Vintage Thunderbird Club International

Thanks for the comments. We ended up modifying the soda straw method by using a socket on an extension with the ball "glued" to the socket with heavy grease. Popped right into place! Again thanks!

I am swapping the shift levers on the exterior of the transmission from a second transmission. It is pretty straightforward. The problem is the ball with a spring behind that "clicks" into detents in the lever. How in the heck can you hold the ball in place while you install the lever? The...

Great Job! We are starting the same repair on our 57 as you recently finished. We had to purchase new door panels, though. Page 7-3109 from the Trim Manual (Front Door Panel...) shows some sort of foundation material under the aluminum panel. Anybody know the purpose and material of Item 3, Foundati...

Isn't it sometimes amazing to review all the resources we have only to discover the one item we need NOW is not covered! I am getting ready to install the retainers (Pn 02354/5) and kick panels you refer to. The retainers are called, "Retainer (cowl trim cardboard)" in the Ford Car Parts C...

Sometimes when you aren't even looking.....I happened across a picture of the cowl vent indicating it's guts were in place when the car was painted. This picture is from Hills' catalog. Any comments verifying or contradicting?

The side vent door has a control rod PN 02128/29. The Ford Car Parts Catalog shows some sort of spring, PN 02152, that is in the same configuration as the rod. The parts suppliers show the spring in their drawings but do not have it available. What does it do? It appears to be slipped over the rod? ...

Is it possible the "runners" or upper window frame (parts #22224/5) are loose where they connect to the channel assembly (#21458/9)? There are three screws holding them to the channel assembly. I think there must be a lot of stress carried in those three screws so I would check the screws ...

There are six rivets to attach the Door Glass Runs to the Door Pillar. They might be brass. They appear to me to go through the materials then you spread the prongs. There is a tool available for $17.00 to install them. Has anyone installed the rivets with and without the tool? Any comments. Thank y...

We are finally putting the regulator, glass, etc. back in the doors. Between the stainless steel channel on the glass and the glass is Part No. 21478B Door Glass Upper Retainer Strip. It seems to me the strip should be glued to the glass and to the channel. The Trim and Sealer Manual does not offer ...

There are two different types of designs and materials used for #21478. The 55 and 56 TBirds used the same, all rubber, type. The 57 TBird uses a fabric covered rubber. That one I knew!

1957 Thunderbird I am re-assembling the window regulators, new glass, etc. for both doors. I have new #21478 Retainer Door Glass Upper Rubber (whew). In order to attach it tightly to the glass and have neat square corners for the stainless channel it appears I need to score the rubber in some fashio...

Having read the comments above regarding the CTCI edition of the T&SM for clarity, I ordered NPD's edition. It is better! Clearer to start with, it is also a larger format. Plus it only has drawings pertaining to the 1957 so was cheaper. (I already owned the CTCI edition so now I have two.) Howe...

Just a comment that may have been made before. (I did not look....) When I get a manual such as this one the first thing I do is three hole drill it for a standard loose-leaf notebook. Then I have a printing company cut off the binding with their big shear. Or I strip the pages out like tearing a pi...

Thank you for the comments. I came across the product in Eastwood's catalog. A quart is $45.00. I wondered if it is worth it.

I did a search across all the forums assuming this product had been discussed ad nauseam. But, zero results! Has anybody used this product? Ay good/bad experiences?
Thank you.

Post has been moved by Moderator to General section to increase the number of views/responses