1963 Ford Galaxie 500

[Mike'sHorseBarn 2,998]

Took a step into a new world today with the addition of a classic car. I'm not a ford guy, but my wife's great grandparents bought this brand new and it's never left the family. Only has 86,000 original miles and was parked in 1974 until my father in law drug it out of the shed it was in and got it going again. It's been painted and new quarter panels. New carpet on the inside as well. Still has the little baby 223 straight six, but it is fun to drive with that 3 on the tree! Couple things need fixed, but I plan on having some fun with this over the years! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[8ntruck 6,999]

Neat!  Even looks like a proper 'grandpa car'. 

 

We had a '63 Fairlane with a similar drive train.  Was fun watching my oldest sister learn how to drive the manual transmission.  Was in the late winter when dad took her out around the neighborhood for lessons.  She got the hang of it on the snow packed streets.  I watched her come around the corner onto clear pavement.  Much different than on snow.  That poor Fairlane took three or four stumble gunks in a block before she got it smoothed out.  

[Achto 27,571]

Not a Ford guy either but ...What a sweet looking ride !!! Congratulations

[953 nut 55,223]

That is a sweet ride and a true family heirloom. Not too many people can lay claim to being a fourth generation car owner.

If it hasn't already been done you would be well advised to replace all of the steel and rubber brake lines and rebuild all of the cylinders. Brake fluid will absorb moisture over time and the rubber components degrade. 

[Ed Kennell 38,170]

I am a Ford guy and that is one nice field cruiser... and with a family history.    Thanks for sharing.

 

Sure wish I still had my honeymoon ride....'59 Ford ragtop.

 

[dclarke 4,032]

Nice!!... My dad bought one new, black with a white top and red interior with a 352 V8. That was the first car I drove. 

[midpack 866]

First car I drove on the road was almost exactly like that! Only difference was my Grampa had a V8 in his. I was 13 when he would let me drive it with him.

FWIU the tail lights are unique to the 63 model year

[squonk 41,104]

When I was 4 and we got our first Wheel Horse, we had a 63 Galaxie Country Squire wagon. Black with red interior.

 

Edited July 11, 2022 by squonk

[Pullstart 62,852]

@squonk who ya gonna call?  Ghost Busters!  

 

Mike that’s a sweet ride, you should be proud to just have the nostalgia in your presence!  I agree, three on the tree is something else huh?

[WHX?? 48,815]

Nice ride Mike 

I remember when I was 5 or 6 my dad coming home with a brand new '64 Fairlane. WI winters took out the rocker panels but dad fixed them and the car lived to see me take my dl road test in it. Believe it had a 289 V8 in it. Sadly he sold it when I went in the service. 

[peter lena 8,625]

@ MIKE,S HORSEBARN , quite a rarity there , especially with at straight 6 , watching Barret Jackson the other day  , there  were a number of similar solid looking sedans with late model power . there was a 4 dr galaxy with CYOTE POWER , complete driveline upgrade , while retaining clean stock look . I  can  remember the 406 galaxy street races , the GTO,S would line up , thinking they had a chance , that galaxy was in the low 12 second zone, he regularly cleaned up on the airport road , flashback ,pete   

[Mike'sHorseBarn 2,998]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

That is a sweet ride and a true family heirloom. Not too many people can lay claim to being a fourth generation car owner.

If it hasn't already been done you would be well advised to replace all of the steel and rubber brake lines and rebuild all of the cylinders. Brake fluid will absorb moisture over time and the rubber components degrade. 

 

Brakes were completely gone over and it the brakes work pretty good for an old heavy car. It still has the original master cylinder though so I'm not too sure about that. The lid screws off like a canning jar! I was thinking though of doing a disc brake conversion on the front with a new master cylinder and adding a brake booster. If my wife is gonna drive it that would just make me feel better. 

 

 

1 hour ago, squonk said:

When I was 4 and we got our first Wheel Horse, we had a 63 Galaxie Country Squire wagon. Black with red interior.

 

I love those county squire's! I just think they're a nice looking car for a station wagon!

 

24 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

Mike that’s a sweet ride, you should be proud to just have the nostalgia in your presence!  I agree, three on the tree is something else huh?

 

It's fun to drive that's for sure! Couldn't help but smile the whole time I was driving it!

 

 

[peter lena 8,625]

@ MIKE,S HORSEBARN, yes that galaxy was HOLMAN / MOODY BUILT , glass front end ,  dynode out around  480 - + on the street . awesome , pete  

[tunahead72 2,412]

@stevasaurus  needs to see this. 

[Stormin 9,981]

  In the early '60 there were Ford Galaxies competing in the saloon car races over here. No idea what engines they had in but they sure could go.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

Had a 63 Falcon in that same color.  AIRC, it was a smaller six than yours, maybe a 190 something? Had a 3 on the tree.  Later swapped out the six for the 260 8 cyl and a four speed.

Fun times!

[midpack 866]

3 hours ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

. It still has the original master cylinder though so I'm not too sure about that. The lid screws off like a canning jar! 

That sounds like a single reservoir master cylinder. My wife's 66 Mustang had that. When everything I'd in good shape it's not a problem. It can be a real safety hazard otherwise

It's been a while, but I think I used an 84-86 mustang SVO MC with power booster. Works great

[stevasaurus 22,738]

4 generation 1964 Ford Custom...doesn't have the chrome like the Galaxy.  Classics for sure.  Nice car Mike...enjoy.  

 

Edited July 12, 2022 by stevasaurus

[squonk 41,104]

2 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

Had a 63 Falcon in that same color.  AIRC, it was a smaller six than yours, maybe a 190 something? Had a 3 on the tree.  Later swapped out the six for the 260 8 cyl and a four speed.

Fun times!

Prolly the 170 "Mileage Maker" 6 banger. I had one in my 61 Falcon with a glass bowl carb. 

 

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

170 "Mileage Maker" 6 banger.

 

Yes... I believe you are correct, but I don't remember anything about the carb.  I don't remember it having a glass bowl, but it could well have.

 

There was a cracked exhaust manifold on it that would 'tick' when cold.  As soon as it got hot the crack sealed itself and was silent.  That engine ran so smooth you had to touch the fender to tell it was running.

 

[Mike'sHorseBarn 2,998]

Father in law even gave me a vintage pic of the car from back in the day! Sitting in the same place where I took pics of it over the weekend!

 

[adsm08 2,056]

6 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

Had a 63 Falcon in that same color.  AIRC, it was a smaller six than yours, maybe a 190 something? Had a 3 on the tree.  Later swapped out the six for the 260 8 cyl and a four speed.

Fun times!

 

In that general era Ford was building three inline sixes. The 177, the 200, and the 223. The 177 and 200 were externally identical, and were both options in the early Mustangs.

 

The 223 split into two different engines down the line. One got upsized into the 300-6. The other, which was mainly for the Aussie market, was the 225, which lasted long enough to get EFI.

 

I briefly looked into importing one of the later Aussie units for a swap into my Ranger, but I abandoned that after learning they will only run upside down on US fuel blends, which of course would starve it for oil. I also looked at trying to get just the head and EFI system to slap on a 200-6 I have, but that didn't work out either.

[adsm08 2,056]

6 hours ago, midpack said:

That sounds like a single reservoir master cylinder. My wife's 66 Mustang had that. When everything I'd in good shape it's not a problem. It can be a real safety hazard otherwise

It's been a while, but I think I used an 84-86 mustang SVO MC with power booster. Works great

 

Yup, which means the brake light switch is also likely the pressure-operated unit out on the MC, and not a mechanical one on the pedal.

[953 nut 55,223]

10 hours ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

I was thinking though of doing a disc brake conversion on the front with a new master cylinder and adding a brake booster.

That would be a good idea, better stopping and twin master cylinder for added safety.                  Summit Racing and others have kits that save you from having to guess what parts are needed and probably cost less in the long run.

[Mike'sHorseBarn 2,998]

3 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

That would be a good idea, better stopping and twin master cylinder for added safety.                  Summit Racing and others have kits that save you from having to guess what parts are needed and probably cost less in the long run.

 

I wouldn't worry about it as much if it were just me, but my wife is gonna drive it so I need the reliability to up to par.