Vintage Thunderbird Club International

Hello Apines, Yes, you do have a 1956 carb in a 1955 car. In 1955 all vacuum (wipers, power brakes) were plugged in front of the carb directly into the manifold. That is why the 1955 fuel line doesn't fit because its was the only line reaching the back of the carb. Now you can get away with just ben...

Hello Soundquest, Yes, I had fuel leaking from the fuel cross-over pipe into the right hand secondary. So I got only one fouled spark plug on the last cylinder on that right side (it wasn't that much fuel). Now we narrowed it down to just getting to much fuel into the carb. Here are three possibilit...

Hello Soundquest: If you get carbon fouled plugs, you do have a mixture problem (If the engine runs and the ignition is up to its task). Now the question is, if it happens at idle only or when driving. Do the plugs foul just from idling in the driveway (because you are trying to adjust things)? When...

Hello Soundquest, I had that too i the beginning, but adjusted it so that the idle flaps are fully closed when cold. I recommend doing that to and see where your cold idle cam is and maybe adjust the cold idle speed. Now I can even start at 65° withing two revolutions (if there is still fuel in the ...

Hello Soundquest, Looks like we could have our own discussion on here - seems like you are going through the same things I did. 1) The carbon splatter is most likely due to exhaust design and not because of AF Ratio. Most later cars have turn down exhaust tips to spit everything onto the floor and n...

Don't confuse the two types of oil filters: There are "cartridge type" and "can style" oil filters. Can style come with a metal can around and after use you throw away the whole can. Cartridge type filters are only the element (hence cardboard) and they are installed into a housi...

Hello Soundquest, To answer your questions: 1)Yes, there are a lot of bends in the vacuum channels, I doubt light can go trough. 2)Yes, vacuum ports are usually pin-sized because there will not be much air flow needed - you are just operating a diaphragm. The only thing that will need more flow is t...

Hello Claudine, No the '55 doesn't have a spare tire well. The spare lies flat on the trunk floor on the rear right corner of trunk. This is why customers complained back in 1955 about small trunk space and Ford moved the spare outside into the continental kit. You can buy a pre-made well for a 1957...

Yes, that.
Unhook the hose at the booster and plug it. see if it does the same.
If it does, I have no idea.

Good luck,

Bob

Hello Soundquest,
It took me a while to find my wiring diagram. Now my scanner is broken.
(please excuse bad cell phone photos)
Ignition circuit: Starter circuit: So, yes: Green Red is ignition, Blue Red is starter.

Good luck!

Bob

I also forgot that there is a ball. See page 11 in the manual. If that is stuck closed, you might not get manifold vacuum.
You can access it through the carburetor foot (you have to remove the carb).

Bob

Hello Soundquest, The vacuum on the carb is a bit more complicated than that. A) Yes, at high speed the vacuum signal is low because it is venturi-vacuum. This is why the 1955 distributor gets its maximum advance already at 1.95 inHg. (This is why the 1956 distributor has to diaphragms - one for spe...

I think: -Banjo bolts: Disc brakes -Screw in Hose: Drum brakes. Also: Someone buying the wrong hoses a long time ago not caring. I tied Teflon tape on brake fittings: no use - brake fluid will eat it away. Brake lines seal by pressing softer metals between harder metals (brass fittings and copper wa...

It is called "anti-stall-dashpot". When you step off the gas on an automatic car, there is nothing that keeps the engine spinning because of the torque converter. So the engine might just stall and shut off because off a sudden lack of air - the idle system can't take over fast enough. So ...

Well, the brake booster works with vacuum from the intake manifold.
If it is not sealing perfectly it might suck the brake fluid up and burn it.
Try to see if the booster vacuum line is wet inside.

Good luck!

Bob