Thread: New Project 63 Thunderbird!

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Thanks for the advice
I am not a "restored" kinda guy. (I admire them, but like hopping them up too much) A 428 from what I am reading is the same engine family and the same dimentionally. That appeals to me.

Of course dads got that nasty 460 (385 engine family) sitting there I wonder what that swap would be like/ Anyone out there done it? Fab some mounts and a tranny crossmember. call it a day...hmmmmmm

Don there are a lot of aftermarket kits for the 429 and 460's as far as motor mounts and tranny mounts. I don't know much about the cruisomatics, but a c6 bolted to the back of the 460 with your existing 9" rear would do a fine job! I'll hunt arpound for a bolt on motor mount kit, but I bet Dan could fab up some brackets that would be pretty slick!

Dan the man to the rescue for sure He can fab up anything.

I have been on a few of the thunderbird forums and websites and the problem becomes that they do not want anyone "modifying" the thunderbirds so very little swap info is available there. A torch and a welder go a long way!

Thanks again for the help, Don Jr.

I know what you mean. I looked at quite a few sites. It seems the height of the cruisamatic tranny is a bit different than c6's in relation to the motor, but people have done it, it's just hard to find any info!

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/

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.

I don't know how major a project you want to make out of this car. Being a fairly heavy car, I'd go with a 460/aod combo,even if I had to cut away all the front suspension and shock towers,reinforce the framerails with 2x4 steel and add a mustang stlye suspension with airride. You'll probably take a couple hundred lbs off the front end too. I'm not giong to say you could do it for less than 3 grand though. Hank