Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

62 Thunderbird

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • 62 Thunderbird

    So, I bought this blue bomber last November while in Phoenix, it's all Marco's fault.
    He agreed to store it until we figured a way to get it home, it took until late this July, after some upholstery work Marco was nice enough to do the leg work on for me, and three failed shipping appointments.

    It runs, drives, stops (rather casually) and if you're patient, shifts into 3rd gear (once it's fully warmed up, and it's NOT low on fluid).

    Plans include front disc conversion, including dual reservoir master cylinder, 15" wheels and tires, replacing the driver door button that fell into the door the night after I picked it up, and lots of little things like weather stripping, electric window switches / motors, electric driver seat switches / motors....
    and, thanks to Randal and Scott's corruption, a conversion to EFI via a converted MSD throttle body injector setup with an MS2 controlling it all (that came from a guy on the MS forums from Germany)

    I'd like to add AC, modern stereo, blue glittery speedway steering wheel to match the roof, and enjoy driving it.
    It goes down the road like a dream, and just oozes cool IMHO, the interior is really grungy at the moment but is incredibly jet age with lots of grooved aluminum panels, tilt away steering column, and the gauges are in "rocket pods", just sweetness all around.
    There's always something new to learn.

  • #2
    With 15" wheels and tires off craigslist from a 80's - 90's Grand Marquis, ($60 for all four!!) the old bird made a successful run to and from work (~18 miles mostly highway each way).

    Two of those tires are not good, so a bit more marketplace/CL scouring found a pair of nice tall 215 / 75 -15 radials with '16-'17 date codes.
    The hope is to sneak those on the rear
    (putting any wheels/tires on the rear requires supporting the frame to allow the springs to droop, and deflating the tire to get them into the wheel well).

    If I can fit those on the rear, that will drop the highway rpm a bit (it's already got highway friendly 3.08 gears) to make the big 390 happier as a freeway cruiser.

    For now the single point distributor and the holley replacement carb installed by the PO seem to be OK, I'll be converting to electronic ignition at some point prior to putting the megasquirt / TBI set up on. The biggest challenge I see for that swap is the fuel system, I'd much prefer an in-tank EFI pump if I can manage it.
    There's always something new to learn.

    Comment


    • #3
      I like it.
      Ed, Mary, & 'Earl'
      HRPT LongHaulers, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.


      Inside every old person is a young person wondering, "what the hell happened?"

      The man at the top of the mountain didn't fall there. -Vince Lombardi

      Comment


      • #4
        Very cool I love these old Tbirds . They really did have the jet age look nailed .
        Previously HoosierL98GTA

        Comment


        • #5
          For years I have always ignored this T-bird platform...well, all T-bird platforms for the most part but, I've been taking a closer look at them lately. One in particular caught my eye. It has been for sale here locally for a few months. It is a 65, maroon with a black top and black interior. It has the old style torque thrusts with the grey cast centers. I really like it and the price is not bad. With the 390 sporting some bolt on goodies I think it could be a sweet little cruiser. The powder blue/dark blue on yours looks real sharp. looking forward to seeing the progess.
          If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

          Comment


          • #6
            Always liked the late 50's- 60's T birds.. Alot like early 60's Riverias

            Have seen a few in the arena.. Usually do pretty good for complete rust buckets.. Guess nobody derbys decent ones..

            Comment


            • #7
              I have cruised these cars on Craigslist many many times. The thought of one with pizza cutter 17's on the front with beadlocks on the back and a turbo Coyote gets my pulse rate up to dangerous levels.
              Life is short. Be a do'er and not a shoulda done'er.
              1969 Galaxie 500 https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...ild-it-s-alive
              1998 Mustang GT https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...60-and-a-turbo
              1983 Mustang GT 545/552/302/Turbo302/552 http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum...485-bbr-s-83gt
              1973 F-250 BBF Turbo Truck http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum...uck-conversion
              1986 Ford Ranger EFI 545/C6 https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...tooth-and-nail

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by BBR View Post
                I have cruised these cars on Craigslist many many times. The thought of one with pizza cutter 17's on the front with beadlocks on the back and a turbo Coyote gets my pulse rate up to dangerous levels.
                Right? It is so rare to see these in anything other than stock form well preserved or total shit boxes but they do take well to some tarting up. When I see a first gen t-bird hot rodded with radiused wheel wells and such I get all hot and bothered....

                If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by BBR View Post
                  I have cruised these cars on Craigslist many many times. The thought of one with pizza cutter 17's on the front with beadlocks on the back and a turbo Coyote gets my pulse rate up to dangerous levels.
                  STOP
                  These things weigh in at over 4000lb.... they are made to cruise and do so smoothly... I dare say this thing rides as well if not better than Dad's old towncar.
                  Could the body be placed over a full tube chassis and set to world domination? perhaps, but not by this guy
                  There's always something new to learn.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by milner351 View Post

                    STOP
                    These things weigh in at over 4000lb.... they are made to cruise and do so smoothly... I dare say this thing rides as well if not better than Dad's old towncar.
                    Could the body be placed over a full tube chassis and set to world domination? perhaps, but not by this guy
                    Buwhahahahah!

                    You *have* seen some of the land yacht cruise missles that show up for DW? Right???
                    Life is short. Be a do'er and not a shoulda done'er.
                    1969 Galaxie 500 https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...ild-it-s-alive
                    1998 Mustang GT https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...60-and-a-turbo
                    1983 Mustang GT 545/552/302/Turbo302/552 http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum...485-bbr-s-83gt
                    1973 F-250 BBF Turbo Truck http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum...uck-conversion
                    1986 Ford Ranger EFI 545/C6 https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...tooth-and-nail

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by milner351 View Post

                      STOP
                      These things weigh in at over 4000lb.... they are made to cruise and do so smoothly... I dare say this thing rides as well if not better than Dad's old towncar.
                      Could the body be placed over a full tube chassis and set to world domination? perhaps, but not by this guy
                      Why go full on world domination...set your sights lower...like maybe set it to take over poland and then see what happens...


                      what? too soon?
                      If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by BBR View Post

                        Buwhahahahah!

                        You *have* seen some of the land yacht cruise missles that show up for DW? Right???
                        Yes, I had much want Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20180919_183432_379.jpg
Views:	43
Size:	1.35 MB
ID:	1215902
                        http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum...-consolidation
                        1.54, 7.31 @ 94.14, 11.43 @ 118.95

                        PB 60' 1.49
                        ​​​​​​

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I have to admit the maruader is on my very short list of daily driver wants should one fall into my lap, especially the blue ones - I think they only made those one year. In fact, when I bought a 390 core from a guy recently, he had some early mercury flat head parts he gave me to use as wall art, I'd like to keep the Mercury name alive in some small way... they'll look cool on the shop wall after some clean up and pin striping.
                          There's always something new to learn.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I am not sure what the difference between the TC and the CV is it looks like the rear doors are longer in the TC. I would love to hot rod my Lincoln but I can't put the money into a throw away car.

                            the Marauder above ran 10.50s all week and was reported to run 9s in cool weather.
                            http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum...-consolidation
                            1.54, 7.31 @ 94.14, 11.43 @ 118.95

                            PB 60' 1.49
                            ​​​​​​

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Knowing what little I do about drag racing, it just doesn't compute in my feeble brain to try to make a big heavy vehicle go fast.
                              It's so much easier, cheaper, requires less exotic parts to make a light vehicle go fast.
                              There's always something new to learn.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X