Just picked up my first classic car and am really looking forward to get it on the road and spend time with my wife and three boys. I was blessed with a 1959 Ford Fairlane from a friend that is retiring and moving out of state. It was bought by his uncle in 59, then given to him and his twin when there turned 16. It has the 292 4.8L and is the 4 door custom 300. The main thing I am having a hard time with is, would it be better to keep it all original or upgrade brakes and engine electronics.
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Wow! Welcome to Squarebirds.org.
I also own a '59 with a 292 but it has the Galaxie trim. The car is stunning, even in a fordor. Ford did a very nice job in muting the rear door handles. I love a fordor because all my friends can jump in and out without pulling the front seat up. It suits me just fine.
The best answer I can give is, this car is yours to do what you wish. I updated mine so I can cruise any time and in any traffic situation. I changed my rear leaf springs and I have an alternator that puts out over 100-amps with an electric fan, so I'm good in any rush hour or parade traffic. The engine never overheats and the alt keeps the battery up.
I installed electric wipers, power disk brakes and rack-and-pinion steering. I overhauled the engine with new pistons (=.030"), Viton valve seals, hardened exhaust seats, and I sent the Town & Country radio to Florida for a retrofit. Now it plays AM/FM/MP3 stereo and it controls the antenna.
I did the work over time and I suspect you will too. This car is HUGE and very heavy. Buy a good set of jack stands, a safe floor jack and you will need a Shop Manual. - DaveMember, Sons of the American Revolution
CLICK HERE to see my custom hydraulic roller 390 FE build.
"We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?"
--Lee Iacocca
From: Royal Oak, Michigan -
I agree with Dave. Unless the car is an extremely rare model that had a limited production run there's no harm in updating it to today's standards. In fact you will probably get more for it if you ever decide to sell it. You will also get much more enjoyment out of it if you know that it will get you from point A to point B safely and reliably. None of the upgrades Dave is talking about are visible from the outside. For all intents and purposes your car will look as it came from the factory.
JohnJohn Pizzi - Squarebirds Administrator
Thunderbird Registry #36223
jopizz@squarebirds.org 856-779-9695
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There are many benefits to becoming a paid member including the ability to post pictures directly. As a non-paid member you will need to use a 3rd party site to host your pictures and put a link to it in your post.
JohnJohn Pizzi - Squarebirds Administrator
Thunderbird Registry #36223
jopizz@squarebirds.org 856-779-9695
https://www.squarebirds.org/picture_gallery/TechnicalResourceLibrary/trl.htmComment
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New too the classic car world!!!
Brandon, you used the wrong coding to make it work for you in posting your pix. I fixed it for you. When you want to post pix from a website, use the little blue icon right below the white smiley face up in the symbols section. It should have been posted with a [URL="http..... statement before the actual URL and ending with a [/URL] statement.
Ray Clark - Squarebirds Administrator
The Terminator..... VTCI #11178 ITC #6000 Yellow Mustang Registry (YMR) #12188
Contact me via Private Message for my email address, or Call (Cell) 210-875-1411
https://www.squarebirds.org/picture_gallery/TechnicalResourceLibrary/trl.htm
Faye's Ovarian Cancer Memorial Website.
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New too the classic car world!!!
Yup, you got it! Thanks for fixing it.
Ray Clark - Squarebirds Administrator
The Terminator..... VTCI #11178 ITC #6000 Yellow Mustang Registry (YMR) #12188
Contact me via Private Message for my email address, or Call (Cell) 210-875-1411
https://www.squarebirds.org/picture_gallery/TechnicalResourceLibrary/trl.htm
Faye's Ovarian Cancer Memorial Website.
https://faye.rayclark.info/index.htmlComment
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http://http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/schutbe13/library/292%20engine
Was able to open up the motor and inspect and pour oil on the upper end and inside the cylinders.Comment
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