The Ford Barn

alt63bird · 05-18-2015, 08:16 PM

I'm curious if any others have seen this or know why. I have a 1955 Victoria hardtop that originally was a 272/F-O-M dual exhaust car, built late January 1955 at St. Paul Assembly. Was crawling under it last night to evaluate what outer body braces need to be replaced (all 10 of them!). While looking at what it would take to lift the body off the frame in order to replace them correctly, I noticed a 2-inch wide strap of metal welded to the bottom of the frame running from the cowl to just forward of the frame kick-up at the rear wheels. I'm familiar with Ford doing this to early '56 T-bird frames due to the additional weight/lever action of the exterior spare wheel carrier, but I don't recall seeing anything in my literature collection or mentioned in the Crown Victoria Association's "FoMoCo Times" about frames for hardtops being reinforced this way. Has anyone else seen this?

CrownVic55 · 05-18-2015, 11:59 PM

That big steel strap is welded to the bottom of the frame on my 55 Crown Vic. Ford put that on hardtops and convertibles, I believe.

darrell · 05-19-2015, 06:13 AM

it was used in 55 and a few 56s.as you said hardtops and crowns to stifin the frame.in 56 they made the framr 1/32 thicker and done away with it.

Ole Don · 05-20-2015, 08:33 AM

My 54 Vicky had the strap welded on the bottom as you describe.

Big Red 51 · 05-26-2015, 03:15 AM

Ford did that on '52 & '53 Vickys also.

mikhett · 05-26-2015, 03:33 PM

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Its not on my 56 Vicky.

Jay in Mass · 05-26-2015, 07:01 PM

I had six 56 Fords over the years. One of the Victorias had those straps on it.

darrell · 05-26-2015, 07:40 PM

a friend had one with the straps on it i dont know if they were leftovers or someplace was still putting them out.

junkyardjeff · 05-31-2015, 07:29 PM

I will have to look at my 55 sunliner and see if it has it.

rowens55 · 05-31-2015, 07:39 PM

ok,, so NOW I have ta go look at MY crown vic!! Doggone it, im such a lemming.......

05-18-2015, 08:16 PM	#1
alt63bird Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: outside Omaha, NE Posts: 276	Frame Reinforcing? 1955 Victoria I'm curious if any others have seen this or know why. I have a 1955 Victoria hardtop that originally was a 272/F-O-M dual exhaust car, built late January 1955 at St. Paul Assembly. Was crawling under it last night to evaluate what outer body braces need to be replaced (all 10 of them!). While looking at what it would take to lift the body off the frame in order to replace them correctly, I noticed a 2-inch wide strap of metal welded to the bottom of the frame running from the cowl to just forward of the frame kick-up at the rear wheels. I'm familiar with Ford doing this to early '56 T-bird frames due to the additional weight/lever action of the exterior spare wheel carrier, but I don't recall seeing anything in my literature collection or mentioned in the Crown Victoria Association's "FoMoCo Times" about frames for hardtops being reinforced this way. Has anyone else seen this? __________________ Alan H. Tast AIA, LEED AP BD+C Technical Director/Past President-Editor-Publications Director, Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l. (VTCI) http://www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years" 35+ year member, Crown Victoria Ass'n.

05-18-2015, 11:59 PM	#2
CrownVic55 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Collinsville, OK Posts: 171	Re: Frame Reinforcing? 1955 Victoria That big steel strap is welded to the bottom of the frame on my 55 Crown Vic. Ford put that on hardtops and convertibles, I believe.

05-19-2015, 06:13 AM	#3
darrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: p.e.i. Posts: 1,060	Re: Frame Reinforcing? 1955 Victoria it was used in 55 and a few 56s.as you said hardtops and crowns to stifin the frame.in 56 they made the framr 1/32 thicker and done away with it.

05-20-2015, 08:33 AM	#4
Ole Don Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St. Michael, Minnesota Posts: 1,713	Re: Frame Reinforcing? 1955 Victoria My 54 Vicky had the strap welded on the bottom as you describe.

05-26-2015, 03:15 AM	#5
Big Red 51 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 131	Re: Frame Reinforcing? 1955 Victoria Ford did that on '52 & '53 Vickys also.

05-26-2015, 03:33 PM	#6
mikhett Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jackson N.J Posts: 206	Re: Frame Reinforcing? 1955 Victoria Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Its not on my 56 Vicky.

05-26-2015, 07:01 PM	#7
Jay in Mass Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mass. Posts: 379	Re: Frame Reinforcing? 1955 Victoria I had six 56 Fords over the years. One of the Victorias had those straps on it.

05-26-2015, 07:40 PM	#8
darrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: p.e.i. Posts: 1,060	Re: Frame Reinforcing? 1955 Victoria a friend had one with the straps on it i dont know if they were leftovers or someplace was still putting them out.

05-31-2015, 07:29 PM	#9
junkyardjeff Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: dayton Ohio Posts: 243	Re: Frame Reinforcing? 1955 Victoria I will have to look at my 55 sunliner and see if it has it.

05-31-2015, 07:39 PM	#10
rowens55 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: woodland Ca Posts: 333	Re: Frame Reinforcing? 1955 Victoria ok,, so NOW I have ta go look at MY crown vic!! Doggone it, im such a lemming....... __________________ Alive n kickin n mostly kickin!