A decade ago, Dave got the urge for an ambitious, revitalizing build. With this ‘64 Ford Fairlane, an anti-derelict left on a chicken farmer’s lot, he got the challenge that would make anyone feel accomplished—assuming they could finish what they’d started.
The chicken farmer had stored it for a fella who bought it new and never even took the original plastic off the rear seat. Clearly, the former owner didn’t have much affection for the Fairlane, so when it was hit in the rear passenger quarter while in storage, he put it up for sale without a second thought.
Dave’s inspection revealed it to be mostly immaculate, save for the crater in its backside. He wrote a check, drove it on the trailer, hauled it home, and took it for a spin. That first jaunt in the Fairlane revealed the weak link that was the front end. The steering was plain lousy, so he had Rods and Customs provide him with a Mustang II front end. Just as he finished retrofitting the front end, he got orders to return to Cheyenne and carry out the last assignment of his Air Force career.
That last assignment gave him time to think. Upon returning, he laid out a detailed plan to turn this Fairlane modular. After acquiring a cheap Lincoln Mark VIII car down the street, he plucked the 4.6 and stuck it in the Fairlane. To put the new-era power to the pavement, he attached it to a 4R70W, then swapped out the Fairlane’s old 8” rear for a new 8.8” on an eBay-supplied triangulated four-link.
Mark then equipped the Mark VIII motor with a Cobra ported intake, MMR IMRC deletes, Cobra heads, and long tube headers. Though the normally aspirated lump made enough power, he couldn’t ignore the itch to add a blower. Soon, there was a Vortech sitting nicely in the bay, as well as a pair of 10″ 1800 CFM fans and an intercooler. Following the coolers, he called up a friend to help tune the engine with the Moates Quarterhorse J3 chip he found for pennies.
Dave then finished off the round of modifications with a set of Ridetech coilovers at all four corners to give it the stance a true pro tourer ought to have. With a new coat of paint and all the necessary trim, this car was looking spiffy enough to match the caliber of hardware under its gleaming hide.
To learn more about Dave’s build, follow his thread here.
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