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[agshelby]

This is my father's car - he has owned it about 12 years. It has a long history of just sitting in a garage, going back through the prior owner who had parked the car for the better part of his ownership as well.

All that sitting has been great for the interior and exterior, but the engine and transmission leak from every point possible, the fuel system is gummed up, and the rubber parts (steering bushings, hoses, etc, etc.) all have dried up.

My parents have reached a point where they want to drive and enjoy the car, but due to time and health reasons my Dad just does not have the time. I am going to go through the car for my Dad - taking care to preserve all possible original parts and get the car into a good, dependable driver state. We pick up this Sunday and work should start in the next few weeks.

Initial plans:

• Front Disc Brake conversion
• Rebuild Engine (complete - need to paint/detail and install)
• Rebuild transmission
• Rebuild suspension and steering to stock specs
• Install lightweight, modern a/c compressor, and get a/c system working properly
• Install stainless exhaust system
• Install new carpet
• Install K/H wire wheels and new wide white wall radials

My Dad has already replaced the hubcaps, tail lights and other trim with NOS new, and the bumpers have been replated. The paint is pretty good (driver quality) and is not a priority at this point. The car has spent it's life in dry west Texas, so rust is not a concern at all. I am going to buff and polish the paint and see what kind of life I can get out of it - It is really pretty good, just needs some TLC.

These photos are from about 3-4 years back. We had pushed the car out of one of his shops to get another item out, and it was the first time in the sun for the T-Bird in a number of years. I will post some more details when I pick up the car if there is any interest here.

Looking forward to this project - appreciate this website and thanks in advance for the support !

[agshelby]

A few more photos - appears that this forum has few active members ....

[2birdman]

Nice pics. Hope you can work thru your list with no problems.

[DreemKiller]

Just not very active. I find it difficult to find info about Early Birds online. No blogs, not a lot of photos. My theory is that most T-bird owners are older and aren't that into sharing things online. Thus, not a lot of info. I find CTCI's website has some useful information, but that's info created by the editors, not user generated.

[birdzilla]

Nice pics! Looks very solid. Should be fun to drive after the changes are done. I did the radial tires, front disks, and heavier sway bars. Made ours much more predictable. Please keep us posted on your progress.

[agshelby]

Originally Posted by birdzilla

Nice pics! Looks very solid. Should be fun to drive after the changes are done. I did the radial tires, front disks, and heavier sway bars. Made ours much more predictable. Please keep us posted on your progress.

Thanks for the welcome. Trying to find disc brakes that will fit behind the factory wires - any tips ?
I intend to do front and rear discs.

[birdzilla]

I got my front conversion through JAMCO. It bolted to the original spindles. The wife wants wire wheels when the budget allows. The 14" '57 reproduction wires available won't clear the disks. I did a little research into it, found that the later 'birds ('66 I believe) had front disk and the 15" wires for that year will clear. That's why I got 15" tires. I don't remember if the skirts will work with them, but I prefer skirtless. I'm using 15X7" steel wheels with 3 1/2" backspacing, from a late model Ford. They clear the calipers & upper ball joint with 225/60R 15 tires. I run the '55-56 hubcaps.