My '53 Customline

[Mikko_]

Some pictures of my Customline.
Got it inspected and titled here in Sweden a few days ago and this evening I made the first longer testdrive, about 20 miles.

It's running great, oil pressure is good and it doesn't overheat.

Not bad I think for a car thats been sitting in a shed in California for the last 30 + years.

[Joe Immler]

Looks and sounds good !! When did you get it in Ca. and how did you ship it??

[Mikko_]

Thank you.

Bought it in December 2020 and it arrived here in March.

Got it inspected by a Swedish guy who lives in Sacramento and he arranged the whole shipping with West Coast Shipping.
He's also the one who found it for sale on Craigslist for me.

[Mikko_]

A picture from the shed where it's been sitting since 89-90.
And one from when it arrived at my garage in March.

[VeryTangled]

Originally Posted by Mikko_

Not bad I think for a car thats been sitting in a shed in California for the last 30 + years.

Result! Happy days ahead for you Mikko. Thanks for keeping us in the loop, maybe update the old thread?

[Mikko_]

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The previous owner in the US changed the oil in the engine, replaced the ignition parts and got it started.

Since then I restored the wheels and changed the tires.
Rebuilt the brakes and water pumps.
Cleaned out the tank and carb.
Changed oil in the trans.
Replaced the headlight wiring with new stock looking harnesses from Dennis Carpenter and replaced some other wires in the rest of the car.

Also found the reason it got parked, a worn fuel pump lobe on the camshaft so I went with an electric fuel pump for the time being to be able to drive it.

[Mikko_]

Originally Posted by VeryTangled

Result! Happy days ahead for you Mikko. Thanks for keeping us in the loop, maybe update the old thread?

I decided to start a new thread instead because people keep giving me advice on affordable V8 cars even if I already bought one.

And yes, very happy days ahead and summer has only begun.

[mercman from oz]

Great find - 1953 Ford Customline Tudor Sedan. Will be a great car when restored. Keep up the good work.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Good find, grouse job on the wheels and keep us all up dated on the progress please.

GB

[corvette8n]

Looks good you’ll have to make a video of it driving, take us for a ride in the Swedish countryside.

[Mikko_]

Thank you, I'll see if I can manage to make a video but here is a picture from yesterdays countryside drive.

[Mikko_]

Then this happened.

Don't no if I got a bad quality tube or if I messed up when installing it.
The tires are for tubeless use but I decided to go with tubes since I don't really trust those rivets that holds the wheel together to be air tight but I might have to reconsider now.

[sugarmaker]

Mikko
Great looking 53! Yikes on the tire. Dont have that happen often nowdays?? I remember riiding in my uncles 52 Ford.
Regards,
Chris

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Mikko_

Then this happened.

Don't no if I got a bad quality tube or if I messed up when installing it.
The tires are for tubeless use but I decided to go with tubes since I don't really trust those rivets that holds the wheel together to be air tight but I might have to reconsider now.

Running tubes in tubeless tires is generally not a good idea. This is what can happen.

I have tubeless tires on the stock riveted wheels on my '51 Fords. I have never had a problem with leaks. On the other hand, I chased a slow leak in one of the welded wheels on my Corvette for several weeks until I finally found it.

Glad to see you're on the road.

[Mikko_]

I will probably remove the tubes now.

Maybe seal the rivets with something on the inside?

[Mart]

I'd suggest to just give it a try tubeless with the wheels as they are and monitor the pressures. If you find you are slowly losing pressure then look at adding something. Any air loss will be gradual and not sudden. Is the tyre damaged, or can it be used again?

I ran tubeless radials on my 58 GMC successfully. The only problem I had was on the fronts when they had tubes in. The tubes get abraded by the tyres as they flex.

[Mikko_]

I will remove the tire from the rim tomorrow and inspect it.
Hopefully I can use it again, expensive to buy a new one.

[38 coupe]

I have run tubeless tires on old riveted Ford rims on several vehicles for 20 years. The most I have done was sand blast and paint the inside of the rim to prevent leaks, and I have never had a leak. I'm about to put the third set of radials on my 53 sedan since the tires are aging out (current 9 year old Diamondback tires with 22K miles, many at 70+ mph).

I'm also attaching a couple pictures of my 53 with tubeless radials since I also need to remember how to post pictures on the Ford Barn. I hope you don't mind.

[Zax40]

Running tubeless tires on my '53 stock wheels. No issues. All hold pressure just fine.

[Mikko_]

Seems like my wheel holds air pressure fine too.

Just need to remove the tubes from the 3 remaining wheels now, hopefully I'm back on the road by the weekend.

[Mikko_]

Removed the tubes from all tires and they seem to be holding air just fine.

So I went on to other things, like getting the rear bumper to shine up a bit.
Also did a test spot on the paint, just the rest of the car left now.

[Mikko_]

The whole car has gotten a quick buff and polish.

[Mart]

Looks good, Mikko.

[Mikko_]

Thank you Mart.

[Zeke3]

Looking good Mikko, did you try anything extra on the surface rust on the front? I have seen some videos online about washing with CLR or some similar product that may help. I haven't tried them yet myself, my rust is worse than that.

[APDAVE]

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Nice Car MIKKO! Dave

[Mikko_]

Originally Posted by Zeke3

Looking good Mikko, did you try anything extra on the surface rust on the front? I have seen some videos online about washing with CLR or some similar product that may help. I haven't tried them yet myself, my rust is worse than that.

Thank you.

Yes I heard about CLR too but haven't tried it yet.
Buy the looks of the remaining paint it looks like the fenders have been painted above the trim along with the hood.
The surface of the paint is much rougher there than on the rest of the car.

[Mikko_]

Originally Posted by APDAVE

Nice Car MIKKO! Dave

Thanks.

[Mikko_]

The first test drive without tubes was great, feels like the handling is better but that could just be my imagination.

And a couple of pictures of the car in natural light after my quick buff.

[tubman]

Looks great Mikko; enjoy it!

[Mikko_]

Thanks, I will.

[Mikko_]

Took a nice drive on some countryside roads today.

[Mikko_]

Lowered the rear a bit, didn't like the slight forward rake it had before.
Also began scrubbing the rust away.

[Zeke3]

Amazing difference, what did you end up using?

[Mikko_]

I used those soapy steel wool pads and a lot of water.

[hotrodcbx]

Love your car!! I had the same (metallic green) back in the early 60's in high school. Lots of memories in that back seat at drive in shows!!

[mercman from oz]

Looking good Mikko.

[Mikko_]

Thanks.

Finished it this morning and sealed it with a coat of wax.

[Mart]

I'm amazed that you were able to improve it that much! Well done, great job.

[mfirth]

Well done for sure. Your 53 looks good to me....enjoy the ride.

[Mikko_]

Originally Posted by Mart

I'm amazed that you were able to improve it that much! Well done, great job.

Thanks Mart, I never thought it would clean up like it did.

Originally Posted by mfirth

Well done for sure. Your 53 looks good to me....enjoy the ride.

Thank you.

[craigtone]

Great patina! Good job buffing and keeping that look!

[Mikko_]

Originally Posted by craigtone

Great patina! Good job buffing and keeping that look!

Thank you.

[Mikko_]

A little before and after.

First picture is when the car arrived in Sweden in March this year and the second picture is from yesterday.

[tubman]

I like it! When I was in high school, a friend had a very similar car. We put a set of wheels and tires from a '57 Ford (14") on it and I thought it looked great, too.

[Mikko_]

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Thanks.

That's the feeling I like to capture with this car, simple and cheap modifications that a high school kid could afford: mild lowering, wheels painted red, removed hood ornaments and a single straight pipe.

[corvette8n]

Looks like all your cleaning, buffing and waxing paid off. I vote for a set of Reds headers with the straight pipes, a sound you can never get enough of.

[Mikko_]

Originally Posted by corvette8n

Looks like all your cleaning, buffing and waxing paid off. I vote for a set of Reds headers with the straight pipes, a sound you can never get enough of.

Definitely paid off.

My long term plan is to pull the engine and freshen it up with new paint and also replace the cam since the one in it is worn at the fuel pump lobe so I must use an electric pump at the moment.
That would be a good time to install headers and a dual exhaust.

But for now I'll just keep the single straight pipe and ugly looking engine.

Plans for this winter calls for a carb in better condition and new wiring harness.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Mikko_

A little before and after.

First picture is when the car arrived in Sweden in March this year and the second picture is from yesterday.

You done good!

[Mikko_]

Thanks

[5851a]

Nice looking car. Red rims were a thing at a time. Mercury put them on 55's and 56's I believe no matter the color of the car. Sure wish I had one like that, end of an era.

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by Mikko_

A little before and after.

First picture is when the car arrived in Sweden in March this year and the second picture is from yesterday.

Looks like a real improvement. Reminds me of my 52 Merc.

[Mikko_]

Glad you like it.

I think the red wheels make a nice contrast between the WW and shiny hubcaps.

[Tinker]

looks great dude, been following. Making great progress!!! I like how it sits now. The before looks very droopy. The caps look great. Cleaned up well. Nice work! Totally different car already.

[Mikko_]

Thanks, correct tire size and 2 inch blocks in the rear made wonders for the stance.

[Tinker]

What tire size? The sunliners and crestliners ran 7.00 stock. I put them on my customliner. Really looks great what you have done!

50th anniversary car. So many really unique neat stuff on that ride. From the all the jet/prop references to the the Native American spears. Personally Id put the jet on the hood back. The dog dishes with trim rims look nice too. Just saying.

The grill is designed from a prop blade. You can see the jets over the rear wheels in chrome and the taillights are jet exhausts.,, Starting to make me feel bad about getting rid of my cherry 4 door.

[Tinker]

great work!....

[tubman]

IIRC, the optional tire size then was 710-15.

The "California Rake" was big back then, and I once ran 820's on the back and 560's on the front.

[Mikko_]

I'm running 6.70x15 tires.

[Mikko_]

Probably the last drive for the year, currently 28 degrees F here.

[tubman]

Your car looks great! Whatever you did to the front fenders seems to have worked very well.

It's currently 19 degrees F in Breezy Point, MN. Fortunately, I'm not there.

[Mikko_]

Thanks, I'm happy with how it looks but sometimes I sure wish it had a manual transmission instead of the Fordomatic.

I used those soapy steel wool pads and lots of water to get rid of the surface rust on the front end.
Then I sealed it all with some wax.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Mikko_

Thanks, I'm happy with how it looks but sometimes I sure wish it had a manual transmission instead of the Fordomatic.

I used those soapy steel wool pads and lots of water to get rid of the surface rust on the front end.
Then I sealed it all with some wax.

[Tinker]

Looks great! You have a 3 on the tree and the overdrive? Maybe I missed it, I have a life and don't always remember everything here. If not they come up as people swap them out, might get one cheap with all the controls. Mine would cruise 70mph all day.


Dig the car. Glad it's running well!

[Mart]

It's an auto.

[tubman]

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.......

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by Mikko_

Thanks, I'm happy with how it looks but sometimes I sure wish it had a manual transmission instead of the Fordomatic.

I used those soapy steel wool pads and lots of water to get rid of the surface rust on the front end.
Then I sealed it all with some wax.

I like the "omatics". My 52 Merc will cruise quite happily down the highway without sounding over-reved.
I am impressed with how much you improved your front fenders. I did similar with mine. They came off my 53 parts car and needed a little steel wool treatment followed by some clear spray.

[Mikko_]

Originally Posted by RalphG

I like the "omatics". My 52 Merc will cruise quite happily down the highway without sounding over-reved.
I am impressed with how much you improved your front fenders. I did similar with mine. They came off my 53 parts car and needed a little steel wool treatment followed by some clear spray.

It drives nice with the auto, no doubt.

I've just come to the conclusion that I prefer manual, couldn't know that before I tried an auto

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by RalphG

I like the "omatics". My 52 Merc will cruise quite happily down the highway without sounding over-reved.
I am impressed with how much you improved your front fenders. I did similar with mine. They came off my 53 parts car and needed a little steel wool treatment followed by some clear spray.