New member intro with a new Country Sedan project.

[MrArt2u]

Hey there 57 Ford Fans,

My name is Art, I'm in Los Angeles. My girl, Amanda, just bought herself a '57 Country Wagon and it's my job to make it safe, reliable, beautiful and fun for her. I've been lurking here for days now, and just got approved to post. This is one of the most informative, and civil, car forums I've found and I'm glad to be a part of it. I'll do my best to search before I post and answer any questions when I can. Thanks for having me!

The wagon is a project but it came with a decent 302/C4 sitting between the framerails. We bought the car last weekend in San Diego and drove it up in the 100+ degree heat, stopping a few times to let her cool down while we enjoyed a milkshake or some bbq. The seller said it was a "running" car. Well, at one point they all were, I guess. This one clearly hadn't been driven much at all in the last few years. The varnish smelling gas, the cracked vacuum lines, no brake lights or current registration. We negotiated a good price (we feel) and asked for the nearest auto parts store, it was going to get a tune before hitting the road for the drive back to L.A. The wagon had different idea. After filling the tires and the tank we headed towards the freeway and the auto parts store. The first stall happened mere blocks away. The second, and AAA calling, stall happened as we were getting on the freeway.

My first thought, on the side of the highway, was fuel issue. The carb was squirting fuel down the barrels so that wasn't it. Still, I checked the gas cap for the "whoosh" of vacuum lock and didn't hear one (Though I may have missed it on the side of the road. I still believe this was the actual issue) Further investigating, I found the points not tightened in the distributor so my focus turned to that. After about a half hour of trying, I gave up and had it towed to my cousin's house 15 miles away, yet, somehow, half an hour from the nearest auto parts store. New fuel filter, pertronix, cap, rotor, plugs, vacuum lines, fuel lines, throttle return spring, transmission fluid, motor oil, temperature gauge,battery cable and clean up of some shoddy wiring, and we were running again. As we were warming her up to set the timing and such, she died again. No fuel going to the carb. My cousin's neighbor suggested fuel pump, I agreed, but added a vented gas cap to the shopping list. That was it, she came to life and we were off on our 140 mile journey home.

The drive was long and hot. Literally over 100 degrees in some spots. The Chrysler 2 row radiator and 4 blade fan couldn't keep her cool enough so we stopped a few times to cool her off, but we made it. I've been working on her every night, getting all the little things working, lights, wipers, turn signals, door locks, etc. This weekend we'll be going to the Long Beach Swap Meet to pick up our ABS brand disc brake kit (Amanda is leaning towards 4 wheel disc brakes) and, likely, their power steering box kit, in addition to a bunch of 57 specific parts we'll be hunting. Once she's safe to drive and stop, a new radiator and fan will be ordered, than the real fun begins, the body and paint! I'll be asking questions about these in the appropriate section of the forum, but if you all have any opinions on ABS Power Brake brand brake kits and power steering kits or choice of radiators, please let me know!

Here's a pic of a very happy Amanda with her new ride after the long drive home. The car was originally solid Cumberland green, the black you see is primer. It will be painted two tone, Colonial White and either the Cumberland or Willow green. Let the good times roll!!!

Cheers!
Art & Amanda

[hotroddonnie]

Welcome from Ontario Canada. Lots of guys willing to help on this site, and lots of info. HRD

[RICH MUISE]

Welcome to the site. That's gonna be one sweet looking ride when painted. Amanda looks happy!
Just a quick comment..trying to get some things finished up before leaving for a day or two....headed south to do a few car museums and the Decatur swap meet.  Power steering: haven't heard anything about an ABS box, but have heard alot of positives about the Borgensen box. Most of the guys that have gone with aftermarket upgrades have either gone the Borgensen route or tha rack and pinion route. Either way should get you good results at a similar cost....the Borgensen is cheaper, but your still left with tie rods, etc to replace that the r & p setup replaces.
Rich

[hiball3985]

Welcome Art & Amanda.   Cool! fender skirts even. Glad you made it home and have many happy hours working on it, the work never seems to end.. Dealing with the SoCal heat also and things aren't moving along to fast with my trans swap..

[Ecode70D]

Hey there 57 Ford Fans,
My name is Art, I'm in Los Angeles. My girl, Amanda,  This is one of the most informative, and civil, car forums I've found and I'm glad to be a part of it. I'll do my best to search before I post and answer any questions when I can. Thanks for having me!
.Art & Amanda

   Art & Amanda  Welcome to the site.  Don't be afraid to ask questions.  There are lots of people here that have done all sorts of work on 57 Fords.  That's right  we're informative and civil.  That's what makes this site the best.  Don't be afraid to post progress pictures.  We like pictures.   Jay

[clusterbuster]

Welcome aboard. Just finished up a front disk brake conversion on my Custom 300 4 door. Most of the kits require you to convert to 15 inch wheels. I found a bracket kit with all the necessary hardware to do the conversion using 78-80 Ford Granada 14" wheels, thus saving me buying all new tires and rims. The conversion uses 82-97 S-10 calipers, 68-69 Mustang rotors and 79 Cadillac Seville brake hoses. The only problem I ran into was the set of bearing spacers that were supposed to be a press fit, were only snug on the spindles. They can't turn as the inner grease seal rides on them. I used a drill press and drilled 2 5/32 holes in each spacer, and then drilled into the spindles about 3/4 inches and installed tension pins. Put some loc-tite in each hole just for good measure. Good luck on your future work, it lots of fun.

[Zapato]

Welcome Art! You stumbled into the right place nothing but friendly and helpful people. Need to watch out for HRD he gets a bit light headed (oxygen starved) riding around in his altitude altered car. Skirts and a roof rack really gives Amanda's wagon a great retro family look,am loving it already. For a fan hit the yards and look for a  70/80s era Chrysler clutching 7 blade fan, very little work to put it on your 302 and will make a world of difference.

Zap-

[Frankenstein57]

Welcome to the club, I'd love to do a wagon, that one looks solid..... Mark

[MrArt2u]

Thanks for all the welcomes, and the tips so far. You have no idea how excited we both are to have this wagon. I've been wanting a wagon for about 10 years now, since I missed out on a 64 Catalina wagon a neighbor was selling. Amanda has never had an old car but she's one heck of a cool gal and LOVES 50's wagons, has been talking about buying one for several years now. My main daily driver is a '58 Chevy Apache, I've done 140k plus miles on it since 1992. The fact that she would date a guy like me that drives a truck like that and take road trips with me in that truck tells you how cool she is. That's why I want to build this thing as safe and reliable as I possibly can. I want her to have a positive experience with it. And, even through all the trouble getting it home last weekend, she was loving it. Positive attitude all the way home. Tomorrow she goes to the DMV to register it. Let's hope her attitude stays positive after that experience!

I spoke to the guys at ABS Brake Supply about a 4 wheel disc kit and their power steering kit. He's putting together a kit at a good price for us so it looks like I'll have a good start to the "safe" portion of the build. I'll document the installation and give you all my review.

I also need to source the correct front seat (it has a newer bench seat in it now) so I can properly locate the mount for the three point seat belts she's requested. (I had to add them to my truck too. And A/C, per her request. In fact, she's already started talking about adding A/C to the wagon down the line!)

We love the roof rack but she is on the fence about the fender skirts. I'll still paint them when we spray the wagon so she always has the option to run them. In the mean time, we're working on our shopping list of parts we need, like the front seat and windshield trim. Hoping to score some stuff at this weekend's Long Beach swap meet if not, "wanted" ads, here we come!

Cheers, everyone!
Art.

[John Palmer]

Art, ABS is located in Orange, just a few miles from my home.  I have several hard core "hot rod" friends that have used their services over the years, and all have had good experiences with ABS.  I spoke with them last weekend at the Labor Day Cruise, and they are very knowledgeable about our 57 Fords brakes and suspensions.  I will be using them for my front disc upgrade on my Ranch Wagon in a few weeks.  I have already purchased a Borgeson power steering conversion box.

Welcome to the group.

[hotroddonnie]

 Need to watch out for HRD he gets a bit light headed (oxygen starved) riding around in his altitude altered car.

Zap-
LOL! Hello Zap

[hiball3985]

That great that she likes the old cars and travels with you in the truck. My wife is the same, we got together in 1975 when I was building my 60 Ford panel and has traveled all over the country with me in it. I finally added air because I just can't deal with the heat in my old age.
Good luck at the swap meet, I found very little in the way of Ford parts there the last time I went but still had a good time.

[petew]

You have come to the right place ! Lots of good info and help here....

[robhaerr]

Welcome!

Love my wagon!

Rob

[Zapato]

Need to watch out for HRD he gets a bit light headed (oxygen starved) riding around in his altitude altered car.

Zap-
LOL! Hello Zap

Tried sneaking that in the middle of a post, yet you found it buddy. Good to see you have your ''A game'' going.

Zap-