Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Hello everyone. I am back after a long break. I originally had a 54 Coupe and it just needed too much work. I sold it to a friend and picked up a 55 Fairlane. I have had it a while now and have been tinkering with it. It is road worthy and a blast to drive. I have done Granada discs and Aerostar springs, front cross member as well as a good cleaning. I have a huge list of things to do, but am glad to be back.

Some projects take a little longer than they should because I have a full plate. I am also working in a 55 Dodge pickup and have sand cars that need attention.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1779055095

Welcome back - like your 1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1779058527

1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan as illustrated in the Sales Brochure

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Welcome back. Great looking ride. Enjoy.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

welcome back - stay at it and don't give up!

Plenty of quality people here to help if you get stuck.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

That is really nice looking 55!

Mike

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Alot easier to stay on track when the project runs and drives and you can restore at your leisure versus a frame off that seems to be never ending.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Got the 56 Olds tail light lenses on. Just drilled a new bolt pattern. Pretty easy and gives it a hot rod look.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Got the old 8 track bolted in today. It doesnt work anymore, but I reached out to a local shop that restores them. We will see what it costs. Plenty on ebay that have been serviced.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Keep those pictures coming lol. Still got the Yblock? Transmission? All ok if it isn’t stock.

There was just a discussion on the HAMB about 8 track tapes guys have and are still using.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Yes, still has the Fordomatic and 272. It runs well and I plan on keeping it. I am going to upgrade to a 4bbl and electronic ignition when I swap to 12v.

I found a guy in SoCal that rebuilds 8 tracks and I reached out to him. We will see what he says. There is also a large selection of serviced 8 tracks on eBay if the repair is too expensive.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Did the front cross member without removing more than the bumper. Was a pretty quick job. When I started on my 54 back in the day, nobody was making those!

I also made a set of 1.25" coil bucket spacers. They were great until the springs settled. Then I didnt have enough suspension travel. I pulled them out this weekend.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

I had a 272 back in the day. Put a carter afb and a 3/4 cam, woke it right up

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

The problem with 8-tracks was more with the tapes than the units. I dug a lot of tape out of those things till I finally went with the smaller cassettes. I would tend to go toward a standard radio updated to blue tooth. Even FM is hard to listen to with all the commercials on there. Spotify has all I need. A 50s library would fit well with the car.

The old Y-blocks always just sounded right back then but the girl friends always wanted the music.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

The 8 track is really more just the retro feel. It is at the shop right now being repaired. I will probably hide a blue tooth radio in the glove box so I can use Pandora.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Looks good! What master cylinder and booster did you use? Any clearance issues with the booster? Thanks

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Used a Ford style master and prop valve from Speedway.
# 91664054. I am running manual brakes. I tried a booster/master cylinder kit and had nothing but problems with it. Scrapped it and went to just manual brakes which seem to be plenty.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Thanks for the part number. I’ll look into it for my project.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Got the 8 track back today. Sounded great at the shop. A little surprised honestly! Will get some new speakers and put it back in the car shortly.

Talking to my radio guy, he said I could bring in the stock tube radio and he would clean, inspect and add blue tooth to it.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Previously I mentioned having my 8 track repaired. Well I need to power it until I get around to doing the 12v conversion. Ended up using M12 batteries and mounted the adapter in the glove box for now.

Also repaired the clock. Cleaned and adjusted points, painted hands and oiled the mechanism. So far, its keeping pretty good time.

Re: Hello Everyone! I am back after a long break.
 

Nice work. Many years ago a friend put a switch on my am radio. Let me plug a cassette deck (in a removable bracket under the dash) into the radio. Played a stereo tape in mono, but that was cruising in style back then. Blue tooth wasn’t even a dream.

I like your progress.