1952-59 Ford 56 Mainline Build thread (with backhalf)

I looked for several years to find a nice car then mine that was already tubbed but most of the cars out there are nice restorations which I didn't want so I finally bit the bullet and backhalfed my 56. It was done at Wizard Race Cars in Holden La and after about a 7 month waiting list they knocked it out in a few weeks.

My goals were to keep the back seat, keep the trunk look kinda stock and in the process fit a 12" wide rim with a 15" tire. The current rear tires are 15x10 with 325 drag radials.

Off to Wizard Race Cars


Cutting out the old.




They cut the inner tub out and spliced a section in.






Fabbed a new crossmember for the 4 link.


They design/cut all their brackets there to fit the car.


They made an aluminum fuel cell and put the efit pump hat under the modified original filler spout. They used a sealed cap in the stock location behind the license plate.










This picture is deceiving because of the frame angle. The tank DOES not angle forward it is lower at the back.


In the end.

 

That actually looks really nice. I'm glad it didn't turn out something like this.

 

Very nice work, I cannot imagine what that cost.

 

It was a truck load for sure. I've been saving for several years and bought some of the parts when they were on sale over the same time frame. Wizard was just over $13k (drop off and pickup), around $2k in wheels, around $2k in just the Strange center section. I built it to handle 1000 hspr so I spent a bunch of extra money here and there on beefier components. It's not a good way to look at it that's for sure. I spent several years looking for the car I wanted because I knew it would be expensive and it cost even more then I imagined (typical).

 

This is the next bundle of joy to tackle. I have most of the front end tore down but I had to go back to work. Seems how I can't find/confirm real dimensions for the 56 crossmember it is looking like I will have to buy one online for the next time I am home.

 

get it on line. the install if very straight forward and the results are very nice.
I'd like to tub mine, but I have a wagon and the insides just might be a problem

 

Thanks for that. Excellent! Exactly what I was looking for! That's gonna be an awesome car once you get it done!

 

Nicely done!

 

Thank you for the comments.

 

So you built it to handle 1000 hp. Whatcha putting in it?

 

Right now I have a 460 for it. It's a pump gas motor that ran mid 10's in a Mustang. I also have a 545 stroker kit on deck. I doubt it will be anywhere near 1000 hspr in the near future I just like to overbuild everything because breaking down ****s. I drive my cars all over if I can.

 

very nicely done. Anxious to see it finished.

 

I have another thread about my trim clips but I am going to try and keep everything in this thread for the future. Here is after adding new side pieces.

 

Looking good. Maybe I missed it but what rear tires did you go with?

 

325/15-15 Mickey Thompson drag radials.

 

Very nice job. I had thought about tubbing mine at one point to get more tire under it, but wanted to keep the trunk area and inside factory looking, with rear seat. The way you did it is awesome and keeps the factory styling. Most would never know its tubbed from looking in the trunk. Again, great work...

 

I've been slowly tearing down for a replacement front crossmember.

 

Well I got my front suspension dis***embled yesterday. When I cut the skid plate off there was not much xmember left.



I put some 7/8 allthread rod through the front crossmember to check hole alignment with the rear crossmember and the p***enger side is off some. The left side was bent more so I'm not surprised. I took all kinds of measurements and pictures.

 

Wow! I guess I should consider myself fortunate I was able to fix mine.

 

Oh, that's bad, it must have sat down in the dirt for a long time.

 

Just an update. I put the 56 on the ground to check the rake and header clearance.

 

Like the way it sits! Front cross member looks great