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

[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!

[fast Ed]

Can't say that I have seen anything about 16" on them from that era. The early 60s car were 14", and when they started with front disc brakes in 1965 they went up to 15". By that time I don't think there were many passenger cars riding on 16" wheels.


cheers
Ed

[Deaf Bob]

Can't say that I have seen anything about 16" on them from that era. The early 60s car were 14", and when they started with front disc brakes in 1965 they went up to 15". By that time I don't think there were many passenger cars riding on 16" wheels.


cheers
Ed

Makes me wonder if he had them put on.. Can't remember what it had for hubcaps..

[fast Ed]

Tried one of the skirts back on the car today temporarily, I think they are the way to go. Continues the lower body line nicely to the rear. Just have to get them cleaned up and install the new welting before putting them back on properly.




cheers
Ed

[mlcraven]

What's not to like about skirt X2? Looking good, Ed.

[Dignlif]

really digging this car!! I had a light blue 66 that has become one of the cars I really wish I had not sold and I want to replace.

These are great cruisers and you're doing it justice with your subtle mods!

[fast Ed]

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm trying to keep a subtle 60s California vibe to the car as much as possible, since that is where it came from, and whoever owned it there seems to have modded it and chromed it up a bit. I have a nice finned air cleaner that matches well with the valve covers to go on too. After that, some general tidying and cleaning in the engine bay.


cheers
Ed

[Beagle]

I've had a soft spot for these birds for years. Is it road flattening smooth? Thanks for feeding my a.d.d.

[fast Ed]

It certainly is, just a lovely car to cruise in. I laugh going over railroad tracks, it just seems to crush them in to submission! LOL Steering has the typical on-centre vagueness, but the car tracks very straight down the road. We did a new set of Monroe gas shocks when I had it at the dealership for the safety check, they seem to work nicely. Just enough firmness to control the major float, but no harshness.

This past weekend we did a new pair of stabilizer bar end links as well. Bit of a pain doing that on the floor rather than on a hoist, but the upside was that they came apart easily with hand tools ... between this car and the 89 Mustang, it is so nice not having to fight all the fasteners to get things taken apart. I swear that I will not own any rusty crap again, just not worth the trouble when you can be patient searching and find clean stuff out there.


cheers
Ed

[mlcraven]

Don't those 60 T-Birds weigh like 2 tons+? With decent suspension components that weight would stifle a lot of road-induced jouncing about.

Agree 100% on your rust ownership assessment...it just isn't worth it if there is a clean equivalent vehicle to be had.

[fast Ed]

Yup, from what I've seen listed, curb weight is ~4,200 lbs. on these babies, and it's a unibody!


cheers
Ed