55 Fairlane New member/barn find

[bobss396]

Looks solid, 1/2 the battle is zero or little rust. Get the headliner out and power wash everything. I see you have critter nests.

[Jpops55]

Are there any down sides to power washing any areas of the car, dash, engine etc.?


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[miker98038]

I'd guess between the age and mice you're going to be rewiring it under the dash. The instruments are probably salvageable, or restorable. So I wouldn't power wash it from the front or underneath till I got them out. Assuming you've got a place where it will dry, I'd do the trunk and floor pans, and the engine compartment after covering the carb, oil fill, dipstick(s) and distributor. Don't want water down in the engine.

[Ole Don]

This soon in the planning part, I wish to tell you about the front end. It was suggested above you use a Mustang II. That is poor advice. The front end of that car and all other 54 to 56 Fords is a copy of the 52 Lincoln ball joint front end. It is strong, rides very well, and with a larger sway bar with hard bushings, will outlive you when rebuilt. Rebuilding will cost half what a Mustang II kit will cost., If you doubt me, look up the finishings places of Lincoln in the Mexican Road Race for 52, 53, and 54. Rebuilding the front end can be done at home with a large vice used as a press, but three hands make it easier. Good luck, and remember, this is supposed to be fun.

[Jpops55]

Sooo, when I get this running, stopping etc. is there a smart order of things you guys like to follow when you’re restoring? (Master list) I have a lot of questions floating around in my head, this will probably be an ongoing post. I appreciate everyone’s input.


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[Jpops55]

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Ha ha surprise,“Human Wrench”you were right. Get a load of this picture of the cross member. It’s been replaced and with a top notch weld job to boot. Is it from another Ford?,nothing a good farm welder and a pile of 60-11 rod can’t handle. Thanks for the heads up!![emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]

Is the rock buster a stock item???[emoji41]


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[miker98038]

Here's a previous post on the front crossmember. The Hot Rod Reverend also has a repair section in great detail on his build post.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278069

You can check them out and decide to repair, replace, whatever is needed.

I concur with Don, the bird and pass car fronts are the same. Carefully rebuilt they will perform fine. I looked into that with a well know nationally known frame builder. Bottom line was unless I removed and rebuilt the inner fender to allow huge hoops and rubber band tires, I'd never see the difference except on a race course.

The car looks like a great start. First, I'd decide on the engine/trans combo. I'm a Yblock guy, but you might be different, and it depends on what your starting with. After that, brakes fuel system, interior. Does the engine turn over, or is it stuck, or do you know yet.

[Jpops55]

Not sure yet, the carburetor needs to be rebuilt, its in pretty rough shape. Thanks for the information.
Joe


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[scicala]

Originally Posted by Jpops55

Not sure yet, the carburetor needs to be rebuilt, its in pretty rough shape. Thanks for the information.
Joe


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I can help you with the carburetor and the choke on the side of the manifold if it's stuck, when you get to that point.


Sal

[Jpops55]

Glove box,(Time capsule) opened. Ok a little fun tonight, the glove box wouldn’t open with the key and with a little tinkering and no damage to the glove box it popped open🥳 The attached picture is what was inside. I thought the “Blue and Gold incentive stamp was kind of interesting to me as I only remember the “Green Stamps” The car was originally from California so maybe the stamp came from out there. Any thoughts/comments? 😁😎

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by scicala

Yes, "U" indicates it was built with a 272 2 barrel Y-Block V8.
Somebody swapped on a 4 barrel some where along the line.


Sal

Maybe the entire engine was swapped instead of just the intake. Are there two vacuum lines going to the distributor?

[scicala]

The intake, carb and choke assembly are all 1955. Distributor I would guess is a '55 single diaphragm, but who knows without a picture.
If it was a four barrel engine swapped in, you would have to get casting numbers off the heads to tell. Four barrel engines had different heads with a higher comp. ratio.


Sal

[Fortunateson]

Your car looks to be in great shape to begin your odessy! It looks like you have the correct front crossmember but it may have been replaced at some point judging from the welds. If the car was originally from CA then I wouldn't think the crossmember would rust out however.

A number of years back Car and Parts magazine ran a series of articles on the restoration of a '55 Crown Victoria entitled, I believe, "Restoring Miss Vicky" which they published as a book. You may find a copy on Amazon, eBay, etc. and though it is for a Crown there is a lot that would apply to your car. I have yet to start on my '56 Meteor Rideau Victoria but the book has taught me a lot.

Now unfortunately for you and I a great upholstery supplier has gone out of business, ABC Upholstery that was bought out by LeBarron Bonney. They did great but slow work supplying kits. Maybe there has been some news on this front that I'm not aware of though.

Good luck!

[paul2748]

The guy who ran ABC is back in business under another name. Unfortunately, I can't remember what it is.


[QUOTE=

Now unfortunately for you and I a great upholstery supplier has gone out of business, ABC Upholstery that was bought out by LeBarron Bonney. They did great but slow work supplying kits. Maybe there has been some news on this front that I'm not aware of though.

Good luck![/QUOTE]

[Fortunateson]

Well that is good news! Ford Barn detectives find us our man...!

[Jpops55]

Good morning, according to my neighbor, the car is originally from CA., it was his brother’s who lived out there.(maybe explains the minimal rust but not the cross member). Here are some better pictures of the engine. Have a great day everyone.

[scicala]

Can't see the distributor diaphragm, but the intake is definitely 1955. The intake and carb at least were changed somewhere along the line if the VIN started with a "U".


Sal

[dmsfrr]

Originally Posted by scicala

Can't see the distributor diaphragm, but the intake is definitely 1955. ....
Sal

Jpops55
What a '55 Y-block distributor would look like...

[Jpops55]

Haha thanks Sal, I’ll look tomorrow. There seems to be a lot of layers to this “onion” as this goes along.[emoji1]


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[dmsfrr]

Originally Posted by Jpops55

... There seems to be a lot of layers to this “onion” as this goes along.

Yes, Ford upgraded various parts every year from '54 to the early 60's when the Y-block was discontinued. The first few years had some significant changes, not as many later on...