Vintage Thunderbird Club International

When I rewired my 56, I used the Electrical Installation manual. Looking at the plastic card would drive me crazy. The manual shows how all the wires are run as well giving color codes,etc..

Have you checked the wheel cylinders. hard to believe that rust can travel back to the master but it may be possible.

I have used cotter pins to "fix" an enlarged screw hole. I used very thin ones, Made both sides the same length and bent the ends over so it does not fall through and then inserted it into the hole. Works every time.

Try CASCO, Hill's or Prestige as they have parts cars and may have what you need. One of these may have the part you are looking for: Adrian Lori 570-709-0823 Bob Schermerhorn 518-392-2472 or 386-668-8930 Tony's Classics 515-321-0767 I have dealt with all three with no problems. They have lots of pa...

For the Bird, I had a C-4 with basically a stock engine (312) and stock fordo rear. The 54 has a top loader 4 speed, no O/D

55blacktie wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 10:48 pm Paul, those 3.31 gears behind a Fordomatic? Does your 54 have overdrive?

The last time I even checked I got 14 MPG on a 6300 mile trip. A lot of highway driving and a lot of non-highway driving. Stock 3.31 rear
On my 54 (312, 3.50 rear), on a 900 mile trip I got 17
I

If you can find good replacement parts which is getting harder and harder Pertronix's have a pretty good rep. Like points and condensers, nothing lasts forever.

ward 57 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 7:47 pm Seems those things have a higher failure rate than points & condenser. Cheaper to fix also.

Any time I had clicking by the selenoid it was the battery. You can get false readings on a battery. Selenoids do fail, but it is fairly rare when compared to battery problems. And your problems sounds just like a bad battery. Enough power to just give the starter a few turns and then goes bad becau...

I got sick and tired from the lousy ignition parts and went to electronic. Pertronix. So far so good. Had the car out today and it ran great.

The problem with fuel pumps today is the lousy china pumps. A lot of gripes are being blamed on ethanol, most, if not all, is unwarranted (my opinion). I have said this in the past and I say it again. IN NJ, it's extremely hard to find non-ethanol fuel. I have used 10 % for years and years. Three ol...

OP asked a simple question. And only 1 one answered it and the rest made posts unrelated to the question.

The heater valve developed a leak, that is why I had to replace it. It is (or was at the time) something that is available not only from CASCO but can be found on ebay and possibly amazon. I did find the exact replacement on ebay (I think) as a spare since I bought the replacement on the car now fro...

If your doing a lot of work under the dash, pull the seat out for a lot more room to work. My personal view on the wires is replace everything. The less connections the better. The only junctions under the dash that I remember is the one for the steering column, but I have a 56 and 57 may be differe...

Try CASCO, Hill's or Prestige as they may have a spare pan to sell. In addition, try these guys - they have used parts and are good people to deal with: Bob Schermerhorn 518-392-2472 Tony's Classics 515-321-0767 Adrian Lori 570-709-0823 They usually are not cheap. Older discussion but does anyone ha...

I have two cars that originally used the heat control valve, a 54 Ford and 56 Bird. Removed both of them and used the spacer. I have not noticed any difference on the car getting warmed up.