After 3 years of "playing in the garage" as my wife puts it, my 1958 Star model Customline is on the road.
I've only driven it about 10kms so far just to it it registered and now it won't stop raining so she's not going out again just yet.







I've kept it pretty standard except for a couple of changes - electric wipers, boosted dual brake circuit, dropped the suspension a tad, and some old school mags.
She has a 272 with Fordomatic - The Y is a standard bore block that I came across with a broken oil pump drive.
I suspect the drive broke early in it's life 40 or more yeras ago and the engine was just set aside as it had hardly any ridge inthe cylinders. I honed her out and e-ringed it. The crank needed a grind as it has corrosion marks from sitting so long.
I had to modify the Fordomatic a little as there were no bronze drive plates available for it so it now has fibre plates in each clutch pack and runs a different oil to the original spec.

The kids call her the "Ronald McDonald" car because of the colours.

She will be a daily driver and no show pony

Gary - 1958 Star Customline and 1940 Ford Deluxe Hotrod

She's a BEAUTIFUL ride Gary...CONGRATULATIONS getting her done. I know how long those roads can be.

Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

I agree with Rono, but 3 years? It take me that long to change the oil!

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

3 years to change oil! No wonder they suffer from engine sludge.

Gary, congratulations on your finished car, you did it all yourself and looks good.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Hi Gary, nice ride! What did you do to lower the suspension? I like the stance!

MplsMike
'56 Parklane
Minneapolis, MN

The back was a little low to start with from old age so I left it as it was and then fitted 25mm (1") blocks under the spring plates on the front lower control arms.
You have to drill out the rivets and then replace them with longer bolts when you ft the spacers.
I believe there are commercially available alminium spacers available but I just made mine from 25mm RHS with 3mm walls and boxed the ends in.

I also need to thank Aussiebill for his assistance with the rebuild. He was always available when I called him with a ticklish question.

Gary - 1958 Star Customline and 1940 Ford Deluxe Hotrod

Give the man a Cee-Gar! well done ..

Hopefully soon we shall see Ricks [rick55] on the Aussie roads too!

Now I need chips with that...



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Ohh dear most of you would understand if I said Fries with that ..



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Top job Gary, looks great, and well worth the time spent.

Also kept you out of the missus' hair for 3 years...



.


South Australia