59 winter use
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 5
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Make sure she is mechanically sound, buy a new battery, a block heater in the lower radiator hose? (how cold is it there?) Clean carb and good working choke. In my experience (I drive a 56 every day) unless it is mechancally rebuilt and updated to a large degree, one should expect some mechanical problems now and then, factors like rain, snow, exrteme sun, stress things more. For me its part of the experience of driving old vehicles daily.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 5
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
My stock 56 has a fine defroster, a 59 should have one. (anyone have a 59' folks?) I did convert to an electric fan, having a fan blowing on a cold engine in the AM made engine warm-up very slow, and heat and defrost only happens with a warm engine!
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,958
Likes: 1
My 56 has a defroster. No clue if yours would or not. My haeter was all taken apart and cleaned up. It has a 2 speed fan and everything works. There is a pic in one of my galleries of the interior where the heater is.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 5
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Brian_b, after you rebuilt the heater, is it very loud? Mine works great, but its so loud I cant hear the engine!! (sounds like old bushings, I have not got to it yet..)
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,958
Likes: 1
I did not do it. It was done when I bought the truck. It looks very nice and everything works smoothly. So far, everything on the truck is like that (other than the carb-which I was told before the purchase).
As far as heater noise....unfortunately your asking the wrong guy. The heater seems really quiet and smooth to me.
I am actually deaf. I have a cochlear implant and can hear ok in a quiet environment (like the classroom), but the old truck is very noisy (to me). It is all just noise to me when I am driving it. Everything blends in together.
I hate loud exhausts, rattles, squeaks, bangs, etc.
I doubt you (or anyone) notices, but it does not have an antenna or a radio of any kind.
As far as heater noise....unfortunately your asking the wrong guy. The heater seems really quiet and smooth to me.
I am actually deaf. I have a cochlear implant and can hear ok in a quiet environment (like the classroom), but the old truck is very noisy (to me). It is all just noise to me when I am driving it. Everything blends in together.
I hate loud exhausts, rattles, squeaks, bangs, etc.
I doubt you (or anyone) notices, but it does not have an antenna or a radio of any kind.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,231
Likes: 1
From: Near Fresno, California
Also, give some thought to the brakes. Your 59 (I have one) is drum, with no self-adjusters. If you drive on ice and the brakes are not adjusted correctly one wheel can lock up before the others.
These trucks performed well in their day under harsh conditions - but the drivers were used to them. They are not as "user friendly" as the new ones, and need to be driven with care.
These trucks performed well in their day under harsh conditions - but the drivers were used to them. They are not as "user friendly" as the new ones, and need to be driven with care.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,017
Likes: 9,972
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Originally Posted by WillyB
Also, give some thought to the brakes. Your 59 (I have one) is drum, with no self-adjusters. If you drive on ice and the brakes are not adjusted correctly one wheel can lock up before the others.
These trucks performed well in their day under harsh conditions - but the drivers were used to them. They are not as "user friendly" as the new ones, and need to be driven with care.
These trucks performed well in their day under harsh conditions - but the drivers were used to them. They are not as "user friendly" as the new ones, and need to be driven with care.
As with any older vehicle, they take a little more driver involvement to drive, thats the charm. The newer vehicles have taken all the thought out of everything.
Good luck with it,
Bobby
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Originally Posted by snsowens
I've been looking at newer fords, but may have found an 59 and, lets face it, the older, the better looking. However, I live in the frigid north. What advice do you have?
-s
-s
Vern
Last edited by GreatNorthWoods; Jan 18, 2006 at 10:00 AM.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,423
Likes: 8
From: Clarksville,Tn
Has anyone insulated the floor or headliner area of your truck? My daily driver is not, but I did my 65, can't seem to tell the difference, will be building a 59 this spring for daily use, also we don't really have a tough winter in my neck of the woods; to tell the difference.
Mitch
Mitch
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
59 winter use
I used my 60 as a daily driver for two years in high school (its now under reconstruction 15 years later) the only things I would recommend would be a disk brake conversion, and a pertronix ignition. Mine was hell to start in rain. Winter driving in wisconsin was fine, and defrost worked good once the truck warmed up.