I'm about to buy a 77 t-bird just looking for a few tips while building it

[Graham]

I found a 77 thunderbird that someone has stripped and left to rot. all that is left is pretty much the body. any ideas?

Graham

 

[marine165]

Hum, starting from scratch, eh? Well, take care of all the rust, make sure the frame is strong, then;
build up a 351 Cleveland
Find yourself a T5 or similarly tough 5-speed manual to put behind it
Get a posi 9" center section and some 31 spline axles
Get all new springs (LTD wagon springs from a junkyard work good for the back, the HD springs you can get from NAPA for the front)
If it doesn't have one already, get the Saginaw steering gear and pump!!!
I've heard tell that, with just a little bracket fab, you can use another front sway bar in the back to increase roll resistance. Haven't done it, though.
Get 15"x8" wheels, and invest in some P255 60 R15 tires! They fit without any mods, and you'll love 'em, trust me. (and they look bad-ass)
Do what you can to stiffen up the frame; roll bar, hard body bushings, cross bracing, whatever you can come up with.
If it doesn't have them, get a sport dash (with all the gauges) and the console from a console-shift car! And the bucket seats too, by neccesity...
Just a thought; plenty of room in that engine bay for turbos and intercoolers... ::Grins::
Just my thoughts if I were building a car from nothing. It really depends on what you are looking for your end result to be, and how much you want to invest.
Happy motoring!

Mike

 

[Graham]

the car seems to be in pretty good shape other than the passenger side fender and the windsheild. I know that it came factory with the 400. it has power windows. there is alot of stuff gone from it probably too much to list but I have a collection of parts for it allready, polycast wheels and centers, grill, taillights, turnsignal lenses and a few more things for its appearance. the car is blue with a white top. and exactly what I have been looking for. I am glad that there are more people out there that like these cars and want to protect the beauty of them and not use them for the derby

 

[Gearworks]

460's fit VERY nice in our beloved birds. all you need to do the job is a pair of 74 ranchero GT 429 mounts and the c6 trans mount, and it drops right in!! email me and ill send you a pic of how mine sits in there. [email protected]

 

[Gearworks]

by the way, if you decide to put a stick in the car. the only car that had the correct clutch pedal assembly was the same ranchero... contact KarKraft or there are a few other east coast ford guys that have the original assy's. but they AREN"T CHEAP!!

 

[Graham]

I think I will keep the C-6 that is coming with the 460 do you think that $1000 is a bad price for both of them? tranny and engine

 

[Graham]

another question: what ratio should I use for the rear end behind the 460? Thanks

 

[Gearworks]

if its a stock engine, yes. $1000 is a little high, but it depends on what youre willing to psend on the project. i would suggest a 3.50 gear. its a nice all around gear for low end grunt AND highway ability as well

 

[Graham]

from what the guy told me the engine has been built. I am going to make him let me hear it run before he gets any kind of a payment on it.

 

[Graham]

hey Gearworks, have you sent those pics?
my email address is [email protected]

Thanks again

 

[Gearworks]

all i have at the moment is sections of it. i dont have a full pic yet... working on it though!

i'll send the ones i have so far as soon as i find them!

 

[Graham]

Thank You

 

[Gearworks]

i tried to send the pics but they were returned. whats up?

 

[Graham]

I am not sure did you get the address right? I have two so if one doesnt work the other will. [email protected] and [email protected]