Curious about performance.

[30-A rider]

Gentlemen,

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of some detail specifications on a 1969 Thunderbird 4 door.

Im new to Fords and this 69 has caught my eye. I want to find all the specs on the car such as how to decode the vin and compare to motor. Weight, length, 0-60 and 1/4 times as a stock car etc....just any and everything I can find.

Im going to look at this 69 which has the roginal 429, fresh paint, and fresh motor rebuild. It is on 2nd owner, both senior owned and appears to be very well cared for. It does not have a vinyl top and I thought they all did for this year but maybe that is what the landau package is? The exterior color appears to be an off white, anf the interior is a dark to medium green and to be honest it is hideous. The dash has one crack in it. The seats are not torn but look to be orignal and tired mic of cloth and vinyl. Dash is completely in tact and good shape with working roginal radio. Wheel coveres are original. Anyway it is a 69 4 door with PS, PB, PW, PDL, Cruise, working AC, working headlights etc.

Again Im new to Fords and I want to be as educated as possible if and when I go to look at this car. If I can figure out how to post up some pics of it I will and ask everyone what they feel it is worth.

Thanks for any replies in advance.

Scott

[Firstperson]

Hiya Scott!!

I'll give you the answers that I know, how correct they are...well... there's some speculation there.

Decoding the VIN is not going to be much of a help because there weren't too many options that year. By 69 the t-bird came pretty much loaded. Landau top, color and interior trim were the total choice you had by that time.

The 69 only had a 429ci big block that was rated at 360hp with 405 lbs/ft of torque. It only came with a 429 to get around some of the emissions standards that were rearing their ugly head at the time.

The C-6, 3sp auto was the only trans available by that time and it was solid enough to take the pounding that the engine could deliver while pulling a full size trailer...up a very steep hill....for a long way...in the heat...with a head wind (made my point?).

The 0-60 times were about 6-7 sec. and a standing 1/4 mile could be covered in under 14 sec. To get more exact than that would be a waste of anyones time because Ford had long ago lost all interest in the Thunderbird being the money maker for the company. In 69 they sold 12 Mustangs to every t-bird, the birdies were being relegated to the dull duty of the family car for the upscale that didn't want or couldn't quite afford a Lincoln.

Glamor birds (fifth gen, a.k.a your bird) were soft and smooth and comfortable to drive. No longer twitchie and high-strung (if they ever were), that was now the Mustangs domain. Power everything and an interior that added weight for sound proofing with a remote mirror on one side only.

Although the F-86 fighter inspired grill gave everyone a reason to look twice, the Glamor-gals never made it into the rear air of muscle cars strata. But it can be done ( and is).

My 67 2 door hard top has a 390 with aluminum heads and intake, MPFI from and "MASS-FLO". Makes about 425hp and idles smooth. Has a 700R4 4-spd auto (I know, I know, G.M.) 3.25 9in. locker rear end from a 81 granada (because they had rear disc's and the rear axle bolts right up), she shoots and scoots.

From what I gather the 4 doors are rare so you may not want to drift too far away from stock (although you may want to drift away from that interior color choice). If the looks strike you right and the price is in line, you may want this 2 owner cream-puff. I don't really have a good idea of what it may be worth but I can advise that you price several from "AUTOTRADERCLASSIC" online and get a sample of whats out there and what it's going for.

I'm suprised that no one else more familar with your question hasn't answered yet but I hope this has helped.

Good Luck,
Lad

[30-A rider]

Thanks for all the info. I figured the car would do just about 13.9 1.4 mile time all thnig being perfect conditions. I thought i read differently thought on your torque figures. Yes a 429, yes 360 hp but I read somehwere I thoguht it has 480 ft lbs tq at 2,800 rpm; not the 4-5 ft lbs you quoted.

Sinc eyou know quite a bit about these cars another question. Is the rear end on this car a 9" or did I read somewhere is a 9 3/4" rear. Someone told me this isnt an easy rear to change ratio at all and its basically a rear change if a different ration is wanted because nobody offers different ring and pinion? Im pretty sure most thunderbirds in 69 have the standard 2.80 or 2.85 rear witht he option for a 3.00. I wouldnt mid a 3.00 but rather something like 3.10 to 3.30 range. I have read many dirivng opinion on the glamorbirds and was told they are actually not very impressive on acceleration. This blows me away because #1 its a big block, #2 the torque curve comes in at 2800 rpm which should be a great acccelerating car but I gather the 2.80 rear kills it. Just not a smart ration Ford put in thiere unless most of your driving is highway. Any insight on this?

[Harley Eaton]

Try this interesting site: AUTOMOTIVE MILEPOSTS™ | Classic Car Restoration Data and History

[Firstperson]

Hi Scott,

{"Yes a 429, yes 360 hp but I read somehwere I thoguht it has 480 ft lbs tq at 2,800 rpm; not the 4-5 ft lbs you quoted."}

Go with your numbers, Scott. I don't have a big problem with accel, mine is wheel spin because I refuse to cut up my baby and stick slicks on her. I swapped out the C-6 with a 700 R-4 so I think my first gear is lower making the difference on a launch, but there are many others that can just walk away from me at the line. I don't have the ratio sheets to confirm that, I just know I'm real happy with what she does. The modern cars are so light today they only need half the power and seem to go twice as quick, they just don't look as good as we do when we do it.

I'm pretty sure you can get what ever you like in a ford 9in rear end. I know there are many specialist out there that do wonderful things with them. I found one fellow on EBAY of all places that makes them custom for about $400.00 with your core. He 's in PA. I'll try to post his info if I remember when I get home.

From the two pic's you posted she looks like a cream-puff. Rust is a big issue for a car this old. Very big issue for me. I walked away from many examples because of it. Frame rust is a car killer on any car, if the body has rust around the wheel wells it not so very unexpected. In those areas you can buy replacement panels or "fender-clips" (just sections of fender) and a good body guy can make them fit so as no one can tell from the outside. Floor pans, firewalls and trunk wells are another story. Rust in any area of body loading (door hinges, trunk and hood hinges, "A" pillars, rear shock towers, etc.), and it can get real expensive, real fast. It's up to you as to where the gag reflex in your wallet is.

Keep us in the loop and have a Merry Christmas. I'll check back next week.

Lad

[Firstperson]

Harley,

Thanks for posting that site, I like it. Keeping it in my favorites.

Merry Christmas!

Lad