55-57 Tbird info

I have a 56 T-Bird and love it. It has no rust anywhere. I installed Air Conditioning to make it more enjoyable to drive in the summer.
 

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Your physical size matters--if you are a big man, you won't be happy, at least with a '55-don't know about the other two. Very little room between the seat and steering wheel. I'm 5'9 180 lbs. and I need to squeeze under the steering wheel. We installed new interior including seat foam--I could have shaved a couple inches of foam off the seat. I ended up removing the power seat frame and made brackets and mounted the seat directly to the floor to gain some room. Luckily, my wife and I need the same distance seat to accelerator. She drives it the most, and I follow along behind in the '36 5 window.
 
Be sure to get one with the porthole top. I had one without portholes and nearly ran into a car hiding in the blind spot. I believe they were a no cost option, most people got the portholes. Check the prices carefully, they were a couple of years ago selling for a lot less than I expected.

Charlie Stephens
 
To me, riding in my Tbird with the top down is the most enjoyable way to enjoy it. A/C is not my way of TBird enjoyment.
 
Tinker said:
really really nice bird larry.


The throw back opera windows (oval windows), throw some off design wise. I like it. Hard to take anything away from that 56. Really nice ride.


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Thanks tinker ! It is driven for sure. As a common guy I feel blessed to have been able to enjoy this cool slice of life.
All the best!
Larry
 
I have had a 55 for about 10 years

I love driving it. It’s like a go-cart super fun. As mentioned before if you are big it’s hard to get in and out. I’m 6’2” and I fold up a bit to get myself in and out.

It’s definitely a crowd pleaser. I love the color.

I put on diamond radials and disc brakes it was already switched to 12v when I got it.

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I have a ‘56 project for sale. It has a non porthole top but I bought a reproduction porthole kit so I would have the option. I have the original engine or a 302 Ford with adapters. Many, many new parts with it. This is the third ‘56 Bird I have owned and I love them. Double hip replacement and being 6’2” makes the small birds no longer an option for me. If you or anyone is interested, email me for more details. V8fordman@hotmail.com
 
Gene1949 said:
My '56 bird pix taken in 1966. A coast car (rust bucket) that needed some love. Just got out of the service and started my Ironworker apprenticeship.
Drove the hell out of it until I broke the 312 and the slush-o-matic.

A friend had just crashed his Galaxy with a 406/405 hp and 4 speed. Hmm.

A set of homemade headers, front motor mounts and a couple of trips to the wreaking yard for springs, sway bars, police interceptor wheels and a meek little bird became what that car should have/could have been.
With the factory hubcaps it looked/stood exactly like a factory bird if you didn't look too close.

I would give almost anything to have that car back.
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Gene, you made my day with this one....
 
GB SISSON said:
Gene, you made my day with this one....
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Wow Orcas Island, talk about paradise.
The ferry would stop there when my wife and I would spend the weekend in Sidney in the early '90s. At the time I was raising iron on the Boeing 777 project at Evert.

I built my bird in Mossyrock, WA when I was working on the dam. After the dam I drove that bird to Seattle and spent a couple of weeks on a story job. Life was kinda hazy back then, not too sure where in Seattle it was.
 
bobH said:
Obviously opinion here... I like 55's best. I don't like 6V, and might consider 12V conversion. (Emphasis on 'might'.) I don't like continental spares. I don't like 57's, as I feel they are a little 'porky'. I agree with David, port holes are ugly. 312 rear main known for leaking.(Saw that in video. I don't know what's with that.)
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Reading your comments about your likes and don't likes, it would appear that I have the perfect car for you.
I have a one owner '56 Bird that was bought as a 21st birthday present in 1956 for my late wives best friend.
In the late '60's the car was getting tired so the current husband of the own had the car modernized.
The spare tire carrier was removed, the bumper was filed to remove the exhaust openings in the corners. Fortunately the top did not have the portholes. A high performance '68 302 w/ C-4 trans was installed.
In the early '80's the car was in pretty sad shape, the owner, Patti, asked me to help her with the car, her husband had passed away so I agreed to take the project on to get the car back in shape.
Over a period of several years I did a complete makeover of the car, freshened the engine up, had the car repainted back to red and had the interior redone with stock type upholstery from NPD.

I have all of the original paperwork on the car, the title still has the original owners name (with mine) on it.
The car is for sale!
 

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Wish I had photos.....nice '55 Arizona Bird, 368 Mercury Marauder power. Not a drop in but no rocket science either. 100 mpt ( miles per trans ) A Warner t 85 OD trans from
a wrecked 406 Galaxie fixed that. Not well known....like the '32 the motor had to be removed to change the trans...On hard acceleration the torque caused the hood to

'unalign' with the fenders. Horseshoe up my a__, I've made it to 80.
Charlie ny
 
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