[sunshine1961]

I need help!! I am looking for information on restoration of a 1957 ford fairlane.

[mechanickid]

Ahh a classic, What do you need to to know?

[sunshine1961]

Everything. This car belonged to my late husband. I have kept it for 16 years for our children who were small when he was killed it has sat in a field in Colorado all this time. The body is great, the interior is gone, the engine is shot and the transmission is shot. I need to find replacement parts for taillights, side chrome, one side glass has cracked. That type of thing. I am at a loss how to start. I guess I am lost. I do not have any idea how to start this process.

[Stratmando]

Here's some sites to look through:
Classic Car Parts - 1957 Ford Fairlane
And

old car parts - Google Search

[mechanickid]

I see,, sounds like you have a big job ahead of yourself. Do you have experience?

Well the best place to start is tearing it down, Find out what you can use, what's junk, etc.

Has it been outside? You'll be working in a garage?

Anyway I'm not sure what you already have and what you will need, but to get you started,

-A Good tool set, need only standard sizing with this project,
- Hydraulic 2ton Jack and 4 Jack stands
-Some Impact sockets
-Youll want an oxy-acetylene torch (picture 2), there are mini ones avaible, shown in the picture, this is your cutting torch for those really stubborn parts.
-Good size air compressor
-Air tools; Impact wrench, Die grinder (picture 3 & 4)
- Find yourself some Mystery Oil (picture 5) or PB Blaster both work better than WD40, PB is more convenient as it comes in a aerosol can.
To get the engine and trans out you will need a cherry picker (picture 1)

Just off the top of my head, but you may need more. The tools that will be your favorite will be the heavy demolition tools, if this thing has been outside its going to be pretty rusted up.
Basically the best starting place is to take everything off the car and figure out what you have to get, if its been outside you will problay have to replace wiring also, there's not much in there anyway, it's a big project, but dooable, this will take large ammounts of time. But I'm sure you already know this.

What do you have already?

[excon]

Hello sunshine:

Is it black? I used to own that car.

excon

[Mapleleafpete]

Be4 you even start I sugest you take a good look at the car and see if is even fisable to restore,it mite have sentemental value but a project like this could cost a fourtune.A car that has been sitting out side for 16 years will most likely need new brake lines,gas lines,rear wheel cylinders,brakes,tires,floor mite be rottet out depending on your climate and if it has been sitting in grass.If you can't do body work or weld that will cost big $$$.Im not trying to discourage you but it's a big project to under take if you have no knowlage,it can be done with help from every one here,post pics of your progess and we can help :).Ive done several cars over the years but I was licenced body man and have all the tools to do the job along with the shop.Ill add a link to the last car I did 2 years ago,wasent a big job but took time and money.
make the beast at One True Media - share slideshows, slide shows, MySpace slideshows, MySpace codes, free video sharing, video montages.

[kitch428]

I have a car that I've been driving and restoring for the last 10 years. There is a ton of online help out there. One of my favorite publications I subscribe to is auto restorer magazine. No frills just like consumer reports. Very basic and to the point.
They get questions every month exactly like yours, and the answers back are so imfomative it's hard not to be impressed.
Try autorestorer.com to get started.
You can register here: 69 Camaro Restoration

[sunshine1961]

Thank you all for the great info. You have given me some place to start. The car has been outside but thankfully has no rust to deal with. And no creatures in it.