My 54 daily driver wagon

[Mike Van Veghten]

A few more parts added...
Most everything is good, but the chrome deflector will be replaced with something else. Thinking of cutting up an aluminum factory Ford air cleaner base which is larger than the current 14" air cleaner. Then I'll open the back to the firewall.
I'm putting two 50's front fender vent doors in the back of the hood so either hot air can escape or cold air can enter the air cleaner.

I just wish I'da known that I'd end up with electric fans rather than the factory shroud. Maybe one of these days I'll get the top radiator outlet moved to the center of the tank...

[j.byrd]

That all looks mighty nice ! That air cleaner reminds me of the 55-57 T-Birds unit. Are you going to put vacuum to the door flaps to open with full throttle ?

[sals54]

MVV.. Lookin good. I likey very much.

[Alan]

No problem moving that upper inlet, just pick a spot.

[Mike Van Veghten]

Thanks all.

j.byrd -
No, too much junk. Originally was thinking of straight mechanical linkage, then thought of a cable actuation, I've since added a small electric motor to the thought process. I'll work on the idea more once the parts are actually in the hood. I like, "simple", it normally saves hassle later.
My original thought was to make a cowl type hood scoop. But to do what I really wanted, I need another 53/54 hood to cut up..! They seem to be tuff to come by.

Thanks Alan, may take you up on that.

Mike

[junior]

I'm putting two 50's front fender vent doors in the back of the hood so either hot air can escape or cold air can enter the air cleaner.

..

Two thumbs-up with this idea!! very cool cheers Junior

[clonelark]

Very Cool Conestoga, love the engine color.

[52-fan]

Beautiful engine compartment.

[StudeRich]

Very nice looking Engine and compartment Mike.

Wait for it! Here it comes, another Stude. Nut's constructive OPINION!

I am sure you have "final plans' for the details like the "loose" Red wires here and there, not in a Harness, but I think those 7 or 8 little bits of Red have nothing to connect to visually. Like Red Paint around the "Offenhauser" letters on the valve covers or Air Cleaner Trim Red Paint etc. so as they are, they distract from all the Silver/bare metals look.

So, the best looking solution IMHO would be, paint your beautiful anodized Red aluminum throttle spring spacer Silver or Black to make it "go away", and change all the rest of the Red to Black unless you plan to add a significant amount of Red somewhere.
It is amazing how well gray or black can make things that do not want to be noticed or highlighted just go away.

The only exception may be the Red "Thingy" on your Special Crank Trigger device, that you may want to show off (Highlight) in a contrasting color, maybe Red. Since that unit is it's most significant feature, that makes this Engine "Special".

It's your Custom so do what you like, and take this as a "suggestion" please, NOT a criticism.

[Mike Van Veghten]

Stude.nut apparently wrote -

I am sure you have "final plans' for the details like the "loose" Red wires here and there, not in a Harness, but I think those 7 or 8 little bits of Red have nothing to connect to visually. Like Red Paint around the "Offenhauser" letters on the valve covers or Air Cleaner Trim Red Paint etc. so as they are, they distract from all the Silver/bare metals look.

So, the best looking solution IMHO would be, paint your beautiful anodized Red aluminum throttle spring spacer Silver or Black to make it "go away", and change all the rest of the Red to Black unless you plan to add a significant amount of Red somewhere.
It is amazing how well gray or black can make things that do not want to be noticed or highlighted just go away.

The only exception may be the Red "Thingy" on your Special Crank Trigger device, that you may want to show off (Highlight) in a contrasting color, maybe Red. Since that unit is it's most significant feature, that makes this Engine "Special".

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Funny....

Ok...on the "loose" red fan power wires . There is both red AND black in that bundle of four wires. Sorry, not changing their colors. Plus, as you might notice, they aren't currently connected to "anything". The wiring is next on the list of things to do.

I think you may need glasses. There is "NO red" on anything that says Offenhauser..!? Also nothing red on the air cleaner..!?

Yes on this one. I most probably will sand off the red anodizing from the spring mount AND throttle linkage (you missed that one !) and leave them bare aluminum.

The red "thingy" on my crank trigger...device...is shrink wrap. Bought it that way..., it's staying as is.

One more thing you may not like, the wiring harness will be visable and have "NO" covering, what-so-ever on the wire bundle. So...you will see all the colors of the rainbow in the wire harness when complete. Zip ties and clamps will be all there is to the wire harness.

This build isn't/wasn't done to win any trophys or best appearing anything. Just a clean street engine compartment, that I have no plans on washing after every rainy day..!
AND...as currently planned, I have no current plans to replace rusty panels/bad spots or bad (most of it !) paint on the body. Though I have pounded out two dents that I didn't like. No bondo, no matching paint, just smooth panels where there were dents.
Though the interior is being completed with the same basic care as the engine compartment...far from perfect, just clean and somewhat presentable.
Sorry that I've not met, nore do I plan on meeting your expectation of the build quality of...wait for it..."my" car. Not meaning any bad intentions here...just the facts..!

Mike

[StudeRich]

Misread and misunderstood again as usual!

I am sure you have "final plans' for the details like the "loose" Red wires here and there, not in a Harness, but I think those 7 or 8 little bits of Red have nothing to connect to visually, like: Red Paint around the "Offenhauser" letters on the valve covers or Air Cleaner Trim Red Paint etc. so as they are, they distract from all the Silver/bare metals look.
#1: (Meaning NO other larger areas of Red to match to, so of course the Valve Covers & Air Cleaner have no Red.)
A solution is in #2.

So, the best looking solution IMHO would be, paint your beautiful anodized Red aluminum throttle spring spacer Silver or Black to make it "go away", and change all the rest of the Red to Black #2: unless you plan to add a significant amount of Red somewhere.
It is amazing how well gray or black can make things that do not want to be noticed or highlighted just go away.

The only exception may be the Red "Thingy" on your Special Crank Trigger device, that you may want to show off (Highlight) in a contrasting color, maybe Red. Since that unit is it's most significant feature, that makes this Engine "Special".

It's interesting to me, how TWO people can say exactly the SAME thing, very clearly and one can still totally miss the point!

[JoeHall]

Since nobody else has asked, I will: What are the two lines for? (Those coming off the water pump manifold, turned 90 degrees, and running rearward.)

[Mike Van Veghten]

Gee...sorry Rich...maybe clearer (no rereading required) writing might be in order..! Sorry I disapointed you...again..!???


Hey Joe -

Trying something that works on later engines (Chevys, Chryslers and Fords). The lines are attached to the back of the heads. Like other more modern engines, they seem to benifit to having a "leak" point to help stop non moving water back there, reduce the chance of bubbles. Even though there are passages in the heads and block in the rear, they still seem to cool a little better.
So..thought I'd give it a try on the Stude, see what happens. At best, helps cool on the hot 100+ SoCal days, at worst, nothing happens and I'll take them off.

Miike

[allstateguy]

looks very nice to me Mike. I don't think I'd "move" the upper radiator inlet, just have it cut and rotated at its current location so it points at the thermostat housing. What exhaust manifolds are you running?

[Mike Van Veghten]

Thanks John -

They are the iron R3 performance manifolds. They need a LOT of work to clean them up inside. They have some strange baffleing inside the outlet that would do nothing to enhance the flow at all. So, if you get a set (Studebaker International), don't use them without cleaning out the outlet..!

Interesting thought on the radiator outlet. Will keep it in mind.

Mike