1962 Comet Build Thread

[Joe Travers]

might rotate the tires & see if anything changes. (start with the easiest)

..and the cheapest!

JT

[Jims65cyclone]

I was getting a good bit of shaking in the steering column and need to figure out whats going on. This is the first time in 10-15 years that the car has been on the street.

Shaking in the steering wheel is 90%+ likely caused by front tires. Are the tires new or are they the old tires? If the old tires, 15 years of sitting in one spot can cause flat spots in the tires that probably won't come out even after warming up because the rubber has gotten stiff. Could also be a casing separation. Very dangerous! If tires are new, were they balanced properly? Like John said, the easiest check is swapping tires front to back and see what happens. When you jack up the front end, place a board or some type of reference point on the floor in front of each tire, about a 1/4" away from the tread, and spin the tire. Watch the gap between the tire and the board. If the gap varies more than 1/8" or so, or if the tread grooves wobble back and forth, you've got a bad tire. If you move the tire to the rear and the vibration moves from the steering wheel to the seat, that's a good indicator of a problem tire, too. Did the vibration get worse around 45 - 50 mph? Depending on the diameter of the tire, that's around the speed where the frequency of the tire vibration matches the natural frequency of the spring, and the spring actually amplifies the bounce. As you continue to go faster, you'll pass through the springs natural frequency. You'll still feel a vibration, but it probably won't be as severe as at the lower speed.

Jim

[darryl27529]

Hi All.

I appreciate the input. The tires and wheel are new from last year. I drove it around a little more and the whole front dash and steering column is shaking. Under acceleration it doesn't shake until i left off. If I drive slow around the neighborhood it doesn't do it. I think I have figured out that i have a clearance issue between the firewall/tunnel and the top of the bellhousing. I remember when I dropped in the engine it was close. More troubleshooting to come but pretty happy that its back on the road.

See documentation. If you ever wondered how much a 1962 Comet Custom cost new, here it is.

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[poboyjo65]

Sounds like a good name for the car ''Clyde'' or ''Wilma'' ,,Walter isnt bad either. Cool that you got all that !!

[darryl27529]

Clyde is it!

[darryl27529]

quick update. Clyde is back on jack stands waiting on a new drive shaft. I took the drive shaft to Fleet Pride in Garner and they are building a new one. Should be ready in a couple days.

[darryl27529]

Picked up the re-built drive shaft and installed it this afternoon. Fleetpride welded a new tube, installed new U-joints and balanced it. Total was about $300. The good news is that Clyde drives much better and most of the vibration is gone. My oldest and I took a little cruise to downtown Garner. They painted a new mural downtown and we went to check it out. Hopefully the first of many cruises with her.

Garner-Mural-2-f-s2-1200-1080x675.jpg (168.24 KiB) Viewed 2050 times

Got some little rattles that i need to solve. Clyde is running pretty good now and the car really pulls good above 2500 RPM. Thinking at some point I will need another gear. Took some pics with the sun going down.

Clyde Front 1-2.jpg (86.99 KiB) Viewed 2050 times

Clyde Front 3-2.jpg (72.57 KiB) Viewed 2050 times

Clyde Rear 1.jpg (87.42 KiB) Viewed 2050 times

Received a call last weekend from someone interested in the car. Apparently a friend told him about the car and gave him my number. I need to drive it for a while before deciding what to do but it sure has come a long way. Thanks to CC for all the help along the way.

Comet Day 1.jpg (65.2 KiB) Viewed 2050 times

[Joe Travers]

Clyde is looking great! Glad you solved some of your problems.
Rattles- are hood, doors, windows and trunk lid good and snug? I need to address some of those issues myself.

JT

[Jims65cyclone]

You need a pic of Clyde parked in front of that mural.

Jim

[darryl27529]

Thanks Jim and JT. I like your idea and it would look good sitting in front of the mural. Maybe in the next couple of weeks. Still working on the parking brake. I think when the exhaust was put on they got a little too close to the front cable as the jacket seemed welded to the cable. I took it off and picked up the new one today at NAPA. I drove the Comet to NAPA since its only a few miles away. Lots of questions from a couple of folks at NAPA. I showed them the car and also had NAPA color match the paint so I can fix a couple of scratches and dings... some from me and some from the previous owner.

It gets a lot of attention and I think its because you just don't see them much anymore. I can't wait to show the previous owner who took it apart. I think he will be pretty excited that its back on the road.

[darryl27529]

Still working on a few things with Clyde. I got the dome light working and trying to align the drivers door so it shuts a little easier. I had to loosen the front fender and pull it forward to have room to shift the hinges forward. Its better now. Also found an OEM gas cap from Brian out west, WA I think. Looks good and I plan to repaint the rear "grill" so it looks OEM. Hope everyone is doing well.

Clyde gas cap.jpg (46.46 KiB) Viewed 1991 times

[lavron]

Picked up the re-built drive shaft and installed it this afternoon. Fleetpride welded a new tube, installed new U-joints and balanced it. Total was about $300. The good news is that Clyde drives much better and most of the vibration is gone. My oldest and I took a little cruise to downtown Garner. They painted a new mural downtown and we went to check it out. Hopefully the first of many cruises with her.
Garner-Mural-2-f-s2-1200-1080x675.jpg
Got some little rattles that i need to solve. Clyde is running pretty good now and the car really pulls good above 2500 RPM. Thinking at some point I will need another gear. Took some pics with the sun going down.
Clyde Front 1-2.jpg
Clyde Front 3-2.jpg
Clyde Rear 1.jpg
Received a call last weekend from someone interested in the car. Apparently a friend told him about the car and gave him my number. I need to drive it for a while before deciding what to do but it sure has come a long way. Thanks to CC for all the help along the way.
Comet Day 1.jpg

thumbs pointing up!
See Ya,
MIke

[darryl27529]

Decided to install the original steering wheel. For two reasons... it was original to the car and its a lot bigger than the aftermarket one so it will be easier to steer. Unfortunately I broke the metal ring that cancels turn signal when trying to take it off the aftermarket adapter. Anybody know where you can get one? Washed her off today and went for short cruise around Garner.

Refurbed wheel.jpg (47.87 KiB) Viewed 1951 times

Clyde rear 2.jpg (129.85 KiB) Viewed 1951 times

[Joe Travers]

Unfortunately I broke the metal ring that cancels turn signal when trying to take it off the aftermarket adapter. Anybody know where you can get one?

C&G Ford parts lists one for the '63 but it doesn't show fit for '62. They are good folks and may be able to help. 760-740-2400, M-F, 8:30-5, PST.

Joe

[darryl27529]

Thanks JT. I will give them a call.