Re: First ever restore/repair 51 touring sedan help

Posted by Eric Boyle On 2009/11/1 23:45:35

It all depends on your budget and what parts you can find right away.

Here's why I say that, about 5 years ago I bought a '56 Patrician that sat for 40 years in a field. I brought it home, and cleaned it up. I pulled the engine and trans out of it, and found out that the engine was totally seized, it's still under my bench in the garage. Luckily, I had a running V8 Packard engine that I decided to put in it, using the original trans. I replaced the converter seal in the trans while it was out, and cleaned the grease off of it. That's all I did to the trans. Next, I put the engine and trans back in, and bought a new Edelbrock carb and found a fuel pump for it. I didn't replace the fuel line or the brake lines in it. I did replace the brake hoses and wheel cylinders, as well as put new brake shoes on it. All these were available at the local parts store, if you know how to look for them. I did blow out the lines with an air compressor, but didn't replace any of the steel lines.

Next, I got the suspension working, and got it all greased. This is essential that you do this, because a LOT of old cars I've worked on just needed greased up, the suspension components were almost new under the surface rust, so I didn't mess with them.

I didn't do anything to the interior, as I didn't have the money to. The front seat was in good condition when I first started driving it, but by the time I sold it I had a blanket in the front driver's seat as there was nothing but a hole worn down, the foam that seemed good had hardened and crumbled under the daily abuse of my butt.

It turned out to be a wonderful car, very dependable once I got the bugs worked out. I drove it for over two years as a daily driver, and only had three major breakdowns that left me walking, all from the same problem that I FINALLY figured out.

I say go for it, do a little at a time, and you'll have a good car as a daily driver, as long as you don't care about the looks for right now. Have fun with it, ask a lot of questions and we'll answer them!