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

Gotta be time for an update from Jeff.............maybe he's just out driving.

 

You got alot of catchin' up to do...Yesterday I turned the odometer on mine to 66,500 since finished 6 1/2 years ago.
Went to Kansas for a car show that isn't 'til next week, lol. Another senior moment.

Took me over a week to get my headliner done......I can only work so long with my hands over my head. I do remember sore knees, sore back from leaning over backwards too much. Hope you've got lots of small spring clamps. See pic next post, had at least 20 on the back window also.

 

Jeff.......how'd the headliner go?

 

ive been curious, how hard is it to replace those window seals? mine are pretty much gone but i haven't looked into it very far.

my thermostat housing leaks a little bit, and i dont know why.

cant wait to hear that thing rip.

 

OT question. Why do you not have custom upholstery on your stool and creeper?

 

100% bad ass. I love the look of this car. I can't wait to see it running and driving and parked next to the black one.

Come out in the morning and be like, "which one do I want to drive today?"...

 

Yeah
Do you know what's worse than a "she shack"......a man cave!

 

I've never understood why the '57 Ford wasn't as popular as the Chevy from the same year. It's a darn good-lookin' car. This is one you should have fun beating on. Like they say: shiny paint causes anxiety.

 

Glad to see you back on this one Jeff! It’s gonna be cool! And, hope to catch up with you at Autorama this year. I plan to be hanging out with my brother.

 

I went all-in with my glass installation. Every stitch of channel runs are new. The ones I used are known as Y619 and Y620, flexible and rigid. I used the rigid for the vent glass verticals only, mine were just over 31" each.

 

Let us know how you remove the vent glass. The glass in mine are all delaminating and need replacing.

 

im assuming its the same as side window glass. use a heat gun and slide if out.

 

Is changing out the window channels a RPITA? I have the supplies to rebuild them but may just go with the newer stuff to save time. Then rebuild the originals and install at a later date.

 

Jeff, I would never say that what I do is even remotely correct but I use clear silicone to install the vent windows. I fought the glass setting tape several times and decided it wasn't worth the fight. I don't have a man cave either. But I do own a sewing machine. I'm acquainted with Glenn Kramer in the Phoenix area. He takes H.F. creepers and does custom work on them. So does the master so the followers do also. There's more to it. I'm old and the foam on those inexpensive creepers is a joke if you weight more than 10 lbs. I used 2" medium firm foam on mine before upholstering it in red and white from left over vinyl.

 

Thanks I’ll try that. I’m trying to avoid pulling all the glass mechanisms out of the door.

The 57 shop manual mentions something about a door glass puller. Never heard of one and no idea what they look like.

 

Grand Slam !

 

My rigid channel was steel. I recall it being 31.25" long when I made the new ones. I copied what I had onto the new pieces and milled the slots and put the holes in them. I have the sketch somewhere...

The hardest part was making the 90 degree corner bends in the flexible pieces. I didn't have a lot extra to play around with. I wound up cutting them straight and over lapping them in the door channels. The OG ones looked like they were notched and bent at the factory.

The hardest pieces were for the rear quarter windows. That took a little thinking to fit well and have the window work smoothly.

I wound up gutting both front doors.... well they were 90% gutted when I got the car. I bought an Edsel donor door locally, found door guts in a yard in Washington state. All told, I am about $800 into getting both doors working like new.

 

....Ford (across their lineup) actually outsold Chevy in 1957. Check it out. I had an Uncle who worked on the L.A. Ford Assembly line and he loved to remind us of this.