Thread: New Project 63 Thunderbird!

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Pop in the 460, and hide it well. That would be a hell of a sleeper.

I agree. Looking into the swap now..........Sleepers are too much fun.

The 460 swap should be a piece of cake. I wouldn't bother with the old cast iron trans though, if you do you'd have to see if a later FMX bellhousing would fit since the patterns are different...The C6 is a lighter and stronger unit, you'll have to refab the crossmember some to move the mount back and shorten the driveshaft as well as reworking the trans linkage.

Hi Don Jr and a belated welcome. I've been following the thread and thought I'd throw in a couple of cents.

I had a 61 Bird a few years back the biggest problem with the FEs in the 61-3 birds is the exhaust, the car was designed to use the fla log type manifolds. There is virtually no room for anything else that will clear the shock towers. On a hot dog 390 (mine had Tri-power) power really gets killed with those manifolds and a 428 would probalby suffer even worse.

Either way you go you may want to take some carefull measurements and my end up wanting to do some triming on the shock towers like they did on the Thunderbolts.

Oh wow...I'll take back what I said...I just looked at the engine well pic...I thought these were the same platform as the full sized Fords 57-64..I was wrong...Is that a unibody car??

Hello there and thanks for the welcome.
Yes it is a unibody car (Done by ford in these birds to save production costs im sure) So those towers are part of the support there. From everything I have heard the exhaust issue is a tough one on these cars. Very restrictive. I have checked into headers for the 390 tbird and they are pricey ($500-$700) My car did not come with the factory log mainfolds. I have not found alot of swap info online...seems most bird owners go with the 390 again some swapping to a c6 tranny for more reliable and beefier shifting. Of course they are usually restorers and not looking to hot rod the car much.

Put a sbc in it, you will find a lot of fans among Fordaholics for sure.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Put a sbc in it, you will find a lot of fans among Fordaholics for sure.

Don

Or a sbf with 2-4's.

Just thinkin' back to those years. Those cars also came with a 430. The same motor was enlarged to 462 in the mid-60's Lincolns. This was the MEL motor (Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln). The bell housing is the same as an FE, so a C6 can be bolted up. If you install an FE, there are sources for stroker kits (I know you already know this, I'm just including it for others to learn).
390 stroker kit....
http://www.speedomotive.com/ps-556-8...roker-kit.aspx
Or starting with a 428 (larger bore) block....
http://www.speedomotive.com/ps-559-9...roker-kit.aspx

Here is a source of Ford stuff that may be helpful.....
http://www.critesrestoration.com/

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

Or a sbf with 2-4's.

Actually, this wouldn't be a bad idea either. A 347 stroker all dolled up would leave plenty of room for headers. The theme for the car is not drag race anyway, so what does it matter if you don't have a world-beater between the fenders.

Realistically turning one of these Birds into a stoplight terror would be a trick involving a fair amount of work. They weigh in at well over 4000 lbs (if memory serves correctly). Either a big inch FE or 460 with good exhaust would make enough torque, but then you run into the problem of getting it on the pavement. As I recall the stock rear wheelwell is pretty restrictive for tire size. Just something to keep in mind when your working the rear quarters.

A few nights ago we moved his Bird into the shop and compared the empty engine room to the 302 in his T bucket. There would be NO problem getting it in there, nothing is in the way. Only problem is, it would look like a Briggs and Stratton sitting down in there. I even have a rebuildable 302 roller motor sitting unused, but I didn't seem to get a lot of interest out of Don when I suggested it. I told him TRUE custom car guys never pop the hood anyway, it breaks up the lines of the car.


Don

Maybe you could put TWO 302s in there or go with one of these

Originally Posted by Daffy427

Maybe you could put TWO 302s in there or go with one of these

Thanks for that Daffy, that's about as pretty as it gets!!!!!

I was thinking 302 as well. There are a lot of aftermarket crate 302's that put out some high horse power, or a SBC for a lot less, like you say Don, the hood will be down most of the time. I still like the idea of the BBF but it sounds like the exhaust would be tricky. Maybe a zupped up 390 with thos expensive headers, and a c-6 swap! Whatever you choose, I'm betting it will be fast(you pops has told us about the power in front of little Mr. Blue T bucket!) It sounds like this might be a neck snapper too!