Vintage Thunderbird Club International

I finally did a compression test this weekend. Cyl: 1 - 180 2 - 160 3 - 160 4 - 185 5 - 185 6 - 170 7 - 160 8 - 170 The engine knocks on start up. Dwell is 25-31 degrees. Timing is correct doesn't seem to have unusual adverse affect when adjusting. I had to detach the vacuum advance hose. Otherwise,...

There's a good amount of exhaust coming out of the breather cap. I think engine needs to be rebuilt. Power is sluggish. Can I just rebuild the engine without pulling the block out? I do not have a lift or cherry picker. I just want to send the heads out and replace piston, rings, cam, rods, etc all ...

Has anyone tried replacing front idler arm bushings ($20 ea)? Is this do-able using Autozone bushing tie rod end press install removal tool? Or should I just buy new idler arms that come with bushings already ($200+ ea)? I've replaced almost everything on the front end and the car still shudders whe...

What gauge wire is used to wrap the element that bends to indicate temperature and fuel? Anybody know the kind of wire? And how many windings? This is the thin wire that wrapped around the metal element that the gauge pointers are attached to. The gauges were reading fine until I broke these wires. ...

Every time I start up, something rotating rattles until the engine rpm settles at idle. Then, the rattling goes away. If I start the engine when hot, no rattle. I recently replaced the steering pump thinking it was due to the steering pump bearing getting loose. But, it was not that. Could it be the...

I'm thinking about just doing disc conversion at this point just to avoid all the headaches with these shuddering brakes. Are these truly bolt on no modifications needed? Any experience with these kits? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Ford-8-8-9-Standard-Rear-Disc-Brake-Conversion-Kit-Torino-Must...

This weekend, I raised the front end. With wheel and drum loosened, I applied and held the brakes as I tightened wheel nuts. The wheel spun but there was a slight sticky spot. Sticky enough to prevent spinning on its own but not so sticky the wheel would lock. It was sticky in the same spot during r...

The compensating port on the master cylinder is clear. A small pressure actuation droplet appears when I first press on the pedal.

Karl, Good question. When I replaced the front drum, I had the hub removed from the old drum. SO now the new drum is detached from the old hub. I did not replace anything on the driver side because it didn't seem like the shudder was coming from there. If the hub was not true to the axle axis or ecc...

Hi yall, Sorry to bring up this old thread again. But, the front shudder has not gone away in all these years. It has gotten worse. And I replaced with more parts since original post. At higher speeds coming to stop, the entire front end shudders like crazy. No shudder without braking any speeds. No...

It wasn't that plug at all. I did remove those from the bores. It was a rubber dust boot that had accordion like ridges approx. 4-5' long about 1-2" diameter. Came with the replacement master cylinder. I remember now making the same mistake a few years ago when I replaced the master cylinder wh...

Finally figured out the issue. I installed a rubber dust boot that came with the new master cylinder package on to the push rod of the booster. There wasn't a dust boot there before. The rubber boot prevented the push rod from going into the master cylinder all the way unless I pushed the brake peda...

I did figure out why it wouldn't start. It was because timing was off by 180 degrees. This forum helped me identify the problem soon after I first posted.

Brakes still really hard to press. I don't think it's the brake booster. Even when I bleed the front brakes, it's hard to press. I press the brake with the front passenger bleeder screw open and the fluid does not shoot out. I press all the way down and only a little fluid comes out. Same when I ope...

Is it normal to have exhaust fumes coming out of the oil breather cap? I see exhaust smoke coming out of the hood when sitting idle. The exhaust smell is horrible in the passenger area. I couldn't find any missing hose connections from manifold, valve covers, carb elsewhere that are leaking exhaust....