New project and ??s 52 Ford 223-6

[4t64rd]

New project I traded for my fiberglass 27 T body, "A" frame and some 46-48 spindles.

The actual pictures of the lump:
http://home.earthlink.net/~mdandmc/52fORD_3.jpg

And the photoshopped brochure version of my always tentative plans:
http://home.earthlink.net/~mdandmc/52ford.gif

Any critiques of the plans? Grill removal, replaced by a 65 Corvair front bumper, bullets over parking lights, paint the chrome grill surround, re-plate or mirrachrome the bumpers, shave all the trim except rear 1/4 chrome, '53 Buick taillights on extended nubs that the stock ones are on, Flush skirts, 56 Lincoln caps with freshly ground whitewalls (I'm going to drive it), .060 chrome flake over silver roof, The votes are all in, matte 70's butterscotch gold, maybe some gold pearl in it below the beltline. 64 Riviera seats and console, dyed white.

It's missing one of the headlight rings, so I a coupla choices, I have some Cordoba rings, they are an inch or so deeper than the stock rings, or 55 Olds rings.

Whatcha think? Are 'flaked roofs gonna be the blackprimer/red wheels of next year? Not that I'd care, I like the look.

Hope to be able to make reliable enough to drive to the Turkey Rod run this year after a quicky lowering (lowering blocks and cut coils) and the usual rubber and electrical replacements.

My question is, the 223-6 and Fordomatic that are in it run, but when it comes time, am I going to have a hard time finding parts? I was glancing at the PAW pages in the new Rod and Custom and they kinda skip over the number 223 when it lists rebuild and overhaul parts. Should I be on the lookout for a good running 300-6? I heard it's a drop in. Are there any bolt-in replacement transmissions for the Fordomatic? Don't want to mess with any mechanical stuff if it's going to take more than a weekend to accomplish.

[dv8]

Good plan...but I think you need to accessorize it with my 52 & 53 Victorias... two-door hardtops... You could collect the whole set... cheap. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

A small block ford or chevy will drop right in with a swap kit.

[Fat Hack]

I would totally make that thing into a bomber...

Give it a little ass-high rake, pop one cherry bomb onto a sawed off pipe at about the rear axle, stick a chrome air cleaner on it, a couple mid-late 60s vintage speed equipment stickers in the rear side windows, a few neat-o interior doo-dads...and leave the outside as it is!

Gives you a mean buzzin meatwagon right out of some high school parking lot circa 1965 or so...total low buck make-out mobile...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[voodoo]

Don't forget to shave the rear handles so everybody will think that it's a 2 door. I think you can just drop the front spring pockets so there is no need to cut the coils. And change your name to 524d

[lownslow]

get a hold of =mike= ..he had a 54 with a six in it .....as i remember that thing ran like a top .........

[38Chevy454]

If that is the priginal engine, it is a 215 cu inch. That is what I had in my old modified, with the Ford-O-Matic. Mine was 53, but 52-54(?) were 215 and then it got bum[ed to 223, same basic engine.

No real trans options for auto. If the engine is worn out, just replace it with a newer V-8, such as SBC or SBF. The old six is big and heavy, for not much power or size. A 300 six could be an option as well if you want to stay with six power. It is not a bolt-in, but should not be too much difficulty to fab some mounts and make it work. The newer engine (six or V-8) would have the good trans to go with it, not the POS-O-Matic.

[JSM56]

my car has the 223 in it, and has been my daily driver for over a year with no problems. they just keep going. when it finally dies i will throw in a 289 and T5 five speed i have. but until the 223 goes, i'm not going to bother.