Vintage Thunderbird Club International

It may not be fun, but there is satisfaction when you complete the job and have quality results. The one thing the amateur has that the professional doesn't have is time. If you take your time, you will have better results. Lew Bachman 1957 Colonial White Lew, you have that right, time is the key. ...

Nice job Splash! Did you use the zip tie method discussed by MarkR or the near impossible hog ring method to tie the wires together and then tie the sub-assembly to the frame? I just redid a 57 seat bottom using zip ties and it so much easier. Yes, I used the zip tie method, I used high tensile zip...

Glad you didn’t farm it out. Knew you could do it. Very nice job. I agree with your comment on the wings. All I’ve ever done are 55 and 57 seats but I’m sure 56 would be identical. Why do they cut the wing vinyl width so close to the edge of the seat back cardboard instead of leaving a nice overlap...

Splash, the bottom looks fine, better than some I've seen that were done by people who were not first-timers. It's not unusual to see a bit of bunching/wrinkling around the bottom edge of the hump, but yours is smooth. Did you trim the foam? No, I did not trim the foam. I dry fit it and it did not ...

The back of the seat was actually harder for me than the bottom. I did not like the way the wings were attached in the back. There is no great way to make it smooth, but it came out acceptable. T272.JPG T273.JPG T274.JPG T275.JPG T276.JPG Having never recovered a seat I was happy with the results. I...

Have not posted an update in a while. I have tied up the loose ends and sent the car to the body shop for the final body work and paint. This is a friend of mine, so it could be three months it could be nine. He works on the insurance jobs first then the restoration project for the local guys. While...

Thanks for all the help and advice. I blasted and painted the frames and was able to successfully cover the seat. Having never done this before I was a little hesitant, however it was not as bad I thought it would be. The bottom was actually easier for me than the back. I am not a fan of the way the...

Great information about the process. I appreciate all the input. I am not tall, 5'8" so I do not think I will have an issue with the height. I just got my foam and seat cover in the last couple of days. I order from CASCO, but it actual was drop shipped from Larry's. Hopefully, I can get the se...

Sound advice. If have done some minor upholstery work in the past, but not to this level. In the area I live auto upholstery shops are few and far between. The ones that are here are very expensive and not close (hour and a half drive). For example, a friend with a 57 Nomad got a quote to do the int...

Thanks for all the information. The pages from ICON 1956 are great, but my eyes are not a good as they were in the past. I think I have the general idea but, some of the tips and tricks was what I was looking for. Maybe 1957Birdman will see the message, I believe he mentioned in another post he had ...

Does anyone have a copy of that was in the Early Bird about the seat recovering process. My 57 is in the paint shop and I need to completed the seat before it is finished. I tried to send 1957BirdMan (Lew) a message but it stays in the Outbox. If you have a copy that can be shared I would greatly ap...

ICON 1956 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:31 am You are AMAZING ! Thank You so much for posting the progress pictures. This forum appreciates your hard work and skills.

Thanks, Hopefully it will help someone in the future that wants to do a similar modification.

seany-boy wrote: ↑Mon Jun 27, 2022 6:22 pm awesome work, thanks for the update and pics

Thanks, I just have to sit down and do. I am always getting sidetracked.....

With the motor finally back and in the chassis it was time to start on the individual systems. I am using a Holley Terminator X Max system which has the computer separate from the throttle body. This eliminates the heat soak and RF issue some Ford products get with the Sniper setup. The Max part of ...

As I mentioned in an earlier post I was working on the 4R70W transmission. I have rebuilt several manuals, but never an automatic. After some research I decided it would be worth a shot while I was still waiting on the engine to be completed. I used the rebuild videos from "TransmissionBench.co...