Besides putting in another 3rd member, new master cylinder and wheel cylinders, bleeding the brakes, and installing a new generator and belts this weekend, I also added some custom taillight bullets! I'll do a mini-tech article on these (they're pretty simple and self explanatory) if anyone is interested, and I did take step by step pictures. Anyways, the bullets are items intended for motorcycles that I found on an auction site, and after about an hour, I had them all done and installed! I think they add a little "space-age-iness" and a neat mild custom touch for $12!
Yup! Only 11 more days and I'll have my exhaust done and stance adjusted. I picked up a pair of 80" lake pipes (they will be functional) and some 1.5" lowering blocks for the rear. I'm pretty excited to be able to drive it again!
I've always liked the squarebirds and bought one several years back. Did a mild custom, lowered nosed and decked, hard to improve on the basic design.
Nice car! I've always loved squarebirds- as "ugly" as they are, they sure turn out to be good looking and nice cruising cars after a few custom tricks! I remember seeing the R&C cover with Billy Gibbons and the "Mexican Blackbird" and telling a 75 year old friend of mine that I was going to have a car like that someday. His reply was, "Why would you want to ruin a car like that?" Hahaha...
A couple of shots with the new shoes on... 10 more days and It'll have lake pipes and be a bit lower in the back. Koolsville, Daddy-O!
Last Saturday I got the exhaust done at The Muffler Shop in Colorado Springs. The lake pipes are functional, and Travis did a great job with the installation of the lakes, Porter mufflers, and pencil tips. This is my first set of Porter Mufflers, and I must say that this is the best sounding exhaust setup I've had. With the lake pipes uncapped, it's loud as it should be. With them capped, the exhaust tone is so mellow and smooth... It's just sweet! Anyways, here's an update. I'll post a pic of the underside later this week.
Thank you! They actually stay surprisingly cool! I drove over an hour (in 65 degree weather) and they were cool to the touch. I don't think I'll have the same results in July, but we'll see! I think I'll have to lower the car 2-3" all the way around, and then it'll be where I want it aesthetically. It's always a work in progress, but the only other things I'll do this summer are install a new headliner, dome light, and visors.
Seeing how my dad had a bunch of Squarebirds, including a '60 Sunroof, I gotta love it! Nice choice on the wheel covers and side pipes.
Thanks! I got lucky with the hubcaps- they are old 14" JC Whitney knockoffs of the Oldsmobile caps (which were 15"). The little bit of chrome and wide whites really dresses the car up! It's still just an old beater Ford, but I'll have fun with it while I can. I don't know if I want to paint it now or not- I like having an old car that is pretty much original, with dents and spotted in paint and all... I really don't have to worry about it! As soon as I paint it, I'd be worried about getting a scratch, etc... so maybe I'll just leave it as is and do the interior.
Love everything about this car! Particularly the stance where it's at now – works beautifully with the lake pipes and the rear wheel openings without the skirts. Looks lighter and faster than the average T-bird, even when it's parked. Also love the color and the little bit of patina on the paint. Whoever said Squarebirds need skirts for the styling to work doesn't know shit – oh, wait a minute, that was me. What do I know?
Thanks John! Believe it or not, it's stock height! I have a set of skirts for it, but they are in grey primer, so I need to see if I can match them to the color of the car. I'd like to run them eventually.
It's weird... I've always thought square birds were poorly designed. And yet, I've always wanted one. To me, they are proof that anything with the right stance can look good.
That is stock height. I think I just had an empty tank that day, hence the rake. Now when I take pictures, I try and have a full tank, and an extra 50 lbs in the trunk to level things out. I don't think I'll end up lowering this car; it's a daily driver and it's already scrapes the exhaust tips on wonky driveways. Squarebirds were pretty damn low from the factory. Ryan- perhaps driving one would have you convinced you need one, if only for a couple years. They're built for the road. Quick when you need it, and a nice smooth ride all the time. It's my favorite car so far. I aim to put over 5,000 miles on it this summer, and with 1,000 miles logged in the last two weeks, that shouldn't be a problem.
Great car and updates including correct W/W tires. If it were mine I would leave the skirts off- show off those great tires & Olds caps.
I might just leave the skirts off, myold88! I have a set, but they're in primer. I doubt I'll get 'em to match the paint right anyways...
Well, I drove the wheels damn near off of the old Bird last summer (North of 10,000 miles), and now it's time to do some maintenance. My high pressure power steering hose blew in the Dairy Queen parking lot, and I needed new brake shoes for the front. I plan on driving the bird locally this summer, but hopefully I can finally really put some miles on my '40 sedan. So, before that comes to ColoRODo in a few weeks, I've decided to tend to the maintenance and a few small sheet metal issues. I've gotten rid of the stock Thunderbird emblems (except the trunk lock) and in the case of the sail panel, I replaced the stock trim with '58 Pontiac stars to match the hub caps. I plan on running the car with primer spots for the summer, with a full Davis Haus of Style Watsonized paint job next winter. I'll also be replacing the headliner and carpet this spring, and touching up a few other interior items. More to follow.
I pulled the old carpet in anticipation of the new stuff, and I couldn't believe my eyes! As a kid who grew up in Minnesota, I'd never seen rust free floors before!
Love the square bird, Movin I really dig the rake on your sons 59' Ive been eyeballing the birds for maybe my next project.
SJ: with the new rear spring shackles it's easy to raise or lower the rear. If you notice, the headers I fabbed hang pretty low since the car is a unibody. He has replaced those with FPA headers which are excellent quality and fit without any issues. (didn't even scratch the header coating during install). Movin/on
More progress. I guess with good floors comes an inch of mud in the quarter panel. Oh well, I'd take that over floor/rocker replacement any day. The rest of the car is pretty straight, so I can't complain.
Done for today, but I got the quarter panel much closer to where it should be, and a couple dents fixed.
The Jalopy Journal
