My 64 Fairlane(s)
 

Comparing my  LTD LX  & my  Fairlane CS
     LTD    Fairlane
Weight ~3200 ~3200
Wheel Base 105.6 115.5
Length 196.5 197.6
Width 71 72.2
Height 53.6 55  (Lower now)
Paint 85  T-Bird Metallic Silver (was Gray  ) Original W White
Engine 90  5.0  HO 91  5.0  HO
Intake Original  CFI 95  HO  EFI
Exhaust 85 Mustang HO Tubular with 3" single exhaust "K" cast iron with duals
Trans 85 AOD with Valve Body mods. 90 AOD with Valve Body Mods
Converter 6 Cylinder type 6 Cylinder type
Rear end 8.8"        (was 7.5") 8"
Ratio 3.55       (was 3.27) 3.00 or 3.80
Brakes, Front Stock Disk Granada Disk
Brakes, Rear Disk       (was Drum) Granada Drum (+1/4" w)
Sway Bar, Front   1 5/16"   1 1/4",  was 3/4"
Sway Bar, Rear    21mm, was 17 mm    3/4",  was none
My SC Fairlane Updates

EFI Conversion & info articles from mags.

Fairlane Headers available & those hoped for & the Hooker Headers story!

 
62-65 Lower Control Arm fix !
      After installing a large, like 1 or 1 1/8", aftermarket front sway bar, the improvement is fabulous, much better control when making sudden emergency moves & no more embarrassing falling-over feeling & looks when making normal turns like the newer cars do.   

      Adding a 3/4" rear bar helps too but the effect isn't as great as improving the Front ! 

      However, the larger Front Bar does place more stress on the Lower control Arm, & after while, depending on driving habits too, will cause a Crack to develop across the front top edge under the Strut Rod (other end attaches under the radiator).   If allowed to continue, total failure can occur  between the Strut Rod & the tie Rod.   

       Will have a picture of  this soon.

 
Global West Suspensions Fix !

You can send your Arms to http://GlobalWest.net to have them strengthen as I sent them a failed arm & they modified a set for me, so now they know what to do.

 
Power Steering Hoses !

   As much a maintenance pain these hoses are, Power Steering is a must for me to daily drive my 64 in fast, heavy, going to work traffic.   Finding replacement 62-65 parts is the big challenge, a lot of the catalogs are wrong, especially when you see them list them as fitting 65 to 72 Fairlanes!  This almost always is wrong, as 66 to 72 parts are different!  There may be other brands that may work but the following I have been able to use.

    For the long PS Pump to the Control Valve, Omega 874 fits without reshaping.   A early Mustang one requires a lot of reshaping of the lower metal line because the frames are different.   I did this once & less than a year later it springs a leak as the metal line is "seamed" & reshaping stresses it.

    The 2 short lines from the Valve to the Ram are really hard to replace.  The originals are about 3/4" difference & the metal ends are also angled different.   Yet most catalogs list one # & to use 2 of them.  This just doesn't work well, if at all!      I have been able to pared up a Omega 428 & a Gate's 35330.     The 428's length is in the middle of the originals, so it can be used for the shorter hose.  Unfortunately more of it's length is metal than the original so it's a bit harder to fit.  Both hoses require a little reangling the metal tubing, which can be done by attaching one end & bending by hand. 

    

More info to come on ---  disk brakes, etc., --- 

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