Projects The Adventure of a Boy and His Edsel

One of the nice things about the new tank is that if you want to move the filler neck, that would be the time to do it when you can weld on it and not worry about the thing exploding in your face. I've welded on several gas tanks before, one that had fuel in it a half hour prior, and it's the most ass-puckering experience striking that first arc.

When you do swap the tank, please post pics of how you do it and what you use. I have a 59 Edsel Ranger as well that will likely need the same and it will help remove the learning curve.

 

I had the same thought on the time to move the filler neck if it looks like it is needed. Pretty sure I have never had a new fuel tank on something old before, and have had the excitement of welding on old ones a couple times. We will be sure to post some pics as we swap it out. I was hoping for that same thing when looking for which one to use. Now that we are committed, I will at least know what it takes to put the 59 Ford tank in your car soon.

 

This should have been an update with pics and information on how mounting the gas tank went especially considering how nice our weather was over the weekend. We did get the new tank and straps Friday, so we have no good excuse why it isn't done other than cleaning house and a few other things that seemed to make the weekend go by way too fast. Maybe I can update this week if we can get it done before "Snowmeggedon 2022" hits our area Wednesday and shuts everyone down.

 

Word to the wise... take that plastic plug out of the filler neck as soon as it comes out of the box. I had my tank completely installed... went to get the plastic plug out... right into the tank. Had to take the whole thing apart, at least I invented a few new cuss words.

 

Good idea! Thanks for the heads up. I have undone work way too many times for reasons like that.

 

I bought a tank for a 64 Galaxy for mine. I had to cut the filler neck off the old tank and braze it on to the new one. Also took the vent line out of the old and soldered it into the new one. The new tank came with a new sending unit.

 

This pic should help describe the progress we made this week on the gas tank... Snowmeggedon 2022 stopped productivity (or we diverted attention to my other son's heads on his car first).

 

Started on the gas tank today to find out that someone has previously swapped some other tank into it with a different sending unit. So, can’t make any more progress on that until we can get the right sending unit to start going back together. So, we decided to adjust the valves and put the chrome valve covers on. The valves were definitely loose. Oh, and finally swapped the fuel filter.

 

.019” cold.
You can run the engine with the rocker arm cover off without fear of making a mess. I cut a piece of card board about 4-5” high that fits between the springs and head ledge. I use some 2” wide clear packaging tape on the bottom. The over flow tube at the front of the passenger head and rear of the driver side after warm up should have some oil coming out. There’s not a lot of oil up on the top end at idle with everything open and good.

 

Yep, we actually used the method posted by @Truck64 earlier in this thread. Pretty easy to do and now Silas knows how to adjust valves on a y-block.

http://www.potomacbird.com/pctc/Public_Documents/waltnuckels-valvelash.pdf

Strangely enough, we also had to adjust the valves on my other sons motor today as well after getting the heads back on it. But, it is a sbc and a hydraulic cam, so obviously different method.

 

Rock Auto had the sender for my car, also the tank. Best prices anywhere. Make sure you get the right cap for it too.

 

Thanks. We did get the tank from Rock Auto, and we will get the sender and cap there as well if we can’t find it locally. We have Classic Auto Parts or the old Obsolete Ford just a few miles away and I plan to see if they have it first on Monday to save on time getting it back together.

 

Does Silas have a mechanic’s vacuum gauge? That’s a great tool for a whole bunch of different reasons.

SteamPunk Scanner, basically. His Y Block should pull 19”-21” rock steady needle at factory idle RPM and ignition timing specification, or it is not tuned right. It will tell him instantly if he can get a little more somethin’ somethin’ goin’ on with a good, sharp tune. Vacuum leaks, misadjusted ignition timing, late valve timing, misadjusted valve lash, incorrect carburetor adjustments, and more.

It’s a little more difficult to find a source of vacuum on his particular setup, would have to use a port on the manifold because Autolite carburetors only a have a port above throttle plates. That’s an early 2100, one of the best carburetors ever made.

 

Yes, Silas has access to a mechanics vacuum gauge since he is still living at home and using my tools.

You definitely bring up a good point on trying to tune it up some. The previous owner had swapped out the carburetor with the one on it and it isn’t set up quite right. But, we really haven’t spent any time trying to get it dialed in since he got it. So far, it has been mainly just fixing obvious issues and driving. Things like adjusting the valves took way longer than it should have since we both suspected they were too loose just from the sound.

Thanks again for all the input and suggestions @Truck64 . We need all the encouragement we can get at times.

 

Picked up the sending unit last night down in OKC at Obsolete Parts and should be ready to start putting it back together maybe tonight. One more issue we found when adjusting the valves the other day was that the radiator core seems to have sprung a leak. So, considering how much a replacement costs and how much Silas just spent on things like a gas tank, etc., I called a local radiator shop that has been in business for a long time to check on just fixing this one. The owner also happens a to be a fellow car guy. He has a 55 Nomad that he has had forever and brings on our Hot Rod Hundred event almost every year. Anyway, the “opportunities” on this thing seem to be endless. Some days I wonder why we even mess with this old junk.

 

Ahhhh, the joys of owning an old car. Eventually it stops kicking you in the junk, usually when you've replaced every part hahaha

 

It never ceases to amaze me that young guys and gals know exactly what's cool. They have not been subjected to all the stereotypes, and "my Chevy is better than your Ford" B.S., and vice versa. My cousin started out his car culture life with a '58 Pacer. We all thought he was nuts. Little did we know, he was the cool one !! A few years later, and he still has one !! By the way, he's 79....

 

That’s cool! Thanks for the comments. Yea, Silas actually really get the whole “what is cool” deal and lives and breathes the traditional styles. We had a group of 4 guys come on our Hot Rod Hundred last year driving a 4-door 57 Ford and my thoughts were “That is just too cool and looks like a blast!”. Before I knew it, Silas and his buddies were riding around in a lowered Edsel and have that same “cool” vibe going down the road in the midst of a sea of throw away plastic cars pretty much daily.

 

Oh, one more kool update...

Sam @rusty1 did some quick sketches of the car over the weekend in different styles and they are just too kool! Folks on this forum are the BEST and I am amazed how many have taken an interest in the young folks coming up in this hobby of ours. Stuff like this is why I hang out on the HAMB!

 

That's awesome! Very cool @rusty1
I really like the second one with skirts. Although the last one appeals to me too.

 

What Sancho said

 

So close... But between trying to keep this thing and my other son’s car on the lift going, I have about had it. I will be so glad to get all the parts replaced at some point so they will quit taking up all our time as @57JoeFoMoPar mentions. Thanks for the encouragement to keep going guys. I need it more some days than others.

 

You are getting a lot done compared to me. I am footing closer to just stuffing the engine and tranny in. He is at least driving his around. Mine will be drivable in about a year, just in time for me to blow apart my Model a for a frame off resto. So keep up the good work.

Mike

 

...thanks for the comments on the sketches, these were real quickies, and kinda "too new" for me as I have a vintage drawing arm, but I try to push myself into some newer stuff every once in awhile,..glad you guys liked the sketches.
that Edsel would look good drop'd down about 4 inches.

 

Got the radiator fixed and back in then got back on the gas tank. We had to remove the mufflers (technically just one) for it to fit in since the 59 Ford tank is offset to the left some compared to what was in it. Once we got the exhaust out of the way, it wasn’t too bad to mount. We didn’t modify the tank at all, just modified the car a bit. We ordered the straps to go along with the tank and just welded a couple brackets to the frame for the rear mounts. Then, we added some length to the front of the straps so they would reach up to the body where the original Edsel straps mounted. Fairly clean install, but undecided about it being offset some. Apparently, that is to clear the spare tire well in the Ford. That sort of thing bothers me, but doesn’t seem to bother Silas, so we are good.

Next is to go get the exhaust put back together and route the mufflers in the original area outside the springs under the quarters.

 

Here is the tank we pulled out... Not sure exactly what it is other than beat to death and leaky. Someone had modified it at least as far as welding the fill neck in to fit this car. Not sure why they started with such a beat up tank to modify unless it is just all they had. It was a mess.

 

Went for the maiden voyage this evening after buttoning everything up. No more fuel or antifreeze leaks! But, it is pretty dang loud without the Smithy’s on it. But, which one of us hasn’t wanted to drive our old cars without mufflers...especially when we were teenagers. So, a trip to Walmart it was tonight. Hoping to get the exhaust put back together tomorrow if the guy that does our exhaust can get it in. Little by little...