1957 Ford Country Sedan mocha silver V8 4dr wagon

[djfordmanjack]

So, not much happening over here except that it just started snowing heavily. Already turned the license plates in with my insurance company, for a winter rebate. it's that time of the year again.
Anyways, my friend Rob just sent me this Restaurant menu (from the place where our local car shows take place). It seems old cars sell more pizza....hahaha.
They never asked me for permission, but I don't care. It is great to see that old cars are still important and well loved today. 



this 1963 hit  says it all....

[djfordmanjack]

Last Sunday, my son and me attended our local car cruise. It is probably safe to say, we had the biggest , and the smallest station wagon in the lot. 








Our friends Herbert and Zsanett joined the party in their 63 Comet, that I had just worked on a few days before.

[lalessi1]

Very nice!

[CobraJoe]

Too cool!

[djfordmanjack]

I am slowly starting to plan on my next projects on the 57 CS. I need to address oil leaks (rear rope seal, draft tube, valley cover, converter seal) and it would be nice to have lower rpms when cruising highways.

Have been collecting ideas and parts for years now (heck.... I have been a member on this forum for more than a decade now, anyways..... how time flies)

There is a very well built 312 Y for sale in Germany, that I know the full history and build and owners, but it is rather expensive (around $6k).
I already have all the parts for another 292 turned into a 312, but it needs building, blueprinting, running in...everything.

So I was starting to think about keeping the old, tired and leaky, but very reliable, original to the 57CS 292 IN the car, pulling the 3spd Fordomatic. Fix all the leaks on the engine (and adding PCV), and then adapt an AOD transmission (which I already have all the parts, trans and conversion kit).

I guess I will only start the project this fall (so I can still drive it all summer long), but it might be a good time to check all of my parts stash, put everything in one place and possibly order needed gasket kits or else in advance. My plan is to have everything running by next March so I can test drive it before taking it on an extended trip to Croatia in May 2026.

Let's see how this works.

[CobraJoe]

Sounds like a fun project DJ!   

[1930artdeco]

DJ, how about changing the rear diff gears? I was thinking about an AOD but since I apparently have 3.10ish rear gears I will postpone that thought until I see how she drives. I should have a higher top end and and get about 18-20 on the freeway.

[mustang6984]

DJ, how about changing the rear diff gears? I was thinking about an AOD but since I apparently have 3.10ish rear gears I will postpone that thought until I see how she drives. I should have a higher top end and and get about 18-20 on the freeway.

My brown Courier had 330 in the rear with a 352 and Top Loader 4-speed. Got about 17 or with tailwind could hit 20 mpg. For what it's worth.

[djfordmanjack]

my CS has a factory 3.56 rear. It is really great around town and in the hills, the wagon feels quite lively. I have another 3.25 gear set, but I think it would take the fun out of mountain roads.
The 0.7 Overdrive with lockup seems just about ideal for dropping highway rpms.

I am still not sure about keeping the old trusty 292 or investing in a hopped up 312 mill.

[djfordmanjack]

btw, Mike. fwiw... my 53 Lincoln (which is a project car and I have never driven) has a factory 3.11 rearend ! The og engine is a 317 Lincoln Y block. so it seems it would have a similar driving experience to your wagon. BUT, the Lincoln has a GM 4spd Hydramatic.

DJ, how about changing the rear diff gears? I was thinking about an AOD but since I apparently have 3.10ish rear gears I will postpone that thought until I see how she drives. I should have a higher top end and and get about 18-20 on the freeway.

[djfordmanjack]

today my friend Rob and me parked our 57 4dr wagons together at our monthly Saturday Night Cruise. As usual lots of different cars attending,



I had been thinking about a minor wheels/tires update on my Country Sedan for years, as I had bought a good used set of neat bias plies but only recently found a set of wheels at an affordable price and reasonable shipping in Germany.
I want the wagon to look like a maybe 10 year old used car in the mid to late 60s. when a young driver could have bought it second hand and updated it with (then) new tires and aftermarket wheels.
So What I have are 7.75-14 US Royal Safety 800 with a thinband whitewall and Superior Typhoon 14x6 Chrome slotted steel wheels, that came out in 1968 and are a rip off of the fancy Ansen slot mag ( which came out in 1963). Of course these are made in the USA, in Van Nuys, CA. I believe it will totally change the feel of my wagon, and I can go back to the full whitewall and hubcaps anyways. This is just a sneak preview, but let me know what you guys think.

[mustang6984]

Look good! Bring them over, and I'll mount and balance them for you on my machines!
We can grill some steaks and saute some mushrooms after and sit on the porch and watch the sun set whilst drinkin' some brews! 

[djfordmanjack]

Well I'd love to stop by in Branson, Mo for sure. Not only for my favorite bluegrass band, the Petersens. But of course for some tire action and a few cold ones.
but, phew, I got lucky and have my own tire mounting machine. that would have been costly to ship across the ocean and back, including myself...haha...thx Hugh !

got something done today. I don't know but this came up in my mind.

and this

this is what the music looks like in pics. 

















edit, I need to add this for period correctness

[mustang6984]

Well...you'd not have had to bring your machine...
Wheels look good!

[1930artdeco]

I am expecting about 17-18 with a tail wind, even not laying into the secondaries. But I am hoping for more, at least I can hope. It is sad that my Model A gets better MPG than the wagon. Granted I am going to be able to keep up with traffic more easily and I get there quicker.