Hello all! First off, a thank you to JeffB2 to pointing me in the direction of this forum/thread. Since I was asked to do a short intro when joining, I shall commence with the formality as requested. My name is Chris, I live in West Bend WI (a bit North of Milwaukee), and currently 32 yrs of age. I was raised on the family farm and have been tinkering with mechanical things since I could get the wrenches out of my fathers tool box. In High School I started working as a diesel mechanic on the IH day trucks at the local transit company, and from there moved over to a small restoration shop called Fourintune where I helped to restore old Austin Healey roadsters and the occasional Jaguar E-type. While working there I picked up an old MG midget to restore as my first project car. From there I moved into the IT field for financial and benefit reasons, but never lost the desire to work on the mechanical things. I got my pilots license and started down the road of home built aircraft construction on the side (http://www.airplanesathome.com is my personal site that covers the construction of the aircraft). Most recently completed was a restoration of a 1952 Case model D tractor I did as a surprise for my grandfather before he p***ed (it was the first new tractor he ever purchased, and we still had it sitting in a shed at the farm). He always teased that buying that tractor was a "case of bad judgement" but seeing it fixed up brought a smile to him none the less. Moving forward, the reason I'm here now is for the newest project I've picked up - a 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 4 door. Yes, I know - it's a 4 door... But I'm 32, married, and looking to start a family, and I still think 4 doors instead of 2 it's still a darn fine looking car. Once we've finished it we're taking another road trip down Route 66 (we've done it twice already, but it's one of those things we want to experience in a true cl***ic). She's a bit rough, but it's a Texas car, so it's quite solid underneath. The frame doesn't have any pitting in it, rear p***enger floor boards and trunk floor are solid, and it's all original yet. Obviously it's not the correct hood, but the car came with another hood that is a '58 hood. For those who saw it on the main board, there's no engine or trans with it, and it didn't come with a rear axle. I'll cut down one of the 9" truck axles I have and I'll likely throw in a trac-loc. The car originally came with 4.11's, but I'm leaning more towards a 3.89 or a 3.50. For the drivetrain I'm thinking a slightly build 351w and I'm thinking an E4OD or 4R100 trans and disc brakes for certain up front, maybe all four corners. Seeing that the engine/trans it came with were long ago pulled out (it already had a 351W/C6 swapped in it) I figure it makes a good candidate to update/upgrade and make it a good dependable road car. And like I said, we want to drive it across the country when its done! It'll take me a little while to get to it as I want to get one of the airplane fuselages out of the shop before I start working on it, but it'll get a complete tear down and rebuild with a rotisserie body repair. Thanks for the help that several of you guys have already provided, and I look forward to being a part of the group! Chris
Welcome to the Group! Actually a 1988-93 AOD is a good swap since they do not require a computer and they have the lubrication upgrades and improved valve body, for some of the best info on the AOD check out www.clickclickracing.I have an AOD and 4:10's in my '54.
I have been considering an AOD as well, and I like their simplicity, but I also like the idea of locking torque converter. That said, I have an AOD sitting around I could rebuild for it whereas I'd have to buy an E4OD/4R100 to use. Decisions decisions.... I'm currently running an E4OD with an aftermarket trans computer in my DT360 diesel swapped F350 and I've been happy with it. If anything, I would say the largest argument FOR an AOD is the fact that the AOD has a speedo output while the E4OD/4R100 does not.
Welcome to the site. I'm with you on the four doors if you are taking kids with you. It is a bit hard to fit and then secure kids in appropriate safety restraints in a two door car. There is not really much difference in the restoration, just two extra door rubbers. You sound like you are well and truly versed in what you need to do and this is a great site for any info you need. Someone on this site will have certainly done whatever you are going to do, before you and all are happy to p*** on info.
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