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Old 03-19-2016, 11:22 AM   #1
Blue Moon
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Default Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

Has anyone used this kit to rebuild the front end on a 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane.
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Old 03-19-2016, 11:57 AM   #2
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

Who makes those? Got to watch out for the off-shore items that are all over eBay. I got a set of tie rods from a local parts distributor, made in India. The castle nuts were an odd assortment and I reused some of my old ones. My drag-link rebuild kit, the cotter pin was way off center. Had to bore it out with a carbide end mill.

Look at PST, I hear good things about them.

http://catalog.p-s-t.com/index.php?c...configID=15260
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Old 03-19-2016, 02:20 PM   #3
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

Another thing is the rubber quality in bushings made in China and India is sub-standard we have run across some of it failing in less than a year in service,only a small percentage of rubber is now USA made. But hopefully there's a ray of sunshine ahead ! http://www.rubbernews.com/article/20...-billions-into
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Old 03-19-2016, 04:37 PM   #4
Dobie Gillis
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

That's great but it's unlikely to translate to US made rubber parts for decades old cars. The market is just too small to tool up here with the cost of doing bidniz in the good old US of A...
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Old 03-19-2016, 04:40 PM   #5
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

I used Kanter on mine and it was fine. As far as longevity, time will tell.
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Old 03-20-2016, 02:00 AM   #6
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I used Kanter on mine and it was fine. As far as longevity, time will tell.
How long ago ? Just had a guy in my Ford Group get some mixed parts from them some USA some India.
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Old 03-20-2016, 08:23 AM   #7
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

In the past year Jeff. I posted on the HAMB 52-59 group about receiving a couple of bad pieces and Kanter replacing them immediately.
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Old 03-20-2016, 11:15 AM   #8
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

The ones that I posted are from eBay, I really would like to buy from a company that makes parts in America and uses quality materials. I saw the post from the HAMB, that some of the parts from Kantar were from China.

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Old 03-20-2016, 11:34 AM   #9
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

I was helping a buddy do some work on his boat, some parts were clearly marked made in America and China, the china parts fit and looked better, i know it's crazy.
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Old 03-20-2016, 11:53 AM   #10
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

I believe I bought mine from Restoration Specialties on Ebay.
I think good quality as far as the eye can tell. Seem OK
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Old 03-20-2016, 11:57 AM   #11
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I believe I bought mine from Restoration Specialties on Ebay.
I think good quality as far as the eye can tell. Seem OK
Cool, I'll check them out.
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Old 03-20-2016, 12:02 PM   #12
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

A SIGN OF THE TIMES!We would all love Moog,trw,etc parts but sometimes it's just not possible.I went with kanter
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Old 03-20-2016, 01:19 PM   #13
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

Seems odd that people complain about the quality of frontend parts being sold, but when I listed the NOS 52-53 Ford frontend parts on ebay there was no interest. Stopped relisting them after several months and they are now buried in one of the boxes on the shelves. After that I was under the impression that the repop parts were of good quality. Just venting alittle as posts on quality of what is out there from vendors really irritate me when I have listed quality parts at a reasonable price and have them not sell. May dig them back out later this spring while digging out more to list. Rod
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Old 03-20-2016, 03:08 PM   #14
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

I have purchased plenty of nos parts for different classic cars over the years but I would often shy away from any rubber parts (bushings , etc) that were 50-60 years old. Not quite sure how they would hold up or what rubber would be like if it was that old, but then again I didn't do well in chemistry!
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Old 03-22-2016, 12:08 AM   #15
Daves55Sedan
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

The main thing to worry about is front end control arm bushings. If those don't last, it's a big job to replace them all over again.
Watch out for the lower diver side bushing. It gets blasted with the oil fumes from the crankcase ventilator which tends to soften up the rubber. Before you know it, the rubber is working its way out of the bushing housings. I put an old sock over my vent tube attached with a zip tie to help curb some of that oil blowing back.
What I have noticed is that the modern tie rod robber grease seals don't last long at all before they are completely falling apart. Luckily, I have always kept my factory original grease seals and just re-used those. Those things are indestructible.
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Old 03-22-2016, 12:22 AM   #16
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daves55Sedan View Post
The main thing to worry about is front end control arm bushings. If those don't last, it's a big job to replace them all over again.
Watch out for the lower diver side bushing. It gets blasted with the oil fumes from the crankcase ventilator which tends to soften up the rubber. Before you know it, the rubber is working its way out of the bushing housings. I put an old sock over my vent tube attached with a zip tie to help curb some of that oil blowing back.
What I have noticed is that the modern tie rod robber grease seals don't last long at all before they are completely falling apart. Luckily, I have always kept my factory original grease seals and just re-used those. Those things are indestructible.
Thank you for the response, I'm rebuilding the motor and while I have it out, I figured I'd replace the suspension parts.
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Old 03-22-2016, 08:28 AM   #17
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

Like Blue Moon, I have the motor and tranny out of my 55 for a rebuild, and thought it would be a great time to replace all the front end bushings. Never done it before. Any guidance would be appreciated. What special tools are needed? Thanks!
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Old 03-23-2016, 12:00 PM   #18
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Default Re: Rebuilding a 1955 Ford Fairlane

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Like Blue Moon, I have the motor and tranny out of my 55 for a rebuild, and thought it would be a great time to replace all the front end bushings. Never done it before. Any guidance would be appreciated. What special tools are needed? Thanks!
Go to this link here...

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145936

plenty of information on all of that
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