Projects My 57 is home

Progressing nicely...this car just keeps getting better all the time.

 

I remember seeing the lights in the top corners of the windshield and asking what they were about. I too was told they were "sex lights". That's all fine and good except for one very disturbing fact ... the only "dame" this clown EVER (and constantly) had in the passenger seat of his car was ... his MOMMY Ughhh ...

As for "Dirty Bird" ... Crappy Tire or Canada Trash was always Canadian Tire, Dirty Bird has always been another name for Swiss Chalet. Just sayin'

 

Cool video....

 

I think that is unusual. I don't ever remember having a gasket problem with FE's. Working over the painted fender even with the best fender cloth makes me a little nervous. Best wishes. Cheers for Terry, again.

 

Sometimes when things like this happen to me it makes me wonder why I even mess with this stuff. Then I remember after I get it fixed and take a drive. Glad you are getting it back together.

 

Glad you caught it close to home and not 1200 miles away.

 

Sorry about the failed part! Yup working over the painted fender is "testy" at best! Just can't keep the blanket in place without a tussle. My tale with that was just a bent push rod? Not sure how or why, replaced it and no issues.

Got to ask, where did you get the Rat Fink from? I HAVE to have one. It is exactly like the one I have in my beater 50 Olds when in high school. I later upgraded to an AMT kit about 8" tall and wired his eyes to the brake lights and mounted him on the rear package shelf.

 

Damn, that gasket failed HARD. Did the engine ingest a piece of that metal ring from the gasket? There's something way less satisfying about fixing something that was already "done". Could have been so much worse though, so there's that.

 

Hey @Jeff Norwell
Bummer about that head gasket.
Just curious, if you are considering replacing the head gasket on the other side?
Reason I ask is, I would assume that what ever the flaw or failure point in the blown head gasket, may potentially be in that other head gasket as well.
No way around the fact, that doing both sides, is a major pain in the ass!

 

So...were all the bolts tight? And, I assume you checked everything to make sure it is flat? I was amazed recently when I checked a brand new set of BBC heads for flatness...right before we decided to surface them since I couldn't keep head gaskets in the engine... I also ended up with head studs instead of bolts for the whole belt and suspenders deal.

 

If it was easy everyone would build hot rods and drive old cars . We don’t sit down and tell stories about the destination. We share stories about the journey getting there . Sorry about your troubles. Glad you are getting it fixed and back on the road it is a beautiful car

 

Looks like your pal Terry didn't skip arm day.

Glad you're getting it buttoned back up. In the grand scheme of things this could be much worse

 

So.. you have "shorties" on this.. most people claim they won't fit on '57-60 cars. What did you do for clearance on the left side? Want to use them on my '58 Custom 300..

 

Well shit! @Jeff Norwell maybe you should have put a Hemi in it?

 

Sorry for the toe stubber. You’re reminding me of me and my 40. You handle it better, though.

 

Murphy has a way of creepin in when and where you lease expect him to show up . I can’t say I ever blew a head gasket on an FE . Man that one went on vacation big time . Beautiful. Car . You get tired of workin on it , I’ll take a turn at my house !

 

I love my fender covers that Mrs. Fuller made in 78.Only half of the snaps work due to heavy usage.40 dollars well spent.

 

At least you got a steam clean on the piston.

 

Does Felpro sell a premium head gasket set? Might be something to look into.

 

I’m glad it’s not just me, every time I have to do something with mine I hope it doesn’t involve coolant, it always gets on everything.

 

1020 FelPros is what you want.

 

Do me a favor and copper coat any head gasket . Amazing the results you will see .

 

Coolant all over the place is a real blister. Sometime way back in the late 60's I was shown what to do not to make the Mess to start with. I have yet to work on anything automotive that doesn't have some kind of outlet at the lowest point of coolant that can be removed to drain the water chamber of 99% of its coolant. Once removed no more mess, well unless your catch pan is too small, or you just plain miss it. Draining the radiator never drains the block below the lower radiator hose feed point.

 

Not all head gaskets but most benefit from copper coat
Dan

 

Ford did think of that, but on the bench! The rad drain plug on mine nestles above the front cross member and the right bank drain is behind the engine mount!

 

Well, that at least explains it. I had a similar failure recently when we went to start a blown big block that someone else dropped the distributor in. We quizzed him multiple times if he was sure he dropped it TDC and he said he did. Well, he was wrong and it was 180 out. Shot a huge flame out #3 cylinder exhaust and we then had a head gasket to fix soon after…

 

Hell guys, there is only two types of people, those who have mistakes and those who do and accomplish nothing
Dan