1966 PROJECT HAWT RODD !

[Dave ESPI]

well, I have owned this 1966 T- bird Landau for 2 years now. I have made HUGE modifications, and updated parts, and invested adecent ammount into it. Aparently people are all about the "exterior body" and "prittyness" of the car, and I have not had much luck selling it with some rust on its rear quarters and primer white exterior. heh. oh well, matching numbers don't mean much to manypeople anymore, and LANDAUS were mass produced anyway.


SO !

its becomming a hot rod.

I am shaving door handles ( Wicked easy )thanks to ford design latches that POP UP ! fer once....

moving lower front vallance cornering lights to inside the grill, and either patching over the openings, or cutting them to fit custom FOG Lamps.

The hood I have was severely messed up in a botched repaor job in the nose and is chit, so I am cutting a hole in it and slapping a JEGS Street Scoop 2 over the 4 bbl. carb
WOO WOO ! say good bye to gas milage that was already non existent... lol.

I am getting funky with the trunk and the exhaust. instead of stare'n at a big patch of useless lower rear apron, I am going to make holes in it, well in some galve pipe, and routhe the exhaust line tip through it.
It should look hot as hell ! I was toying with putting a propane burn system or a spark plug in the rear to "light up" the unburnt gas, and set it on a togle switch for " street legal uses".

the car is already lowered 2 inches and an additional 1.5 inch due to "the Original tired-out" springs and looks good, but my giggest fear is snagging the trany cooler lines on something, so I will be making a "skid plate" for the undercarrige area.

Removing the stock mirror and putting on 2 awesome motorcycle mirrors (Harley yes lol)
other than that, I will be removing the antenna from front quarter, and custom painting the car to have a Metalic Green upper and lower Rally Black. ( ivy Gold int.)

Redoing the vinyl roof Black stock narrow grain.
ANY OTHER IDEAS ?

I'm all ears

I



here are stats:


This was from my window sticker sales note, so pardon "the spam" thanks.

1966 Landau
THUNDERBIRD
DAILY DRIVER READY
75 % restored to original specs.
E MAIL ME IF SERIOUS AND WANT TO SEE MORE PICS.
WARANTEE: it depends on intentions of the person who purchases it. I'll allow 15 days, or 75 miles.... as long as the car isn't beat on, and the engine/ Trans isnt blown. I know it is solid runner... just has its quarkes.

I HAVE MADE THIS CAR AS FUNCTIONAL AS POSSIBLE FOR DAILY USE. AND THE EXHAUSE SYSTEM HAS BEEN UPDATED.
I NEVER LET THIS CAR SIT, AND I LOVE DRIVING IT. I HAVE OVER 8 K INVESTED, AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED DESPITE ITS "COSMETICALY CHALENGED" APPEARANCE.
IM SELLING IT CAUSE IM GETTING MARRIED AND ONE OF MY HOBBIES HAS TO SUFFER,
AND I'LL DAMMNED.... IF I DRAIN ANY OF MY SALTWATER REEFTANKS...(MY OTHER EXPENSIVE HOBBY) LOL
The only rust on the car is the lower rear quarters, and it is really fixable. ( If I dont sell car by next spring I will, and keep it probaly.)
IVY GOLD INTERIOR out-side VIN color is green, but it is primered white now and all rust is minor surface oxidation.
Interior is VG cond. Front driver seat needs a bottom cushon and re upholstery, Back seats are great As is dash ( NO CRACKS) and all the other trim. Door panels (as with ALL 66 Landaus are impossible to find, but these are in ok condition
with minor cracking and some handle/ tape repair, but interior is complete. Head liners are redone, but need finnesing.
I LOVE driving this car, but am just personaly tired of chasing down nit picky stuff..... I have another car for that type of attention..LOL

STATS:
390 engine, C-6 trans, 9 inch SOLID AND STRONG NEVER BEEN RACED rear end. Power steering, NEW disc brakes, swing away column, sequential turn lamps,
Power Vaccum door locks, louver windows. Has A/C (disconnected and capped off, but easy to re install condenser.)
Custom Audiosounds stereo and remote 5 disk CD changer, 2 50 watt speakers custom in doors, 2 Audiosound replacement IN DASH speakers, and RCA wires and Power cable ran for subs and amp in HUGE CAVERNOUS trunk.
MANY new and extra parts (please see list).
. WELL MAINTAINED.
Needs minor cosmetic work
. (518) 237- 7250 Leave message.
E-mail [email protected]
LOCALY Asking $ 3200.00 or 4200.00 with subs and amp/ stereo 2 x 10 Planet audio subsW/Box 300 W Planet audio amp. TITE! sounding lots of low end, but not obnoxious.
MODIFICATIONS:
JACOBS electronic ignition
Rmoved power windows replaced with cranks
(They are just too damn expensive to replace but I have them in working order in storage).
Silicone brake fluid
New or rebuilt parts list:
Engine rebuild has aprox 26,800 mls since 1995
Trans rebuilt has 8,000 mls since1999.
4 BBL carb AUTOLITE rebuilt 1999
Rear center diff and drive spline rebuilt 1999
New universal joints in 2000
Tie rods and linkage balljoints 1999
Shocks & struts F/R all 2000
Ignition switch 2000
Plugs and wires rotor and cap 2000
New radiator in 2001 also uses Dexcool now.
4 piston calipers rebulit in 2001, Brakes in 2001, New brake booster 2001, Brake lines ALL in 2000
Fuel lines ALL in 2000, Fuel tank level sensor 2001
Fuel sending unit in 2002
Front quarter panels 2001
Hi -fi audio system 2002
Original clock. 2002
Replaced sequential turn signal unit 2002
Gear select detent 2002
Headliners 2000 2001 2002... fer the second time. ( they just wont stay up ! ARGGGH !
New floor carpet 2002 (hence it is still unattached)
Washer squirter motor 2002
Heater core ( fixed for leak 2002)
Lower controll arm bushings 2002

TO BE DONE soon:
EXHAUST from wheel hump to mufflers 2003
NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR FULL RESTORATION or soon lol. :
rear axle inner seals.... (again) ARGH ! and bearings ( I have parts)
speedo cable driven gear ( reattachment).
reverse lamp neutral safety (reverse) switch on trans.
weather stripping
Vinyl top
rechrome front bumper
trunk liner 129.99 at www.larry'sT-birds.com
front seat cushion Driver side
vaccume E-brake and TRUNK switch automatic release ( not important as the dash release works well)
power antenna retrofit (if you want it)
Lower 1/2 Rear quarter repair and a ding in L front quarter
Drivers mirror is loose.
LOW FUEL LIGHT
Door AJAR Ding (was sooooo annoying, so I disconnected it while doing repairs)

Custom paint.
Its all easy stuff, I just dont have the time to work on it anymore as I need to "grow up" and stop being
a 26 year old kid .... as my parents said..... LOL ! "hair cut and a real job time".. crap.
I HAVE EXTRA PARTS TOO as well as all chrome. This car is easily worth 8 grand, but I have 2 other project cars I want to finish.
Sacrafice.. really. A great fun car to drive. Very Road Worthy, but as with any classic car, carbourator and gas pedal/brake combo needs practice before you can go on long road trip to drive this baby home.

Delivery within 200 miles always a pleasure once paid in full. :D

also available:
Extra Heavy Duty C-6 Transmission for 428.
Has all parts needed, and the gear selector works well. Extra heavy duty Valve body, Awesome for trucks or a 1966 Thunderbird with a 428 that needs a trans, or parts. CASE HAS NO RUST. was last ran 3 years ago before the 428 motor was sold. The cooler lines will need to be replaced as they are all bent to **** . Torque converter is included. Shipping will be by freight, or UPS ground. I will build a crate base for it and a frame with fiber board case.

[ 04-29-2003: Message edited by: Dave ESPI ]

[Tbird65]

wow! sounds neato!! What kinda wheels are ya gonna run? What colour? Should look cool

[ 05-15-2003: Message edited by: Tbird65 ]

[Dave ESPI]

well, I just stripped the vinyl roof off, tore all the chrome off the front end, and removed the rear light trims. I think I might make a custom billet rear narrowing channel so the lights get a super slim profile, and I will back fill them with acrylic sheeting and do away with the stock lenses.

The lower valances are removed, and now I need some snazy turn signals and running lights, just donno what to use yet.

I removed the mirror, and replaced it with a Harley Davidson Cycle low profile mirror (on both doors)and it looks rad.
These are them. I paid 44.00 each though ... WOO WOO ! its good to know yer prices ;) http://www.ridegear.com/cgi-bin/Soft...a96+1053489802

next step is custom shaved door handle releases, and I decided to shave the trunk lock too..... that is going to be an interesting ordeal..... kinda at a loss fer ideas unless I devise a pull chain or something to release it.


Car will be Metalic MONEY green upper and raly black lower. I might paint the bumper too.. its ASTRONOMICAL what they want fer a rechromed bumper. Best I could find was @ Keystone for 375.00 ... too rich fer my blood. Ill likely paint it GREEN body color and do a real clean chrome trim line on it in mylar and continue that line along the body to the Thunderbird script. I might even put it on the front quarter panels, but thats up in the air.....