Something else to distract me from the Mustang track car ... a 66 Thunderbird

[fast Ed]

Thanks guys. I was thinking about doing the spider caps like this:



But the wheels are dual pattern, and the second set of stud holes left exposed would drive me nuts ...

Not sure about my tire selection though. The size should be very close to the diameter of the original bias ply rubber, but they seem very tight in the front wheel openings. I'm thinking that 215/65R15 might have been better. Oh well, I can address that when I decide on the new wheels for next year. I don't mind the chrome smoothies with the new caps, but they do have some surface rust on them that doesn't show up in the photos. I still have to try taking an SOS pad to them to see if that helps.


cheers
Ed

[mrocketscience]

I'd use some Naval Jelly on the chrome rims, the SOS pads will probably scratch them up. Car looks great, lower is always better....

[Scott Liggett]

The soap in SOS pads will keep them from scratching anything but really soft chrome bits. Car is looking cool.

[mlcraven]

Very stylish car; I'm sure it's a great highway cruiser. I like the rear fender skirts.

[fast Ed]

Well, as suggested this week we got around to making an attitude adjustment to the Bird. Got it up on the drive-on lift at the dealership, and had the front end / suspension tech (who is a pretty big strong dude BTW, glad that I wasn't trying this at home!), loosen off the hardware on the rear shackles, then take a big-azz pry bar to lever forward on the shackles. Once they got a bit past the centre point, BANG! Up they went in to the stock position. I was afraid that the car was going to sit too low because the springs were saggy, but it would appear that the previous owner who had flipped the shackles was just trying to get the ride height up from stock, not compensate for dead leaf springs.

Much better:



Also got some gold accent paint between the fins on the used set of Moon valve covers that I picked up a while back, I think it is a nice subtle look:





In the mail today was a package that I had been waiting for. The car had a busted lens on the right front marker, and I wasn't having much luck coming up with a good used replacement, only saw lefts for sale. So I pulled the trigger on eBay for a pair of NOS lenses, nicer than the car needs really but what the hell. I'll get these popped on tomorrow morning with some fresh seals that I got when I ordered the trunk weatherstrips from Bird Nest in Oregon.






I'm really pleased with the outcome of the ride height adjustment, it looks 100% better now, especially from the rear. Previously you could see the shackles, the rear half of the springs, and the diff pumpkin ... just didn't look right. I was driving behind tonight when my buddy Rob took it for a spin when we went back to grab the parts van from the dealership ... the car looks awesome going down the road now, especially as dusk came with the taillight lenses and reflectors being freshened up.


cheers
Ed

[racingsnake440]

Looks way better now, could still go a bit lower tho. Love the the gold on the valvecovers.

[SuperBuickGuy]

nice, I like the new look

[langleylad]

I would be proud to own this ride ! . Didn't Rocket just come out with those lug nuts . I think I'm going to get some .

[fast Ed]

Looks way better now, could still go a bit lower tho. Love the the gold on the valvecovers.

Yup, I was thinking that too. I may go for a set of 1" lowering springs for the front over the winter, and then some spacer blocks for the rear leafs.

I was worried that the gold was going to be too bright, but it turned out nicely. Used a couple of coats of zinc chromate primer on them first, since the paint doesn't really like to stick to bare aluminium after a while. I have a round air cleaner with a few rows of fins down the middle that I may or may not paint to match as well. Thinking that I will try it first by painting some masking tape to decide if I like it or not. Valve covers will get put on soon, I have plugs and wires to do, so it will probably all get done at once.

[Deaf Bob]

Hmm.. I remember friends of my folks bought a new T-bird.. Dad was squaking about the bird having bigger tires than his 60 Suburban... I looked and they were 16's... Option? The water tank on the engine was chromed as well as the valve covers..

These birds have tough rears... If someone rear ends you.. Should not be a catstrophe...


Nice car!