Hot Rods 57 FORD Build #2... Glutton for Punishment.

Well,.... no big updates.. but small all around the project type things....
I received the parts I needed, Headlight switch,Bezel and Knob with an OG ignition.Fantastic shape.
My headlight buckets came as well and I was floored how good of shape they were in.The man in B.C. primed and packed flawlessly.All the small spring hardware was included.
Very Happy on that.

I started to assemble the heater/Defroster for the car,.... cleaned and painted, then fit the the heater core, vacuum controls and outer heater box.While doing so I assembled the Vents(Pia) then put in the dash.
All went well but I learned from the last car to have this stuff in place before wiring.Just easier(for me anyhow)
With a bare firewall,.. one would say"man... loads of room"
not really.... last car had the fuse panel on the left cowl side.. this one will have it on the passenger side(right side).The left has just too many obstacles for me.. parking Brake, hood release, pedal assembly and steering..... so, yea.... fuse panel- passenger side.

Tackled a little painting on the trunk area, rear floor.. with again a myriad of rust paint, and Por-15.
Just started and a rough first coat is on.... but I will allow it to dry for a few days before a second application.
I need undo a weld on the cross-roof bow and bend it back into shape,.... a 10 minute job... but next on the list.... and I can also apply paint under there as well.

Gonna run a Wildwood small master for the clutch.... just need to order.... but a small 7/8's should fit nicely beside the factory master.... "It should"......
Famous last words.

Later guys.

 

Just an overall shot from a week ago. and I was happy the front end settled down ... it dropped 1 full inch all assembled.
I assume it may drop another inch when all the sheet metal gets put together.

 

"I already forgot my safe place"

 

@Fabulous50's
I have not made any clear decisions as of yet.... kinda doing that As I go..... not sure if that's good, bad or indifferent....I just know if I make plans beforehand.. it never seems to work in my favour. hahaha

 

The safe space thing.... yea,.....
Last night I had about 10 small things to get off my list,.... interior, exterior,... I have had the thermostat and the neck out which was one of the things that needed "to get done".. ya know... try every evening to attempt something, so your always moving forward.... well... I had everything laid out... permatexed the gasket, placed the studs into the manifold, had the wrench and socket handy...... "where did the lock nuts go?"
I spent 35 dang minutes looking where them d#%m nuts went.... then.... God told me to look down....
there they were... on the intake manifold.....
Geeeeeeezzzzzz.

That's how it always goes for me.
I don't know if it age or just I think about 5,894 things over a 2 minute period.......
..........after completing this very simple task...I sat back and questioned myself.....
"Did I put that thermostat in backwards?!?"

I did not.

 

Yes sir.......

 

@Sky Six
Dan... your most kind.. and just to let people know of your generosity,...Dan has sent me 57 parts he had left over from his previous build..... generous indeed.. thank you so much.
and yes.... soon,. in a few months.... a burn out on Channel 12.

hahaha

 

Yes.. 3 pedals for sure..... but no 3 speed.
This is a long winded response .... so buckle up and try not to fall asleep. hahahah.

In the beginning..I wanted 3 pedals... and for a time I toyed with a 3-speed OD unit... I had a perfect R-11 lined up... at a great price.... but... the distance for transport and cost... was ridiculous.
And these good 3-speed OD units are very pricey.
So, I settle with the Top loader 4 speed I acquired 2 summers back.. a good and fair price for a rebuilt unit..... a 69-70 unit that was from a 351 Stang.
Next was to find the shifter,... the perfect Hurst shifter and all is a 64 Galaxie unit.
Since I have been down this road before.. believe or not.... the cost of a Hurst for my application is super costly..... $750 USD.... and then add shipping, duty, tax and exchange(20-25%).... I am into the $1200-$1500 range.Combine this with a shifter handle that needs to be altered because of the bench.....
I went down this road with my other Black 57. I did not want to buy a used unit from Craigs List or elsewhere.... Not much cheaper and some old unit that was beaten and tortured to death.
I was prepared to swallow all this...... and buy a new unit.


COST





So, I speak with my pal Jay from Mass.... and he asks what were my plans with the shifter and trans?
I tell him that I plan on buying a Hurst unit....
He asked me.."Why not a 4-speed on the column?"
I was intrigued ..... So he begins to tell me about his 406 with a 4 speed on the column... and how easy it was...
Basically... the shifter rods, shifter tabs swap directly over to a 4 speed Toploader .
At first I didn't believe him.... this was impossible.

So... Enters Lane from out west.... @57 Fargo
Lane and I start to converse and he has this 58 Meteor with all the parts I could use and need.... anyhow.. we strike a deal(which is still ongoing)
Lane wants a Hemi.. he is a mad Mopar nut..... so he will be getting a 54 331 for his P/U and I will get a boatload of 58 Meteor parts I need for now and the future.
Problem is Lane lives in North Alberta.... about 1500-2000 miles from where I am.... but... I have a trucker friend that has agreed to transport because he does North America moving..... so a deal was struck and hopefully Lane will have his Hemi by June.

This board moves in mysterious ways...



Lane sends me the shift rods and shifter tabs.... I stare at them..
"this aint ever gonna work"

I have several columns.. and pull a cherry 57 manual column in very good shape.. give it a clean and grease.... start bolting and lo and behold.. the darn thing worked!...
The rods line up... the shifter shifts into every gear..... I never even had to adjust the rods.... so....
1-2-3-4 ..H pattern.

I then called Mr. Mac Vanpelt.. at VanPelt and I spoke with him and got a OD cable and reverse parts for using reverse(small kit) using the cable.
Great guy.. and really knows his 3 speed and early transmission stuff..... so....

I was going to use a old vintage Morse throttle to pull reverse..but... ehh.... it just was too big and out of place.The OD cable out of a shoebox is a perfect fit.














The only fly in the ointment is I have a small amount of relief to be made on the 1-2 shifter tab.. as it knocks into reverse.... no big issue... doing that now.

so... Ford Never made a 4-speed until 63.... so in my mind.... it works on this build.I had a 55 Ford with a 3 speed OD and column shift.I loved it.
Yes.... you can't beat a Hurst 4 speed. and I have one in my other 57..... but the costs are getting very prohibitive... I would rather spend that cash in in other areas.
I am not an automatic guy.... and I don't fault others who use and like them...
My car.. my way.....
*edit*... @Mac VP
Mac help me with the parts I needed.. great guy!

I gotta go.... My build is calling me.....
Thanks guys ....

 

Either can I!!!!!!!!