my latest acquisition

[fast Ed]

Hey guys

Finally remembering to throw up some pics of the new T-Bird I picked up a few weeks ago, a 66 Thunderbird Town Hardtop. This particular body style is a one-year only deal, it has the big C-pillar with no quarter window like the Town Landau model (that comes with a vinyl roof and landau bars), difference being no vinyl roof.

Has the base engine, 390 4-bbl 315 hp, C6 automatic, a bit over 100,000 miles. Pretty well-optioned, A/C, P/W, PDL, Pwr driver seat, power antenna, remote mirror. Sold in Texas originally, and lived much of its life in California. Even has a cool 1980 NHRA Winternationals decal on the windshield. Very solid car, has had a repaint at some point that is now very faded. Undercarriage and engine bay are very clean, these big cars are actually unibody, unlike many of the large full frame cars of that era. Wheels are cheapie aftermarket chrome steel with too-small tires that will be changed fairly soon.



Cool slideaway steering column, neat dash and console, front seats need recovering:





Awesome back seat!!



Overhead console that is part of the Town Hardtop package:



Paint looks OK when it's wet:




Good running 390 4-barrel with a few chrome goodies:



And the coolest part of the 60s T-Birds, click on the photo for a very short video:




Plans are to clean up the car as much as possible, see if the paint will buff up at all, change the wheels and tires, and likely put in a Pertronix electronic igntion ... then drive and enjoy!


cheers
Ed

[jhosler]

Sweet ride!!!

[Payton]

About time you posted some pictures. Love the car. When are you bringing it to the meet?)

[animalguy10]

What a georgeous car... great pick

[351tt]

am I the only one thinking a hyped up SC drivetrain swap, .. would probably shave 300lbs off the car and get twice the gas mileage.. not to mention being pretty damn cool to do .. or a 4.6 with a blower , or .. or ..

[fast Ed]

I'm not looking to add too much complexity to this particular car. If it ends up being a long-term keeper, I will consider doing an EFI swap using something like MSD's new Atomic system, which bolts in place of a standard flange 4-barrel carb.

http://www.atomicefi.com/





cheers
Ed

[91bird]

That is awsome Ed. what a slick ride. Hopefully we will see it in person.
Congrats man.

Drew

[351tt]

My uncle used the original Holley Projection yeeeeears ago on his B/A motorhome .. it was pretty crappy to say the least, .. I would imagine the newer bolt on stuff is way better but what I ended up doing on his MH was weld in some injector bosses into a Weiand [ sp?] alum intake , and used a Ford A9L sequential comp and mass air unit to run his 440 Chrystler.
Works great.. I had to make an adaptor to fit the ford distributor into the 440 and a few other custom pcs but the thing purrs like a kitten , in any weather and at any altitude [ a problem with the Projection unit at the time ] .
It also has Edelbrock alum heads and a bit beefier cam .. it gets alot better mileage and waaaaay more power.
He still will not let me put a turbo on it though.. damn..
If you want to do something like this , let me know. .

Originally Posted by fast Ed

I'm not looking to add too much complexity to this particular car. If it ends up being a long-term keeper, I will consider doing an EFI swap using something like MSD's new Atomic system, which bolts in place of a standard flange 4-barrel carb.

http://www.atomicefi.com/





cheers
Ed

[coolhand]

You always did have good taste. A sweet ride, for sure. Memories of my Dad.
Matt

[fast Ed]

Originally Posted by 351tt

My uncle used the original Holley Projection yeeeeears ago on his B/A motorhome .. it was pretty crappy to say the least, .. I would imagine the newer bolt on stuff is way better but what I ended up doing on his MH was weld in some injector bosses into a Weiand [ sp?] alum intake , and used a Ford A9L sequential comp and mass air unit to run his 440 Chrystler.
Works great.. I had to make an adaptor to fit the ford distributor into the 440 and a few other custom pcs but the thing purrs like a kitten , in any weather and at any altitude [ a problem with the Projection unit at the time ] .
It also has Edelbrock alum heads and a bit beefier cam .. it gets alot better mileage and waaaaay more power.
He still will not let me put a turbo on it though.. damn..
If you want to do something like this , let me know. .

That would be the other way to do it, build it yourself ... there are existing EFI compatible manifolds for FE engines on the market, but they are too tall for the T-Bird hoodline. So I could start with an old time Offy or Weiand low rise intake, and work from there.

The advantage to the MSD system is that it can be hidden under a factory or factory-style air cleaner, to keep the engine bay looking more vintage. I have a nice pair of Moon finned valve covers to go on, and I'd like to keep things looking somewhat period-correct on the car within reason.


cheers
Ed

[HappyChappy]

Nice ride! I love those classic lines of that era Tbird. Glad you are going to take good care of that classic!


What color are you thinking of painting it?

[kenewagner]

Love that body style. If it was mine I would spend the bucks for a high end paint job and redo the interior to perfection some nice wheels, nothing radical and just drive it everywhere. The only thing better might be a rag top. Nice car anyway you slice it. The atomic setup looks like a good deal

Ken

[ALS35]

Cool ride, Ed. I am now officially waayyy jealous. You now have my favourite t-bird of all. Perry Mason's assistant used to drive one with the same swing away wheel. And who can forget that Matt Helm drove a '66! Can hardly wait to see it in person. Now that you have a t-bird again, you can stop feeling bad and come out to more meets
Alan

[talonhead]

Originally Posted by 351tt

My uncle used the original Holley Projection yeeeeears ago on his B/A motorhome .. it was pretty crappy to say the least, .. I would imagine the newer bolt on stuff is way better but what I ended up doing on his MH was weld in some injector bosses into a Weiand [ sp?] alum intake , and used a Ford A9L sequential comp and mass air unit to run his 440 Chrystler.
Works great.. I had to make an adaptor to fit the ford distributor into the 440 and a few other custom pcs but the thing purrs like a kitten , in any weather and at any altitude [ a problem with the Projection unit at the time ] .
It also has Edelbrock alum heads and a bit beefier cam .. it gets alot better mileage and waaaaay more power.
He still will not let me put a turbo on it though.. damn..
If you want to do something like this , let me know. .

Sounds like what I'm working on. A '75 460 though. Could you do an injector and rail setup on a Edelbrock Performer intake? I already have the cam sync, EDIS 8, coils, a crank trigger and sensor. A 5.0 wiring harness and computer out of a '93 'bird. Don't have the cash for a set of A460 alum. heads yet, OR the T56 to go behind it either
MikeH

[351tt]

I think we are ambushing Eds tread here, so if there is anything after this, just start a new one.
I am pretty far from you so the cost would be nuts shipping it back and forth etc.. but I am sure there are people local to you who could handle the task.
You could most likely buy fuel rails from someone already machined for the injectors and also the bungs to weld into place .. Jegs??.
There may even be a company out there injecting the 460 intakes.
Throw a turbo [ or two ] on it , and you will not notice the lack of alum heads..
A "mild" intercooled twin should pull close to a thousand horse without breakin a sweat.
It will on the other hand break trannies rear ends , body welds etc..

Originally Posted by talonhead

Sounds like what I'm working on. A '75 460 though. Could you do an injector and rail setup on a Edelbrock Performer intake? I already have the cam sync, EDIS 8, coils, a crank trigger and sensor. A 5.0 wiring harness and computer out of a '93 'bird. Don't have the cash for a set of A460 alum. heads yet, OR the T56 to go behind it either
MikeH