Hey, Just bought a 1953 Ford wagon. Don't know much about wagons but I did ride in them when I was a kid. What repair or modification work on a wagon makes them most desireable? From your SWagon experiences, what kind of repairs get most bang for the buck? Thanks!
NW Florida. Nice choice of station wagons. To me the best bang for the buck would be to make the body look as nice as possible. Maybe not 100% original but keep the custom work simple. Don't chop, channel, or change a lot. After all, this was done years ago to make them look different. Your wagon is different today than those minivans and other boxes. I'd also maybe update the drive train in any way you are able and can afford. A later engine, tranny, etc makes our wagons more dependable. I'm still fond of a carburator but many like to go fullly modern. And I love those old flatheads but you can build a small block Ford or GM for half the cost and headaches. That's up to individual tastes. Check out some of the Florida car shows and see what others are driving.
Welcome Dude Glad to hear it. I know how you feel. What's your Name again? And Welcome to The Best place to be.
Thanks for the help Always rode backwards in the third seat of a ford wagon as a kid, Now I guess I have to drive it!
Thanks guys. Putting in a 302 Ford v8 with AOD for starters. Don't know much on the car yet. Bad photo of the before but I'm thinking of after shot attached?
Just installed Aerostar springs and 2" blocks. Nice stance now, just about 2 1/2 " lower but level FT to RR.
Welcome to the wagon-house! I drive a '58 Ranch wagon daily. The things I would fix besides swapping in a good solid engine would be wipers, heater, radio and keeping the rest of the mechanicals solid. Later you might consider a front disc brake conversion. But be very careful about lowering it too much. The guys who lowered the nose on my wagon used Aerostar springs in the front. I have slightly less than 3" before something hits the ground! Makes even one pot hole or speed bump a very rough ride. Welcome and pictures are more than welcome... because we're guys. We're very visual.
I had a 1949 Ford coupe with a T-Bird clip, 302 and overdrive C-4. I couldn't even go over speed bumps. Not fun. But it got somewhere around 22 MPG.
If you are upgrading the drive train, you need to update some other components that go along with it - most specifically, the brakes. At the bare minimum, you should install a dual master cylinder. Next upgrade would be a power booster and possibly front discs. (Should be a kit available for your vehicle, possibly using components from a Ford Granada) Welcome to the forum! Marshall
