The Ford Barn

Don in SC · 07-02-2021, 01:47 PM

First happy 4th of July.
I’m new to the group but not new to Flat heads.
I’ve not work on any since my farter passed away 5 years ago and they were in his two 50 Fords. I help him maintained them. I’m a fair mechanic but mostly GM stuff. I worked as an auto mechanic after two years of vocational high school.
Any way I’ve ended up with a flat head project in my garage that I‘m sure I’ll need advice on.
A young friend of mine recently was able to buy back his grandfathers 36 Ford. His grandfather and dad had restored this car in the 70s. He remembers riding in the car as a small child. As faith would have it his father die shortly after the car was completed. In the 80s his Grandfather had to sale the car do to money issues.
As luck would have it my young friend was able to track down and convince the current owner to sale his grandfather’s car to him. It was in a nonrunning state, but the body looks to be in good shape.
He came to me and asked if I could help him get it running, and I agreed to help. Last weekend he loaded it up on a trailer and pulled it to my place and we started the process of going through the car to determine what was what.
He had sent off the distributor to have it rebuilt but had not reinstalled it. He had a bag full of Dennis Carpenter parts for the distributor and a remote coil kit.
We pulled the hood, grill, and radiator and put the newish ^ volt battery on the slow charger.
Two hours later after installing the distributor, hooking up the battery and my temporary gas tank we were able to fire it up and let it run for a few seconds, sounds good to say it has not started in over 5 years.
Next we reinstalled the radiator and filled it with water, and fired it up again and let it run till it was up to temperature. Still sounds good.
I have a long list of stuff that needs to be done to the car to get it drivable.
The fuel tank needs to be cleaned.
The fuel pump has been replaced with an electric unit that does not currently run. T manual pump is missing but I think I can rob one off my 50 test stand motor.
Someone has installed an after-market spin on oil filter kit. But they left the rubber lines laying on the motor and they now leak. I pinched off the high-pressure line with a pair of vise grips to stop the leak for now.
I known a little about these old engines but nothing about the 36 Ford itself.
What should I be looking out for as I try to help this kid get this car road worthy?
Thanks in advance
Don In South Carolina.

07-02-2021, 01:47 PM	#1
Don in SC Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 9	Need advice on a 1936 Ford First happy 4th of July. I’m new to the group but not new to Flat heads. I’ve not work on any since my farter passed away 5 years ago and they were in his two 50 Fords. I help him maintained them. I’m a fair mechanic but mostly GM stuff. I worked as an auto mechanic after two years of vocational high school. Any way I’ve ended up with a flat head project in my garage that I‘m sure I’ll need advice on. A young friend of mine recently was able to buy back his grandfathers 36 Ford. His grandfather and dad had restored this car in the 70s. He remembers riding in the car as a small child. As faith would have it his father die shortly after the car was completed. In the 80s his Grandfather had to sale the car do to money issues. As luck would have it my young friend was able to track down and convince the current owner to sale his grandfather’s car to him. It was in a nonrunning state, but the body looks to be in good shape. He came to me and asked if I could help him get it running, and I agreed to help. Last weekend he loaded it up on a trailer and pulled it to my place and we started the process of going through the car to determine what was what. He had sent off the distributor to have it rebuilt but had not reinstalled it. He had a bag full of Dennis Carpenter parts for the distributor and a remote coil kit. We pulled the hood, grill, and radiator and put the newish ^ volt battery on the slow charger. Two hours later after installing the distributor, hooking up the battery and my temporary gas tank we were able to fire it up and let it run for a few seconds, sounds good to say it has not started in over 5 years. Next we reinstalled the radiator and filled it with water, and fired it up again and let it run till it was up to temperature. Still sounds good. I have a long list of stuff that needs to be done to the car to get it drivable. The fuel tank needs to be cleaned. The fuel pump has been replaced with an electric unit that does not currently run. T manual pump is missing but I think I can rob one off my 50 test stand motor. Someone has installed an after-market spin on oil filter kit. But they left the rubber lines laying on the motor and they now leak. I pinched off the high-pressure line with a pair of vise grips to stop the leak for now. I known a little about these old engines but nothing about the 36 Ford itself. What should I be looking out for as I try to help this kid get this car road worthy? Thanks in advance Don In South Carolina.