Ford Sunliner Parts & Accessories

Ford Sunliner Parts & Accessories

The Ford Sunliner was the convertible body style of Ford's full-size lineup from 1952 through 1959, and then the convertible variant of the Galaxie and Galaxie 500 from 1960 through 1963 before the convertible naming was folded entirely into the Galaxie 500 designation. These open-top Fords are among the most desirable show cars and collector vehicles in the American classic car hobby, combining the visual appeal of a convertible top with the broad engine and trim choices available in Ford's full-size lineup. The flathead V8 and early Y-block engines powered early Sunliners, while later examples used the 292, 352, 390, and 427 FE families that are powerhouses by any measure. This collection provides the mechanical and cosmetic components that support Sunliner restoration, show preparation, and performance builds.

Popular Upgrades

Sunliner restoration builds commonly address the 352 and 390 FE engines with Edelbrock FE Performer intake manifolds, Holley 600 to 750 cfm carburetors, and Hooker Competition headers for the full-size Ford engine bay. Convertible top hydraulic system rebuilds including pump motors, cylinders, and hydraulic lines are among the most important functional upgrades on any Sunliner, as the original hydraulic components have exceeded their designed service life on surviving cars. Front disc brake conversion kits from Classic Performance Products and front coilover upgrades from RideTech improve safety and handling to levels appropriate for modern road use in a spectacular open-air car.

Performance and Handling

The Sunliner uses the full-size Ford body-on-frame chassis with coil-spring independent front suspension and a rear leaf-spring live axle, a platform that accepts a broad range of modern suspension upgrade components. Convertible bodies are inherently less rigid than hardtops, and subframe connector equivalents in the form of front and rear frame brace additions are available from vendors who specialize in full-size Ford convertibles to improve chassis stiffness. The Ford 9-inch rear axle found in FE-powered Sunliners is among the most aftermarket-supported production axles ever made, accepting gear ratio changes, Traction-Lok limited-slip differentials, and high-strength axle shafts from multiple suppliers.

What engines came in the Ford Sunliner?

Ford offered the Sunliner with engines spanning the flathead V8 in 239 cubic-inch form in 1952 and 1953, the Y-block 239 and 272 from 1954 through 1956, the FE 292 and 352 from 1958 through 1960, and the FE 352 and 390 from 1961 onward with the 427 available in the final production years. Early Sunliners with the flathead or Y-block are typically maintained with period-correct carburetion and ignition, while later FE-equipped Sunliners respond well to the full range of Edelbrock and Holley performance upgrades available for that engine family. Identifying the specific engine by casting number before ordering intake, exhaust, and ignition components is important because FE port dimensions and accessory configurations changed across model years.

How do I restore the convertible top on a Ford Sunliner?

Sunliner convertible top restoration involves two parallel work streams: the hydraulic actuation system and the fabric or vinyl top material itself. The hydraulic system should be inspected for pump motor condition, cylinder seal integrity, and line condition before operating an original system that has not been recently serviced. Complete hydraulic system rebuild kits are available from convertible top specialists who supply the correct fluid reservoir, seal kits, and replacement cylinders for the era-specific Ford convertible systems. Top replacement fabric in correct vinyl or cloth materials is available from suppliers who specialize in correct-specification American classic convertible top kits.

Why These Parts Fit Right

Parts in this collection are cataloged by Sunliner model year and engine family, separating flathead, Y-block, and FE applications and covering convertible-specific components that differ from hardtop and sedan hardware. Hydraulic convertible top system components are noted alongside the standard chassis and drivetrain catalog. Fast shipping keeps your Sunliner project on schedule for its next show season.

Explore our exhaust systems for Y-block and FE V8 manifold and header options, browse suspension components for coilover conversion and front disc brake hardware, and check our air intake systems for FE and Y-block carburetor and Edelbrock intake upgrades.