1958 thunderbird coupe info

[Robjackson]

Hi I’m chasing i fo on a thunderbird coupe 1958 and would like to know what motor it is and rebuild specs ?
Any help very much appreciated
Eng number 358tb
Vin number H87116976

[Alan H. Tast]

Hi I’m chasing i fo on a thunderbird coupe 1958 and would like to know what motor it is and rebuild specs ?
Any help very much appreciated
Eng number 358tb
Vin number H87116976

VIN is incorrectly shown - it should be H8YH116976. Please also provide data plate info including body, color, trim, date, axle and trans codes.

The only engine offered in '58s was the FE-series 352 cu.in. - 300hp 4-bbl V-8. 98% of them came with a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic behind it, while 1% had a 3-speed manual and 1% had 3-speed manual with overdrive. Where it gets tricky is determining if the engine is an early one with higher-compression machined combustion chambers in the heads, which are very desirable from a performance standpoint, but given the VIN provided it looks like it falls in the middle of the '58 production run.

Where'd you find the engine number you provided? Need more info.

As for rebuild specifications, that's a pretty open-ended question. Without more specifics, your best bet is to go through a factory shop manual or a Motor's manual from the period to find information on OEM dimensions, clearances and tolerances.

Information on items related to what was original to the car, including casting numbers and other parts info, production dates, running changes, and a whole wealth of useful information for maintaining and restoring a '58-'60 T-bird is available in VTCI's 1958-1960 Original Factory Specifications Manual (only available to paid-in-full VTCI members - it's an IRS thing, folks) here:
http://www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net/c ... _books.htm

VTCI membership info:
http://vintagethunderbirdclub.net/club_info.htm

[Robjackson]

Hi sorry car in storage
Number is h8yh116976
Any help appreciated
Just after what engine it is and all torque specs for building motor

[Alan H. Tast]

Hi sorry car in storage
Number is h8yh116976
Any help appreciated
Just after what engine it is and all torque specs for building motor

As noted above, my best advice for you is to get a copy of the shop manual if you're looking for engine assembly/overhaul/build information. Aside from the engine info, it also contains information on all the major systems of the car - brakes, electrical, steering, suspension, ad infinitum. They're not that expensive. Sometimes you have to go 'old school' for info.

[427John]

Hi I’m chasing i fo on a thunderbird coupe 1958 and would like to know what motor it is and rebuild specs ?
Any help very much appreciated
Eng number 358tb
Vin number H87116976

The only engine offered in '58s was the FE-series 352 cu.in. - 300hp 4-bbl V-8. 98% of them came with a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic behind it, while 1% had a 3-speed manual and 1% had 3-speed manual with overdrive. Where it gets tricky is determining if the engine is an early one with higher-compression machined combustion chambers in the heads, which are very desirable from a performance standpoint, but given the VIN provided it looks like it falls in the middle of the '58 production run.

While the solid lifter cam is an early 58 thing, not so much on the machined chamber heads, there is a belief that the machined chamber heads were only used for the first 90 days of production like the solid lifter cam but in reality they were used much longer with some overlap into the 59 model year before being superceded by the 5752143 heads with the as cast chambers. I have a set of EDC-6090-E machined chamber heads with a casting date code 87V, being July 21 1958 they came off of an early 59 model year car.I've got another set with date codes of 7BK and 7BT them being Dec 10th and 19th of 1957 still puts them out of the 1st 90 days of production closer to the middle of 58 production.

[tbird430]

Export model 1958 Birds had the 2-barrel carbureted 352cid engines too...

-Jon in TX.