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By Heavy Metal Machine - 10 Years Ago
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My grand father had a 1958 Ford Failane that he bought new. My oldest brother bought it from him in 1978 and now he is considering selling it. I would like to buy it for sentimental reason and because it is cool. It is a 2 doorpost car with a 6cyl. engine. I would like to put a 292 Y block in it. Would this be sacrilegious seeing that it is all original with about 35K on the odometer? I know that the car isn't highly sought after as far as a classic. How difficult would the swap be? It has a 3 on the tree which I would image would have to be changed over to a 4 on the floor. Did they come with this set-up?
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By miker - 10 Years Ago
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I don't leave anything stock, but a one family 35k car might make me reconsider. How about an o/d trans and some hop up parts? Three deuces, a set of headers, 3 on the tree, be pretty neat. And the only one around.
I'm sure someone here can tell you about the swap, but I don't know.
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By Heavy Metal Machine - 10 Years Ago
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Thanks Mike. I'm kinda on the fence on this one
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By charliemccraney - 10 Years Ago
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Keep the 6 but add a turbo.
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By Meandean - 10 Years Ago
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I'd drive it a while just to experience the 6 cylinder. Nothing wrong with the 223. And the 3 speed is also something a younger person would be special to have mastered. Not too many "kids" even know how they work.
If you decide to change it you will at least know what the before was like.
If you keep the old parts it could always be put back.
I'd recommend changing to a 3 speed with Overdrive versus the 4 speed. No need to chop a big ole hole in the floor.
Lastly, the 58 2 door post is definitely a nice ride. Not too many of those around today.
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By Heavy Metal Machine - 10 Years Ago
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Thanks for the input Meandean. I have driven it over the years and it's not too bad. You have to come to a complete stop before putting it back into first otherwise you grind the gears. I don't know how old you are but thanks for the kid comment, I'm 48 years old. I will cruise around with the 6 in it for a while and see how it goes. My first car was a 1966 Ford Custom 289 with a three on the tree, I don't know if a youngster like me could remember back that far.
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By dbird - 10 Years Ago
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Good choice on keeping it mostly original. A few hot rod parts for the 223 and maybe somebody here knows of a bolt in full synco 3 speed. My neighbor has a 58 Scrub Delray with the original 6 and 3 speed, He gets more approving looks at shows than the v8 cars.
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By slumlord444 - 10 Years Ago
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If it were mine I would pull the 6 and trans and install a mild 292-312 with a late model 5 speed. Stash the original parts for future reference. My first y-block was a '58 4 door custom 292 with about 50,000 miles on it back in '63. I would love to have your '58 now.
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By Lou - 10 Years Ago
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Keep the 6 cyl, I had a 58 Custom 300 2 door with a 6 great car , parts are dirt cheap and easy to work on. 35,000 original miles, clean the car up and enjoy it.
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By stuey - 10 Years Ago
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. You have to come to a complete stop before putting it back into first otherwise you grind the gears.
double declutch maybe
stu
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By slumlord444 - 10 Years Ago
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It has an unsynchronized first gear. Ford came out with a standard 3 speed with synchronized first gear in 1963. Put one in my '57 T-Bird in 1965 and had it in there until I recently took it apart for restoration and hop up. Much easier to drive.
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By PF Arcand - 10 Years Ago
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I'm with Stuey, learn to Double Clutch, if you really think you need low gear before the car stops. Normally there's little need to do that. And why pull out a low mileage 223-6? It's a good engine that's never gotten it's due.. Also, a side note; If the car will be driven in real winter or on salted roads (hopefully not the later! ) keep the area inside the fenders behind the headlites very clean! This is a prime area for mud salt and so on to collect on 57s & 58s & it will rot out the fenders & the sheet metal cavity behind the grill ends! And while some patch parts are available, unfortunately no one manufactures replacement fenders for those cars. ..
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By snowcone - 10 Years Ago
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stuey (4/27/2014)
. You have to come to a complete stop before putting it back into first otherwise you grind the gears. double declutch maybe stu
Just about to say the same thing.
Learn to double shuffle and you can slam any crash box in on the move
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By lowrider - 10 Years Ago
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Sounds like a nice car. Love to see a picture of it. I've got a 57 2dr post that originally came with a 6cyl/3sp but was changed to a 292 3/sp before I got it. It's now running a 3x2 intake, big cam, 5sp & a 58 steering gear in it. I've saved all the parts that came off it so if someone wants to put it back the parts will be there. Everything but a 6cyl engine. I'm quite pleased with the way it runs & handles. Bottom line is, it's your car do what you want.
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By lowrider - 10 Years Ago
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Sounds like a nice car. Love to see a picture of it. I've got a 57 2dr post that originally came with a 6cyl/3sp but was changed to a 292 3/sp before I got it. It's now running a 3x2 intake, big cam, 5sp & a 58 steering gear in it. I've saved all the parts that came off it so if someone wants to put it back the parts will be there. Everything but a 6cyl engine. I'm quite pleased with the way it runs & handles. Bottom line is, it's your car do what you want.
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By Meandean - 10 Years Ago
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Ha, I guess I misread your post. I thought you were younger. Not that 48 is old. I'm 58 so got you beat by a ten-er. I drove a 57 two door post with the 223 and a 3 speed w/od. I didn't appreciate the 223 for it's durability and economy as much as I should have. I am very happy with my 272 and Fordomatic, but if my car would have been a 6 w/a three on the tree I'd been just as satisfied. They call it the Y-Block site for a reason, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with that era's 6 cylinder engine. I did sort of forget about the synchronization issue shifting back into first. I always felt the o/d dropped into first easier than the straight 3 speed, but that may be a built in bias on my part. I do remember just popping the clutch up a bit a second time before dropping it into first, so I probably just got so used to doing it I didn't pay any attention after a while. Happy motoring!
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By Frankenstein57 - 10 Years Ago
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I had a 57 /58 2-door post dirt track car, it had a 427 and a 3 on the tree. I remember flying out for time trials, banging 2nd gear, ahh the memories.....
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By 56_Fairlane - 10 Years Ago
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Photos???
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