1963 Thunderchicken

So I picked up this '63 Thunderbird back in the fall because it caught my eye, I've always liked the bullet birds, and the deal was right. The timing was right too because with my 2nd kid arriving I needed something a little more cruiser friendly.

The 390 and cruise o matic run tops and the previous owner put a new interior in it. Unfortunately he painted it too and it looks like he finished wet sanding with 1000 grit and tried to buff it out. The finish looks like crap and might even need to be cleared again.

 

One of my favorite years. Good luck getting her shined up.

 

Over the winter I just did some cleaning up, installed a new rear bumper from California, fix some electrical items etc.

First order of business was to get it a little closer to the ground. I ordered a full custom spring kit from Jamco. They made me some new coils, leafs, and sent all the rubber, hardware and shocks to drop it 3". Far less cost than bags and less fabrication since no one makes a bolt in kit for these, plus I didn't really want the extra BS of the bags, just a reliable suspension for putting miles on that sat lower.

So after waiting about 6 weeks for all of that to show up, she's a little lower now:





The back still had to settle down a bit so I put a 4L60 in the trunk to help it sag in a bit and drove it a bunch and it settled into about a 1" rake which I'm OK with.

Also, these have the nastiest coil springs I've seen on a passenger car, and they are death to try and compress with a normal spring compressor. They sit on top of the upper control arm, are big diameter and need to be compressed 8-10" to go in or out. It's pretty much impossible to attempt without the old Ford compressor I found out.

Anyway, it sits alright now.




Just debating on what to do with the paint right now. Try and buff out all the scratches and still be left with so-so paint work, or touch up a few spots, reclear and possibly do a two tone with the roof another color, maybe some metal flake.

Either way, I hope to have it out for the Sins of Steel show on Saturday.

 

Nice

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm toying with the idea of keeping the roof blue and shooting some metal flake into it, or maybe even going with a silver or T-bird Turquoise roof with flake. I want it to pop a bit more, but not look ridiculous.

Opinions are welcome as I haven't made up my mind.

 

Nice Bird! I like the '63 the best of the '61-2-3 cars. Nicer side emblems, plus the side contour swoop is one-year only. That sets the car off nicely.

 

You know, I never actually noticed that, but you're right. The '61-'62s look much more slab sided.

 

I love it , and the direction you are going with it .
It's sits perfect .
My favorite year T Bird
I'm a little jealous ??!!

 

Maaan I would wetsand in 1500 and buff it till te cows come home. Then I would drive the wheels off of it, that is if I could keep the missus out of it.

Nice car from where I sit and if the paint is rouhg as in too ruff to save a good scuffing and Maaco would cure it at least temporarily.

 

Nice ride .yep buff it and run it. Mine still has the org paint dont worry about chips just a great riding driving car. the am radio is the only thing that has to go

 

I'm gonna try hitting it with 1500, then 2000 and see how close I come to cutting through. I used to work in a body shop, and have good relationship with my painter, so even spraying it if needed won't be a big deal. If we shoot it, it would be a shame not to do something with the roof at that time.

 

Nice ride.

I would leverage that relationship to put a really nice paint job on that car. It deserves it!

 

Very impressive job on what you have done to an already cool ride !!
I like it a lot...
Good luck,and cheers.......

 

Nice Thunderbird, you got it down where these cars should be.

 

Cool

 

good looking car---that paint looks much better than primer ---good luck with it...

 

Thanks. I dig the clean look of your '62. I'm glad to see the bullet bird appreciation around here.

 

Nice 'bird.

 

Man that looks nice...hope to see it Saturday

 

I like it a lot

 

I like it. Try wet sanding with 1500 then 2000, then reclear or rub out.
I have a 62 in the garage waiting to get on the road. Lucky me, my springs are worn and sitting low already.

 

Nice. Ive always liked that generation of t bird

 

I always called them ThunderTurds myself but that's a nice one!

 

Very nice ride indeed, I have always loved the bullet-nose T-birds!

 

Have you considered lacing the roof? There have been a couple of Bullet 'Birds here on the HAMB that have had variations of that theme, that looked amazing!