1952-59 Ford Finally Giving a Little Love to Ruth

The mechanical gauge is just an aftermarket one under the dash that someone put on at some point. They actually just put a tee in the same port in the block that the factory switch goes in to measure the pressure in the same place technically.

 

I've tried that a couple times. For some reason the light wont go out. I finally gave up on it.

 

Well, seems I need to give a little more love to Ruth soon as I was asked by a good friend if his daughter could basically "arrive" to her wedding in an old car next weekend when he thought of me. I gave her the choice of this one or the Thunderbird and she picked Ruth. So, at minimum, I need to make sure it can be reliable enough to not cause some "funniest video" moment or something as she has her big day. I also figure this could be my motivation to go ahead and replace both broken exhaust manifolds as well as hopefully fix a new oil leak with some valve cover gaskets.

 

Wow, well that ought to be a big shot of motivation! It would be one thing if she wanted to "leave" the wedding in your car but wanting to "arrive" is a big responsibility. Can't have the bride being late to her own wedding.
Good luck and post some pictures from the big day

 

I had a couple a few years back that saw my car at our local cruise-in, and wanted me to do the same. I would have loved to do that, and told them I would...........................BUT.........................I told her to try and get in the back seat gracefully and remember that she would be wearing a full wedding dress while doing it. I then suggested she might want to find an old car that was a four door if that's what she really wanted. They looked at each other then told me they hadn't thought of that.
Not trying to rain on your wedding parade, Jeff and my car may be much harder to get into the back than yours. A bunch will depend on how pe***e the bride is.
Just something to think about.
The old moderator on the '57 forum did do a wedding for strangers with his '57 2dr and had some great pics, so it can be done.

 

Yea, I thought of that Rich. But, I think I understand that she can just sit in the front since I am only bringing her. I ***ume the groom will be there waiting...hopefully not too long.

 

These ladies are trying to figure a way to get all of that dress into the car. Let us know how well it works for you!

 

So, I checked with the father of the bride and sounds like we will be driving up behind some “doors”. So, how graceful or not she exits the car won’t be seen by anyone but likely he and I.

 

So, drove the car to Walmart and to pick up my daughter from work tonight to make sure I can trust it. When I came out of Walmart and turned the key...click...click... Anyway, I ended up calling my youngest son to bring me some jumper cables so we could try jumping it. Putting those on didn’t seem to change anything. I had just cleaned the battery posts and cables earlier in the evening as well as replaced the two cables at the battery a few months back. Anyway, I ended pulling the connections at the solenoid and putting them back making sure to get them tight. It then started so seems that was my issue. So, I’ll pull it back apart tomorrow and put some star washers on the connections at the solenoid.

This is why I am checking everything out now and will also likely take the Thunderbird to the wedding as a backup...just in case.

 

It has been quite a while so I don't remember all of the details. I had similar situation. Click... Click... even with a charged battery, jumper cables to another battery, and all cable connections cleaned at both ends. I opened up the starter solenoid and found significantly pitted contacts inside. There was a heavy br*** or copper washer that the solenoid pulled to make contact against the ends of the two studs that supplied power to the starter. The stud was more like a carriage bolt with a flat head. I removed the studs so I could clean the heads and sand them flat. I rotated them a quarter or half turn when they went back in to give a better surface where the washer made contact. I also flipped the washer over to use the opposite surface to make electrical contact. Everything worked well when it went back together.

Wow, that's a lot of words! A picture would be better. It is simpler to understand when you can look at the parts. Good luck resolving the problem!

 

Wow! Thanks for the information. I put this solenoid on about 10 years ago, but seems like it has always had some issues. I may have to pull it apart and check it out as you mention. I suspect everything you wrote would make sense if I was looking at it apart, so definitely appreciate you taking the time to comment on it.

 

I probably had to drill out some rivets to see what was inside the solenoid, and used small screws and nuts to put everything back together. The wires inside are small and could break if bent too much.

 

Well, took the car out last night for a rehearsal and it didn’t want to start when I had to leave. So, after swapping the solenoid and the cable from it to the starter with no luck fixing it, I decided God had other plans for the wedding. A long time friend loaned me his convertible about an hour before the wedding for the task. Pretty sure it made a better wedding car than my beat up old Ford.

 

Why would you want to post this - it's not a Ford

 

Showing that he is a cl*** guy that does what he says he will do, even if it requires a Chevy.

 

Thanks for the update. We needed to hear how things worked out for the wedding. Glad to hear that an old car was involved in the wedding. Too bad Ruth wasn’t quite up to the task. Next we need to hear what it takes to get Ruth running again. Hope that part of the story comes along soon!

 

Sorry, just figured it was part of the story of the life of Ruth. To me, it showed how so many in this car hobby have become like family. Pretty cool when you can call a friend about an hour before the wedding in a bind and they ask you which car do you want to borrow. Anyway, sorry for the OT car post. The same friend also told me last night when I took his car back that he thinks he has a rebuilt starter for Ruth that I can have. I just need to match it up.

 

Cool story Jeff......good on you! The odds are the couple probably doesn't know a Ford from a Chevy anyways. The important thing is you got it done for them. I hear tell they let Chevy guys into car clubs, may be just a rumor.

 

Rich, you may have actually met the bride when you did our Hot Rod Hundred last year. Her dad was the one that catered the BBQ at Jerry’s wrecker at the end and she was there serving desserts. Some great family friends.

 

I do remember them. I remember the food being great, just can't remember what it was, lol.

 

Even though it was a Chevy, the drop top did solve the egress problem.

 

Finally working toward some long-needed work on the old girl. I’m still driving it, but a few months back, second gear all but gave out. Pretty sure limping it along for 11 years has finally come to an end. Anyway, I have only driven it a few times over the winter and had decided I better start looking for someone to rebuild a transmission or go through it myself before any long trips this year. Then, today, a good friend sent me a link to a craigslist ad with a 312 and Fordomatic that was recently pulled to update with some late model motor. The price was right, so after talking to the seller, I am taking the gamble. Hoping to just open it up and check it out, puts some new seals in, and limp the old girl on a few more years until I can get some teenagers out of the house and afford a rebuild. We will see... My buddy is picking it up in the morning, then I will drag it home with me to Oklahoma from St. Louis on a trip back from Indy in a couple weeks. Pretty pumped to have another 312 and hopefully a transmission that I can use for a while.

 

G

 

Got the motor and transmission picked up in St. Louis and it came with lots of other parts that the previous owner pulled off his 57 wagon. Can’t wait to go through it all and see what all I ended up with. I will likely have some 57 specific parts that I have no use for too.

 

Jeff... How was "Ruth" lowered front and rear? I bought a pair of new Aerostar springs over a year ago and still haven't got them installed. I still have the stock height coils in mine and was wondering how it would look with the new springs along with the 4" blocks in the back. Love the stance on yours. Jim

 

I think your truck needs a longer bed!

 

Hey Jim,

My car just has Aerostar springs in the front and 2” blocks in the rear and stock otherwise. It settled quite a bit in the front over time (like maybe an inch or so more). I am thinking of putting 3” blocks in the rear now that my kids are older and I rarely haul people in the back. It did bottom out the driveshaft on the tunnel with just the 2” blocks with a good load, but that likely isn’t an issue now.

 

Lol...Actually, it is a company truck that I drove up to a trade show in Indy. So, I was just thankful to be able to drive a truck to get the stuff back. It was definitely loaded up between the parts and luggage for the four p***engers.

 

Do you have any trouble changing the rear tires with 2" blocks? I have to air my shocks completely up and let the air out of the tires on mine.

 

When it had 205/75/15’s, I had to jack it up and set the frame on jack stands to let the rearend down, then let the air out of the tire to get it off. With the 6.70-15’s, the tires can be full of air and come off.