulling to 6500-7000rpm .......With the right gears....Heaven...
Again,well done...

[rustomatic]

You're going to hate this, but I ignored everyone and got a manual Unisteer rack for my '63.5 Falcon. It took a month to get the thing, but the wait was worth it. The installation was ridiculously easy (even with my stock auto column), and everything fit like it was made to be there. Granted, I've got a stock-type oil pan (front-sump, standard size) and cast iron hipo manifolds, but hey, there's next to no room down there with the stock stuff. The mounting bracket for the rack is super gnarly as well; I originally worried about removing the belly bar, but the belly bar looks ridiculous in comparison. I do not believe any weight was removed in this process.

I'm getting the sense that your super-located rear suspension has made your steering setup feel kind of silly. The same thing happened to me after doing the Panhard bar. I'm glad I came to know this, however...

Truth be told, I haven't driven (or aligned) the thing yet (with the rack in place), but it should happen by the end of the week; I'll be posting a review and pictures some place...

[chunger]

Thanks Chunger,

I will let you know if I need some dimensions. I will talk with their tech guys at SEMA. I also wonder if there are any differences between the box offered by ABS power brake and borgeson. I will use a universal joint instead of a rag joint so that should save some clearance issues.

It appears that the box from ABS is different than Borgeson's. Would be interesting to find out. In fact, the Borgeson's box is a reworked box from Izuzu Montero's (the SUV). As far as I can tell, what Borgeson does to it is respline the sector shaft to Ford Standard (don't know if Izuzu is different, I would expect it to be so), and weld the triangle shaped mounting plate on (looks like it's 3/8" thick), welding steel to cast iron is a pretty good trick.

Since the origin of the box is foreign, the input shaft is a different spline (at least that's what they told me, saying thats why one needs to use their rag joint. Wonder if they have a 'special' u-joint to mate to it, or if any would work?), also the inverted flare pressure fittings are metric, thus necessitating the use of their adapters.

Also, the KRC pump is nice, but a tad pricey. I'm a cheapskate, so I found that mid 70's ecoline vans used Saginaw pumps, with all the right brackets for a small ford. $20 at pick a part, and another $14 for the rebuild kit. Can't beat it. I do dislike the lines draped up and over the shock towers however. Thinking about a winter project to plumb some hard lines run under the fender.

[csx4766]

Bryce,
Before you mqke the move on the steering box give Brian the Manager at Mustang Plus in Stockton CA a call. After taking a look at it mounted on a couple of Mustangs down there I quickly changed my mine.

[Bryce]

Morgan,

Thank you for the insight, was this the borgeson box or the ABS powerbrake box? What is your current solution for steering?

Michael Maier runs the ABS power box and really likes it. But her could make any neccessaty modifications to make it perfect.

[Bryce]

I got my rendering!

[LowFast]

Awesome, finally a rendered Falcon. Bryce, if you do not mind would you PM me the cost, I might need to have him do one for me as well. On another note, if you were to "widebody" a Falcon how would you do it. Fender flares don't work well because of the tear drop shap and low cut. In other words, how do you flare a slab sided car?

[chunger]

Bryce - that looks killer!

[Bryce]

Bryce - that looks killer!

Thanks!

[Bryce]

Awesome, finally a rendered Falcon. Bryce, if you do not mind would you PM me the cost, I might need to have him do one for me as well. On another note, if you were to "widebody" a Falcon how would you do it. Fender flares don't work well because of the tear drop shap and low cut. In other words, how do you flare a slab sided car?

He was running a special. If you search his posts he advertised his prices.

We tried to render the widebody and it did not look good at all. That was why I got this rendering was to try a wide body. We tried doing a fender stretch The side body lines make it hard to do any stretch. Maybe if you did a radiused rear wheel well and added on flares. I think DynoDon is doing this?

Another Idea would be to stretch the entire side of the falcon. Making the entire car wider.

[LowFast]

He was running a special. If you search his posts he advertised his prices.

We tried to render the widebody and it did not look good at all. That was why I got this rendering was to try a wide body. We tried doing a fender stretch The side body lines make it hard to do any stretch. Maybe if you did a radiused rear wheel well and added on flares. I think DynoDon is doing this?

Another Idea would be to stretch the entire side of the falcon. Making the entire car wider.

I say no on the radiused wheel well, if you look on my build post I took a few pics with Mustang flares taped on the car, radiusing the wheel openings takes away from what makes a Falcon a Falcon. I thought about the whole car widening, problem is that you get into thicker doors and they clearance issues trying to open them. The Falcon just seems to be a body style that does not lend itself to widening, now if you went to a full frame then you could widen the car down the center and make it as wide and mean as you wanted.

Now get that bad boy painted to we can see it in all its glory!

[wellis77]

We tried to render the widebody and it did not look good at all. That was why I got this rendering was to try a wide body.

Exactly why I connected with Shawn about my Dart. Didn't work on mine either. He is doing a wide body Opel Manta for me now, it's looking SWEET!

That rendering looks great, and THAT is the stance you should have! Looks awesome!

[windsor]

Sweeeeet....