Growning up, we had a retired couple living next door who drove a '68 Fairlane 500. As a kid it was just a 15-20 year old car, nbd. Now that the husband passed away and the wife is genuinely elderly, her children decided it was time to sell their old ford. I got dibs.
It's a survivor, totally unrestored. The rust makes me sad. The mint-condition interior and working A/C do not.
Here's a picture as I was picking it up from their youngest daughter last week.
Yup, truly worth nothing, and a pity. What do you plan to do with it?
Fix the sheetmetal, and drive it to dairy queen.
Could be a nice DD after aliens attck with an emp.
I owned a '69 Torino when I was in college, basically the same body. Look for rust around the front seat bolts, they can rip right out of the floor. Mine was really rusty, and eventually one of the rear leaf springs broke. Outside of the rust issues, it was a good old car and mechanically was very reliable.
I've had my 68' Sedan for a few years now and I've done a bunch of work to make it a fun summer daily driver. If you've got any questions let me know. Mine now has a 351/AOD, disc brakes, refreshed suspension, etc. Makes a great cruiser for you and your 4-5 best friends, it all depends how many people want to sit on those bench seats.
All of my passengers agreed it was the most fun they've had autocrossing. And these are the guys running the top times of the day. I even managed to beat a few people while listing from side to side and trying to keep the carb from cutting out.
That's a great old barge ! Drive it and enjoy it as it is. A survivor, ANY survivor, is ALWAYS cool as can be ! ! !
Nitroracer, are those p71 steelies?
Ive got a set of new-edge mach1's im not using.
In reply to TeamEvil: I agree. Good to see an old car like that, still on the road not because it is sought by collectors and surging in value, but just because it is owned by someone who loves it! Enjoy the drive!
And if an air bag suspension were to fall into your lap, do not hesitate.
There is a special place in my heart for 1968 Fairlanes. I remember looking up at the front bumper of my neighbor's from my Big Wheel when I was about seven years old. Then I casually rode off down the street.
He died of cirrhosis a few years later...
In reply to Nitroracer:
I like that... a LOT!! 
@ Belteshazzar:
It's classic American iron that runs and drives- hardly worthless! 
What's under the hood?
More pics!!!
2v 302/c4
belteshazzar wrote: Nitroracer, are those p71 steelies? Ive got a set of new-edge mach1's im not using.
Yes, 98-02 wheels with the lowest offset. 205/225 staggered 16" tires. Surpisingly, I still had to run 1" spacers up front to clear the upper control arm, you'll need more spacing to run the mustang wheels.
what did you do for shocks?
MIG welder + sheetmetal + Saturday afternoons = win.
Just be sure that kids dont steal it when you park it at the bowling alley.
belteshazzar wrote: what did you do for shocks?
Nothing special. Just basic replacements from Rockauto. Don't buy the absolute cheapest, I blew one of the fronts in old a few thousand miles. Also, check your leaf spring bushings, mine are completely shot.
"Just be sure that kids dont steal it when you park it at the bowling alley."
Good point, a hood lock wouldn't hurt one bit.
Fords were always easy pickings when we were kids. With the starter solenoid and battery right next to each other and the coil mounted up on the manifold, all it took was a wire from the hot side of the solenoid to the hot side of the coil and a pair of pliers to cross the leads on the solenoid and you were off.
We would always leave the car in a legit parking spot and lock it up when we got to wherever, but never thought to call the cops to report it. Odd . . . but we WERE only 12 or 13.
Evil,
If you pull the coil wire to the distributor and take that with you, that works, doesn't it? (or have I just learned that my anti-theft trick for my mustang is useless?)
In reply to klb67:
Works unless a smartass comes by and makes his own coil wire with a carefully routed coathanger.
belteshazzar wrote: 2v 302/c4
Wake that dude up with a 4 bbl intake and carb.
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote:belteshazzar wrote: 2v 302/c4Wake that dude up with a 4 bbl intake and carb.
+1
Should be able to snag some go fast bits at a swap meet for chump change.
Idk, feels like about 6:1 compression ratio though.
I do have a good 460/c6 just taking up space, if I was gonna do something...
The 460 does not fit well in a 68. It CAN be done but the changes made in 69 were to accommodate the 429/460 engine family. Check the torque boxes for rot as they're often not even connected anymore due to rust and the cowls rot around the fresh air ducts under the dash. If it takes on water in the rain check the cowl.
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