@GRLBIRD - Thanks, I have always thought Y Blocks were badass. Always wanted to do a flathead v8 with a three deuce and so on, but they stopped making flatheads in 53', wanted to be correct on the year. LOVE FLATHEADS! Gonna be my next tattoo. Future plans, are finishing the last of the upholstery, paint, touching up dash, detail work, definately getting the motor rebuilt (just picked it up last night). I have disc brakes on there now (granada) will make it easier when I purchase the drop kit.

@Y BLOCK BILLY - automatic, talking about the motor mounts?

@CharlieMcCraney - I first purchased her when I was at a car show in St. Jo, Missouri. $3700. Had $1500 dollars down on her and it was just a dream come true. still have the holley glass bowl carburetor on her, when I first test drove her she was overflowing and so on. pretty easy fix carb kit and it was the needle and seat. The guy had no idea what the hell was going on and I thought I got a good buy for it!

@NoShortcuts  - Thank have heard of your club, and we will see.

@TalkWrench - Thank you im excited!!!!!!!!!!!

@CK - Yes it was, when I bought her and as of right now she has the 223 in her and its a cool motor dont get me wrong but man it needs to be rebuilt its really doggy. I love it and am thinking of saving it so if I ever want to do a three deuce on the 223 for something different after the y block. Also, the Fordomatic tranny is of course air cooled like the other "matic" Trannys. It over heats and shit and im done with it. shit pisses me off, last night tho I picked up my 312 and after I am done on here I am going to go start taking her apart!

Hi and welcome.
Kruella looks cruisey 
And as you know it all takes time and effort, was it always the dream to have Kruella a V8?

Welcome aboard and be amongst this fine band of misfits..
Go girl!
 



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

Another thought, Betsy.  IF you haven't already, you may want to consider joining the '54 Ford Club
From an ad in Y-Block Magazine...

'54 Ford Club of America
-Hundreds of '54 Fords, Quarterly Newsletter, Technical advice, Resource information, Annual dues $20, Bi-annual convention

Tom Hoskins - President
1400 W. Mayfield Rd.
Suite 340
Arlington, Texas  76015
phone 817-466-8088
email - HoskinsTom@yahoo.com

NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Awesome!  I got my truck when I was 17, too, now 31.  I'd get rid of it for the right price.  But no one who is sane would seriously offer me that "right price," it's a whole lot more than it is worth.



Lawrenceville, GA

Welcome to the site Betsy! A couple things I can think of you may need is the 54 style front mount, Y block style Bell housing, (you dont state if your car is standard or auto) Congrats on putting a peroid correct motor in there and keeping it all Ford.
As far as disc brakes go I am a non beleiver in them, every vehicle I have with disc shakes like a SOB when stopping hard, just picked up an 04 taurus as a winter beater and the first attention I have to give to it is new disc in the front it shakes so bad. Drums work fine when maintained well, they never put disc on dump trucks and drums stop them fully loaded.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

Congrats Betsy on not wanting to shove a late model engine in it. lots of parts can be had at http://www.ford-y-block.com/ and lots of part numbers. You have a great looking car, what are your plans for the future other than the engine swap. Disk brakes would be helpful when you get your 312 installed. Good luck!

Gary Ryan San Antonio.TX.

Welcome to the Forum, Betsy.

Your '54 sedan looks great.  Déjà vu for me.  My first ever car purchase was a '54 Mainline business coupe from Arizona.  Business coupes came with no back seat.  Like Paul, mine was originally a V-8 with standard trans linkage when produced.  Purchased with no engine or trans, I initially installed a '54 239 with 3 speed overdrive, added  a '54 Merc intake and carb and found that '55 Ford dual exhaust manifolds cleared the clutch linkage.  My first ever engine rebuild was a '56 Merc 312 for it.  My recollection is that the registration weight on the car was 3100 lbs.

We're going way back on this... I remember changing the steering wheel because it was soooo big.  I also remember swapping the spindle steering arms using '56/'57 'Bird arms to improve the steering ratio.

Regards,


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Paul that is badass, love my 54! Bought her when I was 17-18 and now 26 I never want to get rid of her! Did pretty much wverything on her other than the trany work

Welcome.  I did just what you plan to do - a 312 in a 54 Ford, although my 54 was an original V8 car which made things easier.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ