Vintage Thunderbird Club International

I thought it might be helpful to give a little background on how the 2 part article that Steve Warner and I wrote and was published in the Early Bird. I replaced my seat almost 20 years ago and Steve 16 years ago. At that time the only T-Bird specific upholstering instructions were contained in the ...

Dave,
Instructions sent as PDF files.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White

No grommets in those areas. Strictly bolt, nut, and lock washer.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White

In the orange Electrical Equipment Installation Manual for 55, 56, and 57 Thunderbird the routing of the hoses is covered on pages 29,30; 69,70; and 110,111. According to the manual the routing is as I described it in my previous posting and the holes for the bracket are on the flat area just before...

On my late 1957 (June 26, 1957) the bracket is mounted lower than in your picture using one of the holes that you are wondering about. The bracket is mounted vertically with the hoses strung through it. The hoses are the two heater hoses and the hose that hooks up to the heater control valve on the ...

Did you check the ATF level after getting the engine warmed up to standard operating temperature? Did you check the fluid level while the engine was running?
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White

The studs for the aluminum valve covers are longer than the ones for the steel valve covers. I think the studs you have probably weren't screwed into the valve train completely so that they could be used. For your situation you need to order the following: 354576S Stud - Used With Aluminum Valve Cov...

Is your top hooked up to the swingbar? If it is attached correctly to the swingbar, it shouldn't be too wide when attached to the deck on the back of the car. If there is a problem with the attaching pins or the wrong ones were used that could also cause a problem. Does your car's hardtop fit correc...

I have owned my car for 26 years and have always used regular unleaded with no ill effects on the car. If you have not spark knock (meaning pinging or detonation) with regular than that is the gas you should continue to use. If you want to pay more for your gas than use premium. I prefer to spend my...

Theoretically a Ford dealer should be able to do it. You might try calling one to see if they can or if they can suggest a shop that can. The other thought is to contact your local CTCI chapter and see if they have a suggestion. You might also check with the Mustang club, as I believe that the origi...

CASCO has the part that you need. It is called upper door post filler, part number RPR4BLH and looks like it costs $99.95. However, before I would buy that piece I would cut out the rusted area and see if a small patch might be welded in place. That seems to me to be a much easier repair than cuttin...

When I installed my tonneau cover I did it as if it had been installed at the factory. I got my tonneau cover from Prestige Thunderbird. It replaced the drop curtain I had installed previously since the car didn't have one when I bought it. This tonneau is not long enough to install it like the ones...

Ward57 is correct, the male end of the snaps are installed in the rear valance under there rear deck. There are four of them and there are supposed to be four corresponding female snaps installed on the tonneau. There are instructions on how to do this in the 1957 Shop Manual. I have never done the ...

My understanding is that the supercharged "F" Bird came with a dual point distributor.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White

I guess you can change the switch without pulling the steering column, but it sure makes it a lot easier to pull it. If your wiring is old and the colors are faded be sure that you identify where the wires connected that you disconnected. That was the case with my car and even though I thought I had...