I'm new here and my Bird has a identity crises!

[lostntime]

I recently acquired this rather nice Squarebird for a righteous price. Doing bits and pieces to keep as original as possible. The original carter has been replaced with a holley, no problem there. Was told heads had been reworked (was also told it had been driven to Texas from Kentucky, not too sure about that). Anyway, it runs great, drives well, etc. In the process of doing the endless variety of things to dress it up, I noted the air cleaner is of the appropriate blue, same as the T-Bird embossed valve covers. There is no sign of the cleaner having ever been off-white. Additionally, the crank vent/filler tube is on the front of the block and goes up over and into the top of the air cleaner lid. Was told this was from a later engine version. Any thought or is someone blowing smoke somewhere? :banghead

 

[phjohnso]

the aircleaner should be a slight off white and the valve covers should be yellow. Is that what you have???

so tell us more about the car and how about some pictures too!

 

[lostntime]

Pics will be shortly forthcoming, gotta figure out how to post them.

Answer to question:
Air cleaner and valve covers are the Ford blue of the period. By the way, forgot to mention this is a 59 w/352 no ac.

Now that I've dazzled you with these pics, amazing what happens when you follow instructions, I'll get some of the engine tomorrow and you can tell me what you think.

 

[phjohnso]

Just wanted to say beautiful color....

 

[phjohnso]

the air cleaner on the 1959 is white and the valve covers are ford blue.

 

[lostntime]

Completely agree as to the prescribed colors. I'll post pics of the air cleaner, source of my confusion, tomorrow. Reminder, the crankcase vents into the top lid of the air cleaner. I can not find any point of reference for this type of air cleaner, new or old. Question will be, is this an anomaly, an add on, different engine (intake numbers seem to be okay) or? I'm outta here for the evening, it's finally raining, been 2 years and 60+- days of 100 to 105 degrees. Gonna enjoy this.

 

[phjohnso]

Good lord that's some prolonged and serious heat..

 

[lostntime]

Okay! Here's the source of my confusion. What am I looking at? Have a couple more pics. Can't find this configuration anywhere, maybe looking in all the wrong places.

 

[dgs]

Looks like some kind of PCV rerofit. My ar has one, although much simpler. They drilled a hole in the side of the air cleaner mad) and ran a heater hose to an L in the breather.

 

[tbird5866]

new here

Picture looks more like they routed the crankcase fumes into the carburetor from the oil filler tube. ( indicating lots of blowby.) 1959 352 engine originally was fitted with a Ford Autolite 4100 carburetor, not a Carter !

 

[tbird5866]

Valve covers - with T_H_U_N_D_E_R_B_I_R_D wording are from 1961, 1962, 1964, 1964 Thunderbird.