My latest project (OT not MoPar)

[Fireball]

Hi guys

Two weeks ago I bought this 1960 bird with originally equipped 430 cid and cruise-o-matic. I just found out that only 4.3% of the production was set up like this. This puppy was imported from CA in 2004. I'm preparing it for repaint, all the way to bare metal just to be sure there's no surprises. I found couple small dents and only one dime size rust spot. Amazing.

Sorry it's not Mopar this time,but surely a model that everybody has an opinion;) I'm struggling with the color really, I'm not even sure whether to go two-tone or not.

[1940plymouth]

Good luck, I think the '58-'60 T-Birds were the best looking of any of the Thunderbirds produced

[oldodge41]

Sweet!

[Kudzuking]

Dammit, now I want one, that thing has great lines.

[BobT-47P15]

Looks real good......should be a fun car.

Here's a link to a brochure sort of thing showing various colors on

these model Birds. Maybe that will be helpful.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=1959+ford+thunderbird+sales+brochure&id=92EC744A90370D6E7894AA09F7EF219C796FD935&FORM=IQFRBA

[Fireball]

This is really one of the easiest projects I've had, and I've had plenty. No rust, all parts there, interior is already redone with black leather, tagged to Finland and technically a ok. Waiting for the summer already.

The amount of details is jaw dropping in cars of this era, at least after D-24.

[JerseyHarold]

Nice looking car. Someone wanted to give me one for free many years ago but wanted to keep two tires from it. I declined the car because I didn't want to buy two tires!

Does the AM radio receive any broadcasts in your area?

[Greenbomb]

Had a '59. One of my favorites. Yours is really nice. Great find. Don't they have the coolest interiors?!?!

[Fireball]

Gotta agree with the interior, someone really put effort into design back then.

Harold, that's priceless! Occasionally AM receives signal from Russia, but theres no real use for the radio. I think one could rebuild it to receive FM but thats too pricey I assume, so hidden FM/CD/MP3 player is my route. The plan is to build an "elevator" for it under the dash if there's enough room, or just put the unit into trunk and use remote control.

[Mark D]

Keep us posted of your progress, love to see the finished results. Ps, try looking up Redi-rad for the radio, works real good in my p15.

[Fireball]

Hey Mark, I will. This puppy really gets me going, took the whole 15 minutes to weld all the rust I found. Easier than I ever excpected.

Whats Redi-rad?

[Mark D]

Shelbizzy beat me to it. He posted the correct link. I bought one, hooks inline of the antenna to the radio and allows an iPod to broadcast at the 1000 spot on the AM dial.

[Fireball]

Thank you for the tip fellows

[Beatles65]

What did you use to get all that paint off?

[Fireball]

What did you use to get all that paint off?

First two layers came easily off with heatgun and spatula, I didn't use that method into roof at all to avoid heating the headliner, and on the other hand one has to be really careful not to overheat the sheetmetal too. Large areas may warp.

The rest with portable rpm polishing machine and 3M paint/rust strip discs which do not eat metal at all. All together I counted eight layers of paint.

Roughly 30 hours of elbow grease.

[40P10touring sedan]

Nice, I was looking at a 65 G code before I found my 40 ply...but it was too far gone for my liking even with the 428. The 3 things I like about the birds- style, sequencial tails and the tiltaway wheel. When it comes to fords, I like the early castings 351C motor or the square 400M.

Keep us in the loop....

[Fireball]

Trip to painter has started, this time I'm not painting it myself. I have to admit that I have never faced such a hard time to decide the color, but boy did I find a nice shade by the end of the day. You'll judge my choice when it's done. I just received new whitewalls, and ordered a ton of new gaskets and chrome. There's no doubt it will be ready for summertime.

[JIPJOBXX]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/1942dodge/1960%20Thunderbird/T-Birdone.jpg

I bought this bird for 3500 dollars a few years ago and just cleaned it up and sold it to a Canadian for almost 9000 dollars. One thing you haft to watch for is the rocker panel area's as for has a brilliant idea of just using a rubber hose to move the water from that area before the windshield to the bottom of the car. Well that hose just goes south and then that water will just go where ever it wants to go. I had this problem and finally I just gave up trying to fix it and just covered everything up with sheet metal. Sold that car just before our economy went south and that was a gift from god. Loved the car but it was a big drain on my wallet.

[Fireball]

[Fireball]

After a month paint is done. Pics don't do justice of my fresh candy but boy it's just what I was looking for. I just cant wait to get back to garage installing all the chrome back, new whitewalls, new seals etc.

[Mark D]

Love that color Tero. Nice choice.

[kbuhagiar]

Gotta love those Square Birds!

[Kudzuking]

Dang!! who painted that?

[Fireball]

Thanks Mark and everybody. It's a Triumph motorcycle color actually, shows all the curves really nice in real life, and truly pops out on edges when the light hits. Just what I wanted. Professional work for a month was really worth it, those looooong panels are laser straight

[BobT-47P15]

Excellent looking paint job.........look forward to seeing it with all the

trim re-installed. I like wire wheels also.