What to look for in a '56 Ford (Four Door).

So I am going to go out and look at a '56 Ford. This is my first Ford of any year. I have heard a lot of stories about rusty '55-'60 Fords and I live in Canada soooooooo. Anyways here is a bit of a description...

-Pain/bodywork just done.
-Interior just reapolstered
-New 5 speed ******
-272 Y-Block

Here are some pics...

 

The photos look good,,,get under the car and check for soft spots or heavy rust,,and advertising rubber magnet will tell you what you need to know about bondo,,,

I would be shocked to hear it's perfect but again,,,it looks good.HRP

 

Thanks, I spoke the the gentleman on the phone (60 years old). Says there is no bondo or rust but we will see. He says the only problems is the fuel gauge/sending unit need to be replaced and the speedo jumps a bit.

 

Check along the lower leading edge of the front crossmember. I had a plain-jane '56 four door that had major rust-through in this area. Replaced the crossmember but it was a bit of a job. Yes, as HOTROD PRIMER said, DO take the time to slide underneath and check out the whole ch***is! Good luck! Regards, Dave.

 

I agree about the crossmember being the weak spot on these, that's what I would check out first. Looks like a real clean car, some wide whites would be my only addition to it.

 

Looks awesome

 

Check around the headlight door area on the fenders at the grill and the lower rear front fender area. They make patch panels for these areas for a reason.

I thought I needed a tank sending unit also but when I pulled the inspection plate in the trunk, the wire was disconnected. Slipped it back on and the gauge worked fine. I hope you are that lucky. I have no idea how it worked loose but I didn't complain.

Check to see if the front crossmember has been repaired. I've seen some funky repairs. I'd check for mud there.

 

I had a 55 and it had problems in the bottom of the fire wall. Still bought it though.
Thats a nice lookin car right there..

 

Yer in Saskatchewan .......how rusty can it be If the front cross member is good the rest of the car prolly is too, you should be able to tell pretty quick by looking at the underside, ask the seller if he has any pics of before the resto that you can look at. Sweet looking car by the way!

 

Looks and sounds, by your description, like a better candidate. Check under those wire looms for the old cloth covered wires. Can be a PITA when it starts to crumble. Look at the carb too. If it is an old Holley "teapot" may want to replace that before a long drive. They don't call them "towering inferno" for nothing.

 

The Fords were made with double panels around the rear wheel lip.As a result, they are prone to collect mud there and rust.Check up above and on front and back of the rear wheel opening to see if its been repaired.Also they rusted in the lower edge of the front fender near the door.
The car looks sharp.

 

i usually look for a longer roof on a 56 ford 4 door. ( wagon ) , but that's one nice looking sedan. i'd roll it.

 

Having hauled out a salt belt rot box in the past, the areas already mentioned are what you'll want to check. Even the ones I've run into that have sat for ages seem to primarily rust from the bottom up, and around the headlights, there aren't any weird places to check that I ever noticed.

 

The front crossmember directly under the radiator is, as others have noted, the biggest issue you're likely to run into on these cars. A '54-'56 Ford in good shape is a very good handling and smooth riding car. Unless the car spent its whole life in the desert southwest, you're very likely to run into issues with that crossmember being weakened by rust. That crossmember is not thick material to start with. It's made a lot like the old Chevy "top hat" frames, basically a piece of U channel with a flat plate welded over the open side. One of my cousins lost control of a '55 Club Coupe and plowed a ditch out with it because the lower control arm bolt pulled through a crossmember that had a lot of rust penetration.

 

Too me. I think it looks good.. Mid Saskatchawan south has some pretty decent cars..

 

take it down to a repair shop and put it on a lift. since their was no mention of new motor or clutch do a compression test and ask about the clutch and make sure their is receipts to back it up.

 

looks too nice! lol
enjoy it. Im sure a few guys will give u **** for it being a 4 door, but i say have fin with it regardless

 

Wow, I went to look at it and can you say mint. I mean the thing is spotless no rust or bondo anywhere. It looks like a new car underneath as well. Motor was just rebuilt and all new suspension. Everything on this car is amazing it is perfect.

Wait for it.... I ****ing bought it! WooHoo my first old car ever! I have waited many years until this date but it finally happened.

 

ok where is the pic's dude?

 

Good deal .... I'm happy for you!

 

Pics are in the first post. I will post more pics later. It is full of bugs now as I drove it 3 hours in the prairies to get it home.

 

My first car was a 56 Ford. I loved that old car. Its hard to break a y-block.If you drove it 3 hours home and didn't have to add oil,you got a good y-block

 

HELL YEAH!!! Man Im stoked for you, you are well deserving. I read a lot of your threads and posts and its about time! One of my best friends has a 56 and we've been all over Gods green earth in that car. The only thing that ****ed was the 2 speed, but if you've got a newer ******, you're the boss!

 

Nice car! The prairies are pretty decent to old iron and that has obviously been looked after.

That air cleaner however..... gotta go!

 

Thanks guys! Will be driving across the States soon with her. I am just going through the wiring and mechanicals now. I need to get a fuel gauge and sending unit so if anyone knows where to get one from let me know. Brake lights don't work so need to fix them. Also need to find a clip on mirror.

 

The old pressure activated brake switches are terrible. They only last as long as they want, but they are cheap, thats usually why no brake lights. You can also switch to a mechanical switch that mounts under your pedal.

 

Thanks a lot for your help! Will do!

 

Here are some pics of it home safely...

With my Pappy...

 

Very cool. Hope you have fun cruising it. The five speed should be nice compared to the factory three. Pretty as she sits or great foundation for mild custom or even a sleeper if you want to soup it up. Your local Napa or parts store should be able to get some of the those odds and ends. If not, try Mac's they have most everything and an on-line catalog. If you haven't found this yet, here's a wiring diagram:
http://www.tocmp.com/tOCMP/wiring/5765wiring diagrams/fordindex.htm
It's for a 57 but identical to 56. Man, I love the 55 & 56's. Good times.

 

Thank you so much!