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In about 2014 I had a '54 256 (EBY block & heads) that I needed to get rid of, long story. To find out if it was junk or sellable I asked a local old-school machine shop owner. At that time after tearing it down he said it was just new enough for internal parts to be available, but if it had...

Are you rebuilding it to stay original to the car? A '54 239 is a one-yr-only engine with some parts that aren't compatible with other '55 to '64 pieces. Examples: camshaft and its bearings, distributor & oil pump drive, fuel & water pumps, intake manifold to head port size . . . Specialty...

Here's why I asked the questions I did... A couple years ago the fuel pump in my '55 was failing and couldn't keep up at all. Hard to start and didn't want to run If the exhaust smell is pretty strong something may be causing the carb to run too rich. Hopefully the following is relevant...

Not that I have a clue what might be wrong but just to provide info to others... How long does it sit between cold starts? A couple days? A couple weeks? Have you checked the fuel pressure? Is there any soot in the exhaust outlets? What color?

If you disregard the over the bumper '55 T-Bird tail pipes, that continental kit does look much like these examples of aftermarket / dealer add-ons. .

If you haven't found it yet... https://prestigethunderbird.com/

They appear to only have this page about the steering column but it's Not for the same problem. https://www.ctci.org/gilsgarage/1955-56-57-thunderbird-steering-column-repair/ .

Back in the day, life expectancy of an average 50's car was about 10 years. Outright replacing or future updating of a drivetrain likely wasn't that high on the manufacturers list of worries. There are assembly line pictures from back then showing an assembled chassis with its complete...

If the ribbed chrome locking collar won't turn clockwise you may need a strap wrench or one of the specialty wrenches to turn it. There is no set screw to release it in normal operation. Its threads do get rusty from lack of use. Not sure where you'd put penetrating oil for that I haven't had to...

An original '56 fuel tank sensor has heated bi-metal on/off switching contacts not a variable resistor. Those switching contacts limit current flow thru the dash gauge and tank sensor. The dash gauge converts heat into needle movement. Because there is no variable resistor in the tank sensor any...

Photo 1. You are correct, there's a vacuum line from the carb to the vacuum can on a '57+ distributor. Yellow circles, '57 4bbl setup on a '55 engine. (old photo, unfinished installation) A '57+ distributor with mechanical advance does get a signal from a '57+ carb but it's used more to 'fine...

Vacuum for a '57 distributor would normally come from a 'ported' vacuum fitting on a '57+ carburetor. That ported vacuum signal is nearly opposite manifold vacuum as it comes from above the throttle plate. First image attached below. Some earlier carburetors can be fairly easily modified to...

You're welcome. I'm glad it's working for you. Like other ideas it came to me in the middle of the night after completely giving up on it the evening before. :o

In a particular position? Technically no, as long the wires for each function line up, especially the L and R turn signal connections. But the more jumbled up they are the harder you make it on yourself. After an engine compartment repaint I wanted an easy to follow pattern for later trouble...

The photo of the two switch shafts & knobs on green with rain drops was from an ad on ebay. I bought the short one. It fit right in without sticking out like the other one

Concentrate on the two front junction blocks first. Since you replaced them and apparently didn't have this problem before... those parts 'should' be where the problem is. If you didn't previously change the turn signal wiring block next to the steering column and didn't have this problem...

The only "relay" on the left front fender of an original '56 Bird is the horn relay. As Paul pointed out it has nothing to do w/ headlights, turn signals or parking lights. You're probably thinking of the two black junction blocks, one behind each headlight. They connect wiring from the dash to...

If the idler arm hasn't been checked it wouldn't hurt. The end attached to the center link shouldn't move up and down. If it does the right side of the center link can float enough to affect toe-in slightly. Add some weight shift to the front suspension during braking and it might account for...

I'm curious why you want to change from a 70 series tire to a 75. So they look more like the original size tire? For judged car shows or for driving purposes? The 75 series tires will be very slightly taller and narrower but not enough that it should make any difference in fitting under the...

I'm assuming you have a three spoke steering wheel. Have you called other T-Bird parts suppliers? If there was only one manufacturer and now no one has the part that's possible but other parts shops may still have them. Here is an example...