My 1956 Ford Thunderbird, greetings from Texas

[AndrewnTX]

Hi all!

Just joined the site, and here's my intro. I've always loved early birds, got a tip from a friend on a 56, and worked out a deal in 2010. Car was retrofitted with a 5.0L/AOD, but was a no start when I went to go get it up in Denver.

Trailered it home and got to work. After getting the EFI and other details up to speed, the interior was refreshed.

Here's the basic specs of the car:

1956 Thunderbird
Per data plate,
THUNDERBIRD GREEN EXT, GREEN AND WHITE INTERIOR TRIM
5.0L V8 efi, Cobra intake, cast exhaust manifolds (from a 5.0L Explorer), RJM EFI harness.
AOD Ford over drive trans.
Granada type disc brakes in front
Stock rear axle
Vintage Air complete air conditioning and heater system

A few pics after getting it running, and renewing the interior which was musty and half shot.


DSCN0030_s_detail by AndrewnTX, on Flickr


DSCN0275 by AndrewnTX, on Flickr

I found this sharp steering wheel, a European Petri wheel off a 50's VW\Porsche, as my stock one was cracked and worn. This wheel keys off the off the interior's white trim and
gives the car a unique look.


33888940023_large by AndrewnTX, on Flickr


33888940025_large by AndrewnTX, on Flickr


DSCN0274 by AndrewnTX, on Flickr

[AndrewnTX]

And soon after that, I had a set of custom wheels made for the car. PS Engineering out in CA made a set of kidney beans for me. They have a vintage hot rod look, and are sized 17x7 and 17x8s that tuck under the fenders.


IMG_0500 by AndrewnTX, on Flickr


56 Thunderbird (1) s by AndrewnTX, on Flickr

[firedave21]

Nice car can ya give me size of tires and wheels ya used

[AndrewnTX]

Thank you, Sir.

17x7, 225/50 Bfg KDW2
17x8, 245/45 Bfg KDW2


IMG_2159 by AndrewnTX, on Flickr


IMG_2175 by AndrewnTX, on Flickr

[firedave21]

Would like to put a bigger tire and wheel on my 56 did ya have yo modify anything to fit the ones ya have

[AndrewnTX]

Dave,.

No modifications to fit the wheels and tires, those went on the car in 2010 and lots of happy road miles since then.. Check your backspace dimensions very carefully, your car may be different. You want the inside of the rear wheel to be pretty close to the leaf spring to fit the widest set up.

When i had stock suspension, the sway of the rear leaf springs and axle would allow some light outer tire rub, on one side, but only under spirited cornering.

As you see in the later pictures, I have installed a full AirRide suspension, and the fit is even better.

What type and size of wheels are you considering? It can be challenging to find wheels with a deep enough backpacking.

[firedave21]

Well my suspension is all stock but have made body and engine mods and want a custom wheel and tire it had 15 x 5 American racing torque thrust wheels on it before resto but was thinking something bigger just not a wheel guy and no one at wheel shop knows anything up stock how do I measure backspace or what is it on original suspension

[AndrewnTX]

The wider the wheel the more critical it is to get the wheels specs just right. And lowered or custom cars even more so. Just take lots of measurements and do trial fits if you can before ordering custom wheels. I'm a fanatic about wheels and tires, been doing custom wheels for years on various cars.

Torque Thrusts will look good in any size on a Thunderbird!

Lot of useful stuff online about measuring backspace:

See video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n96lE8jdMlQ

Diagram:
http://www.jegs.com/images/wheelmeasureguide.pdf

[firedave21]

Thanks any idea of factory backspace on 56

[rokhopperyj]

Just seen your post for the first time. Beautiful car! Got any shots of the engine compartment? I am currently wheel shopping and I have been looking at some custom wheels on Allied wheels web site.
I would like some info on your air-ride system. Is it an off the shelf item, who makes it and did it fit right in or require unforseen modifications to make it fit. After removing the cast iron giant of an engine and trans and replacing it with the 306/c4 combo the front sits about an 1.5" higher and is very stiff(new springs). Gotta fix that now :(

[AndrewnTX]

Just seen your post for the first time. Beautiful car! Got any shots of the engine compartment? I am currently wheel shopping and I have been looking at some custom wheels on Allied wheels web site.
I would like some info on your air-ride system. Is it an off the shelf item, who makes it and did it fit right in or require unforseen modifications to make it fit. After removing the cast iron giant of an engine and trans and replacing it with the 306/c4 combo the front sits about an 1.5" higher and is very stiff(new springs). Gotta fix that now :(

Thank you, I appreciate the compliment. I installed an Air Ride Technologies set up, www.ridetech.com. It has Shockwaves out rear, and CoolRide up front, and an e3 Compressor and ECU control system. I mounted the air tank under the trunk alongside the fuel tank and the compressor/solenoids tucked into the side of the trunk area, so as not to reduce the available trunk space for luggage.





As always nothing is a total bolt in but it was a fun project. Nothing unforeseen, but did have to have shock mounts welded on the front but as I had put air on a Falcon before, I had been exposed to how it all works. When I get some time, I will put up a separate thread on the installation on vtci forums.

As to the ride height of yours on coils, I did cut a 1/2 turn off mine to get the car to sit where I wanted it.

[ranchbird]

AndrewnTX,

Love the look of your 56, I'm new to the site and would like to know what's involved to install Granada spindles on the small birds. I've put them on my 57 Ranchero and had to ream the holes for the ball joint and tie rod.

[AndrewnTX]

AndrewnTX,

Love the look of your 56, I'm new to the site and would like to know what's involved to install Granada spindles on the small birds. I've put them on my 57 Ranchero and had to ream the holes for the ball joint and tie rod.

Hey thanks so much!! Glad you like it!

As to the Granada spindles, they were on the car when I got it.

[ellevee]

When I get some time, I will put up a separate thread on the installation on vtci forums.

Just curious if you ever got around to posting this? Would love to read more about it.

[Solo57Bird]

This is a really old thread, and I am not sure the user AndrewntTX is still on this forum, doubt it, but I would be curious what he did to his rear leaf springs. The lower ride looks nice on this 55'. I am not sure why he would have had to cut his coil spring or use it at all if he put in Coolride air springs and shocks. These would replace the coil springs. Today, you are looking at $1950 just for the front and back air ride, that does not include the air management system, compressor, manifold and etc.. ,, Pretty close to $4K for a full bagged system.