1955 Ford Customline "facelift"

Those side mouldings, door handles, tail lights, and the trim around the grille opening really need to come off before you do any primering and painting. Tape lines between trim are where a lot of chipping and peeling start. To remove all that stuff shouldn't be more than a couple of hours of work. I generally do that stuff first, to avoid getting sanding scratches and welding spatter on the trim.

Looks good though, you're not that far away from paint at this point. I see mud where the V8 emblem and the Customline script were. Were those holes welded shut, or just filled in? If they were filled, you might want to grind them out and weld them shut while you're at it. Mud over a hole will shrink back and sometimes bubble out even if it's not a rust hole.

 

I agree!
i got the 3rd degree about removing the rest of the trim / grill / and lights... Will do will do will do.

The emblem holes were welded up.

 

this car was sexy before, I cant wait to see if redone...

 

Thanks Man!

This is what im thinking about...



or maybe this???

 

You're doing a great job with yours. It looks about like mine does/did. My fenders were pretty good but 2 floor panels and some crispy cross-supports, all outriggers front & rear 1/4 patches, lower door and a tail piece. And rockers too. Yours is looking good, keep the updates coming.

 

Thanks man, the tail piece on mine just had minor pitting.
YOurs looks like it has come along way too!

 

Nice car i love the 55s Ford

 

Keep us updated. My mom owns a 55 ford customline 2 dr also. Was her first car, was the car we drove until I was probably 10 or so.

Somewhat our own barn find, as we parked it in the garage ~15 yrs ago in running condition. Took it out few years later with some issues with rust in gas tank/lines so it needs those replaced but otherwise been stored in dry storage since.

 

yes, keep us updated. I like these alot. I have owned a few myself.

Looking good so far.

First thing that came to mind was "Corn Flakes"

The silver flake roof was old color...before it peeled off like a large scab...it was the old look...blue/flake/midnight blue pearl roof when I traded it. I should have kept the car but I wanted a shoebox instead. The 'box' was a rusty piece of crap; but I knew that going into it. The new owner had a cherry deal in front of him considering. He took the car...couldnt stop complaining about it then sold it. I think that dude is still butt hurt. Last time I saw it...I wanted to cry. It was neglected and abused. I really liked that car.

Sometimes people dont know a good thing even if it falls on them.

Keep us posted on your ride...I would really like to see the final product.

Good Luck!

 

I did not know that was your car! I have a few pictures saved to my computer of your old car that i allways reference.
Way cool car!

 

All those 20 ft . paint jobs look great ! I have a 55 Ford Fairlane Fordor and the guy I bought mine from said it was all fixed ! Well the 1/4's were patched along with the rockers . Half ass work ! I am not to sure I want to get into that yet . It is very true about that "X-member " in the front end rusting . They all do ! You can get replacements on ebay under "55 Ford "! I love my 55 Ford !

 

i think you need to talk to the stupid jerk that sold you that piece!





i joke. i joke. you're doin a great job with the tj. keep it up!

 

Man, I dunno-
I would stay with a dark colour.

The Mainlines look stubby to begin with and a white colour would just make it seem,er, uh, sawed off.

The black looks fantastic, and with a full on flaked top, that would be sick.

 

NO Crap!

Timmys Chevy...
The 55...

We need to have a talk with our Buddy.

Its all good.
Im going up North to get more parts for the 55 early in the A.M.

 

I know. I see what your saying...
I was on the fence with the color.
Black with the Burgandy candy roof.
White with the Burgandy candy roof.

Either way... The rot will be gone... And its gonna look good going down the road.

 

i Had a 56 ford in 1965 and it was all bondoed so what can we expect about 43 years later

but really it a lot easier to take out some bad spots and put some rinforced filler back in

I can feel for you with the can of worms you opened up, hope all goes well in putting the pieces back in

 

Thanks, but some credit to the previous owner 52Merc; he had some of the work done prior. I just wrapped it up.

As I said, yours is looking great, I cant wait to see your's finished.

 

Looks like you've made great progress on the '55. What you found (bondo & filler) isn't unusual, but maybe a bit less in your area than up north. I saw that very thing (bondo, newpaper, or whatever filler was available) being done back in the 60s & 70s - in dealerships! Somewhere there's a nice red '56 TBird with more cut up beer cans and undercoating in the underside of its quarters and floorboards than real steel...some poor soul got a real hosin' on THAT one. It seemed typical for used car fixes at the time in this area - not right, but lots of stuff wasn't back then regarding used car fixes. Yours was bad - that car must've come from northern climes where salt was used, like here in Michigan. My '56 had rust repairs and some bondo but NOTHING like yours. And the Xmember - did you replace it? Mine was shot too. Had it replaced, along with some floors, rockers and rear sheet metal. Got most of the 1/4 panels and tail panel from MACs - great quality. I think EMS gets them from the same supplier. Front Xmembers are on ebay, very good quality but you gotta watch which one you get, some don't have the center engine support welded onto them, and you almost have to replace it. Mine came with it attached. See the photos of progress on mine. Great work on yours!

 

I got lucky with my 55 and did not have to deal with any bondo since no one messed with it too much,I did find some transit damage repair when it was new that was done in lead. It was right above the pass side rear wheel and the quarter had been repainted,since that was not a area they used lead from the factory it could only have been damaged in transit plus my dad bought the car new and never paid that much attention to it and did not know it had been repaired untill I brought it to his attention. I found a rust free original front crossmember and at the time I got it NOS ones were real expensive (probably more nowit any left) and the replacements were just coming out in more quanity. Jeff

 

At 62 a person would think I should have known better but I guess we will always find some slick guy that fool’s the seasoned car buyer that knows the tricks. I just recently bought an e-bay piece of shit. It was described as tons of new parts, daily driver, and new tires. The pictures were set just at the right angle to hide the damage floors, rockers, body in places had bondo thrown at it, primer over big holes, most of the glass is wasted, the carb leaks, no head lights on a daily driver, and on, an on. I have $3,200 with shipping the car would be a deal at $400 or at the most $500 if I had been able to get to see it up close. Then the guy took the new tires off the back which was lowered so much more already then put small tires on it as replacement tires from the tires in the auction pictures. It was so low the truck driver had to pick up the rear bumper so I could back it off the trailer it was scrapping so bad. The front sway bar is broken and hits the ground, I haven’t been able to find one 51 Ford. If anyone knows where I could get one I would appreciate it. I will try to put it together as best as I can but it’s going to be a challenge. You never get to old to get screwed on the cars you can’t get to see before buying. If anyone would like to see it I would be happy to post pictures. The guy joined this site after screwing me I know who he is and he claims to be a life long car guy. It will come back to him over time. I will continue to follow yours to give me hope.

 

your car is coming along nicely. and i'll give another vote for black.

p.s. i have a good front crossmember for one of these if anybody needs it p.m. me.

 

Those rockers look pretty much like the ones on my old Customline. Fortunately, Classic Auto Parts (formerly Obsolete Ford) had everything I needed to fix it up. I love those little cars. They make pretty cool kustoms.

Here's my friend Darla in front of my old Customline, the "Freaky Tiki"

 

I vote gloss black with the burgundy roof...The looked perfect in black before (well, image, stance, etc)...

 

I ran up north and scrounged for some parts today...
This guy Jim has been collecting "55" and "56" Ford parts forever... The guy has everything.... and a few donor parts cars...
i nabbed up this rear passenger quarter for $90.00
Im going to use some of the lower sections to fix mine.
if it all works i'll be sending my EMS panels back
heres a few shots...

 

There was no rot...a few minor dents...

 

I also picked up some new tail light lenses...

 

Im going to install back up lights on the "55"...I picked up these new "56" housings (complete) to fresshen up the ass end a little... the old ones are on the right...

 

i like the backup lights tee!!!

 

Any updates on this?