Phew!  there was a TON of dust and nastiness...but I couldn't stop ripping stuff out of my car, couldn't wait for a dust mask (got to get the nastiness out so you can start imagining how good it could be!). 

When I was driving home, I was already starting to feel like I was getting a chest cold...even though I knew asbestos wouldn't cause instant symptoms like that...it got me thinking about everthing I could've just inhaled..then it occurred to me that they used to use asbetos in insulation! And I started freaking out.

Glad you guys were here to reassure me so I could sleep more peacefully!

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

I really think you are safe from asbestos, but after hearing about the "shag" carpet and the space age polymer glu-all resin based goo that is holding that stuff to the dash?

You are safe from asbestos, only the bacteria, mold, and mice doo to worry about (as has been my experience). One car that I tore apart once did have a the jawbone of a small dog - now that was freaky. Then there was the 56 wagon with a 5 foot long snake skin up under the dash. Honestly, I am not making this up.

About the dash: While most guys here would not recommend this (of course this depends on how far you want to go here) I would say that you need to take the whole thing out. You can unbolt it pretty easily because the attachment points are almost self-explanatory. Do you have any photos of the car to post? How far do you want to go with the interior before you actually try to start the thing?

I would say that there is a good possibility that it only has 30k miles on it. Do not be surprised if the engine block you find in the car is not the same one that came with the car originally. Over half of the parts cars that I have pulled apart have had a Y replacement from later years installed - even things like mismatched heads, rockers, combination of 6 volt/12 volt ignition doo dads, sometimes a real circus of parts (but of course, I do live in West Virginia)

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Brakes and clutch were asbestos. I don't think they had any insulation in the floor besides the stuff under the mats, but I don't think it was asbestos. It was some kind of quilted stuff that held water and then it rusted holes in the floor. Between the remnants of the mat, rust and dirt it is usually very dirty, but not dangerous like asbestos.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

Would there be Asbetos in the sound insulation in 50's era cars??  I didn't think about it and out of curiosity and instinct started ripping out the floor in 56 customline and there was tons of nasty dust and stuff...it crossed my mind to wait until I had at least a dust mask but didn't intend to do too much.

I would assume brake pads were asbetos...but anything else?  Freakin' out...in wisco.

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan