Projects My '54 Ford Mainline Project

I have recently, well over the last few months have came to own a '54 Ford Mainline. The thing has been sitting in a field for several years. Prior to that the previous owner shoehorned a 351 Cleveland, yes a 351 CLEVELAND. Well since I have brought this thing home and put in my garage, I have removed the front to redo the suspension and have taken out the engine to send to a buddy to freshen it up a little with a new cam and chrome goodies. The plan for this car is a mild kustom, I want to paint it the original light green with a white top. Put some fiesta caps on it and skirts. I have already purchased most of the stuff to rebuild the front end and new areostar springs to get the nose down to a respectable level. ]

 

Here are some the tear down pictures, hopefully I can start going back together with the suspension this weekend.

 

Congratulations, the ol '54 Fords are really starting to gain in popularity.

You will find a lot of information on the 52-59 social forum and the '54 Ford Club of America forum. HRP

 

Thank you Ill look at those. I have dug around on the '54 Ford Club site a little.

 

Those make nice customs. Looks like you need a windshield huh? That Cleveland ought to make boggie to.

 

Yeah the 351C will be fun, I'm having a lunati cam, edlebrock intake and carb on it. And I forgot to throw in the newest pieces to the car. A new to me speedo that isnt broke, and my Alliance badge. And yes I need a new windshield bad haha, I hope to have this thing on the road by this summer at least drining it around town.

 

Ford Social group is here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/social-forums/1952-59-ford-social-group.282/ You might find this handy there are 3 parts: http://webrodder.com/article/rebuilding-the-1954-59-ford-ifs-part-1

 

I had a bone stock 351c in a 54.... She wasn't a race car, and that motor wasn't shoehorned in, plenty of room....love the 54's don't take much to have a nice mild Kustom

 

Thank you for the links. I am excited about getting this thing on the road.

Yeah this engine fits decent just not the best install I have ever seen, I am having cleaning it up alot. Hopefully she will have a little get up and go to her, but I am not overly concerned on that part of it just want a fun car to cruise.

 

You need a mirror in the shop so Alan can comb his hair! Hahaha!

 

Cool project! Where in Oklahoma are you?

 

Haha yeah that was pretty late that night.

Harrah

 

Some of my engine parts and the N.O.S steering wheel I found.

 

That steering wheel is kool!

 

What do you have for a rear end in it? I own a 53' 4 door that will soon be getting a SBF. I'm guessing that the diff will need to be changed out. Any pics of your setup out back would help! Thanks for sharing, great car!


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Was the human foot NOS as well? Did you put the steering wheel in bed with you so you could snuggle it?! (I'll admit to having wanted to do that a couple times with big scores!) Looks like a nice project.

 

I will snap a few pics for you as sson as I can and post them up. The p/o installed everything so i am not 100% sure what is under there.

HAHA yes it is. I like to snuggle with my parts. Thanks.

 

Much appreciated! Thanks!


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I have not had a chance to look under the car in the rear, because it's up on jacks at the moment with all the suspension on the front off and all my parts are piles around the rear sorry.

 

If you are not running a bunch of HP in your SBF the stock rear is not all that bad it is about an 8" If you run an AOD or C4 you can bolt up the 302/5.0 to the stock rear using a 1981-86 Crown Vic drive shaft and a conversion U-joint like this:http://www.drivetrainamerica.com/p-6076-neapco-2-0291-2c1310-conversion-u-joint.aspx this works on all 1952-56 Fords,because most early 50's Fords used a 3:90 or 4:10 rear end the AOD is the best way to go,I have the AOD 5.0 in my '54 with the stock rear.This picture shows a '53 Ford with a 8.8 rear conversion if you still feel the need to swap.

 

Thanks for the info. Mine has an FMX tranny in it, I dont know much about them but thats what came in it. Frame looks good.

 

Made some progress, I have part of the frame cleaned and primed. I am just doing the front suspension area to the firewall at this time. I am using John Deere Blitz Black mainly because I work for Deere also because it is good cheap paint. I also have most of the suspension parts painted. Hope by this weekend I will have the rest of the front frame section primed and painted, and start going back together with it all.

 

This is awesome info. I don't plan on going too crazy with the horsepower, maybe an intake and cam swap. If the stock rear can handle a mild SBF I'm gonna keep it in there. Would you happen to know how I can figure out what the stock gears are?


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Rendering finished by my talented brother. The impala is his car.

 

I finished painting the part of the frame I am working on. Just need to start going back together with it, it's been really cold out here so progress slow.

 

Nice!!!!!!!

 

Most common rear gears were 3 speed with overdrive= 4:10 ratio,3 speed no O.D. 3:90,Ford-O-Matic 3:54 All of those work well with an AOD but not a good ratio for highway cruising with a C-4.

 

Bought my first car a 54 2 door mainline when I was 14 for 60 bucks. Someone painted it with a brush. I workd for a body shop after school and we mixed a bunch of old old paint together and it ended up army green. It's gone now. A few months later I turned 15 and bought the '54 Vic below. Still have it but my Bro is going to build it for his daughter. Good thing he can build otherwise this thing would be dust.

 

I saw Mainline and immediately thought of this, haha. Looks like it'll be a cool build, I'm following along.