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Projects Been a busy winter on the wife's '55 bird.

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by wex65, Mar 19, 2016.

  1. wex65
    Joined: Dec 19, 2012
    Posts: 1,118

    wex65
    Member
    from WV

    Been busy over the winter on the wife's '55 TBird. Cant find any before shots of the interior but it really was pretty awful, door cards were almost in pieces, carpet bare in patches and the seats split. The dash had badly faded etc.

    Under the hood some PO had decided the best approach was to cover EVERYTHING in matt black paint from the inner fenders to ALL of the wiring and then go over all bolt heads in matt silver. Dealing with the engine loom wires when all of them are black was 'interesting' to say the least.

    Looking better now and almost ready for the spring. Just got the steering wheel painted this past week and the radio should be back in this coming week after new tubes and getting its mp3 input sorted. Some wiring to tidy under the hood, kick panels in the cockpit and a few other annoyances and it will be on the road.

    Can turn my attention back to the coupe now to get it ready for the run to Austin!!

    Before
    IMG_3327.JPG

    After
    IMG_2185.JPG

    IMG_2183.JPG
     
  2. Nice work. Gotta' keep the little lady happy.:D;)
     
    wex65 likes this.
  3. 2935ford
    Joined: Jan 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,843

    2935ford
    Member

    Lookin might sharp there! :)
     
  4. Ford Freak
    Joined: Jan 5, 2005
    Posts: 827

    Ford Freak
    Member

    Very nice ! How about showing us the rest of the car ?
     

  5. mgtstumpy
    Joined: Jul 20, 2006
    Posts: 9,214

    mgtstumpy
    Member

    Happy wife, happy life so they say. That's why I'm currently single :rolleyes:
    Nice T-bird, as stated any other photos?
     
  6. Dino 64
    Joined: Jul 13, 2012
    Posts: 2,400

    Dino 64
    Member
    from Virginia

    Great job, boy that brings back memories, my Dad bought one of those new in blue when I was a kid. Do you have the hard top with port holes too ? Looking good.
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  7. flatty1
    Joined: Dec 27, 2015
    Posts: 12

    flatty1
    Member

    Very Nice! Just did a 312 in a Fairlane last fall, ran good but valves are noisy. hope your bird doesn't sound like that.
     
  8. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,459

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    :rolleyes: A Y block is a mechanical lifter engine and adjusted properly they aren't that noisy. By nature they are not as quiet as a hydraulic lifter engine but that is part of the charm.
    Hard to beat the exhaust tone of a healthy Y block. :)
     
  9. Nice 'bird! We need to see more of it!
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  10. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    Very impressive!
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  11. Good looking little bird.
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  12. flatford39
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 2,799

    flatford39
    Member

    55's did not have the portholes. Only 56 and 57.
     
  13. Chavezk21
    Joined: Jan 3, 2013
    Posts: 767

    Chavezk21
    Member

    Beautiful. I am sure she likes how her bird looks now.
     
  14. Always like those T-Birds, good job, kind of like your coupe as well!!
     
    wex65 and lothiandon1940 like this.
  15. miker98038
    Joined: Jan 24, 2011
    Posts: 1,143

    miker98038
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    As another 55 bird owner, well done.

    1927graham has it right. Dad spent enough on airplanes I never went there.
     
  16. wex65
    Joined: Dec 19, 2012
    Posts: 1,118

    wex65
    Member
    from WV

    Thanks guys, the car is covered in an inch of dust right now but once it gets cleaned up I will take more shots. The car itself is super clean and the prior owner had it color sanded, slick looking.

    As someone pointed out above the 55 hard tops didn't have the porthole from the factory but it was a regular thing for 55 owners to install portholes. This car does have portholes in its white hard top.

    I rebuilt the Y block after finding a crack in the old 312 block. Tony over at Ross Racing Engines came to the rescue with a replacement he had lying around. Had the Fordomatic rebuilt too so it should drive just fine once I get the final issues tied up.
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  17. wex65
    Joined: Dec 19, 2012
    Posts: 1,118

    wex65
    Member
    from WV

    I promised some shots of the car, sorry for the delay. Been busily trying to get it finished and finally got the last few items done. IMG_2641.JPG IMG_2638.JPG IMG_2634.JPG IMG_2640.JPG
     
    cactus1, Johnboy34, Malcolm and 6 others like this.
  18. brady1929
    Joined: Sep 30, 2006
    Posts: 9,253

    brady1929
    Member

  19. swifty
    Joined: Dec 25, 2005
    Posts: 2,217

    swifty
    Member

    That car there is why I got into hot rods. I would have loved an early Bird or late 50's Vette but only millionaires could afford them here in Oz by the time you privately imported one then paid to have it converted. So I built a T bucket instead as I could buy bits as the build progressed.

    Beautiful car and the wife should really enjoy cruising in it.
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  20. I love those tri-five Birds! Thanks for sharing your wife's.
     
  21. Always liked these cars, good job Paul.
     

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