Made a deal on this '55 Customline yesterday. Lots more potential, and everything is there, than the '54 Crestline. Super solid floors and trunk, has outer rocker panel rust, powertrain is 272 with 3 speed. Motor turns over, hope to get it running when I get it home later this week. Have a spot in the barn to slip it into.
Coooool! MoDo's rule! Wash it, tune it and krooooze! Nice barn find, and yea, much better than your previous "bog find"! You're not going to know what to do with a car that's got all its parts and might even run! Nice score!
*****en find!! and it's a 4 door too! I like it, you won't have to lean your seat forward to let your buddies in the back when you go for a cruiz. and i agree with missysdad. . . wash the windows, tune it up, and drive it. . . mice and all.
Very nice ! If you need a home for both front fender and Both front door side trim let me know . Been looking for both front fenders and both front doors trim piece to change my Vicky style trim over to a straight trim down the side of the car . Jim
Ive got a 64 Fairlane 4 door that my grandmother bought new and am in process of a front 3rd referbushing right now including a rebuild of the 260 V-8, and had a 59 Fairlane/Galaxie 4 door in 79/80 so I know all about the convienences of a 4 door!
Got the 55 home successfully today. 90 mile roundtrip with my son. He got to experience the affect old cars have on people as we stopped at Home Depot and Wal-Mart on the way home. It's funny how people gravitate towards an old car no matter what the condition.
Going through the parts to my '55 today, as it was partially dis***embled when I got it. Mostly lights, trim, bumpers removed. Im trying to figure out how the taillights are mounted. Is there supposed to be a quarter extension that the light mounts to, or does it mount directly to the quarter with the triangle piece of chrome attached above it? Also, my left front parking light housing on the end of the grille, coffee can size housing, is rusted out badly. Does anyone have a spare thats not rusted and has fair chrome? Ive got to pick up a coil and a voltage regulator before I try to start it.
Ive search for pics and think I figured out my own question that the taillight mounts directly to the quarter.
I have a pair of the back up lenses like those but I would really rather have the ones on the 56 Fords . They look a lot better than the 55 do . I have a very nice pair of the ones off a Dodge to use on mine . The chrome is shinny and the lenses are real good too . They do fit good but stick out about 4" or so , but they are different . Got them from a guy on the HAMB . He gave me a super great deal and told me he just didn't want to see them for sale on the HAMB or egay . I PROMISED him if I ever decide not to use them I would sell them back to him . I think the 56 have the thicker chrome piece and a round red light or something on the top . Maybe I am thinking about something different but would like a nice pair of them for my 55 . Jim
I just have a moulding, no backups. It just seemed like something was missing. The black paint was really nice where the light mounts!
There's a gasket between the fender and the light housing. Also, some cars did not have backup lights, so a chrome piece which looked like the backup light...but wasn't...was used to fill the space on the fender. These pieces are rare now, but kinda neat in my opinion.
old ladys mad thanks for the pic. missysdad1, I have the 'rare' filler pieces and found the body gaskets but do need to replace them. Fortunately the PO was using good quality 'zip locks' with a label area and has marked the hardware. Bought some rocker panels on ebay last night and was looking on rockauto for a coil and all they had listed was 12 volt. They wanted $45 for a voltage regulator!
Rocker panels came in yesterday and are nice looking pieces. Now Im looking for a mig welder as all my projects need some welding. Found a few more items on ebay including a glo brite taillight lense and some more of the filler pieces above the lights, got a voltage regulator for $15 and talked to Oreillys today and can get a coil for $14. Am looking for a 1955 Tennessee license plate, but picked up a Kentucky one. Also need a 6 volt battery, wheres a reasonable place to buy one? Oreillys wants $70.
Finally got a chance this weekend to tinker with the 55 for a few minutes. Installed these fender extensions with decent looking eyebrow mouldings I just picked on ebay. Treated the bumper splash pan and area behind grille with a rust convertor and primed the pan and painted the radiator support. Started fitting the grille, and today picked up some new bolts to get it attached correctly. Its just barely bolted on in the pic.
Sure wish I could find a good splash pan like that for my 55' mine has rust on the ends and i dont think i can repair it. Ive looked all over for one and no one makes them.
ALL metal can be repaired ! Just make a cardboard or paper template of the rust area to be repaired and transfer to another piece of 18 ga sheet metal . Then just use a hammer and dolly or bag to form it so it sits on the bad piece real good . Then cut the bad piece off and weld the new piece on . That's all you have to do . Just take your time and the metal will form to what you need to make . Just don't beat it to death . It takes time and light hits to make the copy ! NO one makes them ! Jim
old lady's mad, It is nice to get something done on this project. Cant believe Ive had it 3 months this Thursday! The PO was organized in his dis***embly and Im just trying to bolt it all back together to see what I've got, and make a little improvement as I go. sircampsalot2, The splash pan on the ground is from my 54 parts car, had it there comparing them. While very similar, they will not interchange. Had a momentary brain fart and thought about flipping it over and making a lower valance, but in reallity it is a spare part if anyone needs it. Has a little rust out under where the rubber strip mounts. Its just too big to ship reasonably. Taking the radiator by an old school radiator guy this morning to clean it and fix any minor leaks. Im almost down to just the battery and can fire this old Y block up. Looking forward to the first drive around my yard!
The Jalopy Journal
