Haven't updated this thread in a while, but that doesn't mean I'm not working on the car or having fun driving it.
Finally got the adjustable strut rods installed and a fresh alignment. Was able to get 4 degrees of caster and it drives much nicer. Not near as wobbly on the road. Bought the strut rods from Falcon parts. They are stock for a 63 Falcon. Guy told me I'd need the 63 bushings, but I tried those and they were too small. Used the 64 bushings I had and they work perfectly.
Finally got longer carb stubs and the phenolic carb spacer installed to try to reduce the fuel percolation. Not sure I'll be able to test this result until next summer, but hoping for easier hot starts and less fuel smell in the garage afterward. I'm now running two paper gaskets then the original aluminum spacer (with the PCV port on the back), then two more paper gaskets, then the phenolic carb spacers, then two more paper gaskets then the carb.
The air cleaner still clears the hood, but the warm air intake heat riser from the exhaust manifold comes just short of fitting into the snorkel bottom. I don't think it will be a performance issues, but it will get me a deduction at concourse
Much of my previous carb/vacuum leak issue apparently was the result of my using a home made cork gasket on the bottom (between the spacer and the manifold). Apparently cork isn't a good material for a carb gasket. It gets misshaped pretty quickly under heat and allows vacuum leaks and apparently other problems. At any rate, I've moved to double stacked paper gaskets, but I still saw this when I took the carb off this time to add the phenolic spacer.
That reflection is fuel pooled in that manifold port under the carb spacer. It can't really go anywhere, but I'm not sure how it collects there? I guess hot fuel air mix getting sucked in under the gasket and then when it cools, it turns back to raw fuel. At any rate, once it's in there, not sure where it goes or how it gets out? I guess it gets sucked back into the manifold under WOT?
The paper gaskets looked fine when I took them off to check.
And just for fun, here is the under side of the spacer.
No photos, but I got tired of that embarrassing squeal every time I stopped at an intersection, so I replaced the front shoes, and when it still squealed I finally broke down and had the drums turned. No more squeal and a nice smooth stop.
I'm still driving her every day and have more than 30,000 miles since we got back on the road in 2012.
Next up, installing those new carpets I got for Christmas LAST YEAR
...and for those who are keeping track, I'm doing most of the Comet work solo these days, as Maverick is a junior in college now in SIU's Automotive Tech program. He's held title to five different cars this year, but it all started with this one.