I know as soon as I get it home I'm going to want to try starting her.  I figure if I change the oil and I disconnect the fuel line and drop it directly into a clean container of gas just before the fuel pump I won't have to worry too much?

What else?  What about the car itself?  Are you guys familiar with these cars too? Has 3-on-the-tree tranny. Car has about 70k original miles on it. My aunt and uncle used it as their college car in the 60s-70s.

I'm just basically getting excited to add this car to my small but growing collection and being a huge believer in the auto forums, eager to hear from some of you about what I'm getting in to!

As far as starting the car,,,, make sure the motor isn't locked up (breaker bar and socket to the crank bolt), and double check all of your battery/starter/solenoid connections. Hopefully you won't run up against those gremlins, but most of us have had the starter troubles a time or two. The advice so far has been excellent. Before introducing fuel and spark, I would suggest installing a temporary oil pressure gauge, removing the valve covers and spark plugs as noted, disconnecting your fuel line, and turning the motor over (this is of course after you change the oil). Check your oil pressure and your oil flow to the rocker arms first.

Let us know how it goes. If you check some of my other posts in the This and That section, refiring and sprucing up an old motor can be quite rewarding!

Later,

Timbo

I put a freshly rebuilt 350 in a 3/4 ton suburban, this is what I plan to tow the u-haul trailer with.  I'll go as slow as I need too, I protect my cars like they're my children, everyone in a hurry can go around me. My understanding is that the uhaul trailers have surge breaks, that is what I'm counting on anyway!

I'm super pumped to hear that the car fits on the uhaul, that was one of the big questions heading into this weekend, I had more poor 82 yr old grandpa out in the rain trying to measure the width of the car himself (he pulled it out the barn with a tractor on Monday).

I'm also super pumped to see such a strong forum community!  I'm a self taught car guy, but not really, I'd say I'm really a "forum-taught" car guy, I've built a 71 pontiac, and swapped 3 engines, but never would've made it without help from generous experienced people on forums.  Thanks for all the great tips on what to watch for and check out before I try firing her up! It is easy to get ahead of myself when I'm excited.  this is the first ford on my project list, I'm truly a ford guy ever since my first car...1984 Grand Marquis!  But my projects have been chevy's cuz they're cheap and easy.

I have so many questions, but they can wait for later posts and after I've done some more snooping around this forum and had a chance to pick apart the car more carefully...the first thing I need to do is get some solid rubber on her, then take the shag carpet off the dash from my uncle's college days, and take out the sun visors which have broken down into slimy sticky messes. (whats up with that?)

I'll be back soon hopefully monday with some pics!

Good luck with hauling that car, you have got some good advise from some of the best Y-block guys around. 

Since the car does not run, and since UHaul trailers do not have any kind of winching system, how do you plan to get that car up there on the ramps? If you take your time, the portable "Chinese" winches that you can get at Wal-mart work ok. I have moved several this way with a good heavy logging chain for safety.

By the way, when you rent the trailer, the person behind the counter will ask you what you are towing and will tell you that it won't fit, but if you tell them it is for a Fairlane, you should be ok. just pick one from the sixties...

Or just tell them you're hauling a VW bug No problems there!! seriousley the U-Haul guidelines are quite Nazi-ish so if the car you're hauling weighs anywhere near what you are towing it with they are supposed to say no.. I've run into a couple problems with em'

this is the most "familiar" bunch with the Y era cars you ever meet my friend.. and the most generous with their knowledge.. welcome and prepare to learn more than most of these guys have forgotten

I bought this suburban for $500, I knew it needed an engine.  Engine $750, New Manifolds $150, Torque converter $75, Tires $125, mount balance tires $125, New fuel lines $150, Seal replacment from trans to transfer case $350, new Radiator $300 and the latest...new hitch $250..new total value of truck $2750

I didn't know how fast my "beater" truck would appreciate in value!  From $500 - $2750 in just 2 years!  At this rate I should be able to sell it at Auction 10 years from now and pay for my retirement

Much worse..when I got home, my car was missing one of the "visors" over the headlights 

I'm going to go back over some ditches tonight looking for it, but I'm not hopeful. It most likely tumbled into the grassy ditches and if finding a golf-ball in the rough is any indicator, finding a green headlight visor in the tall grass over 60 miles is likely impossible, but I'll try.

One of my Uhaul stories that wasn't so good was when I rented a tow dolly - pretty heavy duty at the time, much more than what I needed for the 55 Ford parts car I was towing. I rented the unit, drove back 15 miles to the lot, loaded the front wheels on the tow dolly, strapped them down, chained it up, AOK right? Wrong! I pulled away and tested the brakes, the connection and everything for safety's sake, and as I stabbed the brakes a little, I heard this awful screeching sound like metal scraping across metal in a "blood curdling" way.

I stopped everything, got out and inspected the damage - No damage to the car or truck, but evidently, the last person who used the unit must have taken the carrier pin out of its boss (the wheels sit on the ramps, strapped the unit, and then the unit pivots on the dolly with the center pin) and just laid the unit centered on the dolly. The unit had slid out of the dolly completely, and there I was with the wheels completely strapped down and the chain hooked up. That could have been a fun mess on the highway.

UHaul ended up giving me the rental for free. My buddy with a front end loader lifted the entire car, still strapped to the unit, back onto the dolly and the pin into its boss, and away we went a few hours later.

I'm not too worked up over it, it is all part of what makes this hobby adventurous..plus now I get to buy a new tranny for the chevy...I'm a little exhausted from recent non-fun (aka required) car repairs, and cannot fathom starting the tranny job in my driveway.  So it is either got to wait or I'm going to have to suck it up and pay someone to put it in.  I was so exhausted at the end of the weekend it was almost enough to make me consider buying a newer car/turck...but got some rest and am re-assured I like driving junkers too much

Of bigger concern was the loss of the headlight "door" (the visor ring that goes over the headlight, is that what is called the door?) off the 56...although from a quick scan of e-bay they don't appear to be impossible to replace.  That made me feel better.

Those headlight doors are pretty common.  I have a few, could probably sell you one cheaper than you can retrace those 60 miles.

I'll keep that in mind. I put a $15 bid on one on e-bay yesterday, we'll see what happens, it might be junk..

First off, welcome!  For what its worth, im only about an hour and a half from you (in wauconda, IL, down by the chain o lakes, about 20 miles south of the border on rte 12).  My wife and i did a complete frame-off on our 56 sunliner, so i know these cars (at least the fairlanes) reasonably well.  IM or email me if you want my contact info, id be happy to help with info, etc if i can, or a helping hand, or if you ever need to see a finished car (granted, they are never finished!) for reference.  Just let me know!