The factory 57 ford voltage reducer should run the gauges, it’s just fuel and temp right? Or possibly one of the modern electronic ones, I haven’t heard of them not working with the King Seely’s.
All lights, dash, interior, headlights, turn/brake, and parking, just change the bulbs. If you can find a brighter bulb that fits, fine. The 6 volt wiring is larger. But even if it fits the socket, it may not install, especially in the dash. Some of the space is pretty limited.
My bird is still using the oem 6 volt motors on the seats and windows. Just don’t run them steady, you can overheat them. But in normal use they’ll be fine.
Same with the starter. Dropping a 6 volt starter into an 11.5:1 Yblock lets it crank very nicely. Just don’t crank it too long. Once the ignition, fuel and timing are sorted out it won’t be a problem. Mines going on 25 years.
The blower motor will need a resistor, and you’ll just have to research what size. I’ve always been able to find a 12 volt unit that interchanged. You may find either a Ford or Mercury unit is the same as the Lincoln (the Capri was the Mercury platform wasn’t it) or a 56 Lincoln unit if they were 12 volts.
I don’t know about the a/c. I know some had electric clutches, but some of the early units had unloader valves or other designs. Classic does restoration work on those, or they used to. I put one of their modern units in my bird. It’s not as good as a Vintage air, but it works. But they claim to restore the old compressors. I’d at least call, they’d probably have a better answer on the blower too.
https://www.classicautoair.com/air-conditioning-restoration-repair-services-by-classic-auto-air/
miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ