1955 Ford Mainline Makeover

What a fantastic story. When I saw those shots of you handing the keys to your dad I just about lost it - I'm sniffling as I type this.

You are a lucky guy to be able to do something like this for your dad - you're lucky to have your dad for that matter. I picked up my Bel Air the day after my dad lost his battle to cancer. We were going to work on it together with my oldest son.

Savor every single moment you get to spend with your dad, even when things aren't going well. ANY time you can spend with your dad is a blessing.

Thor

 

A more glowing story I could not read!! Magnificent!!

 

cool

 

When you said 2 tone I said NOOOOO , then I saw it and man you did awsome , Love it and you kept the 6 banger you did good .

 

Great story, and be rest assured... you did everything perfect.

-Chris

 

Wow!

 

Man! Great story and build.Must have been pretty hard keeping it a secret from him!

 

Your dad has an awesome son.

 

Man, Congrats on rhe completion of the restoration of your Grandad's car. You sure made the day special for you dad. Your work shows the love you have for the car also.

41 Dave

 

The look on your dad's face is pricesless.

 

Is the lower knob for a secondary electric heater that is no longer in the car?

 

well done on the car!
If the heater is the same as what was in wifeys ranchwagon (sounds like it ) the lower nob (heat) will be a cable that will run to a on/off tap on the engine (hot water) and the knob in your pic should turn to switch the lower motor on (some are 2 speed) and it should also pull out to direct the air flow up on the screen or on your toes!

goodluck

 

Thanks for all the kind words.

The lower "heat" knob only has two electrical wires on the back of it (No cable) - and the knob simply turns from about 9 oclock to 3 oclock. The back looks like a voltage drop or something (has a spring and cermaic material.)

The blower knob does pull out to switch between defrost and heat.

 

Dude...you did a great job on that car....it's something to be proud of. If you're ever in Amarillo ...look me up.

 

Thanks Caddy! I have a sister who lives in Amarillo - I'm through there every now and then. I almost bought one of your cars awhile back - but my storage space issues got the better of me.

 

What a great story, and the car looks awesome! Thanks for sharing it.

 

The more I think about it the more this makes sense. Would an electric heater only have had one hot wire from this knob and then a ground wire to the car? The knob doesn't have click positions - it's just a smooth radius turn - like it's controlling how much electricity is getting through - maybe that controlled fan speed on an electric heater??

 

thats a variable speed controller for a fan or blower for the heater. Your car still has the orig heater core unit in it ( sure I saw it in one of your photos?)
there must be a cable running to a tap on the engine to shut off the hot water somewhere otherwise the heater would be on hot all the time

 

There is a shut off valve at the thermostat that stops the water from flowing into the core. It's a manual valve you turn from in the engine compartment.

 

That sounds like a potentiometer type of switch to control either speed or temperature. Does your Dad remember what it did? I've seen several aftermarket, or dealer installed option heaters that were mounted below the dash. I'm sure you've noticed that the factory heater isn't the greatest. The one in my Ford has two speeds, low and slower. Temperature depends on if you're moving or not.

 

I do believe 40 Ford heater knobs are the same way - one hot, one ground and the switch controls fan speed.

 

Thanks for the reply Tom. I'll post an update when I get back next week.

 

The lower knob is in fact a fan control. It is illuminated when on - bright and dim for high and low. The original blower knob on the dash only functions to switch between floor and defrost. Heat is working - all is good!

 

BTW - Anyone have trouble getting the oil filter to seal? The way it's mounted on the side of the engine is a pain! The new gasket from Napa is a hard rubber - wondering if there is a source for a cork gasket??

 

i love it !!! i have the same car . in fact it also came with the 223 6 cyl as yours . i have since swapped that out and wish i hadn't . i also bought victoria side trim so i could do a two tone paint job . i don't know what to do with it now because i have changed my mind . i am going to paint it black cherry with gold scallops so i won't need the trim as a side note my car was even the same color as yours .

 

Just found some stuff unpacking some boxes from a move 2 years ago and wanted to add it to the thread.

My mom sent me a picture of my great-grandparents, Charles and Dale Bowling, who bought the car new in 55, as well as a duplicate of the original title. She also included the registration slips for 1954(3months) through 1961, 66 and 67 as well as the original tax collectors receipt for title application. This 55 was the only new car they ever bought. They were both 66 years old when they bought it.

I should also add that my dad was raised by Charles and Dale -his grandparents, which is why the car means a lot to him. He moved with them from Oklahoma when he was about 10 years old (1940ish). they bought a section of land and farmed until his grandfather died. The car was parked in the garage on the farm where my dad was raised.

Charles and Dale Bowling.




Charles died in 1958 and Dale in 1974. I was born in 1971, adopted into the family in 1974. I wonder how many generations the car and it's history will live through?

 

Hey nice job on the 55.. Not to take anything away from it but I noticed you are missing the chrome on the pass. front fender.. Did you need that piece of chrome? I have a 55 fairlane that I'm shaving everything off of it so I have the piece you are missing.. Let me know if you need it..
Eddie

 

nice job on the 55 looks awesome. that is a really nice car.

 

I love those tudor post Fords. Awesome story. You can't buy the history that car has for your family. Enjoy it as long as you can.

 

Just read this whole thread. Excellent read, and awsome job on your Mainline - wouldn't change a thing.
BTW how is side chrome holding up being glued on??
I'm doing up a 56 Ford Parklane, a one year only answer to the Nomad.