New Shoebox Project.. Got a Few Questions

Hey all,

I just picked up a new project today -- a '50 Ford Coupe. Pictures will be posted when I get it home next weekend, but for now I have a few questions..


1) What are the best headers? Red's? Fenton? I have to replace the exhaust system before I can get the car on the road, so I figure it would be best to go to duals now. Has anyone used the complete kits from Hot Rod and Custom Supply? The price doesn't seem too bad.

2) The brakes need to be redone, so I'm going to upgrade to front discs. Who makes a good kit?

3) The Flatmotor has been sitting for about 15 years. It starts right up and runs well, but what work should I do to it before putting it on the road?


Thanks! I'm sure I'll be asking a lot more questions as I get this thing going. I'll post pictures as soon as I get some.



Thanks,
Ed

 

I have a friend that uses Fenton cast iron headers.They are the best.I don't know about Hotrod supply's Eci makes a good kit.I would just find a pair or '51 drums for the front(wider).Bendix brakes are very good. Get a new fuel pump,and carry it with you. Use and change your fuel filter often, there is probibly a lot of crud in the tank,after sitting a long time. Use straight 50wt.oil, changed regular. Change,update what you need to,and drive it alot. Sparky

 

50wt ? I couldn't begin to get mine to start with that stuff on a cold Oklahoma morning! He'd have a bigger problem where he's at in the winter.

I run plain old 10w30 year round with out a lick of problems. The oil question was discussed at length over on the shoeboxford site about a week ago. It's a real good sight for us shoebox owners. Check it out.

www.shoeboxford.com

As far as getting the motor ready I'd start with a good tune up. Plugs, wires, cap and rotor, points, etc. I'd also drain, drop and clean my gas tank. If it's got a lot of **** in it take it to a rad shop and have them boil it out for you. Hell of a lot easier than lining it yourself trust me. It's worth the money.

I'd replace your fuel filters and fuel pump and see what happens. If you can I'd just go ahead and rebuild the carb while your at it. You might be able to run ok for a while but it'll **** on you when you need it most.

If your not going to change the motor I'd save the money and stay with the drum brakes. I rebuilt mine and they work great for the kind of power my flatty puts out! I have no problems getting her stopped in time. Disks are nice, I just don't see the need with a stock motor.

Good luck with your box.

 

ed,
since your little girl will be riding around in the back..after I installed the seatbelts I would
change that damn single pot master cylinder to a dual master cylinder that has a resivior for front and rear brake circuits.. and make sure that you have a working ebrake.

I like the eci brake kits alot, kieth just got one for his 51 ford and it looked pretty good..

while I had the rear apart I would check the rear axle seals and as a precaution I would change the rear axle lube and the trans fluid.. just to see if anything was contaminated inside..

let me know when you get it.. and well plan to come over to help out... sawzall jeff