55 T Bird Questions

[frahms_4]

Hi all. Great site. I would like to pose some questions to all you T Bird experts. A little info first. I will be receiving into my garage a 1955 T Bird a good friend of mine recently purchased. This car has been stored in the garage of a split level house for the last 35 years. Yes 35 years. The garage door was walled off and the garage was heated and air conditioned for the duration. It has 62,000 miles on it and is in great shape. I know my way around cars, jack of all master of none,however I have a few questions to pose. How should I address the fuel system? Does the fuel tank have a drain plug? Any thoughts on engine cylinder lubing before turning over the engine? All the seals for engine / tranny (Automatic) rear end. Front and rear wheel bearings. The car was not put on stands. That's it for now. I'll have more later when I get to start on this car. Thanks in advance for any and all help everyone can suupply.

 

[gbhrps]

frahms_4,
What a find, particularly in the circumstances it was stored in. First, there is no tank drain plug. Your best bet is to pull up the trunk mat, remove the screw holding the fuel gauge sending unit cover, and disconnect the wire to the sending unit. Remove the tank filler tube, the feed line to the front of the car, and drop the tank. If you remove the fuel gauge sending unit from the tank don't be concerned about which direction the unit goes back into the tank, because the screw holes will only line up with the sending unit properly aligned. Definitely have the carberator rebuilt by someone who knows these old cars. Remove and clean the fuel filter and bowl. You may want to pull the fuel pump and have it checked out. Flush the tranny and check the rear end level. Lube the front suspension and steering, the prop shaft universal joints and slide section at the tranny. Check your three flex hoses and replace as necessary. Pull all of the drums, the shoes and the wheel cylinders. Check each wheel cylinder carefully or just replace them. After all, they're 53 years old and haven't moved for over 35. Flush the brake system and rebleed when done. Flush entire cooling system and check the rad carefully or have it recored. Replace the hoses and the belts. New 6 volt battery and NEW tires. If this is to be a driver, go with radials, 195/75/15's or 14's depending on the rims on the car. Pull the plugs and with a breaker bar and socket on the front crank bolt determine if the engine is free. If it is, do a complete filter and oil change. If it isn't, a rebuild may be the best way to go. New plugs and clean up the points. You've got a lot to do before that first test drive. I'm sure that I've forgotten something and someone else will jump in and suggest more that should be attended to. Good Luck .... and keep us posted!

 

[frahms_4]

Thanks for the great info gbhrps. You covered all the basics and that is good. I found out from my friend the original carb and rebuild kit is in the trunk. He was going to bring it to me and I'll rebuild it. I asked him to use a tape measure with white cloth on the end and slide it in the tank to see what came up. To his (and mine) amazement gas! Or at least what looked and smelled like gas. He could not see any sighn of farnish. We will start though with dropping the tank and flushing everything. I hope to have the car in about 2 weeks and I will be glad to keep you posted. Thanks again for the info.