Not in a long,long time left California in '94 only been back once since. I used to live in Lodi,Manteca and Sacramento.
In most cases a SBF in a 1949-53 Ford is an easy fit with stock suspension,maybe this would have been an easier upgrade with out all the headaches: https://www.performanceonline.com/1949-53-Ford-Custom-Stage-2-Tubular-Control-Arm-Suspension-Kit/