I have had a major accident with my country sedan starting in gear and wiping out the front end of it. I am wondering which if any of the body panels are interchangeable. I basically need a front clip of body work, core support, inner fenders, splash pan, grill. etc. will a fairlane, galaxy, or ranchero body parts work. Thanks for any info.
Been there, done that! Last time I'll ever start a car by reaching in!
All '57 fords are the same, except for trim holes, from the firewall forward, regardless of model, so everything you're needed can be had whether it be the custom, fairlane, ranchero, wagon, etc.
BTW, "galaxie" model didn't start until '59., and all '58 stuff will fit, but it's all different.
All front sheet metal and structural parts from any '57 will fit. Also, the '58 parts will fit but then you'll have four headlights and a scoop on the hood.
Sorry Rich, I guess I was typing at the same time as you.
LG, we both forgot to mention the '58 fenders will fit, but have to be used with '58 grille, bumper,nosepiece. And of course it won't look like a '57 anymore.
Thank you guys for the quick and informative responses. I will never start the car that way again either. Now let the parts hunt begin.
I would say check to see if your inner fenders and core support can be straightened. Even the hood hinge mounts.
Then you would just be looking for front fenders, gravel pan and bumper, grill. Try to salvage all the parts you can. All the bolts and little brackets.
Otherwise you are really looking for a parts car with a very clean front clip.
Check to see if your front frame section that holds the front fender group is still good.
I happen to have that frame section cut out from a parts car.
Also have extra hood hinges. Unfortunately shipping would be killer.
Post some pic's so we can see what you actually need.
Ron.
Timing is everything.................I was in Indian Rocks Beach last week and could have brought you most everything you need. Shipping from Louisville would not be inexpensive!
John
Quote from: KYBlueOval on 2021-05-05 04:52
Timing is everything.................I was in Indian Rocks Beach last week and could have brought you most everything you need. Shipping from Louisville would not be inexpensive!
John
Sounds like a road trip to me!
Quote from: terry_208 on 2021-05-05 08:44
Sounds like a road trip to me!
Chance to eat some different food! LOL!!! Load up the parts, bring the appetite and hit the road! :006:
The days of the 200.00 Front clip are long gone, I used to see a new front clip every year at the La Roadster show. I never bought one seeing I only needed a couple little things.
Quote from: KYBlueOval on 2021-05-05 04:52
Timing is everything.................I was in Indian Rocks Beach last week and could have brought you most everything you need. Shipping from Louisville would not be inexpensive!
John
i am always up for a road trip if that is what it takes to get it done. i will let you know exactly what I need sometime next week, waiting on insurance company to get back with me. thank you.
Don't know if this needs mentioning but (hardtop) 4-door fenders are shorter than 2-door fenders FYI
really ? why would that be? when all hoods, front panels and cowl panels are the same on all models?
I thought they are all the same, :deadhorse:, but Hardtops of the same series share the same trim, even the club coupe
also see attached.
From the tech images posted here.
I've never heard that before. I've always been told, and reiterated to others, that everything forward of the firewall is the same on all models, except for trim holes.
Quote from: djfordmanjack on 2021-05-13 14:02
really ? why would that be? when all hoods, front panels and cowl panels are the same on all models?
X2 What dj stated
Been switching front end parts for years. So far the only problem that I found was difference in holes or no holes for stainless.
Quote from: Ecode70D on 2021-05-13 18:51
X2 What dj stated
Been switching front end parts for years. So far the only problem that I found was difference in holes or no holes for stainless.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ditto...always bought what ever I could find and went with that. Never had any problem...other than people hitting my damn car!
Greaseball, please advise how you came to this information. It is counter to all available information.
The rear quarters are different, maybe someone got their facts mixed-up.
The front mount under the radiator is different on Skyliners.
Ron.
I was told the fenders were shorter on the 4-door Fairlanes because they used the same dimension doors up front in the 4-door, but they bumped the door forward a few inches. That's why a 4-door hardtop door fits a 2-door, because the fenders don't fit, "there's a gap".
I think John at Big M told me that a long time ago.
Very interesting proposition, but IDT it is correct. There would have to be a Ford part listing for 2 different 57 and 58 Ford fenders and never seen or heard of one while being a 57 afficienado for half a century. Where is Kultulz these days, he should have or be able to pull up historical info like that if it exists.
Big M deals mostly in Mopar stuff, right? Could he have been talking about a 57 Dodge 4 door hardtop perhaps? But, even with Mopar that seems like it would be a very odd approach for the mfctr. (Not flaming Mopars, I have several).
Never had a 4 door hardtop anything, so idk. But the very few 4 door hardtop Fords I have seen, the fenders appear the same as every other 57 or 58 model. You have a long door and a short door, door top frames varying by body style and model.
Stamping a whole new large panel like a fender for a low volume body style seems an unlikely approach though. Somebody here must have a 4 door hardtop 57 or 58 Ford, so go measure your fender length if you have one.
But the 57-58 cowls are basically the same below the windshield frame and cowls also have the door hinges which determines front of door location and rear of fender location. So, a shorter fender would seem to also require different inner fenders and who knows what else.
It is possible that a regular fender could be factory modified to be a special purpose unique fender though. An example would be a 57 Desoto Firesweep fender which is really a 57 Dodge fender that the section ahead of the wheel was partially cut off at the factory and a different leading edge of fender welded on and having a different headlight mounting panel welded to it.
I have both those Mopar cars and it appears to be true, but it was done to essentially make a Dodge that looked like the more costly Desoto. You can graft the front 12" of either of those fenders to the fender of its sister brand along with the appropriate headlight mounting panel and it will work on the other brand. But, that was a unique situation to Mopar. Still the same overall length though a different front profile.
I am positive all models of 57 Fords used the exact same fenders, only difference is trim holes . 2 doors have longer doors than the front doors of a 4 door. Rear 1/4 panels are certainly different between 2 door and 4 door, as well as Custom/Custom 300 vs Fairlane/Fairlane 500, but all the front sheetmetal is the same.