The changes for next year are underway. I ordered the complete Chassis Engineering front crossmember and suspension kit for the 41. The lead time is 6-8 weeks so I expect parts around the first of Dec. In keeping with the idea to not weld or cut the 41, the CE kit is a bolt on item. This should solve several problem areas for ride comfort and driveability. No more knee action shocks, worn out steering box or 70 year old brakes. The 41 will be converted to a Mustang II/Pinto disc brake system along with a new dual master cylinder, rack and pinion steering, adjustable height front end and standard tube shocks. I'll have to change the front wheels to 5 lug version of the same ones I'm running now (available from Summit Racing) and front tires may need to be changed to a smaller diameter for fender clearance when I lower the front end. My wife insists on keeping the interior looking original too so Dick at More Power has agreed to make a new steering column and shaft that will look just like the one currently in the car that is part of the steering box.
Besides the front end, other plans include replacing the entire wiring system with a Kwik Wire kit, replacing the generator with a Powermaster one wire alternator that looks just like a generator and replace the battery, coil, and light bulbs for a full 12 volt conversion. I located a radio repair shop in California that converts the original radios to retain the stock face but install a modern, 12v am/fm internals along with a pig tail for connecting a mp3 player. The heater fan motor wasn't working this year so converting to 12v will allow better options to finding a dual shaft motor to make the heater functional again.
The 3.36 geared center section will be going in the rear along with some changes to the lowering blocks. I'm going to check the pinion angle closely and have Gary at Micro Belmont machine the needed angle into the lowering blocks. The removal of some metal from the blocks along with eliminating the angled shims currently in the car should raise the rear about a 1/2". The exhaust system has been too close to the rear end this year so I plan to have the guys at Lentz reroute the passenger side to keep the exhaust pipe away from the center of the rear end.
All this sounds like some ambitious plans and quite a bit of work but I have all winter to work on the car. Right now I have a couple of house projects to finish and an engine to build for one of the Road Rodz member's daughter. I brought the 1954 235 block and parts home from More Power on Monday and have that sitting in a cradle for use as a test fixture once the new crossmember is in place. Front engine mounts will need to be fabricated as CE doesn't offer a mount kit for the original 6's - only for V8's and late model 6's. Should be easier than working with the engine that is currently in the car. That engine will spend the winter on the engine stand and a new rear main seal will be fitted to stop the leak!
So, as I've said before, stay tuned folks. Lotsa work and lotsa pics coming up!
