Thread: New Project 63 Thunderbird!

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Bob

I was hoping you'd jump in! How are yah doing?

She looked better sitting in the car! YIKES!

Oh well, dan and i like her more than his last relationship (picture below) Sorry pops

Doin great! Spending as much time with dad and dan as possible. Dans project is coming along well and dad actually dusted off the 39 dodge pickup project lately. Lots goin on. Thanks for the welcome! Don Jr

My great aunt had a 63 bird like that.I think it had a swing out column.It was a brown metalic color.My neighbor had a 63 fairlane the same color.

Well, she's not overweight . . . LOL!

I am another person who really likes the '61-'63 T-Birds. I see a red one at shows with that sport tonneau cover that covers the rear seats. Very cool!

Originally Posted by Mr Blue

Oh well, dan and i like her more than his last relationship (picture below) Sorry pops

You're gonna do juuuuuusstt fine around here................

Originally Posted by Mr Blue

She looked better sitting in the car! YIKES!

Oh well, dan and i like her more than his last relationship (picture below) Sorry pops

What a gap between the mounds!!!!

Richard

Ok need some direction here on my empty engine bay.
This bird came with no engine
This tbird originally came with a 390 four barrel (z code) engine. I do have the cruise-o-matic tranny (is this worth using?) that originally came with the car and all engine accessories (timing cover, all accessory brackets, air cleaner, powersteering pump,etc minus exhaust and intake manifold) The easiest way to go would be to put a 390 back in..........................BUT BEING A HOT RODDER..Bigger sounds better.......

I am new to FE engines, but wouldn't any FE up to a 428 go in??? Need all of your expertise and opinions out there. Love the way the 390 sounds in the movie bullet's star mustang for sure. I know this is not a drag car, but a few extra cubes can't hurt? Right?
Thanks for the help, Don JR

Welcome to the site. Looks like a fun project. While almost all of us will be willing to offer opinions, remember to do what you want. Make it a car you will enjoy (even if your building it to sell it off). In my humble opinion, unless you are trying for a restored show car, get bad with it. A 428 would be nasty. I love the old cruise-o-matic trannies, (hence the user name) but if you are going more power, get a tranny that will play better with teh horse power. Again JMHO and welcome.

Thanks for the advice
I am not a "restored" kinda guy. (I admire them, but like hopping them up too much) A 428 from what I am reading is the same engine family and the same dimentionally. That appeals to me.

Of course dads got that nasty 460 (385 engine family) sitting there I wonder what that swap would be like/ Anyone out there done it? Fab some mounts and a tranny crossmember. call it a day...hmmmmmm

Don there are a lot of aftermarket kits for the 429 and 460's as far as motor mounts and tranny mounts. I don't know much about the cruisomatics, but a c6 bolted to the back of the 460 with your existing 9" rear would do a fine job! I'll hunt arpound for a bolt on motor mount kit, but I bet Dan could fab up some brackets that would be pretty slick!

Dan the man to the rescue for sure He can fab up anything.

I have been on a few of the thunderbird forums and websites and the problem becomes that they do not want anyone "modifying" the thunderbirds so very little swap info is available there. A torch and a welder go a long way!

Thanks again for the help, Don Jr.

I know what you mean. I looked at quite a few sites. It seems the height of the cruisamatic tranny is a bit different than c6's in relation to the motor, but people have done it, it's just hard to find any info!

I knew it was just a matter of time........who woke Bob up from his nap?

And Don, keep your hands off of my 460!!

Don

hmmm. Well I guess I will have to keep digging for info. The cruise a matic was used in many vehicles. Mine is in good shape. Pops....Already digging that 460 out of the corner of the shop