The Ford Barn

tubman · 02-20-2026, 03:00 PM

We may have revived a "lost art" here!

sidevalve8ba · 02-20-2026, 04:42 PM

I was checking out the ads on AMAZON for these. Holy Cow! a hundred and thirty some bucks for a set! I'll bet we didn't pay more than $5 a pop for them probably at Western Auto or some such place. I must be getting old or something!

TJ · 02-20-2026, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidevalve8ba

I was checking out the ads on AMAZON for these. Holy Cow! a hundred and thirty some bucks for a set! I'll bet we didn't pay more than $5 a pop for them probably at Western Auto or some such place. I must be getting old or something!

Yep, Western Auto and JC Whitney. Here on the "left" coast I think they were about $10 for a set of four.

Joe B. · 02-20-2026, 06:26 PM

I think someone told me portawalls don't work well on radials due to the sidewall flex difference.

tubman · 02-20-2026, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe B.

I think someone told me portawalls don't work well on radials due to the sidewall flex difference.

Could be that by the time radials became popular, the "secret" of installing them correctly had already been lost. We'll probably never know.

Sid · 02-21-2026, 08:15 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Is that the same 40 Ford you had in the 70's that you posted earlier?

19Fordy · 02-22-2026, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid

Is that the same 40 Ford you had in the 70's that you posted earlier?

ANSWER: Yes, it's the same 40 Ford. I bought it in 1963 for $400 and am lucky enough to still have it. Was originally Folkstone Gray.

petehoovie · 02-22-2026, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

ANSWER: Yes, it's the same 40 Ford. I bought it in 1963 for $400 and am lucky enough to still have it. Was originally Folkstone Gray.

Sid · 02-22-2026, 03:03 PM

Good for you I see you have a 8BA in it. What did you do about the anti chatter rods? I am running a 59 engine in mine. Runs well but the rear main leaks. I have a good 8BA engine sitting in my shop I considered using. I would probably go with the earlier cam distributor and heads.

Anteek29 · 02-22-2026, 03:21 PM

When I was in high school I wanted whitewall tires, so I thought about painting the blackwalls already on my car. But before I did I tried my 'technique' on the spare. I used oil base white house paint and soon discovered the whitewall became a tanwall with cracks! Ha-Ha.

Sid · 02-22-2026, 03:52 PM

Anteek29.. I like your 55. I miss mine. I sold mine so I could buy my 40 in 2018.

petehoovie · 02-22-2026, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid

Anteek29.. I like your 55. I miss mine. I sold mine so I could buy my 40 in 2018.

19Fordy · 02-22-2026, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid

Good for you I see you have a 8BA in it. What did you do about the anti chatter rods? I am running a 59 engine in mine. Runs well but the rear main leaks. I have a good 8BA engine sitting in my shop I considered using. I would probably go with the earlier cam distributor and heads.

Sid, I welded brackets to the 1950 Merc bellhousing and modified the OEM anti-chatter rods so they fit. Installing an 8BA in a 40 is not just a simple drop in and go. Lots of small details required. Read more here:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...coupe.1060915/
and here:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=224274

To be HONEST , it would be a lot easier to rebuild your 59 engine rather than install an 8BA. You won't notice any big performance difference and you won't have the headaches of making tons of modifications and changes that arise.

02-20-2026, 03:00 PM	#21
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 12,137	Re: Porta walls We may have revived a "lost art" here!

02-20-2026, 04:42 PM	#22
sidevalve8ba Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Harrisonburg, VA Posts: 950	Re: Porta walls I was checking out the ads on AMAZON for these. Holy Cow! a hundred and thirty some bucks for a set! I'll bet we didn't pay more than $5 a pop for them probably at Western Auto or some such place. I must be getting old or something! __________________ Cars are like potato chips, its hard to have just one.

02-20-2026, 06:26 PM	#24
Joe B. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Westmont, Il. Posts: 173	Re: Porta walls I think someone told me portawalls don't work well on radials due to the sidewall flex difference. __________________ thread killer

02-21-2026, 08:15 PM	#26
Sid Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rathdrum Idaho Posts: 780	Re: Porta walls Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Is that the same 40 Ford you had in the 70's that you posted earlier?

02-22-2026, 03:03 PM	#29
Sid Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rathdrum Idaho Posts: 780	Re: Porta walls Good for you I see you have a 8BA in it. What did you do about the anti chatter rods? I am running a 59 engine in mine. Runs well but the rear main leaks. I have a good 8BA engine sitting in my shop I considered using. I would probably go with the earlier cam distributor and heads.

02-22-2026, 03:21 PM	#30
Anteek29 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Santa Maria, CA Posts: 1,025	Re: Porta walls When I was in high school I wanted whitewall tires, so I thought about painting the blackwalls already on my car. But before I did I tried my 'technique' on the spare. I used oil base white house paint and soon discovered the whitewall became a tanwall with cracks! Ha-Ha. __________________ Alan 1929 Special Coupe 1941 Pick-Up 1955 Victoria

02-22-2026, 03:52 PM	#31
Sid Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rathdrum Idaho Posts: 780	Re: Porta walls Anteek29.. I like your 55. I miss mine. I sold mine so I could buy my 40 in 2018.