Search found 55 matches

by Firstandtenth
Sun May 16, 2021 10:02 am
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: Questions from a potential '57 buyer?
Replies: 18
Views: 3620

Re: Questions from a potential '57 buyer?

I'm at a point in life where getting in and out of my birds can be a challenge. I haven't driven the '57 much over the last two years due to bad knees which have been replaced. I'm 5'7", and shrinking, and weigh close to 250. Getting in the '57 requires me to go in head first with the hard top ...
by Firstandtenth
Sat Jan 23, 2021 6:52 pm
Forum: 1955-1957 Modified/Custom Thunderbirds
Topic: New Member with 1957 'E' Code
Replies: 12
Views: 5093

Re: New Member with 1957 'E' Code

I've been off the forums for several months now due to working in healthcare and spending most of my time fighting this @#*! pandemic. I don't know if you made a decision yet on the mods, but speaking as the owner of a '57 E-code I have to agree with tnswt12. Mine is a 3-speed manual which is even m...
by Firstandtenth
Mon Nov 04, 2019 1:41 pm
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: 57 E code info guys
Replies: 13
Views: 4322

Re: 57 E code info guys

I know I'm late to this post, but health issues have kept me from anything car related for the last few months. I have to agree with everything in this string. My E-code came from the original owner a couple of years ago and my intention was to have it "fixed up and ready to go" within 6 m...
by Firstandtenth
Fri Mar 01, 2019 7:34 pm
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: Placing your t-bird on a car lift
Replies: 14
Views: 5694

Re: Placing your t-bird on a car lift

I have a scissor-type Bendpak 4 point lift that I use for my cars. I typically keep the doors closed when I lift the T-birds, especially the 90 SC. I never have an issue of opening and closing the door if needed while it is up on the lift. When the doors are open there isn't much room to maneuver ar...
by Firstandtenth
Sat Jan 05, 2019 7:18 pm
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: Acquired 1957 Thunderbird
Replies: 6
Views: 3005

Re: Acquired 1957 Thunderbird

Mine is a Raven Black E-code with 3-speed manual. Purchased in 2017 from original owner. My plan is to keep it as original as possible. I'm guessing that less than half of the original 197 still exist.

Congrats on getting the 57.
by Firstandtenth
Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:52 pm
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: Manual Steering conversion
Replies: 15
Views: 6093

Re: Manual Steering conversion

My 57 is factory manual and I only notice it if I'm barely moving or trying to turn sitting still. It was a bear with bias plys, but handles much better with the radials. I'm in my 60's and not blessed with big arm muscles, but I have no issue with manual. Of course everything else in the garage is ...
by Firstandtenth
Sun Aug 19, 2018 10:20 am
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: Were are these for?
Replies: 17
Views: 6268

Re: Were are these for?

I ordered seat belts and installed them in the 57. The ends "clamp" around the brackets (eye bolt in mine) and use a cotter pin to lock them in place. It probably isn't as secure as the belt mounts in today's cars, but I hope I never have to find out.
seat belt.jpg
seat belt.jpg (20.04 KiB) Viewed 5335 times
by Firstandtenth
Sun Aug 19, 2018 10:09 am
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: Help with metal trim
Replies: 9
Views: 3669

Re: Help with metal trim

Agree with goldwinghg on leaving it alone if it is still in good shape. I replaced all of the weatherstrip on mine last year after I purchased from the original owner. When we decided to take the top off most of the weatherstrip fell apart (all original so to be expected). The only piece that was in...
by Firstandtenth
Fri Aug 10, 2018 11:13 am
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: First Place !
Replies: 13
Views: 4819

Re: First Place !

Congratulations on all of the wins - good to see a T-bird pulling them in. Beautiful car. Love the green color!
by Firstandtenth
Wed Jul 18, 2018 2:12 pm
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: New-to-me '55
Replies: 10
Views: 4525

Re: New-to-me '55

Congrats on the first generation purchase - my favorite birds. I purchased a set of the bias-look radials for my 57 last spring. Unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to try them out yet. Poor health and lots of "little things" to do on the car have kept me from getting it on the roa...
by Firstandtenth
Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:58 pm
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: 57 bird oil pan removal
Replies: 11
Views: 4688

Re: 57 bird oil pan removal

Good information to have as this will probably be one of my "winter projects" for the car. Mine is a manual tranny, but I assume it is the same procedure for the oil pan.
by Firstandtenth
Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:07 am
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: How much do you drive your car?
Replies: 4
Views: 2453

Re: How much do you drive your car?

The simple answer is - not enough! I agree that time is one of the culprits. What I have to own is the fact that I don't want to take either of them out for a drive unless they are detailed and mechanically sound so I spend more time working on them than driving them. I guess I need to get over that...
by Firstandtenth
Tue Jul 10, 2018 12:23 pm
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: Restore or Leave As Is?
Replies: 17
Views: 6336

Re: Restore or Leave As Is?

I've been searching for someone to repair my system in my 1990 bird, but haven't had much luck. There are some places out there that will upgrade your old system. Here are three of them....
http://www.ricksradioconversions.com/home.html

http://www.turnswitch.com/

https://redirad.com/
by Firstandtenth
Sun Jul 08, 2018 6:36 pm
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: 55 Top Harness?
Replies: 8
Views: 3964

Re: 55 Top Harness?

Larry's - https://www.larrystbird.com/product/top-hoist-5557/ . The one from NPD is not recommended to store the top on it - only to raise and lower - https://www.npdlink.com/product/hard-top-hoist-7-1-ratio-do-not/140835?backurl=search%2Fproducts%3Fsearch_terms%3Dhard%252Btop%252Bhoist%26top_parent...
by Firstandtenth
Fri Jul 06, 2018 9:02 am
Forum: 1955-1957 Thunderbirds
Topic: 57 hubcap center paint colour
Replies: 12
Views: 4693

Re: 57 hubcap center paint colour

Will do. If I can at least come close I'm not sure you'll be able to tell the difference when it is on the car.