I just saw an ECI ad, they have kits for a 55. Not sure on the spindle but you can call them. Engineered Components Inc in Connecticut

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

'54-'56 sedan spindles are the same as T-bird. I have one on my '57 Bird.

Tha maverick rear end bolted up and the E brake cables even hooked right up.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

Was that Maverick rear end a bolt in? I was wondering what kind of Maverick/ Mustang 8" rear end would bolt right up to '56 spring pads.


Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

I am looking at the machined granada spindles from DC enterprises but I might be able to do the torino spindle swap cheaper but the spindles from DC would be easier so it looks like its decision time,I have all winter to decide and it looks like I am going to do some repair to the rear end as I have a axle with too much end play and it has new bearings.  I have a maverick 8 inch in it and the 2.79 gears are a little too tall for a heavy car so while its apart I am thinking about 3.00 or 3.25 gears.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

My 1954 Mercury use to be the fire chief's car in Bolder Colo.. It came with shorter springs and a professional lowering kit in stalled. A well done job too.

Jeff Leydig
Stallions Auto Interiors
Stearns, Ky. USA

Not sure how to lower a 54 or earlier model, but on 55 /56's I simply drilled out the rivets on my lower control arms that hold in the spring cup. I used some 1" alluminum bar stock and cut four spacers to length. Drilled the bar stock to match the holes in the control arms and bolted the blocks in between the control arms and the spring cups (use grade 8 bolts). This will lower your car about 3"s and does not affect alignment that much (Camber can easily be shimmed).

This will give you a ride of somewhat softer springs, but I corrected that with a good set of gas shocks (1" shorter than stock).  Car rides great, a little rougher when hitting a good pot hole, but people always ask me if I have air ride as the car sits so low and still rides smooth!

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning!

I'm sure they fit great, I wanted to buy a kit for my car as well, but I could only find two companies that even offered them for a 1954 Mercury.



The '54 Mercury was the first production passenger car with ball joints, the '53 had king pins. They design was new at the time and it was changed in 1955 to the style that you have. The '54 model was all to it's own and that makes it hard to find a company that sells brake kits. I have researched this for over a year with little results. So, not only being an upholsterer, I am a machinist with his own mill and lathe and it came to me to make something fit and be functional.



Another feature of doing this is that it all looks good and doesn't look aftermarket. I have had die-hard Ford guys comment on how it looks more original. I know the booster and master cylinder look way different from the '70s Ford truck, but they don't look aftermarket either.



I just can't wait to drop in the new '57 Thunderbird 312 and redo the upholstery for next springs car shows.

Jeff Leydig
Stallions Auto Interiors
Stearns, Ky. USA

Hey, what about disc brakes for a '59 merc? Can I use those '75 cougar spindles?

Hello Jeff! According to my interchange book 54 Merc uses same spindles as 55-56 Ford.Looks like you came up with a nice set of brakes on yours.Another possibility for someone doing a 55-56 Ford.Nice job!