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

Maybe it's me, and I'm not a big "patina" die hard but the condition of your paint and look of the car is great as is. Put the stainless back on and she'll look just fine!

 

I'm not a "Patina" fan at all but far and away prefer to see a guy build a solid safe car with all the mechanical work done and then do the body and paint when time and money come about rathern than do the paint and not redo the mechanical end.
I did some mechanical work on a car a guy I new had back 40 or so years ago that wasn't bad looking when he bought it but he took it straight to a body shop and had it slicked out and painted and then woke up and figured out that the suspension had to be rebuilt, the brakes had to be done and it needed some engine work. It was a pain in the butt working around that new paint rebuilding the suspension and brakes. Luckily I didn't have to do the engine work.

Back when I was in trade school in the mid 60's one of my buddies had a 57 Post like that that he pulled the six out of and stuck in a 390 crate motor and brand new 4 speed from the Ford garage in town and then had it painted 57 Pontiac Lime fire Green. It turned out to be one of the best looking rides around at the time. First crate motor I ever saw in my life too.

 

I got new seals for my turn signals, and they seem to be too big, any tips to install them? My old ones crumbled to nothing.

 

It’s about damn time!! Lol. Good to see you back on it, take care of your ribs, we aren’t as young as we used to be….

 

Man, I'm not much of a patina guy but this one looks pretty cool with the current paint colors and fading...etc.

 

I really like your front sway bar. Is that an aftermarket setup or something off of another car? The factory 57 Ford sway bar is a joke, it's practically straight across. This one looks much more robust

 

It is looking really cool Jeff. Such a major departure from DD or the Root Beer coupe but still so very cool. I do not like patina cars at all but have no problem with it looking used.
I must say that I am impressed that you are doing all the work. I always figured you to have the Huck Finn gene being so smooth and dreamy.
Please keep moving on !!

 

I find these work well for me

 

Great job done on the grille and I hope you recover from the bike accident quickly

 

Good to see progress. I'm not sure where you're at on final hood adjustment. You may have already done it. Thought I'd share how I do it just in case. I leave the grill and lower panel off, so I don't have to loosen and tighten the 4 bolts per hinge unit over and over. I put all the bolts in but only tighten the 2 top ones per side to a snug point. I then take 2 of my long reach vice clamps and clamp them as far up as I can on each hinge. Mount and close the hood. Now I can just bump the hinge units around until the Hood is exactly where I want it. tighten the other bolts good enough I can cycle the hood. It's usually right where I want it and final tighten all the bolts down. If you have already done the Hood, just mark this down to an Old Guy not paying attention and keep moving on. Wish I was at this point on mine.

 

I sure am glad someone else put up the training wheels. Do we need to offer a personal assistant to look after you for a bit?

 

Car’s looking great! Thanks for keeping things posted. I love those 2 doors.

Did the bike/broken rib thing. Broke two and cracked two. Couldn’t lay down in any position. Slept in the recliner for two weeks. Coughing or sneezing was pure torture. Hope you heal fast.

 

The grill looks amazing, the one on my car is anodized aluminum and was in great shape. The sway bar helped my car out quite a bit too, same size as yours.

 

Do you at least have a cool mountain bike story for the crash? Downhill, off a jump over a train or something? Or did you just fall over on flat ground? Haha!!

Sorry Jeff!

 

Lol...I have been getting similar questions about my broken leg. No cool story to go along with mine other than there was an Edsel nearby when it happened. Hopefully Jeff has a better story of jumping some canyon or something on the mountain bike. Anyway, hope you heal soon Jeff.

 

Jeff don't know if you saw this or remember seeing it but I was able to mount the hood by myself. Much care and about four hours of "messing" to get things lined up. The hood install is about half way down the page.
https://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?topic=6035.315

and on the sway bar issue, found that the 58 Edsel Ranger/Pacer front sway bar fits perfect. Just need to weld brackets to the bottom of the frame rails.

 

I also have learned that to get the Hood clocked correctly Cowel to front panel the Core support may need to be shifted side to side a bit more than the factory center bolt hole will allow. A little help from our friends is often a good thing. Seem to be a must have on these 57-8-9- hoods.

 

Good for you Jeff! I feel the same way about my wife and I. She’s an angel and I’m not so much!

Car therapy fixes everything, working on old cars makes me forget anything that is wrong.
Keep going, my next project comes home next weekend….

 

Good for your Wife having a caring soul. That bike crash may have been a wakeup call from the Boss letting you know there are other things in life past our Cars. I get those messages now and then also. God bless Adolpf and your Wife. You'll recover from the Message sent.

 

Evil the Mountain Bikin' Knievil...I think I see an Artwork with the 57 Ford and some Wildman on a bike trying to outrun the beast and it's Eye bulging driver...

Quick return to normal Hoodlum, Jeff...

 

I was wondering when they got mountains in Ontario???

 

We do but they can go braless...

 

Sounds like my kind of story and my wife and yours would likely get along great. I know I have been roped into helping several folks because my wife is way more sensitive to others needs than I am. Oh, and I also get wake up calls at times to keep me grounded and keeping my priorities in check.

Thanks for sharing. It is somehow comforting to know that I am not the only one that does things like going over the handlebars.

Back on topic...the 57 is coming along great! You will have to come through Oklahoma and take me for a ride when you make that trip to Texas.