NYsquarebird58' Tbird

[fomoco59]

Marcelo, great start ! If you're looking for some specs, go to John Draxler's Thunderbird Ranch site. He lists the colors for your engine, etc under Concours Specs in the left column.
('58 = Blue block, black valve covers)

Also, when the time comes, TCP has a good site that displays color chips for every year and model:

http://www.tcpglobal.com/aclchip.aspx?image=1958-ford-pg03.jpg

I'm only a few hours away...

[Dakota Boy]

photo in post #59 appears to be the correct EXTERIOR chrome pieces

[tp tbird]

outside chrome

Looks like outside windshield side chrome at the side wing on the windshield,in your picture of your car inside the ones inside are missing.If you find any most will need to be rechromed .

[YellowRose]

NYsquarebird58's Tbird

I have contacted Paul Prokop of VTCI to see if he has any records of your Tbird. He does not. He said he did not think that membership records exist going back very far. So I forwarded your information regarding the car to Alan Tast, one of the worlds foremost authorities on Tbirds, who might have records on it. Alan is the Technical Director for VTCI and active on our Forum. He might find something on that VIN #. If he does, hopefully, he will post it here or answer my email.

As for your two missing chrome pieces, I can see where one of yours is missing and from what you said, so is the other side. You can see the screw holes that the screws are screwed into when you put the pieces on. As I said before, Carl ~ partsetal, on here, might have those missing pieces. Or Bob's Bird House, the Bird Nest, or John Draxler of Thunderbird Ranch. You can get the interior screw kit from Birds Nest for $54.95. That will give you the exact replacement screws you will need for replacing old, rusty, missing interior screws.

[NYsquarebird58]

I have contacted Paul Prokop of VTCI to see if he has any records of your Tbird. He does not. He said he did not think that membership records exist going back very far. So I forwarded your information regarding the car to Alan Tast, one of the worlds foremost authorities on Tbirds, who might have records on it. Alan is the Technical Director for VTCI and active on our Forum. He might find something on that VIN #. If he does, hopefully, he will post it here or answer my email.

As for your two missing chrome pieces, I can see where one of yours is missing and from what you said, so is the other side. You can see the screw holes that the screws are screwed into when you put the pieces on. As I said before, Carl ~ partsetal, on here, might have those missing pieces. Or Bob's Bird House, the Bird Nest, or John Draxler of Thunderbird Ranch. You can get the interior screw kit from Birds Nest for $54.95. That will give you the exact replacement screws you will need for replacing old, rusty, missing interior screws.

Ray, thank you for investigating. I’m always fascinated to learn the history of things. 54 years is a long time and this old bird, I’m sure, has lots of stories to tell. We know by the old VTCA sticker that someone a while back did at least recognize that this was a special car.


Regarding the pillar moldings; I happen to come across these on an ebay auction. Since I’m missing my interior pieces these looked like a great deal for the pair. You as well as other fellow squarebird members pointed out that they are for the outside not the inside so I will pass on them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300661053706?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

I’m in no big rush at the moment to collect cosmetic pieces since my main focus is to get her roadworthy, but if I happen to stumble upon a pair at really good price, I’ll buy them.


Thanks for the suggesting on the interior screw kit. I will definitely be ordering a set when the time comes.

[NYsquarebird58]

Marcelo, great start ! If you're looking for some specs, go to John Draxler's Thunderbird Ranch site. He lists the colors for your engine, etc under Concours Specs in the left column.
('58 = Blue block, black valve covers)

Also, when the time comes, TCP has a good site that displays color chips for every year and model:

http://www.tcpglobal.com/aclchip.aspx?image=1958-ford-pg03.jpg

I'm only a few hours away...

Thank you – we’re all still trying to figure out if I have a 390, rebuilt 352 or a truck 352 in my Bird. I have to do the dowel test to be sure, but knowing the proper engine colors is another great indicator.


If you’re ever in my neck of the woods, please let me know. I would love to meet up and talk birds.

[Alan H. Tast, AIA]

After looking at the Thunderbird Registry's listing I added it to my database, but regretfully I do not have a previous record of it or an owner's name. If anything is known about where the car was in that period, especially state or city, looking through old VTCA membership rosters or Scoops may yield a clue. If a VTCA/VTCI Owners Survey was submitted in '88 or later, I should have something on it - if not, it's time to add info on options and other historical info. That also goes for anyone out there that hasn't logged in their cars, project cars, parts cars, or cars sent to the crusher.

I can speak first-hand about VTCA's record-keeping for pre-'88: at one point Larry and Nancy Seyfarth had an Apple II computer and a separate hard drive to store membership records for the club. These were turned over to me in '88 when I began editing the Scoop, but there were no instructions provided as to how to get access to data off the hard drive (remember, this was 1988, when PC's were not yet widely available). We were never able to figure out how to get anything off the hard drive, and eventually it was disposed of. From that point forward I have been maintianing the Owner Surveys for VTCI and attempting to collect whatever scraps of info came through on membership renewals and such.

Lately, with my efforts focused on managing and assisting with VTCI's 1961-1966 Original Factory Specifications Manuals update efforst to bring them up to the level of the '58-'60 version, it's been difficult to stay on top of updates to the databases.

[NYsquarebird58]

Ray: As of noon today I haven't received any direct messages from you or the owner about this car yet. After looking at the Thunderbird Registry's listing I added it to my database, but regretfully I do not have a previous record of it or an owner's name. If anything is known about where the car was in that period, especially state or city, looking through old VTCA membership rosters or Scoops may yield a clue. If a VTCA/VTCI Owners Survey was submitted in '88 or later, I should have something on it - if not, it's time to add info on options and other historical info. That also goes for anyone out there that hasn't logged in their cars, project cars, parts cars, or cars sent to the crusher.

I can speak first-hand about VTCA's record-keeping for pre-'88: at one point Larry and Nancy Seyfarth had an Apple II computer and a separate hard drive to store membership records for the club. These were turned over to me in '88 when I began editing the Scoop, but there were no instructions provided as to how to get access to data off the hard drive (remember, this was 1988, when PC's were not yet widely available). We were never able to figure out how to get anything off the hard drive, and eventually it was disposed of. From that point forward I have been maintianing the Owner Surveys for VTCI and attempting to collect whatever scraps of info came through on membership renewals and such.

Lately, with my efforts focused on managing and assisting with VTCI's 1961-1966 Original Factory Specifications Manuals update efforst to bring them up to the level of the '58-'60 version, it's been difficult to stay on top of updates to the databases.

Alan, thank you for your help. I have PM’d you with further information regarding past ownership.

[Anders]

Thank you – we’re all still trying to figure out if I have a 390, rebuilt 352 or a truck 352 in my Bird. I have to do the dowel test to be sure, but knowing the proper engine colors is another great indicator.


If you’re ever in my neck of the woods, please let me know. I would love to meet up and talk birds.

You should find a number on top of your inlet manifold that help you identify your engine. As your air cleaner is gone, you should find it easy.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f73/marcelo82ny/1958%20Ford%20Thunderbird/393816_607990580658_81703067_31807863_712550072_n.jpg

[YellowRose]

NYsquarebird58's Tbird

Hi Alan, thanks for stopping by and commenting. You should have received an email from me by now. Thanks for providing us into an insight into VTCI record keeping back then. It is to bad no one could figure out how to access that hard drive! Good luck with the '61-'66 OFS update! If it turns out as well as the Squarebirds one, it will certainly be a keeper!

[Guest]

Hi Marcelo regarding your gas tank. I have taken a few tanks to a good radiator shop and had them boiled out till i got a new one. Just to get em runin never had any problems or use the old lawn mower tank hangin from the hood and by pass everything. Siphon feed will work just can,t give it alot of gas. That got me home one day with a bad fuel pump

[jopizz]

If I can get the city or town where he bought the car I can look through my old membership rosters and try to narrow it down. I have them back to 1975.

John

[NYsquarebird58]

If I can get the city or town where he bought the car I can look through my old membership rosters and try to narrow it down. I have them back to 1975.

John

The car was last titled in 1989 in Honey Brook, PA

[jopizz]

I'll see what I can find. The fact that the VTCA sticker says the squarebird society means the owner joined sometime in the 70's. They stopped using that prior to 1980 I believe.

[YellowRose]

NYsquarebird58's Tbird

The VTCA became the VTCI by action of the BOD in 1988. This according to Dan Likar, the VTCI Historian. The change came about as the club started accepting other years of Tbirds into the club and expanded their horizons internationally.