IML: 1959 Upgrades and Mods

["Eric" <gearhead@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

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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