Projects 1957 Ford Custom 300 parked 1983

Just acquired a 1957 Ford Custom 300 that was parked in 1983. 272 y-block and 3 speed. I dragged it out of its "grave" last weekend. Frame and body in surprising decent shape, all things considered. Engine is tight, so soaking it now with Marvel Mystery Oil. Won't be able to work on it without devoting weekends to it, including a 2.5 hour drive. Excited, and anxious to share. Hope to be able to get it running and driving with y-block and 3 speed.

 

Jackpot!


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Nice !

 

That's killer

 

Awesome!!!

 

Looks like it is in really nice shape. Was it in Wisconsin? If so, may I inquire as to where? - just curious being that I am from Wisconsin as well.

 

Very, very nice. Its going to be fun.

 

How cool is that, Fords version of the Black Widow!

 

Really nice ,

 

Very nice find! Keep at it with the juice to loosen it up and take it SLOW! Make sure that everything is freed up before ratcheting it up with breaker bars and 10' long torque multipliers.

 

Congratulations

 

She"s a keeper !!!!!

Oldmics

 

Nice nice nice [emoji106]


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57 Ford 2dr sedans are real lookers....I never had one, but always liked them so much more than the 2dr hardtop

 

You are blessed, I waited 18 years to get mine. They are a lot of fun!

 

Your a lucky man, they are getting harder to by.

 

Great score, looks like it's pretty solid and straight. My favorite body style for '57. That engine is probably a 292 rather than a 272 if it's a '57 engine. 292 and 312 were the V8 choices for '57. The third character of the serial number indicates the assembly plant. An A would indicate Atlanta plant. If it was built at the Atlanta plant, my father leaded the seams on it.

One other thing--before you decide for sure that the engine is stuck, take the starter off and see if the starter drive is hung up in the flywheel. Ford Y block starters are famous for that. You're not going to hurt anything with the MMO in an engine that has been sitting a long time, but you may be surprised to find the engine turns freely after your drop the starter.

 

Being sunk in the mud that deep, what does the underside look like? I looked at a 50 Olds years ago that was sunk in the mud. The sheet metal looked perfect, but the entire underside was gone, you could put your finger through the frame and any sheetmetal, rockers, floor etc.

 

Great score! Love those Custom 300's. Here's a 1/25th version for inspiration.

 

I am not much of a Ford guy but I do have a soft spot for 57's. My buddy in HS (68/69) had a 57 tudor that he was handed down from his mom, 6 cyl with a 3 on the tree. The 6 lasted about a month while we were building a bored out, cammed up 312 in auto shop class. He came up with a used Hurst 3 speed shifter and a 9 inch rear out of a 57 wagon, we got pretty good at replacing second gears in those old Ford transmissions until he finally got the bucks to get a 4 speed!

 

Thanks for the compliments everyone.

Good tip, thanks, will do.

That was my worry, but the floor is all there and the frame is solid.

 

The base v8 engine was still a 272 in 1957, and most of the lower level (non-Fairlane) cars had the 2 barrel 272 , if they had a v8.

Nice find! My dad had a 272 powered, stick shift 57 Del Rio 2 door station wagon from 1958 till 1961. I loved that car as a 7-10 year old kid.

I still remember poking my fingers through the rusty rockers and headlight eyebrows on what was a four year old car, though, before he traded it in for a 1961 Ford sedan.

 

First letter in the VIN would indicate which engine it came with. For anything 57 ford related
you should consider joining this forum......http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j...om/about.htm&usg=AOvVaw2hVrygk_68q220kaSxnslu

 

B in SN=272 V8
70B= Custom 300 Tudor Sedan
AE=Raven Black / Colonial White
F=Woodsmoke Chain-Grain Vinyl and Gray Silver-Dash
10F=June
1=3 speed manual
2=3.56:1 axle
Built in Chicago

Thanks for the tips!

 

Looks like you found it in the nick of time. A few more years and the frame and floors would have been below see level.
Beautiful car. One of my favorites.

 

Thunder Road!!!

 

I have a '59 Custom 300 myself. Always liked the '57 too. Looks like a nice project.

 

I grew up on 57 and 58 Ford Custom 300’s. The 272 was a common choice for the V8 versions, as was the 223 Six. I always transplanted a 292 ......duals and a 4 barrel and they ran and sounded sweet. My current 57 runs the early 80’s 4 speed (3 + OD 4th) floor shift.

 

Just a small update. Car will be outside for the summer so I put it under a cheap carport. The brake shoes and drums were very froze/rusted when we dragged the car out, but brakes have been removed and she's a roller.

 

nice score...