Hot Rods 57 FORD Build #2... Glutton for Punishment.

Yep, the die-cast shift collars. First introduced on the Thunderbird in 1958, it was on everything by '64. The full-size cars kept the all-steel '50s design linkage through '62 IIRC. They generally worked fine with an automatic trans, but didn't hold up too well in manual-trans use over time.

 

Your OD handle location looks like where mine was. I removed it when I was cleaning up the dash, I have it somewhere. The cable was ran similar too.

 

Now, if we can just talk Jeff into switching out that FFFFFord engine for one like yours!

 

On my 2nd to last '64 Ford, I broke the shift lever off on a hard 1-2 shift... the lever hit the windshield so hard I thought it would break it. I got a Hurst shifter after that.

 

The setup on that 61 Ford has been argued if it was factory. I watched that a few years ago, that reverse handle is what I was going for. Something tucked under the dash.

 

He just needs a 30 over 390 and he'd have a 396!

 

Every hot rod needs personalization. There's no question in my mind that Jeff, being an artist and having built many cars had a vision and all of the steps to get there which includes "his way". I'm curious what else we will see as the journey continues.

 

Jeff I'm right here looking at what kind of trick stuff that you are doing to your 57 Ford. Jay

 

The one thing to keep an eye on with Ford column shifters is the split pin that holds the shifter handle into the shifter works. With normal teenager use and a three speed that pin has a tendency to start to work it's way out the lower hole. And you with a 4 speed will have more strokes per drive than a three speed.

It became a habit to put a finger on that lower hole to feel if that pin was starting to move every time I got in the car after the first time it had drifted out far enough to twist the handle an mess up shifting .

 

Laugh away... if I could find a front sump pan for a BBC, I'd be thinking very differently. I'm going to rack and pinion steering, which may help my decision.

 

I sure like pics of clean parts. Working on nasty stuff is not my cup of tea. I'm very happy the column shift is going to work out. It will add to the personality of the car. I'm sitting here daydreaming about my youth and wishing you had a healthy solid lifter cam in the sound chain.

 

Bad ass Jeff, four speed on the column is killer.

 

Maybe take a pair of need nose pliers and give that cable a little eyelet at the end. It'll stop the cable pulling out if the bolt loosens off and it may save you a painful bite at some point down the road!

 

Very cool, Jeff. Back in 2019, I went from a column shifted 3 speed to a column shifted 4 speed in my '40 coupe. Because I didn't want any "extra" levers under the dash, I adapted the stock throttle knob to push/pull on a TCI shift cable to engage reverse. I flipped the lever so that it pushed in to put it in gear. When I am going down the road, I don't mind the knob pulled out, but when I park it, I always put the shifter into neutral, push the lever in and it is in Reverse.

Worked like a charm.

 

Excellent work Jeff! With all this talk, I never knew there were this many 4 on the tree cars around!

 

Nice work Jeff. Might I offer a suggestion, get a long piece of heat shrink and cover the cable with it to keep an moisture from getting in and the grease from coming out. Size it so it barely slips over the cable housing and it will seal it up very well.

 

I wish I knew what it was was like to work on clean things. : P

 

I took my front end down to the bare frame, acid-dipped every part to get them down to bare metal. It made a huge difference putting it back together.

 

Cool tip!
Greasing cables old school way is for the birds.

Joe

 

so now the 4-speed cat is out of the bag! way to go, Jeff!

 

I know it’s a 58 with an automatic, but check out the build and detail on this old Ford!
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1...e=dm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022-03-12

 

That is one beautiful Custom 300!

 

Came here to mention this car but you beat me to it. This car did seem very well done, I like the look and the workmanship seems top notch. Doesn't have 4 on the tree, but I'd still give it a pass.