New to sight with questions about 57 Ranchero build

[ACESPACK]

Good evening and Merry Christmas to everybody.
I am finishing the build on a 57 Ranchero for my Dad, who sadly, can no longer work in the shop.
The car is about 85% done.  Need to finish the wiring, install interior, wipers and under dash A/C.
I've built 55-57 Birds, along with others, but I have never installed the front clip of a 57 Ford. (Inner and outer fenders, radiator support and so on) Clearly not brain surgery; but I'm sure there is an order and process to the assembly.  As the car has been painted and polished, I want to eliminate as many chips and scratch's due to a learning curve as I can. Any advice would be great. With that in mind, I'm having trouble finding a quality 57 Ford assembly manual.  Any ideas where to find such an item.  Books for birds, mustangs, and Model A's are plentiful, but I can't find one for 57 Ford. Finally, can anybody direct me to an auto trans rebuilder in my area (Central California) and a club predominantly focused on Fords.
Thanks in advance, Jack 559-392-6444
 

[thomasso]

If you don't already have them you will want a factory service manual, electrical assy. manual, body and trim assy. manual and a parts book.  They may not tell you specific order of assy. but sounds like you have experience.  Assembly manuals and parts books books are important if you are looking for correctness of fasteners ect.  Tape and pad all painted edges.  Shop Manual wiper installation is incorrect, there is info on this site on the correct procedure. These manuals used to be available from Mac's Auto Parts.  I have an extra set but won't be home for 6 mos.  I'm sure other members can help you.  Tom

[Ford Blue blood]

Jack take a little time to look in the various builds in the build threads.  Many folks have discussed the ins and outs of the front clip and all the pit falls, you'll find there are no real "short cuts".  Patience is the operative word!

[RICH MUISE]

A couple of reminders/hints......
The front sheetmetal, believe it or not, is all attached to the core support, which is held on by ONE bolt! That bolt is a special design shoulder bolt, which means that all of the components it captures HAVE to be in place for the"shoulder" to do it's job. There are 3 spacers on that bolt. Whether they end up above or below the "mounting plate" determines the height of the front clip, but all three have to be in place on that bolt to give the spring leaf the proper "gap".
Also, make sure the cowl drain rubber tubes have been replaced before putting the fenders back on.

[ACESPACK]

I appreciate all the responses. 
I have the 57 Ford Car and Thunderbird shop manual and the 57 Ford Electrical manual.  I'll contact Mac's for the others.
Thanks for all the other tips. They're very helpful.

Jack

[57chero]

Thinking back to when I built my Ranchero I mocked it up in primer first, sounds like your passed that, the order I went in was inner fenders first along with core support to frame using the special bolt shims and mini leaf spring and the two brackets that attach to right and left inner fender then hung the fenders loosely then the center nose piece between the fenders with the center bracket to the core support then the front valance bolted to the front fenders and core support and don't forget the left and right splash guards bolted to each fender behind each park lite behind the grill and then the grill and last would be the front bumper along with the right and left bumper brackets that bolt to the splash shields that support the outer ends of the bumper, and a lot of adjusting along the way. Forgot about the hood hinges and hood.

[57chero]

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