Phil Hale's 1965 Fairlane
THE LITTLE RED MONEY PIT ( My Wife Named the Car)
Once upon a time the was a Fairlane setting in my Brother-in-laws, brothers garage……be sitting there
for about four years. The sad case of bad cam bearing, car was inside, many other parts outside rusting
away. Seemed like the right thing to do at the time, bought the car for $2500.00 April 28, 07. Planned to
Retire in July 07. Good winter project, except I have never been able to own a car that was not the best it
could be. Cleaned the car and did the engine work the first winter. A friend of mine owns Snow Cap
Collision in LaPine Oregon……Simple $2000-3000 body and paint work job….Wrong…Fairlane went in
the body shop May 17, 2007 complete Oct. 14, 2007. They really did a great job. Next step was to
overhaul the running gear….brakes, u-joints, new rear gears 325's (280's would not do), recondition the little
C4 w/ kit, Hughes 2500 torque converter, ect……… Winter project 2008 was the interior and detail car.
Installed a Secret Audio and 10 place CD changer….AM radio would not do. New tires and wheels,
14in chrome wheels seemed to plain….15 x 6 front and 15 x 7 rear with 205 and 245 60 15 radial TA's
just fit. A bit of a challenge with 3in's of spring missing in the front, sit's about 2ins lower than stock(do not let
anyone tell you that pulling the front springs out of a Fairlane is easy). Just when you think you have it
all figured out the rocker studs start pulling out, planned on new heads later anyway, World heads and roller
rockers later…..Summit Racing now has most of my $$$$$$$$. Went to my first car show May 9th 2008
Robberson Ford Blue Oval Round Up. Fairlane did well, only one there….Lots of Mustangs and Older
Fords with GM motors…..just does not seem right. Fun day and it did not rain. The Fairlane was built to
be a Road Car….not a Drag or Show Car. Just something a little different and mine……..
Thanks,
Phil Hale
|