Projects Bought a 51 Ford on Purpose

Tried to go get the title swapped over and get a tag for this yesterday, but a power outage knocked out the system at the tag office. Also, didn't work on it last night since I went and picked up the next project from a friend and fellow HAMBer. I did have to move it out of the shop this morning to move the panhead in. Anyway, won’t talk about the next project here, but hope to get the front of the 51 lowered early next week.

 

Here's my '51 with stock springs :

Here's my '51 with Moog Aerostar springs :


Compare the "spear" on the front fender with the edge of the whitewall.

 

Looks like about 2” or so? Also looks like you flipped the shackles in the rear to change it as well?

 

Right.

 

Looks very nice here Jeff! Those wheels and tires were a huge improvement

 

Man I want some skirts after this thread.... Lol. Only if I could drop it reeeaaaallllllll low tho. Mine is about what you can do without notching the back, and I ain't gonna take apart a car that's finished for all that jazz.

Next one...

Car looks great Jeff.

 

I'll be interested in whether the Old's caps stay on when you drive it. I have a set I would like to use on my 50 but have read a number of reports of them coming off when driving so I'm hesitant.

 

Great car, like where it’s going
I spent some of my childhood in the back seat of a 51 4door.
Great memories

 

Here we go!

 

Damn Jeff that’s some pretty chrome!!

 

If you swap out to the Aerostar springs you need this to be able to get the geometry back to where you need it. Also you’ll more than likely need to shim the A arms out so grab some of them. I think I needed an 1/8” to 3/16” to get mine right.

 

Well, not sure it is low enough in the front yet. But, if it’s anything like my 56, it will likely still sink an inch or so over time too. About too dark to get a good pic outside. Pretty sure it came down right at 2” in the front and 3” in the rear. May be good enough for a while. I’ll see. I do need to cut the bump stops or remove them. I can bounce it off them now. I also need to put the shocks back on or see if I need shorter ones.

 

Tire is not quite flush with the wheel well. Hmm…

Also, specs on the Monroe 5821 show the collapsed length to be only 1/2” shorter than the ones that were on this car. Guessing I can get away with these same shocks at least for now. Might as well use what I have if I can. They appear fairly new.

 

Looking great! (still a tiny bit tail dragger-ish, but like you said, that might settle down a bit)

 

I had put new stock spec shocks on my car a year or two before I installed the Aerostar's. I have had no problems with them.

 

Also, just using a level, camber is real close on the passenger side, but it’s in at the top on the drivers side. I think I’ll probably leave it like this for a while. I need to pull a clutch on my youngest son’s car. So, this may be on the back burner a few days now until I can get that done.

 

Wack a coil

 

Yes, and I have some spacers already that I made for the 56. I’ll see after I put a few miles on it.

 

I used Aerostar springs in my '51 coupe to replace cut stockers. Installed new short bumpstops and used stock shocks no problem. Lowered a touch from the cut stockers and really firmed up the cornering! Big improvment. It had 3" blocks in the rear and I'm not a big tail dragger fan so I cut them to 1.5" as the rear springs a a little flat (sag). Like it much better as with 3" the driveshaft rubbed.

Dave

 

Looking good!!

 

I had to go back and do a comparison of where I started and where I am now. When I consider I have now owned it for exactly 16 days, I guess I have done ok. Not much work involved, but had to get it stopping and lowered. Bonus that I tripped across a set of wheels and tires to get the look I was going for in the last two weeks. I may try to go see what wheel covers the guy in the town where I work has today.

 

Looks great, like the changes so far.

 

Looks good, will be even better with full caps.

 

I like it!!!

 

Saw this at a little show on Saturday, reminded me of yours so I thought I'd share.

 

The best looking of all the shoebox Fords. Out of an act of necessity.

 

'58 Pan?

 

It’s actually a 54 but in a 58 or 59 frame.

 

Your on the right track, I'd have to cut a coil or 2