Customs My first irresistible "Field Find"

Progress! My new best friend Eric (my daughter's boyfriend) helped me do the nastiest job this project has to offer - clean out all the debris from inside and the bed. Yuck. Years of broken glass, leaves, pods, acorns and mouse sh!t.
Eric found out what was keeping the driver's door from opening and he got it open, I got the passenger's door to close. The seat is a goner, a tug and it pulled right off of the floor, the frame is rotten away. No big deal I have another idea for the seat anyway. We pulled off the remainder of the wooden bed floor and the original floor back there is pretty good. And there we found some clues.....
There are hydraulic cylinder anchor brackets for a convertible top. So we pulled the hood and there was a super heavy duty X in the frame. So I guess old Harold started with a V8, automatic, convertible!
We had just finished cleaning up the mess when the rains came ending the fun for today. Here's some pictures of the progress......

 

From the size of those wasp nests, good thing you didn't find this car a few months ago!

 

Ugh - hope you got all the bee/wasp nests out. Did you get a look at what's on that little plaque next to the speedometer?

 

Until now it wasn't safe to go in there! lol. I'll look tomorrow, looking from outside at an angle you can't read anything, it looks like a tag with several lines and little inspection stamps at the end of each line. But then maybe I worked in aerospace too long......
Amen to that, and those nests are small compared to some we saw on her property, and they are everywhere! I don't know how they can go outdoors when the weather's warm. Lots of mud wasp nests too.

 

Them mud dobbers aren't aggressive, wasps and hornets...I enjoy killing! Bastards will attack you just for walking by in a bright shirt.

 

Ford-0-Matic didn't come along until 1951

 

Maybe it's a '51 with '50 front sheet metal? But it's got a '50 dash. No evidence so far that it ever had a clutch pedal. Maybe I'll know more when I find the VIN.


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

Trans hump looks to have been grafted in out of something Not 1950 Ford. Throttle linkage is Not Ford. Exhaust pipe has been grafted together and flange is not stock 49-51. Top flange on drive side of X member has a relief hacked into it. 51 Automatic brake pedal pad was larger than that one and they mounted horozontal. That is a 50 Top ram bracket, not a 51. It has a stick shift mast jacket bolted to the steering box, not an Automatic one. Yes that is a Convertible only Frame not a Vicky frame. That little piece of channel iron that runs from the passenger side rubber motor mount to the frame rail, start right there on top of it with some sand paper and clean it off. You might find what your looking for. My money is still on it starting life as a 1950 Vert.
The Wizzard

 

So how does that ultra stout X work with say a Buick th400? I've never seen an X made of such thick material, it must be 5/16" thick.


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

We got the door latches and tailgate hinge working well, also the passenger door window mechanism. The drivers window mechanism is stripped. The hood latch freed up nicely but the hood hinges are gonna have to soak a little longer.


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

This might be a little weird but I could picture the seats being a early t-bird rear set. with the wraparound and the package tray. I think it would soot this car/truck great. In white. tucked into the back glass a little bit.

 

Funny, I was thinking T-Bird but the seats I have are 1960 fronts (I have new foam, just need to cover 'em). I thought they would fit the make and era that they built the car pretty well.
That's an interesting idea, I really like the inset/wrap around look.

 

Yes, the X member is double tough. I guess that was to off set the Weeney frame rails. I think Henry had a deal with the R-R co. The actual frame rails were so minimal that they actually skip welded a piece of flat bar on them. My 51 Vert has a 700-R-4 in it with just a light bolt hole adjustment for the rear mount. I did have to bump the floor for fill tube to clear. I would guess the T-400 would fit a 51 floor just fine. I know a T-350 does with nothing done. I have no idea how what's there now will work out. I know there have been Buick motors put in these cars but have never had a hands on with one. It looks like your getting into the Car overall and will probably keep it and build it. If so before taking on all the rust that seems to take 4 times longer than we want and can burn down the drive if not careful. Personally, for motovation I'd remove the front clip in as much of one piece as possible and set my Nailhead and T-400 in place just to know it will or won't fly. Then put the clip back on and see what it takes for a Rad/fan install. Then you have just a bit more floor space and with a little luck it could be a driveway mover under it's own power. That will inspire ya for sure.
The Wizzard

 

Oh what a good molasses soak could do for all the ugly parts you need to keep.
Once I de rusted all my panels I felt way better about the prospect of saving my Tudor. I’ve noticed when non car savvy friends and family see it now too they don’t look or convey a sense of hopelessness.


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

Yeah, railroad or a structural steel/bridge builder! Man that X is heavy duty.
My helper and I were talking about pulling the front sheet metal yesterday, we just got rained out.
Good idea to get the Buick in there, unfortunately I don't have a transmission for it at the moment. If anyone has a line on a Nailhead TH400 in California let me know.
The Buick I have has center sump pan, I'm hoping that it will fit without dropping the tie-rod, unfortunately the starter is on the steering box side, we'll have to see how that works out.
'Shine; it's funny, I just cleaned out and refilled my molasses tank, musta been an omen...

 

Here's what I've learned over the years about Trans that are loose and on the floor. Everyone of them worked like New when removed. Just like every Small Block Chevy motor is a Corvette 4 bolt main steel crank motor till you get it home. What I've done many times is go the supplier the rebuilder's go to when they need a hard part. Most big City's have one the has a large inventory and prices are good. On a project like this you know your going to overhaul it anyway so don't pay the price for Gold when your actually getting used iron. If rebuilding an Automatic isn't your thing these supply guys can usually send you to the right door for this Vintage stuff.
The Wizzard

 

I've got some feelers out and tomorrow I'll be at the local automotive machine shop, he's a big Buick guy (I'm picking up his '61 Buick AFB for a rebuild). I 'spect one will be here shortly. I've done th350s but not a 400, we'll see when the time comes which I have more of; Money or Time. LOL. Time goes so damned fast when you retire, doesn't it?

 

Fun until you sit in that cramped interior.

 

He indicated there's more room than first appears. I think our eyes mostly see the relatively low side window opening, and we discount the amount of crown in the actual top.

I think more room could be gained by reworking the rear bulkhead and installing theoriginasl, full rear rindow(s).

 

^^ “I concur”


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

I was working on my Truck project yesterday thinking about this T-400 issue and that X member. The X member by design don't lend itself to modification very well. Back in the 50's and 60's when using the Nailhead was a common option the factory Trans behind them was in fact close drive. That was what made bellhousing adapters the standard part of a swap and the stock 3 speed was left in place making the Motor Swap much easier (sometimes). I'm not sure what year your Buick motor is but going back to a stick shift might be a good option if the T-400 becomes a pain to get in place. I have some of that "stuff " in the left over pile. A latter 3 or 4 speed would be acceptable and bolt in the stock trans mount place. I have made the late 4 speed work with a stock 3 speed column shifter a few times so Vintage looks are there with an update. Just Food for thought here. Umm, Have I told you yet that I don't think like normal people?
The Wizzard

 

Fantastic idea. Autos are for old people anyway. Column shift is also old school cool.

Sent from my SM-T805Y using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Peanut1959 is right, it seems to have normal head and leg room for a '50 Ford it just happens to have the back window a little closer than most. The angle of the rear glass keeps you from bonking your noggin when accelerating briskly. LOL
P-n-B, I guess that really rules out the B&M Hydrostick that came behind the old 401, huh? I had a T-85 with OD but I donated it to Squirrel when he was nursing his Edsel home from the rally. Might have been too long to fit into that X anyway. Did they offer OD in convertibles?
I do have a good Saginaw 4 spd, the cost of the adapter and stuff might be about the same as buying a fresh Nailhead TH400.
You ain't the only one who doesn't think normal; I have the adapter, clutch and flywheel for a 264-322 to Chevy trans. I also have a core 322 Buick lying around. Maybe I should use the baby nailhead?

 

No progress on the Victchero today, (thanks Black Panther - the name stuck) everything's soaked from last night's downpour so I made some progress on the re-chop of my '33 pu instead. All the appropriate rusty bolts did get their daily application of Gibbs though.

 

Hay Bob, I wouldn't just rule out the T-400. That trans tunnel don't look 100 percent 50 Ford stock. I'd sure do a test fit first. Yes you could get an overdrive in 49 and 50 Verts. It was not uncommon to find Hydros behind the Olds in these cars but only in sedans that I'm aware of. They didn't have the full X frame, just a simple crossmember between the outer frame rails. I do think they took some floor pan work to get them in there. When I get to my other 50 Project and being the body is off it's frame I will be using the Hydro behind my Olds motor. For me that means cutting the X loose from the outer rails and sliding it back what ever it takes to get the job done. Along with that I believe it will involve some brake pedal work. Then I have a 51 Lincoln mast jacket to run on the Ford box so that the column shifter has the correct shift gate for the Reverse to be at the bottom of shift pattern. Nothing is impossible, some things just take more work than others. Personally were I you I'd see if there's an adapter for a 200-4-r. They are much smaller that a 700-R-4 and double tough. They put them in the Buick Grand National's with Turbos. Then find a 51 Ford automatic mast jacket and move on. Who's going to know what's under there?
The Wizzard

 

Bob those 322 run really good and have a lot of torque. I had a solid lifter export cam and Iskey lifters and pushrods because the stock pushrods would bend and kick the side out of the lifters, with 2 fours on it.I ran one in my 50 Chevy Coupe for years, had a stick shift and used a X shift box which let you use 55 and later gearset and used a early model floor shift top. I had to rotate the solenoid to clear the steering , just had to drill and tap 4 holes and make a dogleg linkage. I drove it thru high school and college. The only thing I ever broke was the transmission when I hammered it in 2nd gear one day. It would hold its own against 283 and 327 . Frank

 

1-shot, I actually have a bunch of stuff for the 322, the trans adapter set-up, 2x4 & 3x2 manifolds, Mallory distributor, dress-up stuff, but after hot tank and mag we found my block was in need of a re-bore. It was supposed to go into a Model A coupe that I had bought from a friend who found himself in financial trouble. He recovered and wanted to buy it back (it had been his Dad's) so I sold it back and I didn't want to proceed with the engine unless I had a project to put it in.
It may have found a home. I was leaning towards the 401 'cause it's a runner.

 

No doubt I need to subscribe and follow this thread, as it's getting more and more interesting.

 

I love the "truck". what is the difference in the 322 and the 401

 

79 cubic inches?