Hello everybody! I just STOLE a really solid 53 Ford customline for $200 and thought this would be the place to bounce ideas off of people in the know! She's a 4 door bone stock car minus the locked up Flathead. Optional clock in dash and in really good shape. My thought is (drivetrain wise) inline 300, c4 and a 9" 3.55's. Mostly a cruiser and maybe a little fun light to light. The 300 is about as simple and bombproof as they come. Just looking for input from guys who have run similar. Thanks in advance!
Obvious new guy here. Let's start over shall we? Hello everyone, I'm Dan from Cincinnati. I've been building cars and motorcycles for about 15 yrs. This is my new to me 53 Customline.
Judging from the pictures and your location, I would put the car in the air and take a good look at that undercarriage. You may have your work cut out for you, rustwise. Floorpans and floor supports are always an issue in these cars. Otherwise, great looking car! I like your drivetrain combo plans although, a 9" probably isn't necessary. With a rebuild your stock rearend should suffice. I plan on using a 302/AOD combo in my '54 and I'm going with the stock rear. Be sure to check out the social forums and join the 1952-59 Ford social group. Tons of valuable info in there! Welcome to the HAMB! Oh yeah...……$200 is a ridiculously low price!!
Nice start! I'd check inside that quarter patch panel,too. Must be there for a reason. And, I agree with everything evintho wrote.
sweet car! i have a 54 customline 4 door and tomorrow im going to check out a 53 2 door 50th anniversary
I moderate the 1952-59 Ford Group mentioned above we have been here since May of 2009. The 300 Ford 6 cyl is a bad idea because it is just too long in length to fit. This kit makes a 302/AOD swap easy https://butchscoolstuff.com/52-53-ford-car-15-sb-ford-engine-transmission-mount-kit-2501cpb/ Here is a picture of the drivers side shown with Hedman headers that bolt right in and another picture showing the AOD on the factory '53 cross member.
You stated your '53 has a flathead,1952-53 Fords that had a 215 6 cyl have a different front splash pan that allowed the radiator mount to be mounted further forward which helps with the swap. Using an AOD instead of the C4 will let the car cruise at 70 MPH about 800 RPM less because of the .67 overdrive.
Hello everyone I’m also pretty new here and I’m not sure how or where to navigate the site (yet). I also just picked up a killer $500 53’ fordor customline. It had the original flathead v8 and Fordomatic trans, but I just pulled those out. I was originally going to go injected 302 and aod trans, seemed easy enough and pretty common, so I scratched that idea and picked up a 63’ Lincoln Continental 430 and trans that I’m going to fit in there, differently a lot mote fab work but it should be a lot of fun. I’m looking for front suspension ideas or recommendations? I want to be about 3-4” lower then stock, but I know that motor weighs a lot more then stock so any help would be great. Thanks in advanced everyone!
Welcome dan. Looks like a great start to a nice cruiser. Have fun with it and keep the pictures coming. Great project!!!
check out the social sites on here . Ford Aerostar front springs will drop the front end down a few inches
My first car was a 53 Customline 2 door. This is the only photo I have of it after I did a lot of customizing on the body. I took this picture on the day I sold it. I heard the guy I sold it to put a 430 Lincoln in it but I never saw it again. Good luck on your project.
Cincinnasty? Just a couple of hours up the road, welcome aboard man. Give it hell! What's in the background in the next to last picture you posted??
That 430 will weigh in at what, almost twice the 302? For that, you'll get lots of torque but not significant HP boost and invest a ton more $. Fun? Ok. The car built to carry the 430 probably weighed twice what the Customline did. I think you'll be front heavy. 'Course, you could always install a MIL in the rear seat.
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