Re: IML: 1959 Upgrades and Mods

[RandalPark@xxxxxxx]

I concur fully with this post. Conversions will not render any vehicle totally safe. The operator must acknowledge the limitations of the machine, and even the best machines have them. Folks often claim the need to make the cars stop better because other cars on the road stop quicker. A stationary object is just as stationary now as it was 50 years ago. The best safety is to make sure your Imperial is 100% of its potential by maintaining it correctly, and driving it defensively. If you take care of it, it will take car of you.

Paul

In an email dated Fri, 21 1 2005 6:55:24 am GMT, "Eric" <gearhead@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

>Drum brakes can be just as good in stopping power with the exception of 
>brake fade after several rapid stops from high speeds. In all other 
>measures, the original brakes worked pretty much just as well as modern disc 
>brakes. Tires are another important safety factor in the braking quotient. 
>There are disc brake conversions but they entail either expensive new parts 
>or finding relatively rare older parts. Also, there needs to be a suitable 
>proportioning valve retrofitted in the brake line. A brief discussion of 
>this is on the website 
>http://www.imperialclub.org/Repair/Brakes/convert.htm ?and here 
>http://www.imperialclub.org/Repair/Brakes/dan.htm
>A list of brake parts vendors on the website is here 
>http://www.imperialclub.org/Part/Brakes/Resources.htm
>
>A more effective safety upgrade when it comes to the standard drum brakes is 
>to first make sure all the old rubber parts, hoses, wheel cylinders, and 
>master cylinder, are renewed with new rubber. Then, check out the excellent 
>write up, http://www.imperialclub.org/Yr/1960/Kenyon/Page09.htm , ?on the 
>Imperial website about the dual circuit master cylinder conversion. This 
>way, if there is a failure in one circuit, some braking power remains.
>
>Electronic ignition is a worthwhile upgrade if only to rid the periodic 
>points changing. It gives a lot more juice to the plugs as well.
>
>Seat belts are pretty straightforward, with shoulder belts being a bit more 
>of a challenge in a hardtop car.
>
>Edlebrock makes an off the shelf fuel injection system. There are articles 
>around showing a junk yard GM FI conversion to a Mopar motor. For the cost 
>of even the junk yard conversion, it would take many many miles to recoop 
>the pocket change in MPG improvement. A 5000 lb car is only going to get so 
>much MPG. Plus, there is something reassuring in the simplicity of manually 
>squirting gas thru a carb. Doing a good carb rebuild is cheap and effective. 
>Still, compared to places like Europe, gas here is still cheap.
>
>Getting the vehicle running and driving to its best and keeping it as 
>original as possible will help to keep its value high and maintenance costs 
>reasonable. All rubber parts that are 45 years old should be suspect for 
>replacing, esp brake hoses, vacuum hoses in the engine compartment, 
>suspension rubber bushings, and fuel hoses. Then the suspension hard pieces, 
>ball joints and tie rod pieces, should be attended to if needed. I think the 
>'59 model driveshaft used the center carrier bearing that sometimes gives 
>trouble when the bearing seizes and rips apart the rubber insulator. That 
>insulator is kind of pricey so its good to have that otherwise cheap bearing 
>replaced as a precaution.
>
>Glad you got that '59.
>
>Eric
>'63 Crown Four-Door
>'63 Belvedere Four-Door sedan
>'72 Newport Custom sedan
>
>Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 17:03:27 -0800 (PST)
>From: henry ford <fordsfairlane@xxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: IML: brake conversion's and upgrades on 59's
>Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>--0-2069700930-1106269407=:21843
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>I just wana ask is there a brake upgrade or conversion ?avalible for 59's > 
>I wana drive my car, not just let it sit around the shop. but im not real 
>fond of drum brakes. would like disk on the front . I do like to keep the 
>car most orignal but as far as a safety . I plan on a few mods to the car. 
>like all wiring and electrical. seat belts , and brakes. to name a few. 
>after all ,my kids will be rideing with me. I know a 59 imperial is far more 
>safer than a hond@ but wont stop as good . ALSO im thinking about installing 
>univers fuel injection on the 413 .and electronic ignition . not decided 
>just yet. but im thinking that fuel injection would improve fuel 
>milage...............any thoughts would be aprecieated. thanks.
>
>
>
>
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