62 Falcon - $5k challenge, how will it rise from the ranger's ashes?

[SuperBuickGuy]

wow - my thoughts and prayers are for you and your dad.

[VTJUNK]

Sorry to hear that. I knew something was up when you hadn't been on in a while.

[milner351]

Thanks guys, we spent a very tough week with my folks near chicago over the holidays. It was great to see the whole family, but the nights up with Dad were hell. They have more help lined up for him now, he really should be in a nursing home for a while at least - I don't blame him for not wanting to go. Mom is on oxygen full time (if you smoke - please quit NOW) so, they both need help. It's a depressing reality - but we play the cards we're dealt.

[Huskinhano]

Dad's Parkinson's is getting worse - no garage time over the holidays - and the only time since has been to repair and maintain the john deere to plow the driveway - which has cost me 4 hours in the last couple of days.

I know what you're going through. My dad had Parkinsons too. My parents had a Cape Cod style house with a dormer in the back. They were having a leak from the roof into the dormer room. I took the extension ladder out and went up on the roof. While looking for the leak, I here a noise. It's my dad with Parkinsons in his mid 70's had climbed the ladder standing on the roof with his gyrations. Holy shit did that scare me! Luckily I was able to get him down safely. That was the most scary moment with him.

[1946Austin]

Sorry to hear about your parents. Prayers for them and you also.

[Bob Holmes]

John, my thoughts are with you.

[mike343sharpstick]

My wife is an Occupational therapist and has worked in long term care for a Many years now as a therapist, and in mamagement roles. She loves her work, and one thing I've picked up is that While the typical "nursing home" does still exist, the increased popularity of assisted living facilities is a very good alternative, and gives both freedoms of independent housing, and the safety of a larger community. Try and persuade them to this sort of arrangement if at all possible.
Good luck!

[Huskinhano]

I'm going to be working on a bump steer issue on my 66 soon. I was thinking about something that I'm going to do that might help you. When you add caster, basically the spindle is rotating toward the fire wall on the axle. Think about this. As the upper and lower ball joint locations rotate, so does the tie rod arm. In your case since your rack is low, adding caster is going to raise the end of the tie rod away from the rack. Removing caster, it's moving closer to the rack. Maybe experimenting in caster settings might help.

[milner351]

Great idea Tom! The caster is set at 6 already - can't go much more, it did help a little. I'm stuck with the bump steer kit - or a major tear up. I'm picking the bumpsteer kit for the forseeable future. I don't have time to look at the car lately - let alone tear it up and re - do the entire front end.

[milner351]

Dad is still struggling, they're trying lots of different things but have not found a solution for the pain that does not result in other unwanted side effects. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.


Back to the falcon - part of the body modifications involved removing the trunk lock cylinder hole.

I have (thanks Aaron) a remote trunk release cable that I believe I can make work and should be long enough.

Does anyone have any experience with a remote - no key option - trunk or door release set up? I know lots of the street rod guys use electric door opener deals for shaved door handles but this is a bit different.

I installed a steel firewall behind the back seat - so getting into the trunk if the remote release doesn't work could get really interesting.

[Bob Holmes]

I would suggest a "safety" cable tucked under the rear seat cushion.

[STINEY]

We've used domestic (salvage yard crawl) hood release cables on VW hoods that got the shaved treatment. Just mount the handle where you desire it (either hidden or handy) run the cable, secure the sheathing with a clamp ala lawnmower cable, and drill the latch and connect the wire part of the cable to the latch (I prefer to use whatever method the OEM of the donor used.)

Clear as mud?

Back seat "kick panel" area I would think would be a good placement for the Falcon? Open door, bend down-n-reach behind driver seat, pull handle and trunk pops. Speaking of pops, you may want/need to use a popper to make sure it clears the latch. Wouldn't do to have to have a helper to open the trunk.....


Forgot my actual point....I'd do this even if you DO use a remote controlled release. I really really like having a backup plan already in place. Or just do this instead of a remote electric thingy.

[BBR]

[STINEY]

[milner351]

thanks guys!

I'll keep that tool in the emergency road side kit James - freaking comedian!

I have a release cable and the latch isn't too complex - it's just a matter of making a fool proof connection - I have a feeling the test runs will involve one of us inside the trunk with a flashlight to confirm operation!

the electric "popper" is an option just not sure how it will work with the OEM latch - all this started because I'm too cheap to spend the money on the repop trunk lock and trim pieces.... it does look a lot nicer without all the doodads on the trunk lid!

It's amazing how I don't even miss the cowl vents - it looks like it's supposed to be smooth there - and now we have no more worries about cowl vent leakage and can cut to our hearts content up under the dash to clear the aftermarket heat/defrost/ AC kit.