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1952-59 Ford 54 Customline Build Thread

Discussion in 'Off Topic Hot Rods & Customs' started by dragonknucks, Dec 7, 2010.

  1. dragonknucks
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 136

    dragonknucks
    Member

    Ok, so I have finally decided to do a build thread. Obviously I have never done this before, so be patient with me. This build is starting out as a mostly stock customline. With much time and ****** knuckles, I hope to have a nice mild kustom. I bought this car in Oklahoma. I live in Arizona. Paid $3,200 for it.

    Here are some pics of what I am starting with and the long journey from Oklahoma back to Arizona.

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    When I bought the car it came with a 223 with 3 on the tree. This will be swapped out with a 292. More plans in the future as well. Too long to list right now though. I gotta get back to work before the boss comes around.

    Rocky
     
  2. Shine5613
    Joined: Dec 3, 2010
    Posts: 16

    Shine5613
    Member
    from Washington

    Lets get that in tomorrow.
     
  3. missysdad1
    Joined: Dec 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,307

    missysdad1
    Member

    And so the adventure begins. What a great car to start with. Clean and looks to be rust-free. Bet you guys in the rust belt are jealous, eh?

    The swap to a 292 will make all the difference in the world. I'm not against sixes, but have always preferred the sound of a V8 with duals. The Y-blocks have such a unique exhaust note...

    More progress = more pix. So what's keepin' ya'?

    :)
     
  4. JeffB2
    Joined: Dec 18, 2006
    Posts: 9,665

    JeffB2
    Member
    from Phoenix,AZ

    There is a saying" Some guys can fall in a S@#t hole and come out smelling like a rose" looks like that accident may have seemed bad at first,but you came out a winner,Nice Ride!
     
  5. SUCIO
    Joined: Jan 5, 2010
    Posts: 109

    SUCIO
    Member

    I cant wait to see the progress
     
  6. Looks to me that you already have a mild custom. Nice buy!
     
  7. Nice score! Shouldn't take much to make a real head turner...
     
  8. dragonknucks
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 136

    dragonknucks
    Member

    Soo... I went out this morning and was cleaning up the bellhousing and the cover that goes with it. Guess this engine was yellow before. Was that a factory color? Or is that someone else's handy work? Anywho, cleaning up the rest of it tonight and gotta clean up the engine compartment before I drop this y block in it. Also got my distributor in the mail last night. YAY!! Its packed full of Pertronix. Here are some pics.


    Here is the inline 6 that I pulled. It is now sitting in my 4 door donor car.

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    This is taking its place.

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    See.... YELLOW! Lame!

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    And here are some of the goodies going on the y block.:D

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    Also, anybody got any advice on how to clean this?!:eek:

    [​IMG]

    More cleaing tomorrow morning. Hope to get it all painted too. We'll see how much time I have to work. Thanks to everyone for the kind words.

    Rocky
     
  9. missysdad1
    Joined: Dec 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,307

    missysdad1
    Member

    Don't let anything happen to that 6 cylinder motor. It certainly has a market value to help offset the cost of your other stuff. Try HAMB Cl***ifieds, eBay and Craig's List.

    Take your manifolds to the neighborhood sand blaster. Be sure to ask him to do the insides as well as the outside. Then use a quality header paint, bake 'em and set 'em aside for later.

    :)
     
  10. dragonknucks
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 136

    dragonknucks
    Member

    Any idea how much these 6's go for? I have no clue. I do have a video of it running too.
     
  11. Mark T
    Joined: Feb 19, 2007
    Posts: 2,175

    Mark T
    Member

    Search the main board for rust removal with mol***es to clean your intake.
     
  12. Mark T
    Joined: Feb 19, 2007
    Posts: 2,175

    Mark T
    Member

    I think you are going to need a newer Y-Block distributor, '57 or newer is the one you want. should make an improvement over the one you have in the picture.
     
  13. red baron
    Joined: Jun 2, 2007
    Posts: 596

    red baron
    Member
    from o'side

    If you get them blasted, make sure you clean out the intake runners REAL good! Had a friend blast and powdercoat his intake on an O/T car, didnt clean it out so well, installed it, and ended up sanding the insides of his engine!!! Had to do a full rebuild lol! Still give him **** for that one.
     
  14. Retro Jim
    Joined: May 27, 2007
    Posts: 3,853

    Retro Jim
    Member

    Rocky , a TrammelDremmel tool is really good to have for things like cleaning the the rust up in there . Make sure you get the extension cable . You can get a whole kit for around $60+ . I love mine and you can even do some porting work with the Dremmmel tool . The 4 bbl will really wake that Y block us especially with the newer distributor .

    You really made out goo on that car ! Looks really nice too ! Wish mine was 1/2 that good when O go mine . It really helps having a good base to start with .
    While you got the engine out , make sure you replace the clutch , pressure plate and throw out bearing while it's all out !
    It's also a good time to clean up the engine bay area and paint it while everything is in the open ?

    A good running 6cyl should get $200 to $400 I would think . I might be wrong but a good running engine is Worth a lot more that anything !

    Good Luck with you engine swap !

    Jim
     
  15. dragonknucks
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 136

    dragonknucks
    Member

    Baron, thanks for that heads up, I would have cleaned it, but now I want to be extra careful. Dont want to rebuild this engine. Jim I am in the process of cleaning the frame now. Gonna paint it all up when done. Also going to install a new dual master cylinder and brake lines. Got a pressure plate, clutch disk and throwout bearing waiting in the wings for this thing. they were on it before, but I decided to go with that ginormous Ford o matic. So I kept them. Good thinkin if I do say so myself! Will probably do the Aerostar springs too. And remove all shocks that were placed on my 4 door. They are all brand new. Mark, how can I tell what year my distributor is from? Thanks guys!

    Rocky
     
  16. Mark T
    Joined: Feb 19, 2007
    Posts: 2,175

    Mark T
    Member

    Rocky, Pre '57 distributors have a duel diaphragm vacuum advance like the one you have pictured, '57 and later distributors are prefered for any performance gains. Some of the early sixties Y-Block distributors can be converted to Fords Duraspark electronic ignition, its a better convertion than the Pertronics conversion because if you break down on the road you can walk into any parts store and get the ign. module or internal distributor parts. All of the parts needed can be bought out of a salvage yard.
     
  17. dragonknucks
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 136

    dragonknucks
    Member

    Ok. Well since I just dropped money on it, it will go in. For now at least. Or maybe I can take the Pertronix out of it and put it in the one on the 292? I was told that engine came out of either a 60 or 61 f-100.
     
  18. JeffB2
    Joined: Dec 18, 2006
    Posts: 9,665

    JeffB2
    Member
    from Phoenix,AZ

    Those Ford dual diaphram distributors are garbage for performance,take Mark T's advice and mine and get the later distributor, part# Car-Done 30-2808 $56.99 exchange at Autozone.Pertronix has an extensive website so you can check compatibility and a tech line for help.
     
  19. JeffB2
    Joined: Dec 18, 2006
    Posts: 9,665

    JeffB2
    Member
    from Phoenix,AZ

    If anyone wants it to do a Duraspark conversion I have an '84 Duraspark distributor as a freebee just pay shipping.
     
  20. dragonknucks
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 136

    dragonknucks
    Member

    Hey, if I need to change distibutors and the one already on the 292 will work, I'll trade you an 18 pack of pbr bottles for it! I'll just have to look at it in the morning.
     
  21. dragonknucks
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 136

    dragonknucks
    Member

    Wait, are you talking a 302 distibutor? I forgot you went with that engine.
     
  22. GREENBIRD56
    Joined: May 11, 2008
    Posts: 75

    GREENBIRD56
    Member
    from Tucson, AZ

    Rocky - the best (rebuilt) distributor for the y-blocks looks like this...its a Motorcraft body
    [​IMG]
    under the cap it looks like this.....
    [​IMG]
    The Duraspark distributor that Jeff has looks like this.......
    [​IMG]
    The upper rotor shaft - and all of the good trigger parts will swap into the y-block dizzy in 25 or 30 minutes or less. You take off the reluctor as below and start tearing it down - and all of a sudden you will "get it" and the rest will be easy.

    [​IMG]

    This little clip is in both distributors - getting it out means holding your mouth right...

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    You would really like to find the upper rotor shaft with the "13L" limit - that works the best - but second best is the "10L" - don't use the "15L" or larger.

    this wiring scheme will give your engine electronic ignition - for cheap - and you will be able to get parts for it anywhere.

    [​IMG]
     
  23. ctfortner
    Joined: Aug 16, 2008
    Posts: 443

    ctfortner
    Member
    from West TN

    I wrote an article about the duraspark setup if you go that route. I had never messed with one before, was a piece of cake. Duraspark Recurve
     
  24. ctfortner
    Joined: Aug 16, 2008
    Posts: 443

    ctfortner
    Member
    from West TN

    Jeff the 84 has the cast gear right? It it has the steel gear on it I may want it
     
  25. dragonknucks
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 136

    dragonknucks
    Member

    I looked at the distributor that is already on the y block. Its only got the 1 vacuum line on it. its not like this new one that I got. So I'll leave it in for now. Will look into the Duraspark. I just wanna drive the damn thing already. Gonna try to get the engine in tonight and the trans ready to go. Confident that we can get it done tonight. Then all the small things this weekend. On the road by Sunday? Hope so. Then off to the muffler shop for dual Smittys! Wish me luck!
     
  26. 54HotRod
    Joined: May 31, 2010
    Posts: 509

    54HotRod
    Member

    That car is smooth looking. I am quite jealous that you got such a nice car for that low of a price.
     
  27. JeffB2
    Joined: Dec 18, 2006
    Posts: 9,665

    JeffB2
    Member
    from Phoenix,AZ

    '84 was the last year for flat tappet cams which mine has so it does have a cast gear,Rocky you only want the "guts" from the Duraspark I have to install in your Y-block dist as per above by GREENBIRD56,there is also more text info on Google,put "Duraspark conversion" in search.I even have an HEI with 4 pins laying around all you would need is the Bosch relay with matching plug,I picked one up at Fry's Electronics for $9.
     
  28. dragonknucks
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 136

    dragonknucks
    Member

    Jeff, what do you mean matching plug? The bosch relay is only 4.99. Not bad.
     
  29. Fairlane 62
    Joined: Jan 14, 2009
    Posts: 487

    Fairlane 62
    Member

    Rocky,
    I think that I p***ed you in Newcastle, Oklahoma a couple weeks ago. I had seen the car on the OKC craiglist and when the car p***ed by on the trailer I told my son I thought it was the one on craigslist because it was a unique color and had the cragar wheels.

    Good score, keep us updated on your progress.

    James
     
  30. dragonknucks
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 136

    dragonknucks
    Member

    That's awesome! Was us, no doubt. Appreciate it, and will update all the time. Just stay tuned.
     

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