new member

rowens55

rowens55

Senior Member
Hello to all, my names Rowen n I just joined up today. I have a 55 crown vic n I just LOVE her!! At the moment she is ALL stock but would really like to make her my daily driver. I already posted this question on another (wrong forum I think) page so I thought I'd put it up here. I have plans to put a dual master cylinder in and to upgrade for a 12 volt system. My question is what cross member would work best, and if I even need to change it, to drop in a modern sb v8, 302, 351 and a c4-c6 trans? Any help with this will most appreciated. Thanks, rowens55
 
For 12v conversion, just use all 1956 Ford parts: generator, voltage regulator, starter, fuel and temp guages and sending units, light bulbs, ignition coil with resistor. Can use all existing wiring except coil wire. Wont be able to use old radio or clock. Could do a modern quartz conversion for clock and have radio gutted for solid-state stereophonic system. All your existing dashboard switches & door courtesy switches may remain as-is.
 
rowens55
Is your car running and driveable, or a 'project'?
I'm sometimes on the 'If it ain't broke don't fix it' side of the fence. Murphy's Law is alive and well. Remember, it's a 60 year old car. For every one thing you try to fix you'll find more that you didn't know were bad too. The more things you try to fix at the same time the worse it gets.

Yes 12v is better in some ways but unless your car has lots of bad 6v parts or is missing most of the ones you'd need to replace, all the stuff to convert a car is pretty expensive. One of the fun little projects is changing the sender in the fuel tank and getting the gauge to read correctly. Add up the prices for everything you'll need before you start pulling parts out.
You can just fix the 6v parts that need help, it will cost less and you'll have the car running sooner.

Changing to a later model engine & trans is done fairly often, but it is a significant project with lots of odd things that don't fit. (trans cooler, shift linkage, u-joints/driveshaft, speedometer cable, etc.)
It can slowly make you crazy if you aren't prepared.
.
 
Last edited:
hey rowen55 im a new member too and have a 55 fairlane
that has had a 302 swap already done with the 12v conversion . im trying to wake her up after a 12 year rest. yup a barn gem , and have almost reached dailey driver status . Im a welder not a mechanic but if you need pics of anything let me know as our cars are very similar.
 
Yes sir, she's deffinately a driver. Radio, clock, n heater controls and dash lights are not working. Everything else is working great. All the exterior lights, head lamps tail, blinkers, brake, etc. are working. As far as starting, she starts right up and runs out well. So your suggestion would be to get all my miss. things working and leave her alone? You know, in all truth, I can live with that! What do you think about the dual master cylinder conversion? As I said, I want to use this as my daily driver. Thanks, rowens55
 
I've grown up without power steering and brakes and it doesn't really bother me , you just have to lay back and give yourself room to stop , your not racing anyway. just make sure brake pressure and pads are good . it worked in 55 it'll work in 15
 
Thanks, yall are Makin me feel welcome and better about just leaving her stock. Yep, I can and will post some pics of her right now
 
Hummm? For some reason I can't seem to get my pics uploaded. Must be because I'm a carpenter n not a tech wiz. (Also no much more than a shade tree mechanic)
 

Attachments

  • 20150328_153548.jpg
    20150328_153548.jpg
    65.3 KB · Views: 20
  • 20150328_153631.jpg
    20150328_153631.jpg
    74.7 KB · Views: 20
  • 20150328_153522.jpg
    20150328_153522.jpg
    79.5 KB · Views: 19
I see three very nice pictures. :)

Is the electric system positive or negative ground? If you need a (12v) stereo for your tunes (I do) there are ways to do that in a 6v car.
 
Ok, this is pretty low tech but it will work. There are probably other/better ideas too.

Install (bolt down) a nice looking fully enclosed battery box in the trunk. Put your new 12v radio/stereo in the glove box, under the driver's seat, or wherever you like that you can reach when you need to (and where it looks good). Don't let any of the metal parts of the radio case or it's wiring touch or connect to any metal of the car. Connect the '+' and '-' wires of the new radio directly to a 12v battery in the trunk. Put a fuse in the wiring inside the box right next to the battery, in addition to the one that's already in the red wire on the back of the radio. You can use most any 12v rechargeable/car battery you can scrounge up, one with a sealed top is probably better. Charge the battery once a week or so. (see I told you it was low tech) But, the cleaner looking your installation work is, the more you'll like it.

There are 6v to 12v converters available & because the new radio will be neg. ground you'll still have to electrically insulate it from any metal parts of the car. Also, some cheap converters will create a buzz or hum in the sound, a battery won't.

Speaker installation is a touchy subject. Cutting holes in 60 yr old virtually impossible to replace interior panels can be a bad idea in the long run. If the car already has speaker grills in it (top center of the dash, rear window deck) use them if you can. Small bookshelf style speaker cabinets or semi-custom boxes can sometimes be placed without too many problems.

.
 
Last edited:
I had not thought of taking that approach. Truth is im a low tech kind of guy so I believe this will work great!! Not really all that "into" music anyway. I much prefer the sound of the dual exhaust. Thanks for the workable suggestion. Do you have any idea what it will cost to have my stock radio reconditioned? It might be the koolist looking stock one I have ever seen.
 
That's a good lookin' Crown. I would sure keep it with the v8 it has if it were mine. It may need a rebuild but it will make a fine driver.
Brake upgrades are a good thng and several ways to approach them. Dual cylinder kits are available AND even better disc kits, which I highly recommend.
 
Thanks for the complement! Im lucky to have her. I don't want to do a cosmetic restoration. Just fix the things that don't work and whatever mechanical upgrades that will make her a reliable driver. Im sure I will have a ton of questions as I get to each project and Im sure you folks will help a lot. Thanks again. I gotta go now though, the little lady needs me and comes even before my beauty!! Have a great evening and ill be back tomorrow. Rowens53
 
rowens55 said:
.....Not really all that "into" music anyway. I much prefer the sound of the dual exhaust. Thanks for the workable suggestion. Do you have any idea what it will cost to have my stock radio reconditioned? It might be the koolist looking stock one I have ever seen.
Click to expand...
I have no clue. My '55 was (mostly) converted to 12v before I got it and the radio had been changed out too. Sound of the dual exhaust? YES!! but I gotta be able to listen to the Oldies station too. :D
 
Your car is very good looking! I'd love to have one like it. On your clock, I have one in my Edsel. I took it out and bent the tabs that held it together to take it apart. I goes without saying, you need to be gentle. I blew mine out with low pressure compressed air then cleaned it gears windings and all with lighter fluid (the kind that went in the old cigaret lighters that go in your pocket). I then lightly oiled it with air tool oil which was the lightest oil I had. I blew off the excess. Then hook it up on the bench to gentle coax it back to running. I polished the lens with Flitz and I freshened up the dial face and hands with clear fingernail polish. I repainted the inside of the case white where the old had flaked off to reflect the night light. After it ran ok on the bench for a day, I put it back in the case and bent the tabs back. It has run in the car since.

good luck
wbedwards
 
rowens55 said:
Oh ya, same question and opinion for the clock........
Click to expand...

First check if your clock wind up or electric? If wind up you're good to go, just wind it up every couple of days. May need cleaning tho.

If electric the clock doesn't care if it is 6/12v or pos/neg ground. All the electricity does is wind the spring, like an automatic winder. The electricity does not run the clock itself. Mine is running just fine on 12v neg ground. Again may need cleaning, after all it's 60 yo.

rowens55 said:
Do you have any idea what it will cost to have my stock radio reconditioned?
Click to expand...

There are a couple of places that convert the original to AM/FM.

Lastly, You have a nice looking Crown Vic. I would leave it as stock as possible. IMO it will be worth a LOT more with the original Y-8 than a 302. Personally I think you would be disappointed with the no torque SBF in your car.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top