How much work is involved in removing the front clip on a 56 passenger car?Trying to get an idea of whats involved timewise and how hard is it to re-install and get everything lined up?Looking for some input from anyone who has done it.Thanks!

  

I take it your talking about body work? Its quite a bit of work Mark, yet its all nuts and bolts. You will of course need at least three guys when it comes to lifting it all away. Help and time is the main thing .. Are you doing it to replace the front crossmember?

I cant thank Rick [rick55] and the members in our club enough for their knowldge and help and time when it came to doing mine..



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Yes I am asking about the front Sheetmetal from Firewall forward.I am thinking of pulling the motor and trans back out to fix the oil leak in the motor and do something with the Fordo as its not working properly.Last time I pulled the motor and rebuilt it I ended up disassembling most of the front trim grille etc because I pulled it all as an assembly and put it back in the same way.I have all winter to work on this.Just trying to get some idea of if its a good idea to take the clip off or not.

  

No dont pull the guards if you dont have to, just do what you did before .. Geez just make more work for yourself..



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Just to give you an idea when we replaced the front cross member in mine it took 5 days with and average of 2 1/2 guys who knew what they were doing working on it solid. Rick replaced my suspension bushes at the same time.. Given more time I should have replaced the leaking front seal ..doh!.



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Actually I don't think it would be a killer deal if your not in a hurry,it's not gonna come off as a assembly,yor gone to have to remove hood seperately. The front bumper by it's self. But both the fenders and grill assy can be removed as a assembly,with some effort,unplug the wiring harness assy from conections along both fenders ,the bolts at bottom rear of fenders the ones at top rearof fenders and the big one at center of grill raditor assy. Think of it not as just extra work ,but the opertunity to clean all the places that you will never git at any otherway,the bottom sides of engine compartment,and the ability to paint all them spots that nobody will ever see!!! An the engine trans will be a breeze to remove.
And you must have a engine hoist to remove engine ,so it will work to do heavy lifting of grill,and fendars,if you have a place to store it till you put it back on.

hoppys1956

It is Cake!!!!! easier to remove the whole clip then just a fender. Biggest challenge is getting a couple of guys to help lift it off.

312T85Bird

What?

for all you guys that "remove the whole front clip"... a question here to help me out too - how do you remove the whole front clip as a unit when you got those pesky studs that go through each fender about halfway up the rear of the fender itself (just past the firewall). Is there a good way to get that stud off or is there enough wiggle room to "flex" the fender out?

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

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

That is why guys remove the hood seperate, so that the fenders will flex, and then set the hood on for storage. Once you have taken a clip off you'll wonder why you haven't done it before if you had pulled the motor before, etc.

312T85Bird

What?

Could you expand a little on the location of these "studs"?Not clear on what these are?