Project Grand Touring 1966 Thunderbird

[DanStokes]

Tree'd on the Rock Auto suggestion. I'm really happy with them - parts quality, shipping, prompt delivery, etc.

Looking for some on-road vids.

Dan

[zombie289]

Looking forward to seeing this build unfold. Sorry if I missed it, but have you verified that its a 390, not a Q code 428 car??

[STINEY]

Interesting possibility..............if so definitely swap it for the LS - and sell that 428. Would likely pay for the rest of the build!

Of course, deciphering the Ford codes is reason enough to do the swap, its mind-bending how obscure Ford was at this time. I figure they obfuscated for factory sponsored racing class reasons. Hard to prove if they actually used certain engine in production or not, if you see what I mean?

[1970camaroRS]

Tree'd on the Rock Auto suggestion. I'm really happy with them - parts quality, shipping, prompt delivery, etc.

Looking for some on-road vids.

Dan

Yeah, I use them for all of the stock-type parts I need on all of my vehicles. Have a million magnets on the side of my fridge.

Looking forward to seeing this build unfold. Sorry if I missed it, but have you verified that its a 390, not a Q code 428 car??

It's most assuredly a 390 car, but I haven't looked at any numbers yet. All I did today was toss some random trash out of the interior while I was putting the garbage can out for the morning pick-up. Found a quart of unopened ATF fluid and a container of 'radiator treatment'. So, score I guess!

Pulled up some of the carpet and sound deadening. I'm a little bit worried about the floors, they're pretty rusty, but I don't think I will find any holes.

[1970camaroRS]

Here's an update and a little walk-around of the car.

Looks good, eh?


Just a wee bit of damage here and there.



Interior....


Not too shabby.

Previous owner said something about the throttle pedal being floppy.


Wonder why? There's not much in the way of actual metal there anymore.


Those pictures look much worse than it really is though. The floors are actually fairly solid everywhere except for the throttle area. The bits and pieces you see everywhere is the remains of the sound deadening material I scraped away so I could see the floors.

And the ignition didn't feel like it was doing anything at all when I turned the key. I mean, like no mechanical resistance at all. The answer why was obvious.



Engine is there.


It fires right up.

http://youtu.be/M4a2by9MRSA

Before we took the belts off, it sounded terrible and I could swear it looked like the fan was shaking.

http://youtu.be/TN3jS8vwRJQ

BUT, the trunk...

At least it's not full of water anymore...going to need new side panels.


So there you have it. All and all, not a bad car. Needs some floor repair on the driver's side and the trunk. Engine runs. So I should be able to get some money out of that when I sell it.

Also, sold the Camaro as a roller. So the project moves forward! As long as I don't buy any new toys. And I pay my taxes.

[SuperBuickGuy]

hmmm.... you haven't convinced me yet - that trunk, especially the edges, looks worrisome.

[1970camaroRS]

hmmm.... you haven't convinced me yet - that trunk, especially the edges, looks worrisome.

Turns out someone repops just those sides of the trunk floor for a reasonable price. The weather strip chanel is trashed though. That will be trouble. The floors really are nicer than those pictures show. Just needs the throttle area repaired and the floors doused with POR-15. The whole interior is coming out for sure.

[1970camaroRS]

Baby steps. Pulled the LQ4 and 700r4 out of the Camaro. My wife finally talked me into using Instagram, but since I'm a professional photographer, I have turned my nose up at it. Here are some interesting cell phone shots I ran through Instagram.

Ready to go






Dirty Hat


Dirty Hands


Where the engine is going.




Nothing new to report except the Camaro goes away on the 12th. Then its spring cleaning time for the garage and the T-bird goes inside for a long, long time. Pretty much decided it's going to come apart and the body work starts this summer. Try to get it in primer before the rain returns to WA. Get the motor swapped in and restore the interior and suspension this winter. See about getting it running next summer...maybe...don't want to rush this one.

[TheSilverBuick]

Where's the picture of your lunch? No instagram album is complete without a couple meal pictures.

[1970camaroRS]

Where's the picture of your lunch? No instagram album is complete without a couple meal pictures.

Funny you should say that. My first Instagram was an old shot of a surf and turf bbq meal I put together when I was in Hawaii. I thought it would be funny to do a meal photo first. Oh the cliche. Here it is btw.

[TheSilverBuick]

FTW!

[1970camaroRS]

This one is pretty much dead. Just ordered a new coil, starter solenoid, ignition switch, waterpump, cap, rotor, wires and misc items for $100 through RockAuto. Going to chase some wires and slap that stuff all on there over Memorial Day weekend. Get it running without having to hot-wire it, wash it and put it up for sale as a "runner that needs cosmetic restoration". I will have about $1,100 and a weekend into it...I figure I ask $2,000 for it and let them talk me down a bit.

[1970camaroRS]

Started to pull the water pump on the T-bird. Ford engineers can go sit on a fork! There's one bolt left holding the waterpump on, but I have to remove the power steering pump bracket to get to it. Unless I lift the car, but I don't like the idea of putting 5,000lbs in the air in my dirt and gravel driveway.

Previous owner didn't seem to mind letting oil puke out of the smog pump since they didn't tighten any of the hoses down with any type of a clamp. There's such a thick cake of oil and dirt I can't tell if the valve cover or intake manifold is leaking too. However, the intake is FULL of nasty looking rusty water. The stuff that drained out of the block and radiator was nice and clean. A flush, a therough cleaning and replacement of the water pump and I'm in business.

[1970camaroRS]

Absolutely pouring down rain today, so no progress. But, some random guy left a number asking if I was selling it. Called him and told him I had $1200 into it (I lied) and he said he could buy 3 rust free cars for that.

Ok....

[Deaf Bob]

Absolutely pouring down rain today, so no progress. But, some random guy left a number asking if I was selling it. Called him and told him I had $1200 into it (I lied) and he said he could buy 3 rust free cars for that.

Ok....

Ummm? NO! Not ok! We try to buy them for derby cars... No motor/trans/rear (rear is deal breaker usually) for $6-800 bux! Which is why we do not buy them..

I know of a 64Galaxie wagon in Puyallup for $400 with m/t and title..supposed to run !