1952-59 Ford Hello all. Tomorrow I will own a 52 Mainline.

Hey guys,
Name's Dave. I'm about to retire from active Air Force duty here in Cheyenne Wyoming and will be able to spend more time with who and what I love. Wife and kids, hunting and cars. I am purchasing a 52 Mainline 4 door tomorrow provided the current owner doesn't back out of the deal. I find myself in a bind. I like the look of the car factory but know it could be a nice street rod. I'm in the middle of a build on my 63 Fairlane 4 door where I put a Rod and Customs MII front end in it with a narrowed Explorer 8.8 in the rear with a 4 link. I'm going air ride on the car and it has a Mark VIII 4.6 DOHC setup in it now with a 67mm turbo setup. I'm stripping the turbo idea for a Kenne Bell but that's later on.

I also have a 63 Galaxie 4 door that used to have the same drivetrain in it until I got a good offer on the drivetrain. I just sold my 57 F100 with a 390/C6 in it for more house down payment money. I really wanted to put the 390/C6 in the Galaxie but oh well. Price was right.

I built quite a few cars and trucks but never took one and restored to stock. This 52 has me wanting to do that. Though my drag racing days helps me like the idea of a good full dual exhaust and some offy heads and triple deuce setup on that 239 and keep the other stock parts for later if desired. The exterior is straight. Interior is gone save for the seats which are in good shape. All the chrome outside is there and looks great. It's primered so it has to be painted. I find myself wondering if I should go with the factory color or with what I want that is era specific. Really torn on this. I could easily build another 400hp small block and 4 speed for it and have another hot rod but I'm really wanting the stock idea. The problem I see is, I can't find a company with restoration parts for this car. It seems easier to just rod it like I do everything else. I've seen tons of pics of them on the net and they are finished but where in the world are the parts houses for these cars? The steering box needs rebuilt and I'd like to get the brakes, steering and suspension all renewed. I really like the idea of having another 3 on the tree car. The wife never heard of it and is very intrigued.

Anyways, Like every other board I'm on, I see that we have our diehard brand fans and our retro mod crew and even the "use the search" preachers. Looks like you guys are generally overall level headed. Hopefully I can fit in this clan.

Looking forward to talking, arguing and supporting with you guys in the near future. I really hope he don't back out.

Here are pics, if the site will allow me in early posting age.






Anyways. Glad to be here.

Dave

 

Welcome to the Group! There are really a lot of parts available for these Fords you should start collecting some catalogs from C&G Ford Parts,WWW.usapartssupply.com,Mac's and Dennis Carpenter a lot of other suppliers are out there too,probably the best thing to start with is this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1949-59-For...anuals_Literature&hash=item564bdf821d&vxp=mtr Inside you will find all the parts listed and in the illustration section each component of the car is blown up so you will know where the part is located and how it fits so taking things apart and putting them back together will be a whole lot easier.Need a part? Google the part number listing and you can track them down and find the best deal.We also have a HUGE section members have contributed to for information on "what fits" and where to find it here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=18186 This section is for posting information only DO NOT ask questions here,use the regular forum for that.Enjoy the ride!

 

Well, digging back through 113 pages of this board, I've found Obsolete, Surplus and Rock Auto. I have what I need for any metal work and some other issues. Just need to manage the interior.

 

Thanks for the info. I didn't even see the discs on Ebay. Found factory owners manuals and such but nothing like that. As I dig much deeper, I'm finding more and more. I'll get to the interior soon enough. Seeing all the pics of users cars here though, makes me want to just custom everything.

Dave

 

Dave,
Thank you first and foremost for your service to our country! Welcome to the forum and I hope the deal goes through for you !
Tim

 

I have a 53 4door that I've owned for 40 years. I restored it in 1975 and then customized it 7 years later. I redid in 1990 but left the original 6cyl 3 spd in it. I have enjoyed it stock or custom! I'm sure you'll enjoy yours too!

 

I like it!!

 

Welcome from So Cal. Have fun with the new car and enjoy your retirement. Keep us updated on your progress too.

 

It's officially mine and in my driveway. I am super excited. Drove it on and drove it off the trailer. Just need to pull the steering box and have it rebuilt. It's locked up straight and bumps over a worm gear once in a while. That's first. Then we move into our new house and it's on!

Thanks guys
Dave

 

The guy said that the car has the aerostar springs on it. Can you guys tell from the pics??? The rear springs have NO blocks so it's either a sagging spring or reached or something.







Thanks guys. I can't wait to get the steering setup fixed so I can drive it around.

Dave

 

Best of luck with your new project and new life style.
Doing a 4 Door is harder then a 2 door.
Some parts are not available.
Good Luck, Jim

 

Welcome t0 the group, Dave. Dig in!

 

The way the front is sitting I'd say it has the Aerostar springs. Otherwise it would be sitting level. It's easy to tell if the springs are cut, just by looking at them.

 

Welcome to the group! Nice score!

 

Nice car! Good luck and welcome to the group.

 

Well, I needed to get the steering fixed so I could drive it around and get a feel for it. The wheel would turn a quarter of a turn and lock up. I figured the PO just tightened the bolt down too much. I loosened it and it didn't fix it. The steering wheel was free spinning about 1/2 a turn and here's why.....




Now I considered going with a power steering setup or swapping something else all together. I'm liking the idea of keeping this stock so...... I know Rock Auto will take this and repair it for me. I'd like to get the parts and do it myself. I found a site with all the parts to replace but I'll be damned if I can find it again. Do any of you know where I'm talking about? They had the worm gear and all the seals and bearings and everything to replace the whole inards of the factory box. I want to replace all the seals and the bearings and get this part fixed.

Also, does this worm gear just press on and off the shaft? If not, how do I get it off?

I also have some hood hinge repair to do now that the spring sprung and it broke and bent. All I've accomplished today is destruction.

Thanks guys.
Dave

 

I just happened to click on Mac's site and found the parts. Perfect. I don't know what led me there right away.

 

www.usapartssupply.com also has them as well as complete rebuilt steering boxes on an exchange basis.

 

I see they have all the parts too. Cool! Thanks for another source. I'm not going for the full rebuilt one when I just need the bearings, seals and worm gear which comes to $130 shipped and I can say I did it and have my factory box for sure. I'll continue this path until I'm jus ttoo old and lazy to do it. Then I'll buy it built.

Thanks
Dave

 

Got all the bearings, seals, gaskets, shims and worm gear ordered from MAC's. Hopefully pressing the gear off the shaft isn't that hard to do.

Now to get to cleaning the housing and other parts so it's all clean when it goes back in.

The wife and I decided today that it's going back to as stock as possible. I'm going to try and get everything factory as I can. Next order will be carb and ignition and fuel parts as well as 1 water pump since it's weeping at the shaft seal. Then all the floorboards and rocker panels need replaced.

Questions,
What color is the engine painted from the factory on these things? I've seen a few cars where the wheels are painted to match the car and some where they are black. How do I know which is what I need to do to replicate?

How do you guys with factory stock cars get away on the street without seat belts and turn signals. We want to drive it a weekend a month when the time comes. I just don't want to go nuts adding stuff and making it look more modern.


Thanks guys! I love this car!

Dave

 

Grandfather laws, if the car didn't come from the factory with it, you don't have to have it.

 

The PO said the car came with cram colored wheels. I've seen them as well but man, I'd rather green or black. I hear the newer cars were coming from the factory in the orange color. I see parts of mine are like that but not all the parts.

If it didn't come painted, I'd like to do it so it looks cleaner and keeps the rust look at bay.

Thanks
Dave

 

Mainlines up until 1954 did not come with turn signals they were a dealer option most were like this unit:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-T...Parts_Accessories&hash=item461a55497e&vxp=mtr I used this on my '54 it is easy to wire up and you will gain safety flashers as a bonus,if you do it old school using hand signals most people won't see you while they are busy texting or playing with their "smart?" phone and odds of an accident will be fairly high.Seat belts? At least add the lap belts for you and your family's sake.The ones installed by dealers in the 50's were this style: http://www.ebay.com/itm/RETRO-STYLE...Parts_Accessories&hash=item58ad5fd06f&vxp=mtr Ford first offered them as an option in 1955.

 

Dave, Jim (aka ACJC) here, I have a '54 Customline Fordor with a stock 223 I-6 and FordOMatic and wont change a thing. There is a good article on a steering box rebuild in the '54 Ford Club of America forum. One of the members sis step by step w/ pics for his '54 Wagon Rebuild. If memory serves me there is some machine shop visits involved. Your local NAPA store will be able to order a good deal of parts. Other parts stores may offer them too. I use a dual brake master cylinder for a 70 Ford Custom for better and safer braking. I got the NAPA p/n and got better deal at CarQuest for example. Jeff B has compled a lot of good info and we'll all be able to help you along. Wake that flatty up with headers, a two-pot intake and some gl*** packs amd enjoy! EMS, Cl***ic 2 Current, and Surplus Supply are three other body panel suppliers to look at.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I used the same turn signal setup in my 54 F100 when I converted it and went with an EZ wiring kit and dash setup. If they can handle 6vdc, I may just do that and pull it if I ever want a museum car. The belts are easily removable as well. I could hose up a MC to be swappable too. I just want the ability to take it back to complete stock if desired. I was under the impression that some didn't do these things. I guess that's only on the museum cars. We do want to drive it though.

I'll have to check out the 54 club site. I am not interested in PS though. I want to keep it as stock as possible or able to be returned to stock quickly. Like, when I do the heads, intake and triple (or double) and exhaust. The stock stuff will be hanging on the wall or on shelves right behind the car in it's spot. White wall radials will be there for sure but locating a set of the factory tires would be nice as well.

I think I might have my plan laid out. One thing I might have to be sure and change is the hardened seats if I'm going to be changing the heads and intake.

More research. Thanks guys.

Dave

 

From our "FAQ Sticky" File check out this :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXfXKlj2D1I and this: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&discussionid=20141 The part numbers provided work for 1952-54 Fords, and some bargains are to be had using the Autozone web site last week they offered $20 off and free shipping on orders over $100.

 

Link to steering box rebuild:http://1954ford.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=3105

 

I knew about the self adjusting brake post. Didn't know about the MC swap and the steering box rebuild. Seems I'm doing good with it but I do have to now locate some of that 600W oil. There's a quart on Ebay for $23 shipped. Might have to go that route unless someone has found a better alternative???

Thanks JeffB2! Really appreciate the help. I can't wait to heal from my surgery and get to our new house with my shop so I can really hammer away at this thing. Right now, I want it driving so I can drive it over to the new place rather than trailer it like my other toys.

Dave

 

Well, I guess if I would have asked, you guys would say that the hood hinges on these cars is the worst swap job there is but, I got it done. I didn't reseal it but it's bolted on and operational. Wow that ****ed! Just waiting on my MAC parts for the steering column and then I'm good to go.

 

Dave, Mac's Auto has 600W oil. It's in their Ford T/TT catalog. $8.95/ qt if memory serves.

Jim