Hey guys, thought I'd drop in and say hello. Long time lurker and reader. Used to have a '52 Ford Customline coupe we bought to restore when I was 14. Father/son project style until my father lost interest and I didn't have the resources to take on my own. Ended up selling the car back to the owner who had it before us...some 15 years or so after having it sit in our yard. Ah the wonders of the internet!! Anyways, my wife was in the mood to check out the swap meet down the road a couple weeks ago and we came across a decent looking '53 Customline coupe. Inline 6, 3 speed on the column, basically all stock, older restoration kinda looked like. We liked it enough, got down to a price we could handle, and drove it home. I could tell right away that highway driving was definitely not it's strong suit. We were right at 65 and you could tell she wasn't happy having to work that hard...lol Got her home, washed the dust off her, and parked her in the garage. Don't have any solid plans for it as of now. Depends on funds and time. It really needs the wiring redone. It has a SignalStat 900 and an aftermarket brake lamp switch on the pedal under the dash. The blinkers don't all work and neither do the brake lights, and the headlights are really dim. I think it'd be best to just start from scratch with a whole car harness and upgrade it to 12v as well. Anyone know a good replacement for the generator on a 215 inline 6? Also I'd like to make it a little more highway speed friendly. So probably looking at a rear end swap with some higher gears. I've read the Mavericks and Mustangs are the rears I need to be looking for. I'm gonna need pretty much a bolt it deal. Don't have the equipment to be able to cut and weld up anything here at the house. Then figure some lowering blocks in the rear...Aerostar springs up front, disc brake conversion for the front end. And then hopefully I can find a deal on some white walls that won't break the bank!! It came with new side windows so I need to find some info on how to go about installing those. That's basically it for now. Interior is a little old and worn but livable for now. Eventually it might get a flathead or 302 swap. Just depends on how this little six does running around town.
Nice find ! It sure cleaned up nice,the six is good for around town but if you do the rear end swap you may be in for a disappointment because the car will be even more gutless without the 3:90 gears it now has.The best option is save the cash up and do the 302/AOD swap you will get better all around performance and actually better MPG and you won't have to swap rear ends you can actually bolt a 1986 Crown Vic drive shaft to a conversion U-joint and bolt it right up.Since you are new here is something you will want to save:http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=18186 This has pages full of information to tell you how to,what fits,and where to find it, DO NOT ask questions there it is only for information sharing ask questions in the regular forum.Disc brakes are not a must with these Fords,why? back in the 50's Ford always had some of the shortest stopping distances because they used brake shoes with a large contact area the shoes in your '53 were actually used on 1967-68 Big Block Mustang cars.You should do this upgrade for under a $100 and save the bucks to use for the 302/AOD swap. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&discussionid=20141 With your existing gears for example a 302/AOD will have you cruising at about 2300 RPM at 70 MPH.
Check out this discussion about rewiring: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=42971 The Rebel wire kits are an even better deal for HAMB members so be sure and let them know when you order.
Or you could be really different and do this:http://1954ford.com/forum/download/file.php?id=958&mode=view and bolt in a 3 speed overdrive from a 52-54 Ford there may be some listed in the HAMB cl***ifieds.
Nice car. Do yourself a favor and do the 5.0 swap. I found my doner car a crashed 92 mustang with 60000 miles for 800.00 bucks.
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