Okay, here’s my blog post about restoring a 1965 Ford Falcon, written from a personal, hands-on perspective:
So, I finally took the plunge and got myself a classic – a 1965 Ford Falcon. I’ve always loved the lines of these cars, that simple, boxy look. This one was a bit rough around the edges, to say the least, but I saw the potential. It was a complete car, which was a plus, not some basket case missing half the parts.
First thing I did was assess the damage. The body had some rust, especially around the wheel wells and the lower panels, pretty standard for a car this age. The interior was, well, let’s just say it had seen better days. The seats were ripped, the carpet was stained, and the headliner was sagging like a tired old hammock.
Getting Started: Bodywork
I started with the bodywork, naturally. I’m no pro welder, but I’ve patched up a few rust spots in my time. I got myself a decent MIG welder and some sheet metal and started cutting out the cancer. It’s slow going, cutting, grinding, welding, grinding some more, then a bit of body filler to smooth things out.
- Cut out the rust: Used an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel. No going back once you start cutting!
- Weld in new metal: Practice makes perfect (or at least, good enough). Lots of tack welds to avoid warping the panels.
- Grind down the welds: More angle grinder action. Make it smooth!
- Body filler: Thin layers, lots of sanding. This is where you make it look pretty.
- Primer: Prep for paint! Got myself a decent epoxy primer.
The floor pans were surprisingly solid, just a few small holes that were easy to patch. The biggest challenge was the rear quarter panels. I ended up buying replacement panels, it was just easier than trying to fabricate them myself.
Interior Refresh
Next up was the interior. I ripped out all the old upholstery. Found a local shop that specializes in classic car interiors and had them redo the seats. Went with the original style vinyl, but in a slightly different color – a nice, dark blue. Looks sharp!
- Seats: Sent them out to be professionally reupholstered. Worth the money!
- Carpet: Bought a pre-molded carpet kit. Fit pretty well, just needed a bit of trimming.
- Headliner: This was a pain. Lots of stretching and gluing. I watched a bunch of videos online before I tackled this one.
- Door panels: Found some decent used ones at a swap meet. Score!
I spent hours cleaning and polishing all the chrome trim. It’s amazing how much of a difference that makes. The little details really bring the car back to life.
The Pay Off
It has been a good time to get it all done. I am happy with the new interier and the body work.
It’s still a work in progress, but it’s getting there. Next, I need to rebuild the engine, which will be another big project. I Will do another blog when that time comes!