'nuther project in the shop

DRD57 · July 17, 2010, 05:59:47 PM

I got a new project in the shop yesterday that should be a relatively quick one (famous last words, I know). It's a 56 Ford Victoria that has already had a 289/C4/8" swap in the past. Now that's worn out and it's getting a 351W/4R70W/and 3.8something gears in the 8".

We're also planning on swapping from manual steering to power steering from ABS Power Brake Inc. They off a "kit" that includes a new box, what appears to be a Saginaw pump, hoses, brackets and a rag joint. You have to cut the old shaft off about 3", grind the shaft to Double D for the rag joint, ream the pitman arm, and bolt it all up. This leads me to my question, Does the column unbolt from the original box or do they have to come out as a unit?

Actually I have a few other questions too since I'm not much of a Ford guy.
Will the 289 starter work with the 351/4R70W?
Will the 289 alternator brackets work on the 351 which now has AFR heads?

WZ JUNK · July 17, 2010, 06:31:40 PM

Ford brackets are real hard to interchange but you might get lucky. Alan Grove told me once that they had to slot most of the holes in their Ford brackets as Ford varied the hole locations even in the same series of engines. Good luck.

I have always like those cars. I owned two once when I was young but I never got them home.

John

DRD57 · July 17, 2010, 06:42:51 PM

this is the one I'm working on

Charlie Chops 1940 · July 17, 2010, 08:10:06 PM

With a '55 grille??? Nice car.

Crosley.In.AZ · July 17, 2010, 08:32:39 PM

Quote from: "DRD57"I got a new project in the shop yesterday that should be a relatively quick one (famous last words, I know). It's a 56 Ford Victoria that has already had a 289/C4/8" swap in the past. Now that's worn out and it's getting a 351W/4R70W/and 3.8something gears in the 8".

We're also planning on swapping from manual steering to power steering from ABS Power Brake Inc. They off a "kit" that includes a new box, what appears to be a Saginaw pump, hoses, brackets and a rag joint. You have to cut the old shaft off about 3", grind the shaft to Double D for the rag joint, ream the pitman arm, and bolt it all up. This leads me to my question, Does the column unbolt from the original box or do they have to come out as a unit?

Actually I have a few other questions too since I'm not much of a Ford guy.
Will the 289 starter work with the 351/4R70W?
Will the 289 alternator brackets work on the 351 which now has AFR heads?

To my knowledge the starters are the same 289 - 302 - 351w.. that would be after market starters , OEM may be different

enjenjo · July 17, 2010, 08:44:10 PM

On the steering column, the shaft is part of the steering box. You can cut the shaft off just above the box, or if you want to save the box, a shaft from a 60s Ford pickup will fit, and is a solid shaft. Just put the pickup shaft in the 56 column, and cut to the right length.

DRD57 · July 18, 2010, 12:23:57 AM

Quote from: "Charlie Chops 1940"With a '55 grille??? Nice car.

Yup! the 56 has a 1" lower roofline than the 55. It also has 56 Mercury wagon tail lights, 55 Olds headlight doors, 66 Tbird seats, a 63 Galaxie console, and a 65 GTO hood scoop molded to the hood.

Charlie Chops 1940 · July 18, 2010, 09:08:12 AM

Just seems so unusual to see a '55 grille in a '56...sorta like putting a '53 Chevy grille in a '54 Chevy.

The '55/'56 Ford hoods are a great canvas for 6 or 8 rows of 3" louvers...I did one for a local guy a few years ago and he still raves over how he loves looking out over them.

Charlie

Okiedokie · July 18, 2010, 10:50:25 AM

Looks like a "fraud" to me.

One of my favorites.

Crosley.In.AZ · July 18, 2010, 01:02:38 PM

i noticed that green jalopy behind the Ford

jaybee · July 18, 2010, 02:20:56 PM

Sharp looking car, Don. Really sharp.

zzebby · July 18, 2010, 04:18:21 PM

And I have a pickup solid shaft with rag joint under the bench. No charge and shipping from AZ will be cheap. Want it ?

kb426 · July 18, 2010, 04:47:51 PM

The 2 common flywheels are 157 and 164 teeth. The nose and block plate will be different for the 2 flywheels. Depending on the header selection, one of the small starters maybe the only choice. I think a 1990 tbird v8 is the more common of the Ford small starters until you get to the 90's explorers. The brackets will be try and see. There are several water pump lengths to deal with.

DRD57 · July 21, 2010, 05:16:02 PM

It looks like the PS kit isn't going to work. The box hits the pivot shaft for the upper A-arm and the shaft end of the box is so long that the rag joint or u-joint would go through the firewall. The car has an original column with the shifter and that's got to stay.

If I re-drilled the frame or the box to move it back to clear the A-arm problem, that makes my rag joint problem worse.

AAAARGH! I hate parts that don't fit.

The customer still wants PS.

Anybody have any leads on putting PS in one of these?

I got the engine and trans mated up but, the plate from the 289/C4 won't work. The starter holes are on a different place on the 4R70W so, I ordered a new plate from the local Ford dealer.

We're using hipo 289 Mustang exhaust manifolds so, starter/header clearance problems should be nonexistent.

sirstude · July 21, 2010, 05:32:50 PM

I know a guy here put a rack in his 56 Ford. Not sure how he did it, and I won't see him for a week or so to ask. Probably used some kind of kit. Check the following site.

http://www.wurthitdesigns.com/