Matt Thomas's Thunderbirds

[jopizz]

New member Matt Thomas ~ Mtbird57 just sent me some pictures of his beautiful 1957 and 1960 Thunderbirds.

John

[YellowRose]

Here are a few more pix of Matt's '60 J Code Black Raven Convertible, including a new radiator.

[YellowRose]

Matt is working on getting his 430 MEL Engine back in the car soon. One of the pix he sent me showed the pink rear end of a '57 Babybird sticking out. I knew he had a black/red '57 Babybird, but not a pink one. Matt has owned a number of Tbirds over the years. It happens to be that '57 Babybird I see is a 45rpm Juke Box that a company was making some years back, and he says it works great! Here is a picture of it, and it lights up and is really cool. Apparently, they did not sell that well in 45rpm or CD versions and they stopped making them. Enjoy this!

[YellowRose]

Here is some more pix from Matt...

[YellowRose]

Matt was working on installing his alternator on the 430 engine. Here is a great pic of the top and bottom mounting brackets he used to make it work.

[YellowRose]

[YellowRose]

Matt sent me these two pix and this comment regarding his 430MEL engine...

"Hi Ray, The dipstick tube was broken on my 430. Kevin used 3/8" fuel line to fix it and a commercially available bracket. He drilled out the piece that was snapped off inside the timing chain cover and tapped this piece right in without epoxy or other adhesive required. It is the correct height for a Thunderbird, not a Lincoln. Just thought I'd share. Happy New Year, Matt."

[scumdog]

On looking at the alternator bottom bracket I would seriously recommend a brace from the front of the bracket to the timing chain cover to take the strain of the sideways pull on the alternator.
just a suitably shaped section of bar stock with a hole at each end would do, one end for the alternator mounting bolt to go through, the other for the bolt going into the timing chain cover.

[YellowRose]

Matt sent me some more pix of his '57 and '60 Raven Black Tbirds...

[YellowRose]

Matt has his 1960 430 Raven Black Convertible about to hit the road! He has done a lot to it, has her running great and I should see her at the end of June at our local Tbird Club meeting. In fact, he has offered to take me for a spin in her! I am looking forward to it. Here is what he briefly had to say, and a couple of pix!

"The transmission is finally right in my '60 and I am currently in the process of installing a Holley Terminator EFI system in her. The factory fuel sending unit was able to be integrated into the in-tank electric fuel pump. I included some pics. Matt"

[YellowRose]

Matt sent me a pic of what his modified gas tank on his 430MEL '60 Black Raven Convertible looks like!