1958 Country Sedan project

Ah! So a bad regulator WAS the problem! Since I called it correctly from 3000 mi away, now it's ya'lls turn to tell me why I can't get the backup lights on the old Trooper to light up?? Glad you got the issue resolved Jairus.

 

Back up lights are either a problem with the switch in the tranny (or linkage) and the ground of the socket.

 

Yeah, I messed with the switch some as we also were having an intermittent problem with the old guy not wanting to crank until you rowed the shifter some(and held your mouth just right). I adjusted it and installed a new correct cable from battery to starter to replace the one that had the temporary battery post on the end. He fires right up now and correctly only in park and neutral but still won't display either backup lights. The fuse is fine....same circuit as turn signals which flash fine and I tried a new bulb on one side since I once had both brake lamps go out at the same time but still no lights. A new switch is over $250!!!

 

Jairus, wonder what that roached looking box on your Ford is with the 2 yellow and a blue wire coming from it on the fender wall?? Some sort of switch or maybe a ballast resistor?

 

'Roached' because the Radiator leaks... and that box is the horn relay.

It's $500 to get the leaky radiator recored and about $395 for a new one. Still searching for a better deal. In my youth I was worried about rusty stuff and dirt in the compartment... but today. I don't really give a crap, just want it work or it gets replaced.




Hey, did I mention today that I have heat in the wagon?

 

That's cool.....I'd leave it just as it is too, love the patina on the old cars like yours. Heat is good!

 

Hey guys, qot a question for the 4 of you who read this thread.

I spent some time pulling out the remains of the cowl defrost vents in preparation of building new ducts and discovered a huge leak. The entire windshield rubber, indeed almost all the 53 year old rubber in the car has turned to stone and shrunk. Since the car sat out in the last rain storm Thursday and Friday last week, I pulled it into the garage for a quick exam and found three water trails coming out of the lower rubber seal. Since a new windshield is quite expensive on these old curved glass cars I wonder if squeezing silicone sealant into the lower edge between the glass and rubber might be an option for now?

We are in a dry spell currently and car'll remain inside till Wednesday drying out. I used compressed air and found the three "passages" where I can see water bubbling on the inside so I know where the leaks are most prevalent. But I want to run a bead all along the lower edge somehow forcing the sealant between the glass and the hardened rubber.
Willing to hear your suggestions since I won't be doing this till Tues night or Wednesday.

I also ordered new door rubber which might get here by Wednesday. If all goes well, this baby will be much tighter by the next weekend before the Albany Speed and Sport show and the next big rain storm.

 

Fun reading - grew up with a '59 Squire - black with red/white interior!
Dad was a ford mechanic, and threw in a few 406 parts from a blown-up 62, but with a T-85 O/D and 3:89 gears, even the 352 ran hard enough to give those GTO's a surprise!!! Brother wrapped it around a pole racing one!
Love to find another, but to what avail? He's been gone awhile.
Good luck and keep it coming!

 

I'm no expert on sealing out water, hope you get it worked out.

 

Yay! You found the elusive leak!

That's the good news. Now, how to fix it?

Yes, silicone will work for a while, but we all know how Murphy does his legendary thing. The old dead rubber will continue cracking, shrinking and leaking somewhere else. The only true fix is to get a replacement seal (still reproduced, as far as I know). Fortunately the old rubber should come out in pieces without stressing the windshield. Still, the installation procedure in the Ford shop manual appears to require 2 people, heavy cotton cord, lubricant and some luck; I would really suggest an auto glass shop if (when) you decide to replace the seal (maybe they could use some new graphics for their business). The chrome trim around the windshield is held in by a continuous flat strip in a groove in the seal; great fun to reinstall...

I'm not sure what shape your defroster duct was in when you tore it out to remove it (if the windshield seal was leaking at the bottom, it was probably beyond help...). I was lucky and was able to work mine back into approximate shape, add some new staples to the seams and use Quick-Poly to seal it in a more permanent state.

 

Jairus...nice work so far.
Don't know why i never picked up on this thread. I hadn't realized you bought the school project wagon....

This version of your photoshops is my favorite....


I'm going to throw in a few suggestions as well.....
- As others have said, I think a regular glossy paint job would look better in this application.
- I think the wood 'rail' trim needs to be a bit wider. Lookd to be about 2 - 2 1/2 inches in the photo. Increase it to 3". Also keep the woodtone effect around the windows.
- The 'bolts' in the center of the rails should be more pronounced - this could be more a function of the size of the image though.
- Add some kind of custom chrome 'script' in the rail 'flair' area on the front door.


I'm going to try to make the Albany show as well - hope to see you there!


Marshall

 

I somehow missed this thread, too! Really a fun thread to follow, Jairus! I admire your enthusiasm and perseverance. Old cars can be a PITA or they can be fun if you have the right attitude. You seem to be a bright guy that is willing to dive in and fix stuff because you love that 'ol wagon. Not to mention that you are saving money. KUDOS to you! I'm not a Ford guy but I remember working on them in my dad's garage....your thread brings back memories. Keep at it...that car will thank you and serve you well.
And, by the way, I wear Chukkies everyday!

 

Dave, those are wise words! I will follow through on todays project of drying out the car and applying silicone to the seal for now just to get through the winter. But the search begins for new windshield rubber and hopefully come summer I con a friend into helping me. Because I think I can do it myself or maybe ask my old neighbor to help. (He used to install windshields for a living few years ago. (Its not what you know but who!)
As for the duct.. that is trashed. The water leak left the cardboard a paper curtain which fell apart in my hands. I saved one bit on the upper left side to use as a pattern for making a new set (left and right), which I will connect with flex tubing to a "Y" (easy to create) mounted to the air box. Easier to make and install.... though, not stock. But... I never said I was restoring this ol'beast.

Marshall, I will be looking for you dude! Good ideas but they sound strangely like the stock 1957 sidetrim… I was trying to get away from anything that resembled stock since it is to be hand made. Just thought I could do something custom that was based on the “look” of a stock vehicle. Hope that makes sense. Also… 1957 County Squire’s had to use a special door lock mechanism which extended the locking “fork” in order to reach the mechanism. Note: that the lock cylinder is inside the “wood”? This means the key lock cylinder has to be mounted at least 1/4” or more away from the lock mechanism requiring a longer fork. I finally got the door locks working and do NOT want to mess around with THAT again… so to that end, the wood will veer away from the door locks somehow.

Looking forward to meeting you Marshall! Remember, “Rat Hole Customs” booth!

Thank you Fox! I needed transportation and my income level wouldn’t allow two vehicles anymore so one car has to suffice as both a daily driver and a project. The nice thing is that being a wagon it also becomes a work vehicle driving the t-shirts to local car shows… and advertising to boot with the name of the business and web site on the sides! That’s a triple!
(Chuck Taylors are all I have mostly worn since 1968. I tried others for a time but kept coming back to my ol’black and whites!)

Okay people, today I install a “Cal Custom” big-foot gas pedal and a new/old stock hood release. Happy Tues!

 

I like easy projects!

Years ago when I was married, three kids underfoot, a mortgage and building an addition on our house I would run up against a brick wall somewhere during whatever project I was working on and instead do one of the easy projects I had been saving. Projects like washing the car, mowing the lawn and fixing the fence. Something that showed progress with little effort or thought. It really helped!

Well, I had been saving these projects for a day just like today.
First I changed the oil on the Surf Wagon. Filter too and that is not easy when the nose is so low it scrapes the pavement on most driveways!

Then I installed a nice little gas pedal... :banana:


... and a NOS hood release handle.

While the second one might not seem that important... consider the fact that when I delivered the car to Parker Auto Electric last week, they spent a frustrating 15 minutes trying to figure out how to open the hood. See, the previous owner installed a vintage manual choke pull off cable in place of the hood release.



Time for a beer!

 

Seeing the pic of the new gas pedal makes me want to go........."Yabba Dabba Doo!!" LOL, good job Jairus.