Ruby is ready for the road...

[kimmc]

Well, it's true. After restoration & and updating systems on a '59 convertible I bought 3 years ago this month for my wife, it's been tested and is road ready. Today was my deadline (I finished yesterday). Our grand-daughters arrive Wed. and my wife wants to drive them to the A&W cruise night on Thursday. A few things remain to be done but those can wait until winter; she is going to drive it now. Here are some particulars: rebuilt front suspension with Granada-type front spindles, 4 wheel disc brakes, rebuilt trans and differential, lots of body work, new paint (not TBird), 360 Ford engine with Edelbrock Performer intake, Holly 4 bbl, mild cam, Classic Air A/C, vintage Centerline 15" wheels, and new soft top of course. All along this 3 year adventure (my first complete restoration) I had lots of help from many Squarebird members. Here is the list (not in any particular order): John Pizzi, Nyles, Dave Dare, Carl Heller, Ray C., RustyNCa, Restifier52, C4CLewis, arizona jack, dakota boy, joe johnston, dan levens, neil, sidewalk man, ford351c594, sherman, howard prout, richard honeycutt, yadkin, dk held, todd gilroy, steven kraemer, fuzz, anders, harry lepargneux. Thanks to you all for your help along the way. I hope to meet some of you someday. And, I will continue to be a Squarebird member. See you on the road; I'll be in the passenger seat!

[jopizz]

Kim,

Great to see it finally finished. I envy your wife. She has a beautiful '59 convertible to show off. Hopefully she lets you drive it once in awhile. I'm glad that I was able to help you out a little bit. Good luck with it.

John

[sidewalkman]

Congratulations, she is beautiful.

[YellowRose]

Ruby is ready for the road...

Kim, she is beautiful! Just Gorgeous! I see you went the Classic Auto Air "Perfect Fit" AC kit route. How did that work for you? I have been working with Steve down in the Dominican Republic and Classic Auto Air as Steve is about to have the '66 version of that kit installed in his non-AC Flairbird in another week or so. Was there anything he should be aware of? His install will be a little different than yours because of it being a '66. Thanks for the kudu's to all of those who helped you. That is what this Forum is all about, fellow Tbirders helping fellow Tbirders get their Birds back on the road again to enjoy! I know you wife is going to have a blast driving friends and family around.

I am always looking for red Tbirds for the calendar. So if you have not had yours featured in the Squarebirds Calendar, please consider submitting it for consideration for the 2017 Calendar. The information on camera settings and posing her for calendar pix is in the Anything Goes Forum. I would be honored to consider her.

[Tbird1044]

Nice job Kim, and I bet it was hardly any work at all? LOL Been working on mine for the last 3 years and keep getting close, although I owned the car for more than 30 years.
Glad to hear you'll be staying a Squarebird Member. Maybe one day we will get to meet. I've met quite a few Squarebird members and enjoyed each and every one.
Nyles

[Ford351c594]

beautiful!!!! I'm....red.... with envy???

[Randy]

Awe-inspiring yes indeedy!!

[Dan Leavens]

Kim she certainly is a beauty I am sure that your wife will enjoy the cruising with the granddaughters and perhaps your self. Good stuff.

[OX1]

I see you went the Classic Auto Air "Perfect Fit" AC kit route. How did that work for you?

Curious about using the stock center vent and lower edge vents. That was my plan and CAA said they could make that work, but just curious if you have details or pics on how that went together.

I was also curious if AC goes to defroster vents in any way?

[YellowRose]

Ruby is ready for the road...

Henry, I just talked with my contact at CAA and here is what he said. IF the car had the OEM AC unit in it, and they are replacing it with their "Perfect Fit" unit, they will use the center AC vent above the radio and NOT send out the lower vents with their "Perfect Fit" kit. Their kit also hooks up to the defroster vents to give you heat and air through them. If your Squarebird does NOT have OEM AC on it, they will send you the lower vents to be installed since there is no center AC vent. Again, they will hook up to the defroster so that you will have heat and air through them. You can go to the CAA website and download the appropriate installation instructions for your year of Tbird to look through them to see what all they do to install their system.

[kimmc]

Ruby is ready for the road...

Thanks everyone for your comments about "Ruby".

OX1 and Ray: Yes, I used the Classic Air kit designed for the Squarebirds. While our car had OEM A/C, I removed it and replaced it with a modern system. I elected to abandon the single air register above the radio and instead chose to go with the 4 small registers below the dash; 2 on the driver's side and 2 on the passenger's side. A couple of these can be seen in the picture I posted. I just thought the 4 registers might distribute the cold air better than the single one above the radio in the center of the dash. And yes, the kit comes with new plastic defroster vents and hose to connect these to the A/C--heater. You do lose most of the glove compartment space. The kit provides a smaller plastic one just large enough for that pair of gloves that never seem to be in there. If you have more questions or need some pictures, just post it here and I will get back to you. Kim Mc

[OX1]

Appreciatte the info on the defroster, glad to hear it gets AC too.

My interest in the exact configuration of how the center vent is hooked up is that my 59 is non-AC, but my parts car is factory AC (so I have chrome vent for in dash).

But I don't have vent ducting (see pic) and would prefer not to buy it. Wanted to see pictures of exactly how factory center vent gets connected.

Henry, I just talked with my contact at CAA and here is what he said. IF the car had the OEM AC unit in it, and they are replacing it with their "Perfect Fit" unit, they will use the center AC vent above the radio and NOT send out the lower vents with their "Perfect Fit" kit. Their kit also hooks up to the defroster vents to give you heat and air through them. If your Squarebird does NOT have OEM AC on it, they will send you the lower vents to be installed since there is no center AC vent. Again, they will hook up to the defroster so that you will have heat and air through them. You can go to the CAA website and download the appropriate installation instructions for your year of Tbird to look through them to see what all they do to install their system.

[OX1]

WOW!!, I didn't know about the glove box. That is really the only storage place inside the entire car.

Thanks for info on vents, I could only see two in your pics, so I thought maybe you hooked up center vent.

Thanks everyone for your comments about "Ruby".

OX1 and Ray: Yes, I used the Classic Air kit designed for the Squarebirds. While our car had OEM A/C, I removed it and replaced it with a modern system. I elected to abandon the single air register above the radio and instead chose to go with the 4 small registers below the dash; 2 on the driver's side and 2 on the passenger's side. A couple of these can be seen in the picture I posted. I just thought the 4 registers might distribute the cold air better than the single one above the radio in the center of the dash. And yes, the kit comes with new plastic defroster vents and hose to connect these to the A/C--heater. You do lose most of the glove compartment space. The kit provides a smaller plastic one just large enough for that pair of gloves that never seem to be in there. If you have more questions or need some pictures, just post it here and I will get back to you. Kim Mc

[byersmtrco]

THAT is sweet !!!!!!!
My favorite color combo for a Sq/Bird
I regret not painting mine red when I
had the chance. Not doing a repaint now.

But that is great. I have some Q's.
I'll PM you

John

[kimmc]

Ruby is ready for the road...

To OX1: You commented about the lost glove box space with the Classic Air A/C system. I am attaching 2 pictures to show you the difference between the OEM box and the one that comes with the A/C kit. Enough room for the vehicle registration and insurance docs!