Hi fellas. I've been lurking a while and absorbing info. I am putting together a '56 Mainline 4dr for cruising, so will probably have lots of dumb questions since I haven't really gotten this deep into a car before... Looks to be a great resource here!
Hi & welcome, good to see a fellow Michiganian here. I'm in Howell & also doing a '56 Ford. This is a good place to ask questions, quite a few experts here (I'm NOT one of em!... ). Ron
Welcome! First things first- pics of the Ford! We love to see what everyone is working on. Can't wait to see it.
My original plan was to get it on the road as cheaply as possible. Ha! I have a 302 and a toploader for it, as well as a narrowed 8.8 out of an explorer. The body could use some attention, but I haven't decided to what extent... Basically, I want to update the driveline and suspension so it rides and drives (and stops!) ok, and drive it.
Update for 3-1: just about finished replacing the p***enger side front floor: Started with this: Aftfer patching cowl side, inner rocker, outer rocker top and making an under floor brace: Fitting the main floor pan: And just about finished: Just have to plug a few more holes and grind some more. Notes: 1) I used a re-pop pan I got from Mac's and am not impressed by the shape and fit of it. It didn't match the original very well, and the radii of the bends was not close to matching the car. 2) I bought an under floor brace patch kit from Mac's also, and it is a joke. I would up making the front brace as the one supplied looked like it was made by a drunk monkey. I ordered a brace from Surplus Supply for the driver's side and hope that's a better product. 3) I'm not too happy with the results and have figured out that I need to work more on getting the patches to fit. It doesn't help that I'm trying to weld to rust... Now on to the driver's side...
I don't think you're too far from John (streetdreams) and me, we're in the Howell MI area. John did to mine just about all - maybe more - on my Fairlane floors & frame braces that you're doing to yours. Mine was very rough underneath, he replaced all the outrigger/frame braces and several floor sections, etc. If you want to stop by and chit-chat on issues perhaps we can get together over at his shop some afternoon? I'm owner and CFO eek: ) of the project but John's done all the work - excellent work too. Let me know if you'd like to stop by and I'll check when he'll be around and convenient to do so. Ron
I'd be interested in getting together, maybe when it's a little warmer. It's odd- from what I can tell my car had been in a field for a few years in Minnesota or North Dakota. The tags on it have 1975 stamped into them. The rest of the car is pretty much rust free, even the quarters which are filled up with dirt! Must be that the floors on these are susceptible to rust. Mine had a Mexican blanket/ mouse nest for a floor covering so that's why I think it's so bad. I was on the fence about what engine I was going to use, but made an investment the other day that I'm excited about, I'll grab a picture of it tonight...
No problem, you can give me an e-mail and come out whenever is convenient for all. Hey, it's supposed to be 40 or so on Friday and I'll be over at Johns for awhile. . . .is that warm enough?? The car is getting close to its maiden voyage/shakedown drive within about a month. Your car looks about like mine did rust-wise. Here's a few shots of the rust in mine including the front x-member. Car sat on blocks for nearly 35 years behind my folks' barn until my son and I rescued it in '07. Ron
well my wife had the idea for me to buy mine so i could just drive it . litle did she know . i cant leave well enough alone . no major rust . but i had to do a front disk on it . and it already had a ranger rear put in it . but i only want to make a better safer driver . these cars are fun to drive .
Welcome. 4 doors and a 4 speed, huh ? Cool. I've got a home brew 289 HiPo / 4 speed Fairlane 4 door in the rear of the shop I street raced in high school. Great for getting unnoticed by John Law back in the day. Don't forget the extra tank in the rear, and the blackout switch for the rear lights. You've got one helluva cool moonshine runner possible there ! Don't get too upset on the sheetmetal. The floor pans I used needed some m***aging as well, they always do, and every underbrace needed to be reworked to fit. I ended up fabricating two of them on the brake to get it right.
Boy, did I miss the boat on yours, Racer Ron! I thought the car you're building was LIKE your old car. I didn't know it was THE SAME ONE! Good show!
Oh yeah, same car. I posted a pic up top in the album for this thread, from the summer of '68 when I bought and drove it while in high school. Some called me crazy for keeping it all those years but I always wanted to 'fix it up'. But stuff happens, life kept getting in the way - and I have no regrets about that. But now the kids are grown & gone and I'm finally able to afford getting it restored. And while it's my car, John (streetdreams) is actually doing the building on it. mjlangley's project and especially the floorboards look about same as mine did. After sitting up here in the nortland for all those years sure takes its toll on the steel underbodies. ron
Those old cross rams are cool and nostalgic as hell. All I can say is be ready for a high hot idle speed, don't go too crazy with cam duration, run a high numeric gear in the rear, and run some small 4 bbls, like a pair of Holley 390 cfms. But, that's just my unsolicited opinion.
The guy who sold me the intake is trying to sell me the 450's he has also. I'm on the fence about the cam as I have a couple EFI hydraulic rollers but have heard mixed reviews about using the narrow LSA EFI-type cams in a carbed motor. I am planning on using a narrowed Explorer 8.8 rear that currently has 3.73's in it, so I think I should be ok. The car won't want to p*** too many gas stations though... I need to seal up my new floor along with the rest of the interior steel, what would you recommend for seam sealer? I think it gets brushed on??? Thanks for your advice...
I use body sealer in a tube you run with a caulking gun. You can get it at Painters Supply or other stores I imagine. After that, I give the floor a good coat of rustoleum to seal everything up.
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