Projects 1956 Sunliner Continuous Upgrades

I have been thinking I needed to put seatbelts in the rear of a couple of my cars so I could haul my grandson around. I think you changed my mind with this idea.

 

A friend of mine has a 56 Crown with a Y block/AOD and we've taken multiple 1000+ mile trips. He's gotten over 20 mpg cruising comfortably on the highway between 75-80 mph.

 

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Pretty cool !

 

I say tacky.

 

I’m sure you can google this. It’s been done countless times. The Ford frame center trans cross member unbolts leaving an open area. Each one I researched did it different.
A necessity in what I’ve read is to replace the foot feed to a cable eliminating the monkey motion on the intake so the TV cable is easier to set. (Most do this for a C-4 also)
To use the column arm it needs to be lengthened and the trans arm can be shortened to get the needed detents or put in a floor shift.
Only the adapter is left and there prices seem to be climbing.

 

I'm an old fart, and an Aunt once told me that when you are over 65, you can no longer be held responsible for what you do or say...... That being said......... If you are going for the late custom or hot rod look, lose the connie. Me, I have reverted to the '50's mentality, so I like the long, smooth, look that the continental kit adds to an already beautiful design. Nothing else need be done to the outside. That's a real nice Sunliner !!! Now if you own a Chevy, you can simply add the front half of a shopping cart with a tire thrown in it to the back bumper. That's what the connie kit on that '56 Chev looks like. Now, if I hurt your feelings, revert back to the beginning.....

 

Just saw this thread and I’m enjoying it! Beautiful Sunliner and I see that you have a Dodge truck, a Chevy, and a couple of Ford’s...well stocked.

As far as the headlight doors go I’m fortunate that my ‘56 Meteor Rideau Victoria uses the chrome bit like was on the ‘55s so I don’t think I’ll agonize over it.

 

every time I look at the adapter it is more money! It has at least doubled in price since I started looking at these lol

 

I guess I was a good boy this year.
Picked up a set of T-Bird valve covers "preserved" in grease. After some polish and paint, they'll look great on the 312! I also spotted a mint power steering horn ring at the same shop!
Hope everyone had a happy and safe Christmas!

 

A little more progress today! Got one car seat anchor complete, just need to build a mirror image one for the other side!
Also, I'm starting to make the parts list for the AOD swap. I'll take any advice out there from guys that have made the swap before!

 

I've got all the brackets complete, painted, and just waiting to be installed!

 

If you're interested, I can mail you the set from my Victoria. Should work fine with your car. I had to make new ones because of the convertible brace.

 

Very cool. Yes remove the continental kit. I think the disk brake conversion would be a waste of time. A vacuum power booster and duel master cyl will give you ample brakes for a cruiser. You would be very surprised how well the car would stop. The brake surface area for drums is quite large.
You can but a kit to fit a turbo 700 overdrive auto' transmission. That would fix the transmission issue and give you better high way cruising while keeping the stock appearance. It's easier to fit and maintain than an aod. And arguably a better trans.
The y-block is a great motor. Arguably the best small cube v8 Ford made.
Also with a simple modification a more common and later model Windsor distributor can be used when you fit a later carburettor.

 

With a relatively simple modification an easy and cheap to find Windsor distributor can be used. I used a Windsor one in my y-block when the original wore out.

 

You should adjust your driving style down hill. Don't ride the brakes. Shift into low.. slow right up then lift off the brakes. For a bit. Then slow up again. It gives the brakes a chance to cool a bit. Who cares if you a slower than other cars. You need to adjust your driving style from a modern car to an older car.

 

On my 55 ford I painted the outside to match the guard and inside to match the hood

 

That's how I did mine. Looks much better

 

Look into a gm turbo 700 swap. Arguably a better transmission. You can buy a bolt in kit fir it.

 

Gm200r is a better fit (smaller) kit fits the same. It can take all the hp any y can put out. Put in a cable foot feed and your ready to go.

 

A y-block can put out significant HP. As much or better than any other similar size ohv v8

 

And a 200r can take it!

 

People forget the 200R4 was the stock trans behind the 3.8 turbos in the Buick GN and Regal T Type

 

Car seat anchor and seat belt project has been completed!

 

Besides the AOD swap, I'll be installing a 57 -B intake and Edelbrock carb. Everything looks good except the rear ports on the intake are too small for the rear blades on the carb, so the carb will not go wide open.
My choices are:
1. Use a carb spacer to make room
2. Open up the rear ports slightly with a grinder to fit the larger blades.

 

Just get a carbide burr and grind away. Just clean out the intake real well after.

Also as an FYI, that carb will look even better if you grind off the heads of the rivets and take that tag off the front. The holes are blind.

Great install on the car seat anchors. Project is looking awesome

 

I'm hoping the air cleaner hides most of the carb! There's still a possibility I'll use a burr to open it up, just want to see how the carb spacer fits first. Didn't want to make any permanent changes to the intake if I didn't have to.

 

Your concerns about the diameter of the intake not being large enough for the ****erflies only proves that the intake will be limiting the carb's flow. I'd have zero hesitation in opening up the intake holes, it causes no issues at all if you ever want to go back to a stock carb. Those 4bbl Y-Block intakes aren't hen's teeth, no need to be shy.

~Peter

 

I put this same setup on my car. I sure don’t remember having issue with the throttle plates interfering. Now I have to look.

 

FWIW, there’s been some discussion on y blocks forever on spacers, and almost all combinations seem to run better with one. Be worth a search. If hood clearance is good, put one on and open up the bores too.