Hello everyone, well fall will soon be here and thats allowing be me to get back at the 56. Not a lot of updates as of late. Today I got a few parts painted, will get a few more done this weekend hopefully and then I can start to re assemble the front end........
The 351C is a beefy motor but it starts to disappear when the sheet metal starts to go back together. lol
Like it but I sure would like to have seen 56 Olds headlights. On my strip and repainted I need the rear left side wind crack repaired also. I like the strong back and have suggested that to the shop that's going to do it. Many cover it up with Merc side trim. Looks great...keep posting.
Nice work, coming along nicely. What did you use for the connector for the heater blower to the inner fender?
The tube from the heater blower to the inner fender is the same tubing I used for the air duct tubes. It is 4 inch rad hose from semi`s and big trucks. Very nice stuff and trims very easy to the correct lengths.
I would suggest turning the clamps around it will be neater looking once fenders are on.other than that it is looking great.
kgdb what are the tags on the firewall? My 56 tag is at the left side seen when you open the door. Looks great, mine has been stripped of all its chrome/stainless by me and I'm having all the paint remove for a repaint. Had bubbling from the first restoration.
They were just sort of in any position in that pic but today I replaced the rubber on the air duct flappers and have them rotated to the back now.
Well, Thanks for remembering me! haha Well a fair bit of progress but noting that would be to interesting in pictures. I pretty much have completed all the mechanical work. Brakes done and a great pedal feel, Steering rack done, new fuel tank, fuel lines all complete, 9" finished and drive shaft complete and in, underhood most all smalls are done. I guess now I hope back on the body. I will run the new harness when I have the body under high build.... and keep on truckin along......
Hello kgdb. Everything old is new again. Had a very good friend in South Carolina back in the early70s who had a 56 post with the same fore (T-Bird bumper/grill) and aft (Dodge tail lights) treatment. At the same time I replaced the 312 Y-block in my 56 Vicky with a 351 Cleveland. BTW, you may have missed a VERY important step when you repaired the cracked rear quarter panels on your car - post #37 The reason the quarters crack (more often on the driver side) is because the quarter panel brace was not sufficiently welded at the time of assembly. This is an "L" shaped reinforcement inside the body that ties the door jamb to the floor pan. Put a few evenly spaced beads on it and your quarters will not crack again. I made this repair on my '56 after a body man tipped me off. People slam doors and this causes the quarter panel to flex and eventually crack at the rear C pillar (like yours did). If you don't tighten up the "L" reinforcement, the quarters will crack again, no matter how good your reweld is. My Vicky has been in mothballs for way too long and yes, I know Y-blocks are back in vogue, but the Cleveland turned my Ford into a tiger and I'm not going back. Love your car. lucas
Thanks Lucas. You could have a point. missing that center pillar certainly does allow the frt of the 1/4 (door opening area) to move slightly. The brace in there looks substantial and well welded in. I will have to give this a closer look.
Hello all, been MIA for a long while now. Soon (December) I retire again for the second time and will be back on the 56, will post updates on the progress.........
Slow and steady wins the race! All mechanical now 100% finished! Back on to the body and its down hill....