Vintage Thunderbird Club International

Here's what mine looks like on my 57. Based on patina I'm pretty sure it's original. The one you have seems to stick out farther toward the exhaust manifold than it needs to. heat shield blower motor mine 1957 tbird 1.JPG heat shield blower motor mine 1957 tbird 2.JPG heat shield blower motor mine 1...

1957Birdman wrote: ↑Tue May 21, 2024 8:08 am The vacuum is also used for the heater control valve.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White

That's true but the drop in vacuum under heavy loads won't affect that very much compared to having the wipers stop in a downpour.

The only reason you need the fuel pump with the vacuum top is to help with the vacuum wipers. If you are going to electric then you no longer need it. My understanding is that you can use an FE pump. The one I've seen suggested is AC 4212 but it no longer seems to be made under that part number.

To me, the one on the right in the first photo looks like a more quality pump. Casting has more finesse to it. That said, since the bottom is smaller them what seems to be the commonly seen ones, perhaps the standard parts kits won't have the right parts for that bottom seal. I'd call the rebuilder/...

It’s always been my understanding type F will work fine but Dexron 3 will provide a smoother shift. I used Dexron 3 in our 57 but only put about 250 miles on it in 4 years so no real experience with the fluids. No problems but the transmission was fully rebuilt. Yes, except for one property there i...

I have always used type F. I have never noticed hard shifts but maybe because I have never known anything different. The only time I have ever gotten a clunk is when I was adjusting my carb and couldn't quite get it to low idle. I shifted it into reverse at about 1000rpm. I can't speak with much au...

Hey all- Would appreciate some insights here. Have a '57 E-code with FOM automatic. Just had the carbs rebuilt to address a hesitation at low-rpm takeoff, which I believed was a bad accelerator pump, but that issue persits. More importantly, have been trying to figure out why the transmission is ma...

Thanks Icon. I mounted the driver's side today, but found the heater box is in the way of mounting the passenger side. I need to get a 90 degree drill so I can get access to install the 2 self tapping screws that were never there. Weird but there have been so many documentations of assembly anomali...

Is anybody familiar with the '57 speedo? As I mentioned before it stuck at 10mph and then after I parked it slowly drifted to 0. I loosened the cable nut per the speedometer shop but no difference. The shop said they should go 100k with no issues. I popped off the lense and manipulated the needle. ...

In this photo you can see that part on the passenger side. I mounted an auxiliary fuse block on it. I don't have a photo handy of the drivers side... I assume if it has that part its mounted similarly. You can also see a bright white light, that's an LED footwell light I added which comes on when th...

I have never heard of something like that. If the wheel is out of balance something inside the tire will just make it worse due to centrifugal force. There are stick-on weights that can go on the inside of the rim like are used on the old school mag wheels where there is no lip to attach standard w...

I had a motorcycle which broke both the speedo and tach needles (before I bought it). You know how when the cable/bearing gets dry it can make the needle go crazy and bounce around. Well, if things get bad enough in the bouncing around department the needle bounces off the stop pins and breaks. I'm ...

My car had a really nice full set of carpet in it when I got it but it was worn, dirty, and possibly not quite the correct color. I bought new carpet and in the photo you can see the new lighter color carpet on top of the old carpet. I pulled the old carpet out to clean up the floor, etc but I put t...

I'd like to know the cost difference from having the original refurbished VS new. My original is working fine but should blow the bugs and dirt out from the back. I would like to figure out how to clean or paint the whole behind the grill black as it's just a light black with all the dirt build-up ...

I replaced a 4 row brass with this and it cools better. Looks original if you paint it black. Fit was perfect. I've been very satisfied so far and the price is excellent. I think it was from the same seller MarkR referred to. https://www.ebay.com/itm/291531596201 ebay radiator tbird 1957 aluminum co...