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Hot Rods Pix of '55-'57 Ford Gassers - the "other" Tri-Fives

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Just Jones, Jun 25, 2010.

  1. J.Barrett
    Joined: May 2, 2007
    Posts: 140

    J.Barrett
    Member

    So today i went and bought a 55 ford, story was it was a 60s gasser, i get to bring it home in the next week or so, it had a 390 in it back in the day i guess, straight axled, its pretty damn cool, and i want to thank all of you guys for all of this inspiration, i never read this thread untill tonight and now i cant stop day dreaming about what i am going to do....
     
  2. Just Jones
    Joined: Jan 11, 2005
    Posts: 928

    Just Jones
    Member

    Hey guys, glad this thread has had something to offer you. I got it going a while back when I was doing research for my own 55/56 build, and realized pretty quick that there wasn't much out there about these beauties. Barrett - post some pictures of your new project when you have a chance, alright? - Jones
     
  3. Early Times
    Joined: Jul 29, 2011
    Posts: 2

    Early Times
    Member
    from Chicago


    This is the car now, It was my sons car back in those pictures, then he sold it, and I got it back a few months ago, looked pretty much the same with a few things added. I changed most of it up and heres how it stands as of this month.

    [​IMG]

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    droppedstepside likes this.
  4. OahuEli
    Joined: Dec 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,243

    OahuEli
    Member
    from Hawaii

    Early Times that is one bad ass '55! What drive train are you running?
     
  5. Just Jones
    Joined: Jan 11, 2005
    Posts: 928

    Just Jones
    Member

    Agreed. Thanks for posting the pics! That is one bad ass Ford to be sure. Makes me remember that I need to get back to work on mine.
     
  6. Early Times
    Joined: Jul 29, 2011
    Posts: 2

    Early Times
    Member
    from Chicago

    350 SBC, comp thumper cam, double roll timing chain, lifters, holley intake & carb, electronic ignition, 55 chevy wheel well headers, 350 trans, needs a converter, ford 9 inch with 410 gear.

    Will take some new pictures soon, has different wheels and little odds and ends on it since those pictures were taken.
     
  7. shoprat
    Joined: Dec 23, 2006
    Posts: 1,109

    shoprat
    Member Emeritus
    from Orange, CA

    :(:(:(:eek::eek::eek: Don't take it personal:D
     
  8. "needs a converter",No,It needs a Ford engine and Ford transmission.:mad:
     
  9. OahuEli
    Joined: Dec 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,243

    OahuEli
    Member
    from Hawaii

    Haha, I knew some of the Ford guys might comment on the sbc. I'm a Ford guy myself but my '51 Ford F1 project came with a 350/350.:eek::eek: I plan on dropping in a Y-block in a year or two. The chebbys are okay I guess but a move to a Ford motor is a move up! I imagine a 390 or 427 & toploader would really put a grin on your face.:D Looking forward to the new pics.
     
  10. J.Barrett
    Joined: May 2, 2007
    Posts: 140

    J.Barrett
    Member

    here is my new gasser project. i just picked up this 55. it came out of north highlands Ca, story is it was built in the 60s.. econoline axles front and rear. and steering, had a 390 and a 4 speed, the trunk lid is shaved with a choke cable pull to release the trunk, battery was in the trunk. its pretty solid.

    once again thanks to everyone in this thread for inspiration..

    [​IMG]


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    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    the last tag on the plate was 1965

    [​IMG]
     
    droppedstepside likes this.
  11. Just Jones
    Joined: Jan 11, 2005
    Posts: 928

    Just Jones
    Member

    Dang! That's a real-deal street freak. Somebody put some money into building that somewhere in the past. Congrats on the find! - jones
     
  12. J.Barrett
    Joined: May 2, 2007
    Posts: 140

    J.Barrett
    Member

    stupid question. difference between a street freak and a gasser.
     
  13. J not stupid at all,seems many dont know the differance.......gassers were a class of drag car with set-ups for racing,however street freaks were a "over the top" version of what we saw at the track,mostly higher and wilder in paint etc. it was to get attention when crusin...........the first two i believe are gassers.......the others are streek freaks.....
     

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  14. J.Barrett
    Joined: May 2, 2007
    Posts: 140

    J.Barrett
    Member

    Meatball, Thanks for the response, looks like my street freak is going to get transformed into a gasser, lower in the rear, cut rear fender wells, 429 with a 4speed hopefully.
     
    droppedstepside likes this.
  15. thats too bad its got a bitchin stance and the body is very cool,hope you can copy or save the inside,looks like a super tach cup on the dash,,,,,,,Im stuck with the high and mighty look my self
     

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  16. J.Barrett
    Joined: May 2, 2007
    Posts: 140

    J.Barrett
    Member

    my plan is to do the interior to look like it does. get all the garnish mouldings rechromed. body will stay as stock as possible, i really like the thrid one in your last post..
     
  17. I driven a couple that were really nose up,didnt care for it,hard to see and didnt handle all that great even compared to my 56 chevy.....good luck
     
  18. J.Barrett
    Joined: May 2, 2007
    Posts: 140

    J.Barrett
    Member


    i will keep that in mind. Thanks!
     
  19. OahuEli
    Joined: Dec 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,243

    OahuEli
    Member
    from Hawaii

    Man that ought to be fun to drive when you get it done! Good idea with lowering the rear end, might consider the front a little bit too. Meatball has a good point, if the nose is too high its hard to see around. From what I remember when I was a kid, (uh oh!) lots of the gas class cars had the rear end at or near stock height, with the front end raised just a few inches. A slight nose up won't hurt. The street freaks were popular in the '70s, but I remember the street cars in the early '60s that copied the Gasser class cars didn't have a whole lot of height in the front.
    Here's a suggestion; take a picture of your car from the side with the sun behind you, or at least no shadows, and I'll photoshop a couple different versions for you. If you can, use a digital camera as the pictures are clearer and easier to work with.
     
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2011
  20. J.Barrett
    Joined: May 2, 2007
    Posts: 140

    J.Barrett
    Member

    awesome. i will get tha picture this weekend! thanks alot
     
  21. OahuEli
    Joined: Dec 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,243

    OahuEli
    Member
    from Hawaii

    I'll keep an eye out for it. Btw, last year I photoshopped of a '55 Crown Vic into a gasser style look and its in my Photoshop album. This may give you an idea of the front and rear height I was talking about.
     
  22. J.Barrett
    Joined: May 2, 2007
    Posts: 140

    J.Barrett
    Member

    i just looked in your photoshop album , the crown vic has the perfect stance in my opinion. you are handy with photoshop. last time i tried to photoshop a car it looked like a 5 year old did it.
     
  23. Normbc9
    Joined: Apr 20, 2011
    Posts: 1,121

    Normbc9
    Member

    Here are some for a look at. All were good fast cars and all made some lasting impressions on the competition. The '56 Ranch Wagon was from Ford Racing and it has a triple duece 312 with a four speed. It garnered some serious attention from many. The parked black on is a blown 312 and he regularly took home the first place trophy for his class.
    Normbc9
     

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  24. OahuEli
    Joined: Dec 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,243

    OahuEli
    Member
    from Hawaii

    Thanks, its definitely a learning experience and I'm still learning.
    I really want to build a '55 or '56 Crown Vic like the photoshop, with a 427 side oiler and toploader. Maybe someday..., thats why I like this thread so much, it keeps the dream alive.
     
  25. J.Barrett
    Joined: May 2, 2007
    Posts: 140

    J.Barrett
    Member

    that would be bad ass!!!!!!!! a friend of mine has a 56 crown vic sittin in his collection and slowly being built, but he is building a 59 ranchero gasser right now. 429 4 speed, its going to be bad!
     
  26. OahuEli
    Joined: Dec 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,243

    OahuEli
    Member
    from Hawaii

    Can't go wrong with big block Ford power. The '56 F-100 that is my avatar had a 1970 429 and toploader in it. It was a blast to drive and passed everything but a gas station. I have another one on the engine stand now and its hard not to drop it into my '51 F1 but it'd eat too much gas. Darn!
     
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2011
  27. OahuEli
    Joined: Dec 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,243

    OahuEli
    Member
    from Hawaii

    Man that Ranch wagon motor is some SERIOUS eye candy!
     
  28. mjlangley
    Joined: Dec 11, 2008
    Posts: 196

    mjlangley
    Member
    from SE MI

    Hey Early Times-

    Do you know if there were any issues with 55-57 Chevy headers in a Ford? I have a set for BB Chev in a 55-57 that I was hoping to use on my 460 by changing the flanges. I was hoping that the 55-57 Chevy chassis is similar enough to the 55-56 Ford...
     
  29. carlos
    Joined: May 2, 2005
    Posts: 1,387

    carlos
    Member
    from ohio

    All though I lean towards chevy power but like em both the 429 is a killer motor Had one also in a 56 bigwindow torq out the ass and tough motor to kill.Something most people dont know the 429 was like 11.2 to 1 compression and came from the factory rated at 365 horse in big thunderbirds.weakest part on the 429 was the push rods bent a few but I was prone to wind it to tight:DWould definitly do another one,the heads on the 429 are sweet biggest intake ports you will see and smooth they look as if they were ported
     

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