Norman, How did you end up restoring a 79 Ford wagon? I think it is cool because I like cars that you don't see everyday, but that sure is not a common car to be restored. Just wondering ! Cheers.
Its been our daily driver since we bought it living in Mexico, in 1997. We moved back to Canada, with it, in 1999. I blew the 302 V8 engine in my backyard, setting up the new rebuilt carb. I dropped a small bolt in the carb, moving my freakin' elbow to get a hose out of the way. I'd just finished getting a dye test to find out where my mysterious oil leak was coming from at my favourite Ford dealership, and asked the dealership owner (he sold me my new 1981 Fairmont Futura wagon) if he knew of anyone looking to sell or trade in a Fairmont with a good Six. He gave the number of a retired politician who had just had them rebuild the motor and transmission, but the car had been rear-ended in a parking lot by a lady backing up into his parked car. The next day, I called him, made a deal for $350, and started on November 6, 2006, and finished getting it together and running late in July. Ground up. All glass and wiring out. No rust. Mexico uses more undercoating on AC cars. I reundercoated it and then did inside the doors, fenders (front and back). For a Six, it's peppier than the 302 ever was. Love this car. She's a real sweetie.
Cool. I dig that you did a car that most people would not. BTW, my old history teacher (25 years ago), we called him "Stormin Norman". You're not him are you ????
Boy, you're lucky! No, I'm an Industrial Eng. and grad in Business. I worked as a production manager for a company that refurbished aircraft for our big airlines. We had a guy who ran our parts warehouse, who's nickname was Store Man Norman. When I came along, they hired me to get the lead out and get the job done, in both a new line of computer mainframe cabinet production (1976), using the same machinists that repaired the aircraft. At first it was like running in 2 feet of clay. I had to deal with a strong union, a bureaucracy that was stuck in the strict regulations of the Federal Department of Transport, and an executive that didn't want to shift to other products. I left the machinists alone - they knew how to work. But I was hired by the President and the VP, and they backed me. I raised heaven and hell with the bureaucrats and middle management. Norman the Store Man came to me one day, shook my hand, and told me that I got it right, and that the plant agreed that I should be renamed Stormin' Norman, and he'd give up his nickname (he had it on his ID tag, his desk and office nameplate, etc.) The guys in the shop, got me new tags and nameplates. They talked to the receptionists and when I was paged on the loudspeakers, the bureaucrats wondered if I'd be storming into their offices! True story. I'm just a short little fart, but they knew I meant business.
Did you know that there were more Fairmont/Zephyrs made than Mustangs for a few years? There's quite a few websites specialized in these cars. What I really like about the wagon is that it weighs under 2,700 lbs, and makes Jack Benny look like Jay Leno when it comes to spending on cars. And with the Six or the many four-bangers Inline 4's and up to 1996 V4's you can make these badboys put most rice-rockets in the rearview mirror and still pass more gas stations than they can. Rust is their worst enemy. Especially up here with our long winters and roadsalt.
OK Norman, now you've got me wondering if my stored information (inside the 'ole noggin) is incorrect...... A V-4? You must be referring to a V-6. As I remember, when the Fairmonts and Zephyrs first came out, you could get a straight 4 (2.3 Pinto engine?), the 200 ci 6, and (maybe a little later) the old 302 V-8. I think (at least in the U.S.) that you couldn't get the 4 in the wagon (for obvious reasons) When they changed the front end and put the LTD, Granada, Cougar and Marquis tags on them, the 200 straight 6 was changed to the 3.8 V-6. Not sure what was different about the Mexico-spec vehicles.
Hate to pick nits, but it was a sucky 255 V8 that replaced the 302. Fairmont never got a V6. I do, however, have a Chiltons that lists a 351 option for 1978, perhaps a police model? And as far as 4's NOT being in wagons, here's one in a beautiful squire: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/672987 The car is in Belgium, but I doubt it was made there!
When I swapped out the V8, I kept the K-member (engine mount crossmember), because its the same for the I4. It turns out that the Ranger V4's go in on the same K-member and most of the V6's: http://www.therangerstation.com/resources/RangerHistory.htm I guess I could get down and dirty, and convert it to 4WD, but I don't really need or want to.
A couple of months ago I passed on that one in Belgium. It was for sale for about 4000 euro if I remember right. I wanted at least a 6 and the car looked bad, in my opinion. Dented on one side, front to back. The V4's were sold here in the Ford Capri's around the same time. I thought they were a bit notorious for failing of bearings as they had a big unbalance as a result of the configuration.
The Ranger V4's were pretty strong, more HP and torque than a stock 302 V8, even the 1995 2.3 V4 diesel. The 2.8 V6 was a better engine than the later 2.9 V6, but I don't know if you can get the transmissions to fit in a Fairmont.
Didn't some of the later Mustangs have 2.3 V4's too, Andy? I seem to recall some of the guys on Four-Eyed Pride that have 2.3 V4's in their Mustangs up to 1993 or 1994.
OK - my turn to pick nits... You guys keep referring to "V-4's" --- Maybe in Europe, with the old Taunus V-4's, but not here. they are all in-line 4-cylinders.
Son of a gun, Krash! You're right! I just went down that Ranger engine history, and they kept the 2.3 I4 right into 2002! Even better. Don't know why I had the V4 in my head. :banghead3: Thanks for sticking with it. Should be a snap to keep the Fairmont running for another 30 years!
