1952-59 Ford Finally Giving a Little Love to Ruth

I have been a part of this group for several years now and have had Ruth (my 56 Fairlane and her original owners name) for about 10 years as well. I don't suppose I have ever really told the story here of the car or how I got it, but also have for the most part just been enjoying it and limping it along since I have had it as well. If you want to read the long story about the car, you can check it out here...

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/new-ride-survivor-1956-ford-fairlane.551669/

But, in case you don't want to read all that...the short story is that I bought it from the family of a co-worker that had bought it new. It only had 83k miles on it when I got it and it was pretty unmolested and still wears the paint Ford put on it. That was in 2011 and after driving it about 15k miles all over the midwest since I got it, it is time for some much needed love. The transmission has pretty much been shot ever since I got the car and I have been adding a pint of Berryman's to it about once a year to soften up the seals enough so it will shift. That has worked for a few years, but it is finally time to do something beyond that. Also, both exhaust manifolds are broke now on top of a muffler that split open after dragging it on the ground a few months back, so it sounds like **** and needs some attention also.

Anyway, the beginning of the attention starts today after I dropped it off at a buddy's muffler shop last night. It will get two new mufflers, and one tailpipe that has some holes in it. Oh, and I pulled a set of exhaust manifolds off of a 312 that a buddy had given me a few years ago and got them cleaned up to put on it when it comes home from the muffler shop this evening. Not much really compared to what some of you guys are doing, but kind of exciting to me that I can finally do a few things to the old girl. I feel like I have sort of been neglecting her for a while just driving her and not maintaining her as needed.

As I drove it up to the muffler shop last night, the transmission was slipping pretty bad...worse than it ever really has in that it really didn't want to catch in any of the three gears for the first few miles. Once I get it back, I am considering whether to just try my luck at swapping to another air-cooled Hydromatic that I have or go ahead and spend a fortune on getting one rebuilt. Money is my main consideration on that decision as I am spending any extra on a couple projects for my two sons this year. Considering I have a lift and a borrowed transmission jack, I am thinking real hard on taking a gamble on seeing if I can get a few thousand more miles out of my spare transmission before sending one off for rebuild...or figuring out how to rebuild one myself. Anyway, that decision is still ahead, but I have finally got the point of needing to do something.

Other things on the list ahead will likely be replacing the windshield since it seems it has been sandblasted over its life, sealing up the rear gl*** that leaks, likely going ahead with a new headliner while the gl*** is out, and then re-padding the dash and doing the seats. Oh, and I should probably consider rebuilding the front suspension sometime too. And, I need to buff the paint again since it has died back quite a bit...again... And on...and on...

Anyway, not much to report really, but figured I owed this group a little info on my car since I have been hanging around here for a while now. By the way, my real name is Jeff Smith and my username is just the town I live in for anyone wondering...

And, since all threads are better with pics, here are a few of my favorites and some recent ones.


That couple years I thought I would be cool and run multiple carburetors... Finally got tired of fighting that and it now has a 57 intake and Edelbrock 4 barrel. I do still have the original intake and teapot too...on a shelf where it never floods itself anymore.

 

Great pictures!

 

Sounds like Ruth ended up in good hands. Neat story.

 

cool looking car and interesting story i have had my vicky for about 8years and have been collecting parts for when the big rebuild starts....not sure when,but getting closer

 

Always interesting reading history of members' cars. Thanks for posting. Your car just looks "right"!
Ha, Yesterday, after we were talking about OK members possibly having a chance to get together, I was trying to find a list I had made of member's real names.....guess I need to start a new one.Thanks, Jeff
Texas57...........Rich Muise, Amarillo

 

Cool story, great pictures, awesome ride!

 

Appreciate the story and info. Jealous of anyone that actually gets to drive their car.! WW and chrome rims set it off!

 

love the stance chrome wheels suit it.the only negative is that you do not have a hydromatic one question is that some type of peep mirror on driver door at top?

 

Thanks! And, yea, the original owner installed peep mirrors and the spotlight (which was more for function than anything since he used the car to throw newspapers ). I have found the peep mirrors to be useless unless I grab the one on the drivers door to hold it steady since it basically blows in the wind. And, the one on the p***enger door has no gl*** after my oldest boy broke it during a reliability run opening the vent window going down the road when the mirror ended up in a bind.

Just realized it sounds a little funny to say "he" threw newspapers when I also said the original owner was "Ruth" which was a she... Anyway, I ***ume they shared the car like most back at that time unlike us gluttonous Americans of today that have way too many cars.

 

Got the mufflers and tailpipe done yesterday. Sounds much better and has about an inch and a half more ground clearance now. The mufflers are basically flush with the bottom of the frame, so I shouldn't have issues dragging them anymore. I also stopped by the parts store to see what they had for paint that might work on the manifolds after doing a little research. All they had was aluminum and black VHT flameproof. I read some folks seem to think it works ok, but I was more interested in a cast blast look. Anyway, I bought the aluminum, but haven't painted them yet. I guess I will figure out what I want to do and get those swapped soon too.

 

I used Eastwood cast manifold brush on. Still look great after 8 years. The rest of the system is bbq black.

 

I’m planning on giving Calyx manifold dressing a shot. Eastwood sells it as well, ***uming it’s not the same thing as what jimmy six is talking about.

Also, the car looks great!

 

Thanks for the info guys. I haven’t done anything with the manifolds yet other than having them shot blasted. Seems my car is always the last to get any attention.

 

What mufflers did you end up with? Those are a lot shallower than your old ones. No reason to reinvent the wheel on mine.

Chris LeGrange, Mustang America

 

I will have to ask Chris. The guy that does all my exhaust recommended them and got them somewhere in OKC. They are longer front to back, but quite a bit shallower as you mention. They sound about the same as the ones I took off other than the flutter sound from splitting one open...

 

Mine has

Mine has round gl*** packs. Trying to get a deep throaty sound without killing my ears on a long trip. These sound OK, but not my top choice.

 

I used it once and never again. It does not dry - it rubs off on your clothes and hands even after a lot of hot/cold cycles.

 

I have used POR 15 high temp brush on on the manifolds in my 55 and 53F100. Been on the 53 for several years and has held up well.

 

Good to know about the Calyx! Thanks!

 

Does your exhaust guy do mandrel bends?

 

Just now getting back on some much needed maintenance. I can’t believe I let the paint get so bad. I buffed it about 10 years ago, but it sure died back! Although, I guess I can’t complain much that Ford’s paint from 56 will still shine up decent.

 

Just realized I never saw this question...sorry. No, he doesn’t.

 

What diameter pipes did you go with?

 

I'm pretty sure they are 2", but would have to verify that. I just had one tailpipe and the mufflers replaced. The rest of the exhaust was solid, so I didn't really question the size.

 

I kept buffing a while longer last night and got it all shined up except the quarters and decklid. I am just using 3M Finesse-it which isn't really abrasive at all and usually what I use to take out compound scratches and swirls before a final glaze. But, man this paint is getting thin. When I buffed it 10 years ago, I did it by hand because I was afraid of not having any paint left. But, I am now 10 years older, in worse shape, and have less time. So, I got the buffer out. Anyway, I think it will look ok, but I better start just keeping it waxed up as often as possible so I don't have to buff it again.

 

She seems happier after a buff, wash, and wax. I’ll try to get a better pic tomorrow, but it looks TONS better and looks like someone cares about her now.

 

that came up a treat....marvellous what a bit of elbow grease does...great looking care mate

 

After getting it outside, I’m actually pretty happy with how it turned out. Loaded up my three teenagers and heading to Lead Ain’t Dead in Dewey, Oklahoma now.

 

She slicked up right nice.

 

It really looks nice. It that Sunset Coral? I don't think I've ever seen another sedan with the solid color like that. All I've ever seen were two tone.