1955 Club Sedan 302 Radiator Options

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by Mad Mux

....but at least I now know the builder wasn't completely crazy!

No, he was either at a loss for donor parts and/or not overly talented.

U5DT

U= 272CI 2V 165HP
5= 1955 Model Run
D= Dallas Assy
T= Fairlane Tudor & Fordor Sedan (Series Code)

This is an early seventies FEAD, ALT and PS. See how simple it should be?

[Mad Mux]

Originally Posted by KULTULZ

How did you come across this car? Was it drive-able at purchase?

What? And further betray my ignorance, gullibility, and impulsiveness? OK, you deserve a laugh.

I was looking for an SBF '55, saw it on ebay; not much of a description, and couldn't get the seller to answer my many questions, so I made a low offer.
He accepted and called me, gave me more info, and described himself as an old-school hot rodder/drag racer, so I kinda figured he knew whether this car was a good build or not. Seemed like an honest old guy when I met him to settle up; car started right up, and drove onto the transport truck; leaky PS box, and too big tires rubbing on rear wheel well lip, but I planned to change tire/wheel setup anyway. Maybe seller honestly thought this would be an easy build, or maybe he was just unloading his rat's nest on the first rube he could find. Either way, I'm stubborn enough to stick with it and figure it out, until and unless I find that the cobbled-together build has caused deeper problems, like cracked head(s) or block...then I might bail. The rest of the car is pretty decent, most importantly, very solid frame and body pedestals, good glass/weatherstripping all around, interior older resto pretty good.

[Mad Mux]

More evidence of where this engine came from, this diagram of 1980-87 F-series w/o EFI, looks very close to my FEAD setup (sans AC or smog pump, whatever that is above and belted to the Alt); so, surprisingly, mine is actually correct to this series.

My manifold code indicates '83-'85 Mustang GT, which I assume was a tempting and easy swap if the builder had one laying around.

Thanks!

[Mad Mux]

I agree, wish mine was that simple. Some day I may try to swap around to make it that simple, like Ford engineers should have done, but for now, since belts are good and tight, probably just run it the way it is.

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by Mad Mux

What? And further betray my ignorance, gullibility, and impulsiveness? OK, you deserve a laugh.

No laugh as I have done the same. You fall in love with a car and you try to save it.

Got the T-Shirts to prove it.

It'll come together.

[dmsfrr]

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Originally Posted by Mad Mux

What? And further betray my ignorance, gullibility, and impulsiveness? ...

I strongly resemble this remark.
As further evidence...
Two photos under the hood of a Bird my wife insisted we get, she loves the exterior color.
Picking it up early next week. It needs lots of TLC under the hood (and paint).

[Mad Mux]

I don't know, looks pretty good to me! I don't see a rat's nest of wiring off the alternator and the voltage regulator just sitting unfastened on the inner wheel well, or vacuum ports capped by lengths of hose with duct tape over the ends. I see a Bird in my future in maybe 10 years or so, but I'll probably have to settle for much worse than yours!

[dmsfrr]

Originally Posted by Mad Mux

I don't know, looks pretty good to me! ... I see a Bird in my future in maybe 10 years or so, but I'll probably have to settle for much worse than yours!

It has it's own problems besides all the spiders underneath.
The canister to the left of the fan shroud is a cheezy toilet-paper oil filter conversion kit
The OD and half the dash gauges aren't working, the rear main seal leaks and the rubber suspension bushings are dry rotted. While the engine & trans is out the engine compartment will be painted back to the original yellow color (along with repainting the engine, and hooking up the vacuum hoses correctly).
Fortunately the current owner took pity on me and said my low-ball offer was still too high, so I accepted his lower counter-offer.
With any luck I can straighten it all out for a few thousand (haha)
.

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by dmsfrr

With any luck I can straighten it all out for a few thousand (haha)
.

Now you know you are too detailed oriented to believe that one ...

[5851a]

Glad there are still a few old school salvage yards around here. You can still find a few rusted out Fords from late 60's/70's with complete running gear. If you can find something like that and engine complete you have everything you need. Even if you have to haul home the entire engine you have a perfect matched set of components made to do the job together and you know what to ask for if you need a replacement part. The few Ford shop and parts manuals that I have from 60's/70's are a incredible amount of good reading. The shop manuals will tell you the under or overdrive ratio of accessories to crank speed etc.

[bobss396]

Talk to Bob at Owen's Salvage in Texas, he has acres of old Fords and may have the 6-cylinder item you need. Most of those parts stay with the cars unless someone needs to replace a rusty part.