1958 Country Sedan project

Yep, what JMT says - it just keeps getting better.........

 

What a Cinderella wagon! Great work.

 

Thanks guys!

After some lady ran a stop sign and wrecked my '90 Taurus I had hoped to find another Taurus... this one a wagon, to haul our t-shirts to shows.
But my partner Mark Adams said an older wagon would be much cooler. So he found the "Surf Rat" on Craigs list, and the rest is history.

By the way, the Rust-O-Rama show on the 19th marks the third anniversary of my owning and driving this little machine.



I'll probably be buried in it.

 

That's a great pic!

 

Well thank you!
Here it is two weeks later and two more car shows under my belt. Now looking forward to "The Carousel Cruise" car show.
But the car is going into the shop for a new transmission flex-plate FIRST.

You see, I pulled the noisy starter last weekend and found the drive gear was nearly ground down to nothing!
Really don't know how it was getting started... but figure the flex-plate must be just as bad.
Waltz rebuilders replaced the starter drive on warranty... but they warned me it would only happen again unless I did something about the ring gear.
So... Sam's Transmissions is trying to pencil me into his busy schedule.

 

J, so glad to see you enjoying the '58, going to the car shows and such. Good for you. Loving the new back bumper and your grand daughter's a sweetheart!

 

Enjoy to the max! :2_thumbs_up_-_anima

But, the saga of owning and driving a vintage car continues.
You see, the starter motor continued to become louder and louder the more I used it. Got to the point I hated to start the car around small children.
So pulled it off two weeks ago and saw that all the teeth on the starter drive were ground nearly down to the shaft.

Should have taken a pic then, but was so disheartened that I only wanted my car fixed so took the device back to the rebuilders on warrantee and they replaced the drive. Same starter tho.

The guy said that the ring gear was the problem so I talked to Sam at "Sam's Transmission" about using his lift and services.


He ordered a new flex plate and I spent 7 hours pulling the trans and replacing the flex plate.



Yup, something I thought I'd never see....




Short story is that the trans fluid and pan were in good order and Sam felt the trans was in good shape for it's age. But once back together the starter still gave me bad vibes. So I took it back to the rebuilders where they gave me my money back after 14 months of use.
Sam hit the phone and one hour later a brand new starter (less then the rebuild) hit my lap!!!!!!

I know good gear mesh!
When that starter drive slides home I simply love the sound.
Now I just sit in the car turning that key over and over and over listening to beautiful mechanical precision. *sigh*




Can anyone please spring for gas so I can actually drive it now?

 

Looking good Jairus

Question - what did you use for the roof rack? I might have to do something like that when my family gets a little older.

 

They are Yakama drip rail clamps to which I added two stainless steel pipes because the ebay find came with-out the crossover tubes. They are made for hauling boats, surfboards, skis and canoes.
I would have used vintage drip rail clamps and cross overs if I had them.

Of course a vintage roof rack period 1957-58 would be boss too!

 

At what age can you haul a family on a roof rack?:confused:

 

Age 18 in most states other than Puerto Rico where it's legal at 10.

Why, do you think my starter will fall off? Will I go blind?

 

That last one is a personal issue!

 

If I have any more kids, I might need to start strapping them to the roof! With three kids already I only have one spot left in my six passenger wagon. Plus all the additional luggage that comes with them.

Jairus - thanks for the tip on the clips

 

Well... driven lots of miles during the last few years.
Wouldn't know how many exactly, because the speedo still doesn't work.
But... went out to the car Tuesday to run an errand and found the left rear tire flat. Nail picked up off the road was the cause.

Pumped it up to pressure and left it for a half hour while I called the local tire store. In a half hour it lost 5lbs of air so I knew I was okay for a while.
But in that half hour I found two matching tires and Bob at OK Tires said he could get me in right away.

You see.... I swapped two of the old tires about 6 months ago.
The ride improved 100% so I started saving my pennies for the remaining skins. The nail found in one of the two remaining tires was the straw... and so the Surf Rat now rolls on new skins.
Ride is better and Jairus happy.



Oh... and I also replaced the broken emergency brake cable couple weeks ago so it's now safely parked on the hill, at the curb, without needing the tire resting against.
Yet another plus.... and I LOVE THIS CAR!



(Should I rename it TARDIS?)

 

Been an interesting week.
Haven't had to open the hood for a couple months. Car very dependable and ran a lot of miles on it including multiple trips out to Silverton and once to Lincoln City. Just needed gas to keep it running... till last week.
I hit the gas pedal once in mild anger on Lancaster blvd. and the engine jumped forward on it's engine mounts and chewed up the radiator. Or should I say the fan did the job since there was only a 1/4" of space between.

So.... time for YET another radiator.
No money for another poor vintage copy from U.S. Radiator, so I went with an aluminum piece for half the price.

I also pulled the fan off the pump shaft and took the curved tips off with a hammer and anvil. Pounding on it was very satisfying!
The result now provides 1/2 inch of clearance between. One thing I noticed is that the fan noise increased. The curved tips were probably there to reduce that turbulence. Oh well.

While I am not totally happy with the look of the new radiator because it's not vintage, I do like the fact that it's more efficient and has a radiator cap designed for an overflow tank. This means the radiator stays full all-the-time regardless and I don't gotta take the cap off!
So, now I need a cool overflow tank to bolt on here...


A friend suggested I use a JD bottle.
Which I happen to have one handy, but need to empty it first.... mores the pity.

.... but I am open to anyone with a cool idea for an overflow tank. Doesn't have to be opaque, but should probably be so.


Also taking the time in our unseasonable warm weather to tackle a new high beam light switch.
Only... I don't know why there are 5 wires down there.
One is not even hooked up!?!?


Wiring diagram in the book only shows 4 wires with two of them going to one pole.
Any ideas?