New to this site and I guess you can say new to 57 Fords. Just purchased a barn find - 1957 Ford Custom 300 Fordor, that had been sitting since 1968 for only $1500. I couldn't resist, even if it is a 4 door car. Anyway, thanks for having me here. I was wondering if anyone here has done a 4 door restoration with a donor car. I'm looking for interior and engine pics. If someone could give me some ideas for the type of car. Also in the next few months I will be selling off the interior and engine if anyone is interested. Oh by the way - great site!
First of all 4 doors kick a$$!!! Second. what direction are you wanting to take with your project? and Welcome
Well I have seen many good looking cars in the gallery, but one that stands out for me is the posting of Rich Muise's 2 door. I am all about the original look, but really like the fully redone interiors with donor cars and putting some mad motor in its engine bay. I am full of ideas and ready to get to work after the holidays.
Welcome aboard.....
LOL..I like this guy. Welcome to the site. Gasman is the only other one I recall using later model components for the interior.Gary is actually using alot more later oem components than mine. Mine is actually just front and rear seats, and steering column, everything else has been custom made (console, door, and rear side panels,package tray piece)or modified (dash). Bob (57AGIN) just had a remarkable upholstery job done on his 300 2 door, looks very contemporary, but retained alot of the oem design. If you have any questions..just ask.
Just happened to think, if you do go with salvage yard seats, you'll have a lot more options with your car being a 4 door. I had to find a 2 door donor vehicle for the front seats to fold forwards.
Rich
One of these days when my kids are out of college (they are 10 and 2 now) and I actually have time and money to work on mine, I have always pictured it with 4 bucket seats. a little out of the ordinary but i think it would be cool. I personally want to stick with a y-block. Some of the engine/trans combos I see are awesome. there is room to stuff anything between the fenders. Anything we can do to help we will be more than willing. Just ask
Welcome Resurrected. I also have a 4dr, it is a Fairlane 500. You will have fun! My new projects are, a 351w with a C4, dummy spots, Aerostar front springs and maybe lake pipes. Gotta think about those some more though
Welcome Resurrected,
You could not have come to a better site! We are glad to have you.
Thanks,
Tim :unitedstates:
Thanks all for the warm welcomes and I really appreciate the ideas. I have a couple of ideas for donor cars, but was wondering what I would be running in to when I start. I would like to give the interior a modern feel to it and leave the exterior looking pretty much the way it is, besides the normal upgrades (wheels and paint). I can get my hands on just about any car out there without spending a bunch of money (insurance auctions). I like the 1995-1998 Lincoln Towncar and Mark VIII as donors because of the availability. Has anyone that you all know of used the two listed as donors? I know some would rather keep the 272, but I figured that I could rob the engine from a donor. I'm extremely excited about getting started, I have worked with many restorations, but this will be the oldest car that I have done. As the months go by, I will probably become a nuisance asking a crap load of questions, so please bare with me.
If you'll just slide on down to the engine swap section you'll find all kinds of info on the 4.6 swap. The two guys that have worked on the swap in the past used Mark viii, and the two guys that are working on it now are using Mustang Cobra 4.6's. I'll be doing the '94 Mark viii. As far as the Mark's go, the easiest is '93-95 for sure. I'm getting varying info on the '96 as far as electronics. '97 and newer require more electronics work and $.
Funny you should bring up the Towncars, as until a trip to the salvage yard this past Thursday, I thought the Towncars were fwd. In the mid 90's Lincoln used 3 different 4.6's...unusable fwd in the Continental. the SOHC in the Towncars, and the DOHC in the Mark's. My opinion is as far as the Lincolns are concerned, the Mark is going to be as cheap as a Towncar sohc, so why bother with a sohc?
The primary thing unless you're big time into electronics, is to make sure there is an aftermarket harness available for whatever you're thinking about buying before you buy.
Resurrected, you need to be a bit more considerate you keep it up and Rich will have to buy a bunch of new much larger hats.
Zap- :unitedstates:
That's funny....That's ok, Zap, just leave him alone. LOL
I've got pics of a handful of '57's that eliminates the chances of any head swelling posibilities....like the one in the current issue of Rodder's Journal...a green 300 2 dr. Hard to believe a modified car could be built that perfect..made me sick to look at it....had to wonder how much photoshoping was done on the pics, or if the car is actually that insanely perfect.
Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2012-12-09 07:55
if the car is actually that insanely perfect.
Only a matter of time and MONEY.......
Quote from: Ford Blue blood on 2012-12-09 09:05
Only a matter of time and MONEY.......
Whether the owner built it or not I would have to add talent to that list. Without which it wouldn't be possible.
Zap- :unitedstates:
I don't think I seen that article of the 57 in the Rodder's Journal. Which issue is it in? Have you all picked up the February 2013 issue of Street Rodder yet. Looks like someone has figured out the madness of the 4.6l fuel delivery. The article is called Old-School Modular. Looks like they have a manifold adapter where you can run a 302 intake and use a carburetor. Now that is something to think about.
Ok Rich has me sold on the 4.6L engine swap for my Custom 300. I looked in the engine section and read up on all of the ideas into the swap. It seems all of the research is there. Does anyone have complete pics of the 4.6L swap?
Well Zap, looks like Rich has some mad skills on upholstery, he won't have to buy any bigger hats, he could just make him one.
quote:"Well Zap, looks like Rich has some mad skills on upholstery, he won't have to buy any bigger hats, he could just make him one."
Thanks,but to be honest, and so not to take away from the guys that do, I don't have any upholstery skills, and I'm being as truthful as I can be. What you see is the result of a lot of careful designing around the fact that I don't have these skills, and had to come up with something that I could do as I couldn't afford to bring it to an upholstery shop. That's the reason for the purchased headliner and oem seats. If you look at my side panels, dash and console, you will not see any seams. It's not because I didn't want any, it's because I can't sew. So, if somebody likes it, I'll take credit for the design and color selections and for being clever enough to work around my ignorance. The rest was fabrication, and stretching vinyls, to me not upholstery in the real sense, really, but just craftsy stuff. This is one of those "you can do it things".
This week, or next week I'm going to do the passenger side door panel. When I do, I'll take pics and post them.
It's getting down to 15 tonight...left a space heater on in my garage..hate this cold crap.
Quote from: Re$urrected57 on 2012-12-09 14:28
Well Zap, looks like Rich has some mad skills on upholstery, he won't have to buy any bigger hats, he could just make him one.
Just know I'm going to like this guy, welcome aboard NOOB.
Zap- :unitedstates:
Quote from: Re$urrected57 on 2012-12-09 14:28
I don't think I seen that article of the 57 in the Rodder's Journal. Which issue is it in? Have you all picked up the February 2013 issue of Street Rodder yet. Looks like someone has figured out the madness of the 4.6l fuel delivery. The article is called Old-School Modular. Looks like they have a manifold adapter where you can run a 302 intake and use a carburetor. Now that is something to think about.
Ok Rich has me sold on the 4.6L engine swap for my Custom 300. I looked in the engine section and read up on all of the ideas into the swap. It seems all of the research is there. Does anyone have complete pics of the 4.6L swap?
Well Zap, looks like Rich has some mad skills on upholstery, he won't have to buy any bigger hats, he could just make him one.
Not sure what issue it was..it was at the newstand Wednsday.
I'd sure like Bill's thoughts on the swapping to a carbuated version. Does that eliminate the need for the engine control harness and computer? I wondered about reliability efi vs. carb....having a comment in mind that was made by Bill stating the reason for the longevity of the new moters was due to the engine management. So would that be lost swapping to a carburator set-up?
As far as pics go for the 4.6 swap, go back to the thread with 10k reads, and look for Bob Claborn's link (in blue) to his photo albums
Just finished reading the article. It does require an after market electronics system to provide spark and timing. No idea of the cost as it was not mentioned. Hot Rod Haven is the outfit doing the retro fit of carbs to the 32V 4.6 and 5.4 engines. The ONLY reason for doing that IMHO is for killer looks! The exact fuel and timing control is what gives EFI engines their drivability, longevity and outstanding responce across the RPM range of the engine. Carbs are at best an "average" calculation for fuel/air mixture, EFI maintains a pretty much flat across the RPM/load range fuel/air mixture and has instant optimal timing with changing load conditions.
Nope, EFI and electronic transmission control are it for street cars.
How can you beat a 5200 lb truck pulling a 1500 lb trailer with a 3500 lb car on it getting 14 MPG round trip through the mountains, A 4.6 3V EFI and an electronicly controlled 6 speed automatic in a F150 is how you get there. Never happen with a carb equiped truck. My 73 F150 was living proof.
How can you beat 502 rear wheel HP, 21 MPG@75, ice cold A/C, excellent street manners and a killer sound system? Never get that with carbs! My 70 Boss 302, (307 RWHP), no A/C, AM/FM radio that was only good sitting still and a hand full on the street (although very cool!) was living proof.
Some times the truth just hurts. Killer response Bill, thanks. I had a feeling that was going to be the case, but wanted to know for sure. I have a feeling there would be a hood clearance issue anyways.
The problem I had with the article, it was low on tech info..before and after HP and torque,gas mileage,costs,etc.
I think but with what you said,said(?) the new equipt. avail in that article is going to make for a rise in usage of the Mods for open hood/side rods. Maybe next thing we'll see is a set of cast aluminum finned valve covers. Hate to think what the cost would be on those puppies.
One interesting thing I did take from the article was the width to length ratio compared to traditional motors, with not only the ratio being different, but the 4.6 actually being 3 or 4 inches shorter than the 302.
$1500???? I guess that's a prime example of being in the right place at the right time! Nothing wrong with 4 doors (apart from having two extra doors to repair the bottom edges.....). I'm yet to find a problem that this site doesn't have an answer for so you're in the right place!
What condition is it in & what do you want from it at the end? For an every day daily driver an injected small block with a 6 speed manual transmission would be good, lowered a couple of inches, disc brakes, rack & pinion steering, etc, etc. One of my own talents is mentalling spending other folks money!!!!
Yes appreciate the response Bill. I read more into it and it seems like more trouble than its worth to convert it over to carburetor. I guess I will stick to the FI engines.
Yeah I guess you can say I was in the right place. The funny thing is that the guy that sold it to me, said that he had been asked several times to sell it, but kept telling them no, he finally got tired of being bothered. I look forward to my first 4 door restoration, you don't see many out there, so that alone will be worth it.
As far as the condition goes, its in better shape than I expected. Being outside for the past year has really accelerated the small amount of rust present. The normal areas that you would see rust, but not too bad where you would have to cut out sections and replace. Everything is still present, the engine runs, all electrical works.
My plans for the car is to go with a sleeper look, 4.6L with automatic. Depends on the donor car, looking at the option of using the interior to replace the 57's. So many options available, but I expect to nail it all down by end of this month. I will probably start tear down January. We will see....