Customs 1957 Ford steering & brake upgrades

Hi. I have an opportunity to buy a very presentable 1957 Ford Country Sedan from a relative but it will need to become my summer daily driver. The picture is not the actual car, but it is the same colors. Its a 292 Y block with automatic but it has the original manual steering and manual brakes.

If I use this car as my summer daily I will have to get power steering and power disc brakes on it. I'd also like to lower it and my wheel choice would probably be 15" torque thrusts or chrome reverse.

Does anyone have any leads for the brake and suspension upgrades as well as lowering options? Also are there any overdrive transmissions that will work behind a Y block? Thanks

 

The older I get the more I like power steering. That said Borgeson(?) makes some nice parts for the 50's Ford. An adapter will be needed for about all modern transmissions (c4, AOD, GM trannies).

Now for the brakes, unless your a 97 pound weakling well maintained and adjusted drum brakes aren't that bad. If you must then there are plenty of choices for "upgrading" the brakes.
-Dave

 

Disc brakes are going to be required if I want to get any other member of the family to drive it, which I want to happen.

 

Look for a post from JeffB2 on using a electric power steering unit.

 

Brake and steering upgrades call macs ford parts buffalo ny

 

I once knew a guy who took the disc brakes off of a 72 Torino and put them on his 57. He said it was almost a bolt on but I don't know all the details. I have a junker with power steering if you are interested, pm me.

 

Borgeson makes a power steering box but you have to shorten your steering column or put an aftermarket one in. The pump bracket sometimes needs rewelding for belt alignment. Power drum brakes are often good enough but scarebird.com offers a kit to convert to disc. Good stuff.

 

To get all the information on your Ford as far as upgrades you will want to join the 1952-59 Ford Social Group, the electric power steering requires no pumps or hoses so under the hood is clutter free. You will find pictures of one installed here plus some other options: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/power-steering-add-on.1019325/

 

A steering box along with brakes and a 3 speed OD transmission off a 58 Hiway patrol car roll over and a 63 Ford 427/425 engine
. All this was back in 1965 so theres probably better stuff available now but it was pretty trick back then