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By B-rad - 3 Years Ago
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Just got registered. I've been on other forums and was told to get on here cuz my car is kinda special.
It's a 54 Lincoln Capri with 68k. Sat since 1968 in a hay barn in AZ.
Car has ac, I think it's after market from the factory. The evaporator is in the trunk and two clear plastic tubes send the fold sir over the rear seat into the passenger compartment. The compressor looks like an old Harley engine, 2 cylinders.
I pulled the engine and transmission out together and am attempting to remove the transmission but running into problems. I understand that it has a hydramatic gm tranny with no torque converter. Someone on another forum said I need to remove 20 cap screws from the flywheel using where the starter was. Anybody know for sure how to get it off?
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By Deyomatic - 3 Years Ago
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Any photos? Is this modified? It seems odd that Lincoln would have used a GM tranny but that Hydro was stout.
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By B-rad - 3 Years Ago
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It is completely stock, all brightwork is there. Interior is shot and outta the car. No rust or rot at all. When I took out the carpet, there was a spot of surface rust where the driver feet sit. Everywhere else was paint like from the factory. Rockers, fenders and frame perfect. Posting pics of ac compressor, car, and ac tubes  
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By miker - 3 Years Ago
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Welcome to the forum. I’ve got a soft spot for those, my Dad had a 54 Capri he bought in 55, and had until 61. 4 doors, no waiting, same exterior color as yours. Dark green leather interior.
Lincoln used the GM hydro-matic until they built their own (or bought out) heavy duty version of the Fordo in 55 or so, IIRC Turbo Drive in the Lincoln’s.
You might add your location. Might get lucky and someone is close.
Great ride.
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By B-rad - 3 Years Ago
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I'm in south east Arizona, Sierra Vista to be exact. I'm hoping to find someone on here with knowledge of this car. I'm going to be having a lot of questions while restoring it. It sat for 57 years. The heads are nasty dirty. A lot of oil built up on everything, looks like grease. A guy I know looked at the heads and cylinders and said he didn't see anything to be concerned about. I'm tearing it down and taking the block and heads to a local machine shop so they can clean and inspect everything. Will get a breakdown of what's good and bad. Will have to see if the pistons will work still or if the cylinders are going to need boring out.
I'm building this for my wife, she wants it to be yellow with dark green roof. We saw a 54 scruby named Peggy Sue with those colors and it looks really sharp.
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By Lou - 3 Years Ago
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Your AC is factory stock including the compressor and the tubes running up into the headliner..It's really rare to find a complete AC set up of that vintage.
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By B-rad - 3 Years Ago
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Lou, the tubes don't run into the headliner, just out of the rear deck and into the passenger compartment. I have seen what you're talking about. They look like a newer SUV or van where there are chrome vents coming out of the headliner. This wasn't set up that way, that's why I believe it is an after market. Someone told me they believe they did the after market at the factory, pulled the car out of line and installed it. I really don't know for sure. I wonder if anyone knows how to test the components to see if they will work. It would be neat to see that compressor hooked up and working again
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By Dobie - 3 Years Ago
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Novi Equipment Co. out of Novi, Mi. was the major supplier of automotive AC in the early to mid 50s. The systems were installed at the factory as well as by dealers and the aftermarket. The compressor had no clutch, meaning it operated any time the engine was running. You turned the system "off" by operating a valve that bypassed the refrigerant around the evaporator, eliminating the cooling effect. If you can rotate the compressor by hand it may just work, especially if there is still refrigerant in the system. The compressor may be rebuildable since it was just an adaptation of a stationary refrigeration unit. If not you can adapt a modern automotive compressor like a Sanden SD508. The system holds about 10 lbs. of refrigerant, originally using R12 which has been outlawed by the EPA for close to 30 years now. I lived in Dallas in the 50s and I remember these systems would flat freeze you out of the car in short order, even on the hottest days.
Here's a link to a thread about them on the HAMB: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/novi-equipment-company-traditional-auto-air-conditioning.410927/
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By 1930artdeco - 3 Years Ago
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Welcome, and nice car you got. There is a thread over on the Ford Barn-late V-8 talking about your exact transmission issue (sorry, just realized that it was you posting the same question over there). As for your AC system, I looked at another late 50's Lincoln and it had the exact same system blow in from the trunk through clear plastic pipes into the pass compartment. Not sure if you can have the compressor be rebuilt or not. I was told no on a 75 compressor but I am no expert.
Mike
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By PF Arcand - 3 Years Ago
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Brad: welcome to the site.. there are one or two people on this site that are quite familiar with those engines etc.. I believe that one of them bought a large collection of parts including some higher performance stuff recently.. Hopefully you are able to get the car into decent shape without spending a fortune, unless that doesn't bother you?. 54 Capri 4 Dr.s were listed in the OId Car Report Price guide as of 2017- at just under $15000 in # 2 condition.. There was also an Ad in that issue for parts out of Florida; www.lincolnoldparts.com or Herb @ 727-445-1091
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By RB - 3 Years Ago
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I am going to suggest you contact Rick Martin in Ohio. He knows 52-54 Lincolns. and owns several.. He can probably answer your transmission questions as well
His Email is: MartinRP2@aol.com
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