As my ******'s mileage rolled over on my way back from Kalamazoo last week, I got to thinking about what kind of vehicle I'll replace it with. We've got a strong running 2-bbl FE (a 390, I think) in a '74 F250 4x4 behind our barn that we no longer use to plow the driveway. I've been thinking that this, a granny-gear 4-speed from a 2WD truck and a freeway-geared (2.73 or higher) 8" would make for a good daily driver in something. I kind of like the idea of a mid-fifties Ford Custom or Mercury Medalist with lots of undercoating and cheap paint (think Tractor Supply). These cars are relatively common in my nearest junkyards but the floorboards and rockers are invariably gone (along with the wheels and tires). Would this be a cheap and practical project for a guy soon to be out of college or just a stupid daydream that I'd be better to forget? I'll probably just keep fixing things as they go wrong on the ****** but you never can tell.
Do it, Dude! I really like the 52-56 Fords and Mercs and I'll do one "someday". The FE is a cool choice to power it...loads of torque to work well with the highway gears you mentioned. If you got the motor handy, you got one big expense out of the way! Seems like ALOT of those cars I see have Oldsmobile V8s in them for some reason. No complaints from me, but I thought it was odd that so many of 'em (on e-bay often) run 'modern' Olds power. That old guy up near Barryton had a couple Fords of that vintage...at least he DID a a few years ago when I last checked. Rusty for sure...but I'd rather drive a roached-out Ford or Merc from the 50s than a money pit ******...
[ QUOTE ] I'd rather drive a roached-out Ford or Merc from the 50s than a money pit ******... [/ QUOTE ] Thankfully, Bluey's not a money-pit yet. The body is in real good shape (I make sure to get an underbody wash every spring and she's Ziebarted) and the only thing that's currently not working is the dashlight behind the fuel-guage and my cruise control (I'm hoping it's a fuse). However, you know how it is with vehicles when they get over 100,000 miles on them, and I'm driving about 600 miles a month or more so it's racking them up quickly. I'd rather have something that's easy and fun to maintain. I doubt I'd get my current 35 mpg out of that 390, but surely fuel-economy wouldn't be too bad...
Let's see...a properly tuned 390 with a Holley 600cfm vacuum secondaries 4v in a 52 Ford with 2.76 gears...mmmm...yeah...carry the two...divide by...remainder of four....Okay! Should get ya maybe 16mpg around town and 19 or 20 on the freeway...roughly more or less!
there's more to life than M.P.G! 58 and later fords had Y-Blocks and FE's so there are mounts that let you drop the FE right into 54 and later (very little problem with earlier) I've owned 5 56 fords and the best was the last one with a 360 horse 327 vette motor and a 4 speed. that was before the 350's came out Whoops! I've had my eye on a 54 tudor for a few years with the Idea of a 427 FE block and 428 crank for 460 sumthin inches of highway burner. the 427's were big bore short stroke drag motors and the 428's were stroked 390's small bore long stroke torque monsters and make an easy stroker for the 427's may never happen but its on my list and thats all that matters, Right!
i've got a 55 that would be good for this project. i'd like to see somone fix it before it go's to hell.
[ QUOTE ] i've got a 55 that would be good for this project. i'd like to see somone fix it before it go's to hell. [/ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] someone should buy my 56 mercury. [/ QUOTE ] Either of those cars sounds like a great starter for this project. The only problem being that I lack the resources to even haul home one of the roached out '52-'54s in the junkyard five miles from my house, let alone all the way from Kentucky or Texas. www.oldcartraderonline.com has a great selection of boxy Fords for sale too, including a drivable 6-cylinder '56 wagon in Colorado. Aside from maybe putting in some cleanup work on that 390, very little is going to get done on this project for quite a while, unless I find a drivable car near me for seriously low bucks. Still, the more planning I accomplish now, the better equipped I'll be for completing such a task when the opportunity arises.
Your budget will be a major factor. Remember the 58 chev wagon I put together last summer?....Here's the dollar figures on it...900 for the body, had the engine, trans, tires, wheels, laying around. I stripped and flat blacked the body, new shocks, u joints, brakes and lines, fuel lines, battery and cables, couple of used pieces of grill chrome, exhaust farmed out, floor pan patch panels (4 new), steering wheel (had it), walmart blanket front seat. As you can see, it was a low buck build and got nothing more than needed to get it safe and functional. In parts alone, I spent 2700 plus 5 weeks solid work on it. I don't know how I could have done it any cheaper. A junkyard car is not cheap to do...I would look for something already running and driving....depending on your budget. If it's really what you want to do, then do it.
i'll give you a little unsolicited advice on roached out rust buckets. don't bother. the initial price may be attractive but the price of fixing the rust will kill your project. believe me i've hauled enough of that junk home just to get rid of it later. you can buy a decent car for about a grand if you look around. and your way better off. you've already got your drive train so go find the car you want and get after it. you'll be suprised what you can do for little or no money once you get the car.
well, i dunno.... i guess you could do some "customizing" on the rust and in a few months we can make fun of it on ebay
Don't if you are still looking but here's a cheapie. Right in TJJ links. http://www.midnitemotors.com/default.asp '53 Mainline 2 dr for $925 in PA.
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