Update news on the Edsel, 51 Ford, and Starliner

The second week of June we took a trip to Northern California to see family and friends. While there we were going to pick up a 60 Edsel 2 door as the parts donor car for the 60 Edsel Station Wagon.

We stayed with my son in Sonoma County and I visited my friend Fred, who I got the Kaisers, T-Birds and Edsel from. Karen spent time with her daughter and new grand baby. Fred and I had a great couple of days preparing and loading:



the edsel sedan and spent one day trying our luck at buried treasure using Fred's metal detectors at Bodgea Bay.



I spent one day visiting an old friend (who has some failing health problems) I had not seen in over 10 years at Clearlake. We reminisced about hot rod days and friends in the 50's and 60's. We talk about his current 100 mph plus twin hull boat with 2 superchargers and his 7.45 ET chevy drag car

Karen and I went and visited our friends Dave and Carol in Healdsburg. Dave has a collection of 20 (+/-)Ford, Dodge, and GM Trucks and a few 60's/70's V12 Jags. Then we went to lunch in Geyserville. I forgot to take pictures so don't have any to share.







On Tuesday morning, we departed Nor-Cal and I drove to Costa Mesa in So-Cal to visit the 51 4 dr dragging the Edsel along. The chassis is painted gloss black and the new engine with lots of polished aluminum is beautiful, finish paint and flames on the body, are gorgeous. The car body is scheduled to go back on the frame this week when the trunk floor pan and rear wheel wells will be welded back in, then plumbing, and wiring will follow.





When I got home I pressured washed the edsel and cleaned the inside, where the floor pans had started to rust, then inventoried all the parts I need for the station wagon.





On Saturday June 20th I drove the Starliner to Prescott for the Yavapai Classic Cruiser Car Show. The weather was in the low 80s but breezy and very windy on the way home. The show was very good this with lots of very good modified and original cars.








[59 chevy rear appearing with a 57 chevy front is actually a Corvette]

The 53 Kaiser is coming along slowly but surely with fuel and brake plumbing complete and workin on the air ride system. The bottom and inside of the body has the finish paint and I am working on the final fit of the center consel and metal around the back seat.

Flipping for Fenderz May 18th Car Show

On Saturday (May 18Th) we took the Starliner to a Fund Raiser Car show in Kingman AZ to benefit the "All Starz Kidz" a dancing and tumbling academy for young girls. The event is called "flipping for Fenderz Car Show and all the judging is done by the gymnasts and dancers, and some of their picks for awards were unique to say the least

The Starliner was in the customs category but was not flashy enough for the girls and they picked a 40 Ford 2 door that was candy apple purple with red, orange, and yellow flames.

There was a good turn out, about 100 cars, trucks, t-buckets, and motorcycles. We had a good time visiting with people we have met at other shows and watching the All Star Kidz dancing show.

Its a short run for the Starliner, about a 60 mile round trip and the show runs from 10 am to 2 pm so we did not have to sit through a long drawn out affair. The DJ played good 50's and 60's music and we enjoyed our day with our special car.

Fun Run 2009

This was the fourth year we took the Starliner on the "fun Run" on Route 66 from Seligman to Topock.



There is a Friday night cruise and barbecue in Seligman but, we did our normal Saturday morning run from the house (East on I40) to Seligman 43 miles, for the 10:00am start. Then west on Route 66 through Peach Springs, Truxton, Valentine, Hackberry, Valle Vista to Kingman that is another 60 miles and takes us around 2 hours with the stops along the way.


In Kingman old town 2 of the main streets are closed for all the Fun Run cars to park for a Show and Shine car show, with lots of vendors and live bands. A lot of people recognized the Starliner and stopped by for a visit and we enjoy all the other cars.

On Sunday morning we go from Kingman to Golden shores through Goldenrod and Oatman for the awards then out to Topock and back east on I40 to home that is 150 mile day. The Starliner ran great and we had a wonderful time. If anyone is int he Kingman area the first weekend of May I would recommend going to the fun run.






This vehicle is in honor of the service men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.



There were over 800 cars participating with 16 people from France, 1 from Germany, and Several from UK, and Canada.

51 Ford Up Date

The engine from the 51 on the last post didn't sell on EBay and is still available. It is a good complete engine for a project car.






I was in L.A. last week and visited the 51 4 door in Costa Mesa. Progress is slow, the glass is taking a lot of time to move the glass channels, make new brackets, remount the electric window motors and make a custom piece of glass for each door due to the chop and the elimination of the wing window.




the rear wheel and trunk area were cut away to make room for the "C" notch



Rear end and new rear suspension, but the new sheet metal can not be welded in until the body is back on the frame. The Frame is finished and waiting for the new custom made rear sway bar to arrive. Then the paint can be finished, the engine installed, brakes, plumbing, and the steering can be finished.



The engine is being put back together after the head, manifolds and accessories were sent out for chrome and polish.


New engine for the 51 Ford 4 door project is a 347 small block Ford based on a 302 with SCAT crank & rods, SRP pistons, 11:1 compression, main girdle, comp cams hydraulic roller, with extreme series lifters, comp cams S.S. roller rockers & stud girdles, chrome molly push rods and polished Victor Jr. heads.

The EFI is TWM intake manifold independent runner 8V throttle body, Webber engine management system & computer. Custom distributor with combination crank & cam sensor & remote coil packs.

A Billet Specialities serpentine belt system with polished accessories is on the front.

FORD 302 C.I. - EFI ENGINE FOR SALE

Update on the 51 Ford 4 door project. The car has received a new engine due the many modifications to the body and frame. Thus we are putting up for sale the original re-built engine for this car ((we need a fresh burst of money to budget)). Any of you know of someone interested in a good engine to dress up their ride or for one their street rod projects please pass this along or email us, Thanks. Ron









FOR SALE
FORD 302 C.I. - EFI with accessories




Not included (but shown in the first 4 pictures) are: bell housing, transmission and shifter, flex plate, torque converter, headers, starter, throttle and kick down cables, transmission dip stick and the chrome pan has been replaced with a painted pan.
















This 302 C.I has been completely rebuilt bored 30 over, crank turned and polished 10 and 10, new pistons, reconditioned rods, Hi Performance oil pump, balanced, rebuilt heads with new valves, springs, push rods and lifters. The Pro Stock ELGIN #951 P CAM is a mild street performance with a good low end torque, a K & N air filter is included.

The EFI fuel injection, computer and ignition are from a 1991 302 that was sent to Street & Performance for polish and chrome, Flow tested with a stand alone wiring harness provided.

The front accessories include 1991 Ford serpentine belt, pulleys and brackets that are polished/chrome with a new polished Sanden A/C compressor, chrome 100 AMP alternator, polished power steering pump, polished Flow Kooler water pump, Lokar ss (stainless steel) dipstick, polished front timing case cover and ss flex-a-lite fan. The valve covers are polished Ford Motor Sport and the distributor base is polished.

The picture of the motor on the engine stand shows the engine with the accessories removed, ready to be transported and with the painted pan.

The engine is currently in Costa Mesa and could be moved to Kingman AZ if that location is better for pick up. We are asking $5,500.00 and the engine is listed on Ebay under vendor name kvaustin. Again, thanks Ron

Cruise to Hackberry on 66

Each year on the Route 66 Fun Run we are unable to stop at Hackberry General Store because the Starliner is too low ad the store is too crowded with no level parking available. So last Sunday, was a nice sunny day and we had just traded in 4 vehicles for a new F-250 Ford diesel truck and a Lincoln MKX SUV Crossover and decided to take the MKX out for a cruise.

We traveled over Hackberry Rd (15 miles of dirt) from I 40 to Route 66 then west to Hackberry General Store that is a step back in item. We were the only visitors so we Had a chance to visit with the owner and his dog who talks to you when prompted.

The store is full of memorabilia, photos, antiques, and lots of stuff. The owners corvette is parked in front with other old cars, trucks and equipment scattered around the old buildings. The garage in back has old engines, test equipment, parts books, old tools, jacks and other items (too many to list).

There is a picnic area next to a fish pond, tree swing and benches under shade trees. We enjoyed the visit and wandered around the old stuff. So if you are in Kingman Area plan a stop at Hackberry. That is also accessible from Kingman or Seligman on Route 66 hwy. There is also some information youtube.

Kingman Street Drags

Last weekend Kingman Arizona held its annual street drags in old town on Historic Route 66. Beale Street was barricaded off, grand stands set-up and a timing system with christmas tree lights set-up at the starting line. The event is sponsored by Napa Racing, Snap-on Tools and many local businesses and the City of Kingman. The Mayor, Sheriff of Mohave County and the Chief of Police all raced. Major drove an altered coupe with a blown big block in it and the Sheriff and Chief of Police drag raced each other in new Hemi Powered Chryslers prepared by the local dealer. Two Kingman Motorcycle Cops raced their police bikes with lights and sirens going.





I had my picture taken with "Miss Wings and Wheels" Queen Kimmie. Route 66 Wings and Wheels Inc. puts on this event and other fund raising events with the goal of building a multi-faceted motor sports facility in Kingman.







All types of vehicles were run in different classes, truck, sport compact, pure street, hot rod, pro street, motorcycle/quad and unlimited class. The unlimited and pro street were the most exciting with an alcohol dragster, funny car, a bunch of altered cars and some really nice pro street cars along with the hot rods and burn out contest it was a great weekend for drag racing and the weather co-operated with temperatures in the 80's and a light breeze.







There was media coverage with Fox Sport Network TV, Speed Scene TV and dozens of magazines, local radio stations covering the event. You can get more information at www.route66wingsandwheels.com or www.kingmanstreetdrags.com.

A couple of friends drove up from LA for Saturday and my wife went to her first drag race with me on Sunday. We all had a great time.