The 1934 Ford had a classic design and vintage appeal. Despite previous restoration efforts, it was beginning to show signs of age. Over the years, the car sat idle for extended periods. Both families focused on raising children and pursuing other priorities. Don, a skilled machinist, had ventured into a side business that flourished over time. Ron had purchased a 1951 Mercury. He was slowly restoring it into a ledsled 50’s custom. It was to look like what he would have driven in his teens. The brothers were involved in other life priorities, with the 1934 Ford sedan fast becoming an afterthought. Still, the car would soon take top priority as the brothers regain motivation and clarity about the car’s future.
Mechanical Restoration and Modernization
In 1995, the brothers took the Ford sedan to Ennis Brothers for mechanical restoration and modernization. The Ennis brothers were old-school hot rod builders located in Bargersville, Indiana. They updated the drivetrain, suspension, and cooling system and installed air conditioning in the Ford. Ron and Don wanted a more dependable drivetrain than the previously installed Mercury flathead. The Ennis brothers replaced the flathead with the drivetrain from a 1989 Mustang GT. The engine was a 5.0-liter high output mated to a C-6 automatic transmission. The engine was not rebuilt; it was just installed along with the transmission from the donor Mustang. The engine was topped with a Holly 4160 600 CFM carburetor. A Lokar shifter was configured for the automatic transmission topped with the mushroom-shaped brushed aluminum shifter knob.
Additionally, the Ennis brothers upgraded the suspension and braking system of the Ford sedan. They replaced the front end with Mustang II upper and lower control arms. A manual rack and pinion drive system upgraded the Ford from its original system. The lug pattern was converted to a 4.5 Ford bolt pattern. The shop installed 9-inch rotors with Mustang II calipers on the front for braking. The rear drum brakes were part of the eight-inch rear-end upgrade of the drivetrain. A new master cylinder with a brake booster complimented the upgraded brakes to ensure the Ford would stop on demand. The four corners of the Ford were fitted with white wall Commander tires. These tires were from Coker. A 2 3/8 inch white wall was on the front, and the back had a 3-inch white wall.
Finally, the Ford sedan had engine and interior cooling systems. The engine received a Walker radiator from Speedway Motors, and the interior received a Vintage Air Super Cooler. A final touch on the restoration was hood louvers for the top. The Ennis brothers punched 72 louvers on a single louver machine into the Ford sedan hood.
Ready for a Long Road Trip
With the mechanical upgrades finished, the 1934 Ford was ready for a maiden voyage on asphalt. Don Abell knew the perfect voyage to test the newly completed upgrades. He decided to attend the Streetrod Nationals in 1997 in Oklahoma City, OK. What better test than a 740-mile trip in the middle of the summer? As expected, the 1934 Ford Sedan made the 1,480-mile round trip without complications. The Abell brothers had entered a new era with their streetrod. Don Abell attended the Streetrod Nationals the next year in Louisville, Kentucky.
All that remained for the 1934 Ford sedan was paint and interior. Still, that would have to wait twenty-five years. The next attendance at the Streetrod Nationals would also come after that.
Blue Oval Hotrods 