thinkn about getting a 53 mainline

fatman is the suspension upgrades i went with. very pleased with quality , fit and service. never had a problem. Cadillac Dave

 

For suspension, use 1990 Aerostar springs from Autozone ($60). Gives a perfect 3" drop. Add 3" blocks to the back to round it out. I'm rodding a '53 Customline right now ... great car and parts are easy to find. Try Dennis Carpenter, Concours Parts, Mac's, C&G ... the list goes on ...

 

A smallblock Ford/C4 combo will go right in, I understand, and it looks like your car is already lowered. But it also looks like the warnings about rust would bear following. Sometimes it's just the floors and rockers...and sometimes it's not!

Good luck...and keep us posted!

 

Check out the underside of that car's body before you lay down your cash. If the floors are rusted, I would not say it is worth the $2500 you mentioned. I do not know of a place that makes replacement floor panels for the 52-54 Ford, and have looked for that for my 53 Ford convertible. If all the body is solid, it is a good buy and a good start to a project car.

 

Actually that's not a problem,check out Ms.Peanuts ride in the 1952-54 Ford Social Groups.

 

They are available on ebay for $49 a panel,several members of the 1954ford website have used them and are very satisfied.

 

Here are some pictures of KustomKat's '53 Coupe.
He's owned that Ford for almost 20 years now (or More?).
Ask him about putting that 312 T-Bird Y-block in it, that's a story in itself.

 

I bought one about 4 months ago with the 215 six, and have been driving it around. Top speed was not so good and tappits were nosiey so I pulled the valve cover and I have 6 broken valve springs, Picked up a NOS set of springs on the bay. Still in factory box...Going to replace them all It should run a lot better, I would think. The car came with a new 302 and all the goodies to go with it, and a t-5 tranny. but going to run the six for a while.
I would recommend that you get the the car. its knid of neat have something a little different, and you dont see to many of....

 

You can get these cars pretty low and have them ride half way decent. My 53 has late model V6 S-10 coils up front that have 1.5 coils cut off and a 3" block in the rear with 2 leafs pulled. Its rides remarkably well. Just be sure to get the right length shock for the front so they don't bottom out. You will also need to clearance the drive shaft tunnel under the rear seat.

 

The predominant trend for these cars seems to be as a low-and-slow cruiser. The one embedded in my brain is a white '54 that held an AHRA record when I was only a pup. Small-inch FE power (352 with lots of 427 parts), Toploader trans that got repaired regularly, and some locally manufactured fiberglass to make it lighter. Kind of austere, but plenty fast. Oh, those were the days.....

 

Buy it and be welcomed to the Ugly Duckling of 50s FoMoCo crowd.

I still need to get off my butt and get those Moog Springs for my front end. Images of my ride is in my sig below. Mine is powered with a 1970 351W and mated to a C4. Just a nice cruiser to take my lady out on the weekends around town.

 

looks rather complete... should be a fun time

 

Here's the Thread on cheap springs for these cars:


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260795&highlight=aerostar