1952-59 Ford Houston 54 Build Thread

You can say that again.

The underside of this car is, for the moment anyway, prettier than the topside.

Something that I think only car guys would understand.....I had a long, stressful, difficult week at work this last week, with days that didn't end until late at night and I was just exhuasted. So, I was really looking forward to some time with my Ford and the "therapy" that it seems to provide. Anyway, I was mostly done with the frame bolt tightening and was laying on the cool cement of the garage, under the car. The oscillating fan was blowing a nice stream of cool air under the car...the birds were chirping out in the yard....the family was all over at a neighbor's house, and I dozed off for a good half hour. Man...what a great nap! I woke up and felt great.

I mean dang, the raw cement isn't exactly the most comfortable surface in the world, but I've done that several times in the past, and I have to admit that I enjoy it.

 

The only thing better is for your dog to crawl under there and nap with you. And you're right, nobody but a car guy would understand...

 

Dog? What's a dog? I was under one of my parts cars a few days ago retrieving some stuff & up runs a dam' chipmunk and starts giving me the business.... something about clearing what seemed like half a bushed of acorns and hickory nuts outta its winter stash hiding spot. Those little son-uv-a-guns can destroy a lot of stuff in a little amount of time! Maybe I SHOULD get a dog, since the cat is scared of those bushy tailed rodents.

 

Trying to create one good steering box out of two....and a pile of Dennis Carpenter rebuild parts.

 

Digging your build just a quik question what motor mounts did you use? The aftermarket ones I have won't allow em to run those manifolds.

 

I got my motor mounts from Gearheads Cruiser Products a few years ago.

 

I was thinking about sticking some 'Thunderbird Special' decals on my 302 valve covers...

If you do decide to add a PCV valve to one of the valve covers, keep in mind that you should also add some form of filter somewhere else in the crankcase so that the engine isn't inhaling dirty unfiltered air...

 

Working on restoring my steering column....making a functional automatic column out of the pieces of two columns.

 

everything I see here looks awesome!!!!!

 

Thanks vein.....I got it all put back together late last night and I have to say that it looks awesome. My wife wanted to watch a movie, so I brought the finished column inside and propped it up near the tv so I could admire it while we watched the movie....she thinks I've lost my mind, and said, "you are THE only person on the planet who would stare with adoration at a restored 54 Ford steering column".

I just said...."oh no, dear, I know where to find a whole mess of people who would do the same thing".

 

Thanks vein.....I got it all put back together late last night and I have to say that it looks awesome. My wife wanted to watch a movie, so I brought the finished column inside and propped it up near the tv so I could admire it while we watched the movie....she thinks I've lost my mind, and said, "you are THE only person on the planet who would stare with adoration at a restored 54 Ford steering column".

I just said...."oh no, dear, I know where to find a whole mess of people who would do the same thing".

Just because there are others who'd stare blissfully at their latest automotive triumph instead of watching TV doesn't make you normal, it just proves that there is more than one nutcase in the universe...

 

For the first time in a few years, I have steering in my 54. Here's a shot of the installed box and column with the automatic shifting mechanism.

 

I really like how everything seems to be going in without any real headaches . I have a 55 Ford and I am building a 302 to replace my Y block also . I am also using a rattle can paint job but going the Ford blue way . Did you have any oil pan issues for clearance ? I am using a 1985 Mustang GT 302 and it has that front & rear oil pan . Not to sure if that will work or not . What pan are you using ? Front or rear sump or both ? I am also going with headers and have the shorty and long tube . I am going to use both to get a long tube or fender well headers . Will see which is the easiest when the engine gets set in for mock up . My trans is either a T-5 or AOD . I have both but really love grabbing gears ! I will keep watching how yours works out !

RetroJim

 

Jim....you're right, compared to a few other builds that I've been part of, this one has only had minor headaches so far.

I had to ditch the stock oil pan on this 1988 302 because it interfered with the steering linkage. I couldn't locate a junkyard early mustand oil pan, so I just bought a new one from AutoZone. They have two that will work (for basically a 1968 mustang), one with and one without a baffle. There was only $10 difference so I got the one with the baffle in it. It was nice quality and came with a decent black paintjob on it.

 

So....I've posted some AOD questions over at ClickClickRacing and after answering one question, they're ignoring me. Most of the stuff that's posted there is way over my head when it comes to AODs and I'm thinking they look at me as a real goober, so I'm hoping that you guys can offer some very basic advice.
Granted, I'm no master mechanic, but damn....a guys' got to get knowledge somewhere.

Jeff has already advised me to get a transgo rev limiter kit and I'll be ordering that soon. My trouble is that I know next to nothing about AODs. For instance....my AOD has an opening blocked off on it, above the shifter, up at the top of the transmisson. It has some white putty-like stuff blocking it off. If you look back at this thread to the photo of the transmission, you'll see it.

Can you anybody tell me what that opening is for and why it would be blocked off?

 

A lot of times Dan aka Silver Fox won't answer posts on the weekends besides clickclick they also have another transmission website plus his transmission business so He is very busy.If you have questions you would like to ask Dan directly and want to purchase the Hi-Rev kit from him send a email to my msn.address and I'll give you his direct email.One thing that would be a cheap investment is the AOD DVD ,ebay item # 370296463508 $29.95

 

Ok....my bad....you were right Jeff. I spoke too soon about the ClickClickRacing site. Dan got back to me and continues to be very helpful. I will definitely order my parts from him as a small way to thank him for his help.

I really want to get this AOD installed this month because it's holding up progress in a few other areas on the car. I obviously can't get my driveshaft reworked until I have the transmission in place, and I also have to know exactly at what angle the 302 is going to sit in order to have confidence in mounting throttle linkage, etc.

Jeff....can I install the rev limiter kit in the transmission while it is in the car, or should I hold off on installing the transmission until I get the kit installed?

 

The AOD Hi-Rev kit should be put in before you put it in the car ,the AOD's governor is located where the tailshaft bolts to the main case,a major PIA to get at in the car.I am sending you some info via email.

 

I'm curious to know what air filter number you come up with when you convert your oil bath. Fram doesn't have a listing by dimensions, and I've yet to come up with a number bouncing around all logical applications.
Thanks,Joe

 

It's funny you should bring that up Joe....my Dad volunteered to convert my oil bath to a paper filter configuration and he informs me that he is done with it. He lives a couple hours away and will be visiting this weekend. He's bringing it with him.

He also tells me that although it will appear stock from the outside, the transformation was pretty radical due to the fact that I am accomodating a four barrel carb. I'll snap some photos of it when I get it.

 

That's the kind of modification that I really like, Rusty. Keeping the traditional appearance while incorporating more modern technology. Don't let your Dad forget. We're all anxious to see it!

 

Bellhousing bolts on a SBF are 7/16" co**** thread (between 3/8 and 1/2)...

I used an AOD in a non-OEM application once, and the only difficulty I had was getting the TV setting correct. I had a Holley and at the time ( late '80's) no aftermarket carbs were setup to operate the AOD's TV cable. I ended up using an aftermarket kit that had a lever that you welded onto the carb linkage, and bolted the cable to the throttle cable mount on the intake. It was a PITA to get the trans to shift right. Although it could be because I tried to rebuild the trans and had some parts left over. Nah, that couldn't be it...

Oh yeah, cool project, looks great!

 

whatever info you can get on that air filter element would be a big help, especially the part #. I've probably got 2 hours research into it and nothing with the correct or even close dimensions coming up. Thanks, Joe

 

I've had pretty good luck by using the K&N site - researching dimensions etc. - and finding out what factory vehicle that size fits. Takes some time - but I've managed to cross some pretty odd sizes to paper elements.... www.knfilter.com

 

The local WalMart store has shelf after shelf of Fram air filters. Why not take a tape measure and start opening up boxes? I'm sure they won't mind as long as you are careful to put everything back the way you found it.

 

Eric, that's exactly what my dad did....just took a tape measure to WalMart.

I will ask him for the part number that he's using the next time I see him though.

 

that would be cool! cant wait to see what your dad comes up with!

 

Rustyfords, I came across your post on the 54 Ford website with your fathers air filter, and also while cruising around on ebay to check out other 54 interiors, I've noticed that the oil bath filters on all of the cars that still had them, are not like the one on my car. Mine is much smaller, (no wisecracks) and the filter kind of sits on top of the body, not inside of it. When I find the cable to connect my camera I'll post a picture. Thanks, Joe

 

I'll be looking forward to seeing that photo Joe. What's on your car might not be original, in fact it sort of sounds like you may have an old tractor oil bath on your car.

What my dad and I have discovered, even on his car with very low original miles, is that the top part of the oil bath setup (the mesh part) gets very, very clogged up with age and actually disintegrates and doesn't breathe well at all. I think Ford recommended that they occasionally be removed and soaked in kerosene or some sort of solvent.

Of course, my dad switched to a paper element for his car, and I have no choice but to abandon the oil bath air cleaner on my car with it having a 302 and a 4 barrel and all. However, I really, really love the look of the big red gumball-looking oil bath air cleaner with the factory sticker on it sitting there on top of the carb. And, with my engine painted in 54 colors, I just had to find a way to use the sheetmetal of the old air cleaner if nothing else.

And, without giving too much away before I "unveil" it, that's basically what we did....just kept the sheetmetal which is concealing a paper element.

I'll be getting the air cleaner back this weekend, then I'll be putting a red paint job and sticker on it this week and I'll post photos.

 

By the way....here's the link to the 54 Ford Club site that shows how my dad did a simple conversion on a 55 Ford oil bath unit to a paper filter.

http://1954ford.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=520&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=oil+bath