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1959 T-Bird Build

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  • Dakota Boy
    Super-Experienced
    • Jun 30 2009
    • 1561

    #16
    open up the rear fender wells and fit some 10.5" slicks in there.

    then paint it House of Kolors Purple Pearl over black.
    http://www.tbirdregistry.com/viewdat...ryNumber=33517

    Comment

    • Guest

      #17
      Sorry ...

      can't agree. Looks like some sort of flesh tone panty hose color and a 351w while a good engine has no business being in a period T-bird. Mike

      Comment

      • Guest

        #18
        Hey Mike,
        I will have to agree, these old Thunderbirds are CLASSICS; (Judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind) They deserve to be restored to there original glory or a little better. It breaks my heart to see one that has been chopped, shaved, over modified and ugly hood scoops added. (like the '59 on Ebay, beautiful car with ungodly hood scoop) I hope we pride ourselves in restoring these old Birds so future generations can enjoy them as much as we do!
        This is my opinion and does not reflect the opinion of Squarebirds and or it members!
        Richard D. Hords

        Comment

        • ncbird
          Experienced
          • Jan 5 2008
          • 390

          #19
          keep them on the road

          I have to mildly disagree with you on modifying or customizing. I agree it would be a shame to take a pristine car and make radical changes to it but.... if the only way a car is going to get back on the street is when some one has a vision of it modified or customized I say good for them.
          I had a 35 ford sedan delivery I chopped three inchs and painted candy apple red with flames. The "restorers" would see it at a show and bemoan what was done to it. I always kept pictures of it when I bought it and would tell them they had all walked away from it because it was to far gone. I had to replace the lower 18" of the car all the way around as well as the floor. I am glad to see any classic on the road instead of in a pasture or wrecking yard rusting away. We are all car guys whether restorers, hot rodders, street rodders etc. Just my soap box. Grant
          Grant
          NCbird on the Coast of NC
          "Dads Bird" for my father

          Comment

          • RustyNCa
            Super-Experienced
            • May 31 2007
            • 1370

            #20
            Originally posted by Dakota Boy
            open up the rear fender wells and fit some 10.5" slicks in there.

            then paint it House of Kolors Purple Pearl over black.
            This design sounds vaguely familiar......

            Comment

            • RustyNCa
              Super-Experienced
              • May 31 2007
              • 1370

              #21
              Originally posted by Richard D. Hord
              Hey Mike,
              It breaks my heart to see one that has been chopped, shaved, over modified and ugly hood scoops added. (like the '59 on Ebay, beautiful car with ungodly hood scoop)
              Richard D. Hords
              I saw that one, same color as my 58, I was thinking of doing that to mine...... No?

              Comment

              • Guest

                #22
                Hey Grant,
                Yea, I will agree old old cars make nice street rods. Nothing no better than a old car chopped, shaved, tunneled and all that good stuff with a small block Chevy shoved in it! Ah, forget that last part! You get to a point of who has the most money! Its a never ending process. You missed my point. The '58-'60 Thunderbirds are not street rods. They are classics! They need to be restored the way the factory made them. Yes I agree there are somethings that need to be up graded. Brakes, windshield wipers, radio, etc... But the body needs to stay the way it was made. Take for example, Ray's Yellowrose, it was done with good taste and is pretty close to the original. He has not ruined the body or made any modifications that cannot be changed back if he so desires. The '58-'60 was one of Fords best ideals and body designs there every was. I know some will disagree! That is just my opinion!!!
                Richard D. Hord

                Comment

                • keith
                  Super-Experienced
                  • Feb 13 2010
                  • 564

                  #23
                  Just to make sure it is ok to keep posting on this forum.

                  My intention is not to upset anyone about restore vs modify and I'm not here to promote either. I do both and enjoy both.

                  I found this site by searching for disc brake upgrades for a 1959 Thunderbird. There are other sites out there, but this site has a lot of good info on the subject so I landed here.

                  I didn't feel right coming in and just being a lurker using the info that was researched by a lot of good people and then leave.

                  I thought if I could show a T'Bird being worked on and how I would fix the rust and damaged areas I could return the favor of using the disc brake info and some steering info I came across your forum.

                  I'm not here to ruffle any feathers. I know there has to be some DIYer's here that might find the build useful or at least give that ole 'Bird another look. It might just be worth saving. Whether it be restored or modified.

                  As you can tell the one I'm working on really has some problems. In my opinion someone went to a lot of trouble to cover up a lot of problems and then pawned it off on some unsuspecting person who thought it was restored.

                  The current owner is not me, but a friend who was able to tell it wasn't what it appeared and asked for my help.

                  No, it won't be restored. It wasn't the previous time either , but it sure fooled someone.

                  If it is ok I will keep posting. Again this is your forum and I'm not here to cause any problems.

                  Keith Daleen
                  sedalia, Mo.
                  Keith
                  Sedalia, Mo.
                  sigpic
                  CLICK HERE for Keith's web site

                  Comment

                  • Guest

                    #24
                    Hey, It's your car ...

                    well, o.k. somebody's car. In the end everyone expresses them self in there own unique way. I was just speaking my mind (such as it is) . It's just that that color does nothing for me or that car JMO. As to the 351W thing. You can mount an AOD to an FE so why give up the great sound and originality not to mention all that low end grunt of a big block in a heavy car. Also your going to have do Quite a bit of modification to make it work just to end up with less power and then you have that little small block siting in that big engine bay. Hey why not just stick in a 350 chebbie. Ouch! that hurt just picturing it in my mind. Sorry for the rant. I promise to go right back on my meds. No matter which way you go, I'm sure we'll be interested in seeing your progress. Mike
                    Last edited by Guest; March 3, 2010, 08:44 PM.

                    Comment

                    • Guest

                      #25
                      Hey Guys,
                      No harm no foul! I'm just like most people gotta get my two cents worth in. Hey Keith, don't feel bad we do this every once in a while. We are all friends and friends have to have some disagreements every once in a while. You keep asking questions and we will try to help, if we don't know we will find out for ya!
                      Love you guys and love these old Thunderbirds!!!
                      Richard D. Hord

                      Comment

                      • keith
                        Super-Experienced
                        • Feb 13 2010
                        • 564

                        #26
                        No problem Mike,

                        I'm a FE fan. I took the wore out Y block out of my '61 unibody P/U and put a 390 with a 3-2 setup in it. I have another 390 waiting to go in my '40 merc conv..

                        It's still not my car.

                        350 chebbie? You better double your meds.

                        Keith Daleen
                        Sedalia, Mo.
                        Keith
                        Sedalia, Mo.
                        sigpic
                        CLICK HERE for Keith's web site

                        Comment

                        • RustyNCa
                          Super-Experienced
                          • May 31 2007
                          • 1370

                          #27
                          Originally posted by keith
                          No problem Mike,

                          I'm a FE fan. I took the wore out Y block out of my '61 unibody P/U and put a 390 with a 3-2 setup in it. I have another 390 waiting to go in my '40 merc conv..

                          It's still not my car.

                          350 chebbie? You better double your meds.

                          Keith Daleen
                          Sedalia, Mo.
                          Okay, I want to see photos of your 3-2 setup. Is it a factory ford setup? I am sitting on an Edelbrock 3-2 FE intake, someday it will make into one of my fords....

                          So you guys would get mad if I installed a Twin Turboed Chevy LS-1 motor in that 60 I just picked up?
                          Last edited by RustyNCa; March 3, 2010, 09:24 PM.

                          Comment

                          • keith
                            Super-Experienced
                            • Feb 13 2010
                            • 564

                            #28
                            Here's what was uncovered last night. Right front fender bondo very thick and brass.

                            Left front fender.More brass. Rust out where splash shield bracket is located.



                            Left rocker. Rust is patched in front of a used rocker that is brazed on the is still attached to the donor 1/4 panel.



                            It only gets worse. The donor 1/4 is brazed then spot welded over the original 1/4.


                            It goes all the way to the rear bumper.

                            The end.



                            Keith Daleen
                            Sedalia, Mo.
                            Keith
                            Sedalia, Mo.
                            sigpic
                            CLICK HERE for Keith's web site

                            Comment

                            • keith
                              Super-Experienced
                              • Feb 13 2010
                              • 564

                              #29
                              Yes it is a factory 1962 setup. The truck is in storage. But I can get a picture of it. i'll have to move some thing to get to it. May be a week or two till I get time to get out there.

                              Keith


                              Originally posted by RustyNCa
                              Okay, I want to see photos of your 3-2 setup. Is it a factory ford setup? I am sitting on an Edelbrock 3-2 FE intake, someday it will make into one of my fords....

                              So you guys would get mad if I installed a Twin Turboed Chevy LS-1 motor in that 60 I just picked up?
                              Keith
                              Sedalia, Mo.
                              sigpic
                              CLICK HERE for Keith's web site

                              Comment

                              • Guest

                                #30
                                Wow !!!

                                Looks like you might be money ahead if you found another decent body and relegated this one to the position of parts donor. Take a magnet with you when you go looking. I like a challenge as much as the next guy but it's so much nicer starting with some decent sheet metal. Mike

                                Comment

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