1952-59 Ford Working on the '59

The starter bolts to the bell housing, 3 bolts. I had my starter rebuilt a few months back and either I gave them a mis-matched core, or they swapped the nose cone on me.

The 2 bottom holes bolt in from the starter side. The top one is threaded and so is the bell housing. There's not enough room to start a bolt from the starter side. I've decided to strap the bell housing down to the Bridgeport table, indicate the hole. Open it with a "W" drill (.386 diameter) and spot face it for a washer and bolt. I'm shooting for the final drive-train ***embly this weekend.

 

Hope it goes wel.
Regards

 

I'll be okay.. snowing like a ****** ATM though. I'll be in the garage tomorrow (was hoping for tonight..) if we're not digging out.

 

Another 12" of wet snow... busted a branch off my big cedar tree out front. Anyway, got the new 90 degree boots on at my distributor, sleeved then front 2 wires with some sleeve (good to 1400F). Got the throttle return springs on, test fit the air cleaner. Modified the bell housing to take a thru-bolt for the starter (no pix of that). That's it for this weekend.

 

Primed the oiling system on Sunday. Zoom clutch, etc. went on easily. Did a preliminary adjustment at the clutch fork. Engine and trans went in and everything bolted right up. Front end height is about where I expected it to be. Gotta take the camber down on both sides. Still have about 180 lbs to add back on with the bumper, hood, radiator and everything else.

 

Wow, looks like it grew there. Nice job.

 

Thanks, that's what everyone who stops by says. Took 2 big shims out of each control arm, camber is 0, but may change as I add more weight back on the car. Or take the array of boxes of parts off the roof. Hooked up some wiring , heater hoses and we had to open the floor for the shifter a little more. Ran into an interference with the speedo cable and shift rods, need to look at the instructions, which I still have from 1978.

 

Good thing the hood opens like 57 and 58, those dizzy's are the only complaint I have on sbc's. Starting to look like a hot rod...

 

Thanks. I always liked how the hoods opened on these. It makes access a lot easier to the back of the engine. I may cut out part of the pinch-weld lip to give the cap more room.

 

Then you wouldn't like the y block dizzy leaned over 45 degrees. Even worse!

 

This is my first y block, and ****, I forgot it was in the back, I haven't worked on the engine with it in the car yet, I'll take your word for it being pain.

 

Couple of pictures. The shifter is in, had to enlarge the floor hole a bit. Next is the master, clutch master and proportioning valve. A little busy but it all fits.

 

Off today, had a T1/C7 series of facet joint injections done... while I was awake... oww...

Took a few pix out in the garage of the ***embly up to date. Quick Car battery terminals are on. S & K Speed made the battery cables up while I waited. Needed to extend the alternator bracket to get some more adjustment on the fan belt. Oil line is 100% plumbed. Clutch master hose (AFCO item) is in, all bled and have action at the clutch fork, may need adjustment.

 

Looks fantastic, very nice project.

 

Thanks, got a few great helpers. Without them, I'd be 1/2 way where I am right now.

 

wow- everything fits well in there; thought it might be a little more crowded between the master cylinder and engine. Is a sbc narrower than a y-block?

 

Hmmm, I'd say a sbc is more narrow, it's the most popular drop in powerplant ever.

 

Big day, dragged it outside and lit it off. Got the cam broken in, initial timing was retarded so it sounded a bit flat. Fixed that, got the carb roughed in but will go back to it once the exhaust is on. No leaks, oil pressure was an initial 50, dropped down to 40. Charged at 14 volts, temp never got past 180, stat opened and it dropped to 150 and slowly back to 180. Fuel pressure was good too.

Made an attempt to move it, clutch pedal was way stiff for a hydraulic and needed more free play. We'll work on it this week. Today's plan (after it warms up a bit, 33 right now...) is to dig up the seat hardware & install it, get the front belts in, clean off the top of the car and trunk.

 

Everyone who sees it says it looks natural in there. Wider than a 289-302, not sure about a y-block. Everything is easy to access, master, clutch master, etc.

 

Sweet progress, hard works pays off.

 

Congrats...looks great.

 

Put a pair of fake acorn nuts on each valve cover and it might p*** for a Y-block on a quick glance.

 

Thanks all. Took a video but the format is wrong to post here. We'll work on the clutch tonight, figured the pedal would be easy being hydraulic. I did move the pivot point lower, so that may contribute. Have to look at the stop we made up too. I can machine up an "L" bracket so the clutch thinks the pivot ratio is a lot better.

 

"We'll work on the clutch tonight, figured the pedal would be easy being hydraulic."
lol..had to go back and find this....
"No power for me. I don't have anybody's 94 year old grandmother or 7-year old sister that will be driving my car."

 

Lol... good one. But I can take it as well as give it out, all in jest. I wasn't looking for ease, just wanted less headaches with the swap.

 

A little more work, been spending a lot of time on machined parts for the clutch pedal bell crank. Need to make the plate that mounts the master & clutch master out of steel. The aluminum has too much flex and the section where the clutch master mounts is too narrow. But the clutch pedal works very easily. Almost took it for a ride last night (after 11...) but I was talked out of it with having open exhaust and no insurance, etc.

Moustache went back on as well as the grille. Found new j-nuts at Ace Hardware. Still need to pop the headlight ***emblies out to catch the ends of the grille and the splash pan. Painted that using VHT argent silver which was wheel paint. I thought it might be too shiny but it looks fine.

Threw in an artsy night shot with the splash pan in place. Next is to do***ent all the machined parts so CAD drawings can be made up for them. The floor plate has to go back on and I have to make a new seal for it.

 

Looking good.

 

Very nice, I've been waiting for a progress report on your build.

 

Just read your whole build thread....I'm loving everything you've done.

 

Thanks all. Been concentrating on getting the clutch geometry to work the last couple of weeks. Starting to get the body stuff back on and have to finish the seat belts & mount the seat.