The Ford Barn

dmsfrr · 06-25-2018, 12:35 PM

Just to prove I've been doing something besides posting pictures of bits & pieces and putting in my nickel's worth of opinion here for the last several years.

I finished chasing an oil leak in the rebuilt engine mostly installed a few months back and took my '55 T-Bird retirement project out for her first actual drive last weekend, across town to a private event our club was invited to.
Her to-do list is still longer than I'd like but now we can take her places.

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Grumpy Rick · 06-25-2018, 12:55 PM

Congrats!

It looks like you will have yours reliable long before I get mine there.

It looks beautiful. How long have you been working on it?

scicala · 06-25-2018, 02:22 PM

Your T-Bird looks fantastic ! Now time to enjoy.

Sal

dmsfrr · 06-25-2018, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy Rick

Congrats!
It looks like you will have yours reliable long before I get mine there.
It looks beautiful. . . .

Thanks. There is the long to-do list I mentioned. Just little things like getting the dash gauges out of their boxes into the dash, repairing the leaky power steering, replace all the suspension bushings...
None of those things were at the top of the list if I couldn't run the engine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy Rick

... How long have you been working on it?

Isn't there some rule about self-incrimination?

Quote:

Originally Posted by scicala

Your T-Bird looks fantastic ! Now time to enjoy.
Sal

Thanks, still more things to do but it feels like I'm on the downhill side of the project now.

Dennis

40cpe · 06-25-2018, 03:02 PM

Congratulations! Nothing sucks more than working on an old car that you can't drive. It is much more fun to take it for a drive to see how much progress your last project made.

Grumpy Rick · 06-25-2018, 03:06 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Self Incrimination? I have been redoing our kitchen for at least 8 years. My wife says I should join the procrastinators club...someday.

FRANK PKNY · 06-25-2018, 03:19 PM

Nice ride! Enjoy the fruits of your labor, drive it!

CrownVic55 · 06-25-2018, 04:24 PM

Car looks great. Don't feel bad about length of time working on it. I have owned a 56 Bird for more than 35 years and haven't made much progress. Always said that after I got the 55 Crown finished ( they are never completely finished) I would get after the Bird. Crown pretty well done about 3 years ago and Bird still sitting like it was. At my age, I probably should just sell it as is and be done with it. Ben

Oldmics · 06-25-2018, 05:27 PM

Lookin Good !!!!!!!!!!

and thats a nice nesting of Birds also.

That list will get shorter since its now driveable.

Keep at it.

Oldmics

Merc Cruzer · 06-25-2018, 05:58 PM

Just got the factory Power Steering sealed up on my 53' Merc (basically the same as yours)...it can be done. Nice Bird.

Lanny · 06-25-2018, 07:14 PM

You can be very proud when you tell people that
you built/own that great looking car.

Hope it gives you many years of pleasurable driving.

.

Herman Munster · 06-25-2018, 09:46 PM

Where's the like button?

Ole Don · 06-26-2018, 10:04 AM

Really nice looking Bird. FYI, I "fixed" the power steering seeping with a half bottle of Lucas PS conditioner. Pulled out a turkey baster full of fluid, poured in the Lucas and took it for a nice ride. End of seeping. Good luck! The other half of the bottle went in my F150 and helped the noise there. Good stuff!

Hot Rod Reverend · 06-26-2018, 02:28 PM

the car looks fantastic!

dmsfrr · 06-26-2018, 10:56 PM

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and support.

Dennis

5851a · 06-27-2018, 09:51 AM

It is not a leak, it is a automatic rust proofing device. It was optional and came with your choice of power steering or automatic transmission or combination of both.

KULTULZ · 06-27-2018, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5851a

It is not a leak, it is a automatic rust proofing device. It was optional and came with your choice of power steering or automatic transmission or combination of both.

It's just marking it's territory...

06-25-2018, 12:35 PM	#1
dmsfrr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Abq, NM Posts: 3,725	The whole thing? Just to prove I've been doing something besides posting pictures of bits & pieces and putting in my nickel's worth of opinion here for the last several years. I finished chasing an oil leak in the rebuilt engine mostly installed a few months back and took my '55 T-Bird retirement project out for her first actual drive last weekend, across town to a private event our club was invited to. Her to-do list is still longer than I'd like but now we can take her places. IMG_20180623_141337749c.jpg IMG_20180623_120007025_HDRc.jpg IMG_20180623_103904606_HDRc.jpg IMG_20180623_110355036c.jpg Last edited by dmsfrr; 06-27-2018 at 06:39 PM.

06-25-2018, 12:55 PM	#2
Grumpy Rick Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: SoCal Posts: 208	Re: The whole thing? Congrats! It looks like you will have yours reliable long before I get mine there. It looks beautiful. How long have you been working on it?

06-25-2018, 02:22 PM	#3
scicala Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Detroit suburb, MI Posts: 3,794	Re: The whole thing? Your T-Bird looks fantastic ! Now time to enjoy. Sal

06-25-2018, 03:02 PM	#5
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,120	Re: The whole thing? Congratulations! Nothing sucks more than working on an old car that you can't drive. It is much more fun to take it for a drive to see how much progress your last project made.

06-25-2018, 03:06 PM	#6
Grumpy Rick Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: SoCal Posts: 208	Re: The whole thing? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Self Incrimination? I have been redoing our kitchen for at least 8 years. My wife says I should join the procrastinators club...someday.

06-25-2018, 03:19 PM	#7
FRANK PKNY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601 Posts: 1,020	Re: The whole thing? Nice ride! Enjoy the fruits of your labor, drive it! __________________ [email protected]

06-25-2018, 04:24 PM	#8
CrownVic55 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Collinsville, OK Posts: 172	Re: The whole thing? Car looks great. Don't feel bad about length of time working on it. I have owned a 56 Bird for more than 35 years and haven't made much progress. Always said that after I got the 55 Crown finished ( they are never completely finished) I would get after the Bird. Crown pretty well done about 3 years ago and Bird still sitting like it was. At my age, I probably should just sell it as is and be done with it. Ben

06-25-2018, 05:27 PM	#9
Oldmics BANNED Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Balto.Md Posts: 382	Re: The whole thing? Lookin Good !!!!!!!!!! and thats a nice nesting of Birds also. That list will get shorter since its now driveable. Keep at it. Oldmics

06-25-2018, 05:58 PM	#10
Merc Cruzer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Conifer, Colorado Posts: 2,518	Re: The whole thing? Just got the factory Power Steering sealed up on my 53' Merc (basically the same as yours)...it can be done. Nice Bird.

06-25-2018, 07:14 PM	#11
Lanny Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mn Posts: 2,543	Re: The whole thing? You can be very proud when you tell people that you built/own that great looking car. Hope it gives you many years of pleasurable driving. . __________________ If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. But if daddy ain't happy...RUN What I GOT DONE TODAY... I got the rear-end put in the recliner, and now I'm going to rest up & watch TV.

06-25-2018, 09:46 PM	#12
Herman Munster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: SW WA state. Posts: 564	Re: The whole thing? Where's the like button? __________________ 1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 292 V8 with Ford-o-Matic

06-26-2018, 10:04 AM	#13
Ole Don Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St. Michael, Minnesota Posts: 1,713	Re: The whole thing? Really nice looking Bird. FYI, I "fixed" the power steering seeping with a half bottle of Lucas PS conditioner. Pulled out a turkey baster full of fluid, poured in the Lucas and took it for a nice ride. End of seeping. Good luck! The other half of the bottle went in my F150 and helped the noise there. Good stuff!

06-26-2018, 02:28 PM	#14
Hot Rod Reverend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 947	Re: The whole thing? the car looks fantastic! __________________ Lancaster, California Visit hotrodreverend.com to view hundreds of pictures and videos of the build of the 1955 Ford Club Sedan!

06-26-2018, 10:56 PM	#15
dmsfrr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Abq, NM Posts: 3,725	Re: The whole thing? Thanks to everyone for your kind words and support. Dennis

06-27-2018, 09:51 AM	#16
5851a Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: NE Iowa Posts: 1,767	Re: The whole thing? It is not a leak, it is a automatic rust proofing device. It was optional and came with your choice of power steering or automatic transmission or combination of both.