bigbrownbird
Well-known member
As you may have noticed by the plethora of questions that I've been posting, I've got big plans for my bird. I'd figure I'd list them all here so you guys can see the big picture.
I am the second owner of a 1978 thunderbird, brown with brown top and brown leather interior. The interior is perfect except for the carpet and driver's seat (Tears). I got the car with 267,000 miles from the original owner for $200. It got hailed on a month before hand, denting only the hood and trunk. The paint was in need of a good buff job, I got two sets of polycast wheels (but no caps) and I drove it home with the original 351M purring away.
After putting some used tires and a good wax job on the car, I drove it for another 20,000 miles while I built another 400M. I swapped it in with 285,000 miles on the car and never looked back. I also put on new brakes, went through the rear end, did some tranny tweaking, and drove it a lot more, including the hot Rod PowerTour 2002. Lastly, I swapped in a factory tach dash and put some crager SS wheels on it, 245/60r15s in the front and 275/60r15s on the back.
I decided that my car needed something more to stick out from the other street machines and drag racers that are in the area. so here's my new plan:
Pro Touring T-bird.
I want the car to be functional so that i can drive endlessly at 20mpg with the cruise and air on , run 13s at the track, and be reliable enough for daily driving in warm weather. (No snow)
I plan on beginning with a different frame (I'll still drive the bird while I'm in this stage) from one of my parts birds.(I have 8, if you guys need stuff, ask) I'll go through the front and rear suspension, all polyurethane parts, some meaty swaybars, a quick ratio steering box, new springs, boxed rear trailing arms, and a 9" limited slip with 3.50 gears. Put on some new factory front brakes and Explorer rear disc brakes, and I'll be set. I'm then building a 460 or 514 (Can't decide) that is about 350 or 400 horse, running a '96 Ford F-250 fuel injection unit with matching heads. Nothing too nasty, It's going on the street. Back it up with a overdriven manual transmission (Undecided, but maybe a Viper unit, any suggestions?) and set them both on the frame. Then, using my fathers two post lift, I will swiftly lift my brown body off the original frame and slide the new frame underneath. I will need to get everything functional, so my car may be down for a month. I need to get a painless wiring kit and the rare 74 Ranchero clutch assembly to make this roll smoothly. I'll also replace the front seats and carpet at this time. I'm keeping the split bench, so don't mention buckets. I will swing on my 17x8 torq thrust II's with 255/50r17 michilin pioits on, put on a mellow 2 1/2 exhaust system on, and begin driving again. As the final step, I'll scuff down the paint, put on the trunklid I found and new hood (I'd like a fiberglass cowl induction, any suggestions?) and I will repaint the car in the original brown, but with metallic mixed in, and have new vynyl put on. Oh yeah, shave the door locks just cuz and put a keyless entry system on, and if I have the guts, I'd cut T-tops into my car (Is this possible?)
So that's the big picture. The 460 is on the stand and the frame donor will go under the knife before halloween (Maybe this weekend)Am I crazy? maybe. Will I do it? yes. Do I need your guys' help? definitely. So PLEASE, if you can help, I'd be most grateful.
Lee Overman
[email protected]
I am the second owner of a 1978 thunderbird, brown with brown top and brown leather interior. The interior is perfect except for the carpet and driver's seat (Tears). I got the car with 267,000 miles from the original owner for $200. It got hailed on a month before hand, denting only the hood and trunk. The paint was in need of a good buff job, I got two sets of polycast wheels (but no caps) and I drove it home with the original 351M purring away.
After putting some used tires and a good wax job on the car, I drove it for another 20,000 miles while I built another 400M. I swapped it in with 285,000 miles on the car and never looked back. I also put on new brakes, went through the rear end, did some tranny tweaking, and drove it a lot more, including the hot Rod PowerTour 2002. Lastly, I swapped in a factory tach dash and put some crager SS wheels on it, 245/60r15s in the front and 275/60r15s on the back.
I decided that my car needed something more to stick out from the other street machines and drag racers that are in the area. so here's my new plan:
Pro Touring T-bird.
I want the car to be functional so that i can drive endlessly at 20mpg with the cruise and air on , run 13s at the track, and be reliable enough for daily driving in warm weather. (No snow)
I plan on beginning with a different frame (I'll still drive the bird while I'm in this stage) from one of my parts birds.(I have 8, if you guys need stuff, ask) I'll go through the front and rear suspension, all polyurethane parts, some meaty swaybars, a quick ratio steering box, new springs, boxed rear trailing arms, and a 9" limited slip with 3.50 gears. Put on some new factory front brakes and Explorer rear disc brakes, and I'll be set. I'm then building a 460 or 514 (Can't decide) that is about 350 or 400 horse, running a '96 Ford F-250 fuel injection unit with matching heads. Nothing too nasty, It's going on the street. Back it up with a overdriven manual transmission (Undecided, but maybe a Viper unit, any suggestions?) and set them both on the frame. Then, using my fathers two post lift, I will swiftly lift my brown body off the original frame and slide the new frame underneath. I will need to get everything functional, so my car may be down for a month. I need to get a painless wiring kit and the rare 74 Ranchero clutch assembly to make this roll smoothly. I'll also replace the front seats and carpet at this time. I'm keeping the split bench, so don't mention buckets. I will swing on my 17x8 torq thrust II's with 255/50r17 michilin pioits on, put on a mellow 2 1/2 exhaust system on, and begin driving again. As the final step, I'll scuff down the paint, put on the trunklid I found and new hood (I'd like a fiberglass cowl induction, any suggestions?) and I will repaint the car in the original brown, but with metallic mixed in, and have new vynyl put on. Oh yeah, shave the door locks just cuz and put a keyless entry system on, and if I have the guts, I'd cut T-tops into my car (Is this possible?)
So that's the big picture. The 460 is on the stand and the frame donor will go under the knife before halloween (Maybe this weekend)Am I crazy? maybe. Will I do it? yes. Do I need your guys' help? definitely. So PLEASE, if you can help, I'd be most grateful.
Lee Overman
[email protected]
