1954 Ranch Wagon Parts ID

[51504bat]

Pulled the 239 Y Block and I'm starting to prep for the 302/AOD install and I need some help with a couple of parts(?). First the nut and stud on the upper fire wall below the windshield. It was covered with a glob of what appeared to be strip caulking. Before I crawl under the dash to investigate I thought someone would know what it is/does? Second question, there is what appears to be some type of rubber mount under the radiator but the radiator doesn't rest on it as far as I can tell. Things are much different in this project than the flathead in my '39 p/u so any help is much appreciated. I did look at my chassis manual but came up empty.

[Bob C]

2nd question, Front mount?


Bob

[Daves55Sedan]

Okay, so, there is a bolt that goes thru the upper firewall at that location on the '55/56 models. That bolt fastens the brake/clutch pedal bracket to the firewall under the dashboard. The factory had a rubber washer under the bolt washer on the firewall to keep rainwater from leaking into the car.
Instead of globbing caulk all over mine to keep it from leaking, I made my own new rubber washer and replaced the old cracked rubber washer, but you can buy rubber fender washers about that size at some hardware stores. I also get a lot of my fasteners and related products from a place called "Fastenall". They often have brick and mortar stores in towns of over 30,000 population. They might also have rubber or nylon products, but I frequent them for stainless steel fasteners for anything under the car or exposed to the environment.

[Daves55Sedan]

So, then, there is a rectangular rubber pad that is wired to the bottom of the radiator U-support bracket. That rubber pad actually does sit on top of the frame front crossmember right in the middle. The U-support bracket is held to the frame by means of two spring-loaded bolts, nuts and washers on the backside of the crossmember. The bolts are only meant to force the rubber pad down upon the top of the frame, and they do not necessarily stabilize the bracket. The bracket is stabilized by the assembly of the rest of the doghouse on all these cars ('52 thru 56).

[Daves55Sedan]

Based upon the photos you show, you probably have everything that goes to the front motor mount except for the two bolts that go thru the slotted holes at the front of the motor mount part that is attached to the engine block. Those two bolts should not be tightened until the engine is lowered back into the frame. The two bolts will rest in the two recessed areas in the engine steady rest mounted on the frame. After the engine is in place and all the motor mounting bolts have been started in their threads, the two front motor mount bolts can be tightened so that they clamp onto the steady rest.

[Daves55Sedan]

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A '54 Ford car shop manual will probably be beneficial in working on this car.

[51504bat]

Thanks all for the info. I do have a 52/53 shop manual with the 54 supplement but it didn't show the mount. Nascardave called me and said the mount in question had to do with the Y block and was not needed when installing the 302. He also said the nut was attached to a rod which goes to the pedal bracket.

[JimNNN]

It appears from my '54 Ranch Wagon (which is mostly original around the firewall and under-dash area) that nut at the firewall threads to a long stud that goes down to support a bracket that not only attaches to the brake and clutch pedals, but also to the steering column. I'm guessing the bracket supports the steering column, too, but the stud definitely seems to be in support of the bracket and the bracket definitely supports the pedals.



If you took the caulking off, you probably should've left it on if it was mostly intact. Mine also has the glob of caulking, and like a lot of the caulking I encountered when I removed interior panels to redo the inside of the car years ago, it looks original to the car. Someone may have replaced the caulking, but it could be that those nuts were caulked at the factory to keep it from loosening, but as Dave said probably to seal as well. Might also have been caulked to reduce squeaks and rattles, which is what the caulking in the interior was for.

[56sedandelivery]

Where do I find a part number for the washer for the cowl bolt? I have both the 49-59 parts manual and the 53-54 body manual but cannot seem to find this bracket anywhere in them.

[darrell]

that mount has nothing to do with a 302.ignore it.

[51504bat]

Originally Posted by darrell

that mount has nothing to do with a 302.ignore it.

Thanks, already in the trash.

[darrell]

i just put a y block in a 56 and into the trash it went.hard enough to work on without that in the way.

[KULTULZ]

The panel where the fastener is mounted, does it appear as OEM or appear as a patch plate used maybe due to stress cracks?





About what size would you would say the rubber insulator assy is?

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by 56sedandelivery

Where do I find a part number for the washer for the cowl bolt? I have both the 49-59 parts manual and the 53-54 body manual but cannot seem to find this bracket anywhere in them.

Hardware is listed within the bracket Basic PN -

[54vicky]

Originally Posted by KULTULZ

The panel where the fastener is mounted, does it appear as OEM or appear as a patch plate used maybe due to stress crac




About what size would you would say the rubber insulator assy is?

that is factory it is to reinforce

[JeffB2]

Originally Posted by 51504bat

Thanks, already in the trash.

I founded and moderate the 1952-59 Ford Social Group over on the H.A.M.B. I've helped a lot of guys with the 302/AOD swap over the last 10 years the one issue you will face is the length of the 302 if you had a 239 Y-block in it before. If you had the 223 Six it makes things easier as the radiator is mounted further forward. What locates it ahead is the lower sheet metal panels shown here in the right lower corner.

[JeffB2]

You can gain additional radiator to water pump clearance by using the early 1965-69 "short" water pump and balancer more info on that in my post #5 here: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...ulleys.303600/ It also helps to use the mounts in this link (read the notes) to position the 302 back further. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-mounts.41498/ The later 1970 & Up "long" water pumps and balancers create more clearance issues.

[51504bat]

Originally Posted by JeffB2

You can gain additional radiator to water pump clearance by using the early 1965-69 "short" water pump and balancer more info on that in my post #5 here: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...ulleys.303600/ It also helps to use the mounts in this link (read the notes) to position the 302 back further. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-mounts.41498/ The later 1970 & Up "long" water pumps and balancers create more clearance issues.

Thanks for the good info. I'm sure it will come in handy when I go to install the 302/AOD combo

[56sedandelivery]

Originally Posted by KULTULZ

Hardware is listed within the bracket Basic PN -

Thank you!

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by 54vicky

...that is factory it is to reinforce

Is it a separate panel or part of the toe-board/cowl?


THANX!