New Lower Ball Joints: Installed into Powder Coated Arms

I purchased a set of reproduction Ball joints for the Ranch Wagon.  I just couldn’t find NOS lower ball joints at a reasonable price.  So I found the best quality reproductions available.  The rubber grease boots are high quality, which is important to look for in a reproduction ball  joint. Too often the boot ages quickly, dries out and becomes brittle. This leads to it tearing and falling apart. Then the grease won’t stay in the housing, and grit and contaminants can get into it and ruin the ball joint.  The vendors don’t sell the grease boot by itself, so you are usually stuck buying a new ball joint just for the boot.  FRUSTRATING!!!

I have soaked the upper control arms, ground the factory rivets off of the upper ball joints, hammered them out, and will be sand blasting them tomorrow.  I then plan on taking them and a number of other items to the powder coater.  I am cutting it close to self imposed deadline of September 15 to have the front suspension refurbished/replaced and the wheels on the ground, but I think I can make it.

  

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Power Brake Pedal Assembly

I have acquired a factory 1958 Ford Power Brake pedal assembly for cars with an Automatic Transmission.  Someone I knew purchased the unit for the Brake Booster, and gave me the Pedal assembly. I needed an Automatic pedal assembly anyway, so finding one for a Power brake car was a big plus. All I need to do now is find a Kelsey Hayes Brake booster for it.

Del Rio Trim Found

I have always liked the deluxe trim for the 1958 Ford Wagons. That trim package was used on the high end level wagon which Ford called “Del Rio”. It was a Gold ribbed band of aluminum that ran down either side of the 1/4 panel and doors, surrounded by stainless trim. I also liked the way the 2 tone paint is used with this trim.

The Blue/White Wagon has the Del Rio Trim.  The Red/White Wagon has the standard Ranch Wagon Trim. I like both, but the Del Rio trim level makes the two/tone paint breaks look better. It is just a matter of personal preference.

So I discovered  that the 1958 Ranchero could be ordered with this Del Rio Trim, and that finding a Ranchero with the trim would be alot easier to find than an actual Del Rio wagon with the trim.  I found a set on Ebay, and purchased it. The trim was in decent shape, with a small ding here or there. It can be repaired and polished fairly easily.  I have done it before, and while it is time consuming I have had great success in making slightly dented trim look like brand new.

Tanks for the Memories…..

I was the ebay high bidder on a used gas tank for the Ranch Wagon. It came out of a 1958 Edsel Bermuda Wagon, and was in very good shape.  This particular gas tank is interchanges between the 1957-58 Ford Wagons, 1957-58 Ford Rancheros, and the 1958-1959 Edsel Wagons.  The top side which is usually rusty beyond use, was just surface rusted.  It was quite a surprise to find a tank in such good shape, and for a decent price. New tanks were reproduced around 8 years ago, and have since been discontinued.  The remaining tanks are sold by parts vendors for about $450 dollars!

It also came with a good filler neck as well.