60 bird restoration

[yellow98cobra]

She sure is a beauty. That green really grows on you. I thought I had read somewhere that they did not come from the factory with hood insulation but can't find the article today.

[jopizz]

I've had them with and without hood insulation so I would think either way is correct. If the replacement hood insulation is all that's available you shouldn't get any points deducted.

John

[YellowRose]

60 bird restoration

Here is what the Official Factory Specifications says about the Squarebird Sound Deadener pads.

"Asphalt-impregnated Felt Sound Deadener (1958-early 1960)
Sound Deadener was omitted for mid-late 1960 production.

The '58-'60 Thunderbird used a heavy,
brownish asphalt-impregnated felt
(similar to tar paper) liner for a sound
deadener. The liner was sandwiched
between the outer skin and inner
structure of the hood and trunk. This
material was installed before the deck lid/
hood were painted. Some paint colors
were absorbed into the paper, while
others were not. After production began
for the 1960 model year, the felt liner was
deleted from the hood, with the inner
structure separated from the outer skin
by globs of sealer.

Many restorations have painted over the
original material, resulting in confusion as
to whether or not the felt was painted from
the factory. Overspray is acceptable on
the liner. Reproductions are non-existant,
so salvaging of original linings becomes
important for an authentic restoration."

Now the above statement in the OFS says that reproductions are non-existant, but that is no longer true. You can get these insulation pads from The Bird Nest, for one place.

I looked for wording that said you would not have points deducted if you did not have hood sound deadener pads/liners installed. Here is what I found in the VTCI Concours Rules. For Senior, Primary & Touring, Late Model & even Modified Classes, it is on the check list and points can be given or deducted. It is NOT on the checklist for Retro Birds.

Now... Keep in mind that if you have a mid-late year produced 1960 Squarebird, they did NOT leave the factory with the sound deadener pads/liners installed... If I have this wrong, perhaps "Fuz" or Alan can set me straight.

[partsetal]

The best reproduction available for this application are pieces of textured felt like material that are oversized for the openings and are slipped in and cememted there. They are also available for the trunk and deck lid lining. Fibreglass backed material was not used originally and is fairly obvious when it is used on the Squarebird.
Carl

[bwracing00]

i have the originals but they are pretty beat up i may be able to salvage them but if anyone is interested in them i am up to sell them if they are still here at the shop ill let everyone know.

so the car is leaving to the exhaust shop and upholstery shop this week.

[bwracing00]

well the car is at the upholstery shop. here are some pics of everything and she looks good in the snow. ENJOY!

[KULTULZ]

That interior trim is absolutely beautiful...

[bwracing00]

We sent every piece of chrome ,stainless i thnk it was about 10k to have it all rechromed and polished.

[tmjsong1aolcom]

Ray

As of this writting and Alan will have to chime in. Hood pads made of thick asphault were eliminated from the 60 birds during production. No date has been found but having a 60 without the tar paper is very common.

58's and 59's all had the tar paper installed in the hood before the 2 halves were stamped together. Not an easy job even if there was an adhesive applied prior to the hood stamping.

This is another one of thoses details that will have to be researched.

Note that beneath the insulation there is bare metal and therefore as the under hood was painted the tar paper was also painted body color.

Fuz
58's&64's
Sun Prairie, Wi.
tmjsong1@aol.com

[YellowRose]

60 bird restoration

Hi Fuz, thanks for the additional input. It is much appreciated. I did not know they painted the tar paper the color of the body. I see so many pictures of Squarebirds with the black tar paper in place with no paint on them that I assumed they were coming from the factory like that.

[jopizz]

I have to disagree with Fuz. I've never had a squarebird with the tar paper painted unless it was a sloppy respray. My '59 has the original brown tar paper in the trunk lid and hood. Of course the hood paper has turned dark over the years due to engine grease and grime. The part of the paper underneath that isn't exposed that I can see definitely looks brownish and not white.

John

[tbird430]

I posted pics of my 2-owner 1960's trunk lid lining on here, sometime last year. It was a tanish-white color.

The underhood lining is a black color.

-Jon in TX.

[bwracing00]

ours was all original and it was not painted body color it was all black tar paper that i very nicely cut and removed from the hood. and it is an early 60 bird.

[tara]

Looks great wish we could switch cars

My car looks great on the outside but boy it could use that but I'm one transmission bolt loose so can't even chance driving till fixed then will get struts redone and recromed

[triple60squares]

i just cut all of the tar paper that i could get to out of the trunk of my new 60 it was bare metal under it and wet and covered with surface rust you can see in the pic link i posted else where that my tar paper was painted white like the car

on my other 60 the tar paper under the hood and the trunk was still the unpainted paper

i was under the impression that if a car had the tar paper under either the hood or the trunk then both of them got it

but on my white 60 the hood doesnt have the paper but the trunk did