1952-59 Ford Working on the '59

Thanks. The carpet is very nice. It could have been a little wider by the kick panels. This area was hemmed and I have a 1/2" gap on the right side.

I have to call the insurance up in a bit, hopefully I can register it today or tomorrow and get the exhaust done. Engine sounds good, limited driving I've done with it, it has tons of power and the 4-speed shifts well.

 

Took the maiden voyage a little while ago. All insured and registered. Still have open pipes on it, but would that stop us? Me and my buddy Neil (big time car guy) took an exploratory trip down the block around 7:30.

Had one immediate issue, I could shift into 3rd, but had no 4th. I suspect the 3-4 shift arm is flipped. So I went from 2nd to 4th, still driveable. Covered about 15-20 miles all local. Made a gas stop too. The engine ran great and the clutch and brakes worked well. Temperature was steady at 180. Gas gauge was not reading right, will check the ground tomorrow. Ran well on 93 octane.

It was LOUD, trying to get in to have the exhaust done tomorrow.

Steered well with manual steering, no pull or drift, steering wheel was slow to center but I know the toe isn't exact. We will align it when I get the inspection done. Front end height looks good right now.

 

My brother came over early to straighten out the shifter which was just what we thought. Speedo cable is hooked up too.

BIG revelation... and I'm glad the hub caps were off the car. The LR lug nuts were all visibly loose. Minimal damage to the holes in the wheel, will watch it to see if it loosens up. Everything is torqued to 100 FT-LBS. I knew I heard something over the loud exhaust a couple of times. Funny no vibration and I had it up to 55 at one point.

I let my brother take it for a run, he lives for stuff like this. Now the car is in the exhaust shop, I should have it back by 4. Full system to the rear and he's adding flanges towards the front so it can come apart if it has to.

 

Been a busy week, car is registered one week and was inspected the other day. Small oil leak at the tree for the gauge and idiot light persists, thought we had it nailed on Monday. Exhaust is complete but LOUD and raspy with the gl*** packs. I was surprised how well it does stop-and-go with the big cam. We set the timing on Monday night, wound up taking the vacuum advance hose off, set it at 38* at 3000 RPMs and my bog is gone.

A little play in the steering, but my buddy with the shop offered to give me a hand with the alignment. Will have to see if the steering box and drag link need an adjustment. The Ford manual shows what to do, drop the pitman arm, set the torque at the steering wheel and so on. With manual steering, it steers pretty well and the radials to help.

But the car is running well, g***ed it up with 93 octane. It took 17.5 gallons and now I know my gas gauge is good. I took off yesterday (unlimited sick time..) and drove the car a bit, got stuck in traffic and it got up to 200. Not bad but I need a shroud. I have about 85 miles on it so far. Took it to work this morning, everyone likes it.

 

Awesome Bob!! Gotta feel great, and you have a whole weekend to cruise.

 

Hot here now, 92* and higher for the next 4-5 days. I don't want to go too far until I solve the minor oil leak and get the steering tightened up. I may work on the shroud as well.

 

Feels good doesn't it? I was thrilled to death when I finally got mine done. Glad to hear everything is going good.

 

Very nice to be able to drive it around. I'll work on the bugs bit by bit.

I had it in the lot at work (secure with gate) with the windows and hood open all day. People stopped by and looked, lots of positive comments.

The ride home from work was HOT... 95* and humid. My dress shirt was soaked with sweat. The car got up towards 190* a couple of times at lights.

 

The engine in my car runs in the 190-195 range consistently. I don't think its anything to worry about.

 

Same here, it got up to 200 earlier in the week, I have 50-50 coolant in it and a 3-row radiator. I will hang a shroud on it soon... order a pizza and cut up the box for templates. I used partial shrouds on my stock cars and even that helped.

 

Fixed my oil leak at the oil sender. Took out my multi-piece br*** fittings, replaced it with 2 pieces of galvanized NPT, a 2" ****** and a simple tee. Aligned the deck lid so there's no more metal to metal contact and cut up a pool noodle for an interim gasket. The ride is quieter.

Went to a cruise on Friday night (Bellmore train station, pulls in easily 300+ cars), took a busy road out (Route 27) with loads of lights and the car ran cool although it was around 94*. Lots of good comments on the car and one nice looking lady sat behind the wheel and her husband took her picture. We came home via the Ocean Parkway. At the Jones Beach water tower, I came within a couple of feet of getting creamed by someone who was confused by the signs and lane markings. Other than that the car ran well. I took it up to 4000 RPMs a couple of times and it pulled strong.

Last night went to a smaller cruise in Deer Park, a 10 minute ride. It was still hot at 6 PM, 99*. There was maybe 100 cars there. I got a good spot, went to McDonalds next to the lot and we had dinner in the AC. Stayed to about 8, saw a few friends and talked with a bunch of people. All in all a good car weekend despite the heat.

 

Awesome.........fun, aren't they?! I love these cruises and shows.....something new for me as a participant.

 

The cruises are fun, get to meet interesting people. I think this German couple was interested in buying the car, they asked if it was for sale and I told them no. But $40k would have gotten my attention.

The Friday night cruise was the farthest I've gone to. About 17 miles one way and 23 back along the ocean. I have about 160 on the car so far.

 

Had the car out last night, went to the bar then me and a buddy took a ride around town and a little further. I have a leak from the 4-speed that I need to address, most likely at the countershaft at the front of the case, so I'm not going far until I fix it. It was fairly cool at 10 pm, around 78* so it was a nice ride.

 

Since mine was my first ever build,with nothing untouched or modified, it took me quite a few short drives to finally get enough confidence in what I did to start taking longer ones. One day I realized I went 180* from waiting/listening/watching for something to happen to fully expecting nothing to happen. As long as you've been doing this, it won't take you long I'm sure.

 

I've had a car so far apart except for stock cars and those you had to sort out fast.. or else you didn't get to race...

The logical progression is down the block and back, around town for a few days and adding longer trips like you've done. My car is LOUD, has zero creature comforts and it has been around 90* for weeks now.. and humid.

I have a new brake system, hydraulic clutch (my first), new engine, 100% new wiring and electrical system. The engine has been great, I had everyone telling me the flat tappet cam was going to fail on me. Right... I always took the road to make sure the car would be pretty good out of the gate. Definitely spent enough money along the way. And me and my helpers have a reputation to uphold.

I'm getting comfortable with the big cam and the 4-speed in stop and go traffic. I need a tad more rear end gear with the cam. I have a 3.56 so it will be 3.73 or a 3.89 posi or locker. The car pulls strong in 4th gear, shoves me back into the seat pretty well.

 

You should try having a y block with a big cam. By everyones account my motor shouldnt be running by now.

 

The HAMB boards here are pretty civil. Other ones... what a bunch of fear ****ers. I made the one-time mistake of telling what I do with a cam to make sure it is a success. Now I keep it to myself and I've probably done 40-50 of them over the years. Anyone here I would help.

 

I was out with the car all weekend, between the rain showers, but the Newport wipers work well. I probably put 50 miles on it including some real stop and go on Sunday, temp was up to 225 or so, but came down fast once I was moving. Gotta look into making a shroud or add an electric fan.

I was coming out of a store on Sunday and there was this older (maybe 65...) guy looking at my car. He asks... what is that, a '48? I told him that he really knows his Fords, have a nice day.

 

Had one just like it except it was green and ha 4 doors and said Buick on it.

 

That WAS the guy...

 

I'll bet I've had at least 4 different people in the past 6 months tell me mine looks just like a Chevy they or their dad had. huh?

 

They was raised by wolves or chained to a post in the ba*****t....

 

Too funny!

 

Out & about in the '59 last night with my son Dan riding shotgun. It was a pretty cool night and quite comfortable in the car.

 

Haven't done much on the car due to the heat lately, a balmy 91* right now. I did take it up to my friend's shop yesterday, changed the oil and filter. Tightened the drag link and the steering is better, adjusted the rear brakes. Learned that my oil plug was seeping a little, we teflon taped that up. Determined that the transmission leak (4-speed) was probably due to it being over filled. We wiped everything down and can watch it.

I have to make a new brake line from the master to proportioning valve, I have a very minor leak where it goes to the master. Went under the whole car, checking hardware to make sure it was all tight. Figure I have about 350 miles on it now.

Been driving it a bunch, down by the ocean at night, taking in some local cruise nights. It ran hot on me Friday night, stuck in traffic at the cruise location, so have to look at shrouds.

 

Bob...was it you that was looking for someone parting out a '59? A friend/57fordsforever.com member is parting out a '59 wagon. He would prefer to not ship large parts. He lives in M***. near plymouth. I can make the contacts if you need.
Jay has a really neat collection of cars...been hot roddin' all his life. In his collection is a real sweet, rare, 57 E-code (factory dual quads) business coupe

 

57Joe3MoPar was looking, but I'm interested as well. Thanks.

 

Took off today, had a pain management appointment and since I have unlimited sick time, I drove the Ford all day. I get a lot of weird comments, one guy at a light was asking me what was making that noise... guess he was referring to the cam sound in the exhaust. On the "when are you going to paint it?" questions, I tell them I'm not since it "ticks" people off that its not painted... can't put a price on that.

Ordered a radiator over flow bottle from Dorman... local parts houses have got squat... must make fortunes selling air fresheners. Have a radiator shroud on order from Summit.

New problem. Was leaving a cruise night about 10 with my buddy Neil riding shotgun. Left quietly, not much rubber and only chirped the 1-2 shift. I'm heading south to catch the Ocean Parkway home (no traffic lights) and I'm 1/2 way to Jones Beach and I lose the dash lights.

Got headlights and the brights, dimmer is okay.
Dome light works.
Gauges work, just not lit up.
Tach works, not lit up.

Get home and:
No running lights, meaning front parking lights and taillights.
Have brake lights.
Front directionals (at parking lights) both work.
Rear directional (at taillights) both work.

Battery is fully charged, charging at 14.1 volts.
Ignition switch is new (NAPA).
Head light switch is new (Kwik Wire)
Dimmer switch is new, also Kwik Wire.

Harness is after market and everything up to now has worked. I'm going to look at it over the weekend, starting with the fuses and going over each circuit, will look for disconnected or pinched wires. I have the harness schematic.

Hmmm..... directional stalk was absurdly loose the other day, just tightened it up. Maybe there is something pinched in the column.

 

Finally looked at my dash and running lights issue. Pulled all fuses, they were fine. Plug to the HL switch was tight. Gauge light terminal strip, everything tight, nothing out of place anywhere. So it looks more and more like a bad HL switch.

Pull the switch out of the dash, my buddy Neil was over so he goes through it with a test light, one terminal, no power, I made up a jumper and he jumped it off something else hot, everything worked. Winds up that I had a solder sleeve connection where the power from the fuse block jumps off to another position that was bad. This is the heavy gauge red wire.

I had enough things around and we soldered those wires together and covered it with a piece of shrink sleeve, good and tight. Now I can prowl at night again.