1966 Galaxie questions

[bhclark]

I just picked up an all original 1966 Galaxie in excellent condition but am rather new to Fords and was wondering if anyone could provide me with some production information.

I was wondering how many of the '66 Galaxie 500 base model 2 doors were produced with the inline 6 cylinder engine?

Almost every other one I have seen has had a V-8. I know there were roughly 200,000 made, but haven't been able to find the breakdown.

Also would appreciate any leads on the best place to buy repair/replacement parts.

Thanks!

[junkyardjeff]

If yours has the six then its not as common as the small V8,I have seen more sixes in the custom versions then the galaxies. There is a 65 galaxie convertible running around with a six and its the only convertible I have seen with one,usually you see the 289 in the galaxies for a small motor but back then anything was possible. As for parts there are vendors that sell reproduction parts and most mechanical and electrical parts are available at the local parts stores and there are a few of them in a couple junkyards up the street in Dayton,I have two 65s and have no problem getting parts. Jeff

[Guest Dave Wyatt]

Back in 1971, I drove a 66 Galaxie 500 two door hardtop, with a rompin stompin 240 6 cylinder, to high school. When we bought the car at a dealer auction I was not paying attention and assumed it had a V8. Dad asked me what I thought, and I said it looked fine to me, so he bid on it and got it for a song. A little later I knew why we got it so low. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I had seen a couple of Custom 500's around with a 6, but mine was the only Galaxie with one at the time.

Mine looked just like yours, except it was all white. Look out for frame rust, especially near the rear spring pads.

[bhclark]

Thanks! I was warned about the frame rust and it is solid as a rock back there.

[Mike Cullen]

Nice car with a 6, awesome car with a 390 4V! My Dad had a 289 and I had a 390, they were both outstanding cars. That's a great color too. Drive it forever, they ride well, have lots of room and are easy to maintain.

BTW, got a name picked yet?

[Guest Dave Wyatt]

One other thing, my old Galaxie would get 24 mpg out on the road with that 240. Not too shabby for a big car.

[bhclark]

Hell, that's better than my daily driver gets!!!!!

I'll have to watch that. How are the gas gauges on these cars? I know on my Buicks that when the gauge reads 1/4, that could mean 1/4 of a tank or 1/4 of a gallon!!!!!!

[Guest Dave Wyatt]

As I remember, the gauge was pretty close across the board. Usualy had a 3-4 gallons at the empty mark. A good thing in High School. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I left Cincinnatti one late night in 1975 with 3/8 of a tank showing and four of us in the car. I drove hard back to Indy on the interstate, expecting to find an open station on the way. When I didn't find one, it was gentle driving the remaining 75 miles homes and I did not run out of gas. It was darn close. That was during the gas crunch when few, if any, stations were open on Sunday nights. That old Ford kept us from walking.

I got the 24 on a trip to Kentucky and back with mom and dad in the car. I drove a little easier that trip.

No matter what though, it was always easy on gas.

[bhclark]

Question. I was attempting to check the brakes all around on the Galaxie and could not remove the rear drums.

Do they require a puller? I don't have one that's 15 inches!

I haven't been able to find a shop manual yet, so any help would be appreciated!

If anyone has a spare '66 Ford Galaxie shop manual, I'd be interested.

[Guest Dave Wyatt]

Nothing special is required, the drums just slip on. At this point we will assume the stamped nuts on the studs are long gone. The drums could be rusted on the axle, in which case, some hammer work between the studs will be required. If it is loose there and just wont come off, you may need to back the shoes off, away the drum. Sometimes the drum wears and leaves an outer ridge next to the backing plate. When that happens, the self adjusting brakes push the shoes out and the ridge won't clear the shoes. You will need a brake spoon to turn the adjuster star and a thin screw driver to push the adjuster tab back while you turn the star.

Neither is unusual on an older car. In fact, we used to do this to them when they were fairly new and we were doing brake work.