1959 Squarebird

Show off your work! Anything from final results to full start-to-finish project journals.



Fully Engaged
Posts: 128
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:12 am
Location: Spring Hill, Florida
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 11:11 pm
So a suggestion I will give this a shot, I acquired a 1959 Tbird from a gentleman that had owned it since 1983, very much complete and mostly worn out. Plans are to either put an aluminum headed 460/C6 combo or go with a coyote/auto swap (still in the process of what that all entails) have the 460 on a stand now just need a C6 or C4. The guys over at Squarebirds.org are guiding me through a rack and pinion swap including a an aftermarket steering column as these have the shaft to the gearbox, also considering aftermarket A/C. This is going to be a long project and still working out the paint colors/scheme (long way off from that). Fortunately, the last paint just was 1984 and have found 2 places of bodywork and scant rust. Most is in the trunk and under the rear seat. For some reason someone decided to screw the carpet down, there were about a dozen or so sharp screws all sticking out of the floor boards in random places.

I picked it up early October and have just finished tearing it down, have just a few small things to complete before I tackle the steering. Will try to be consistent with updates. Time and money are the long haul lol. Here is a few pictures of it.
Attachments
E960C137-60FD-4F15-8604-8B0B9389077B.jpeg
FAEF2111-A31D-4161-B8AE-22C5708109BB.jpeg



Fully Engaged
Posts: 128
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:12 am
Location: Spring Hill, Florida
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 11:25 pm
Trying to figure out how to post with them not upside down.
Attachments
955A556E-B4BF-40E2-A6D8-99330D09A3B8.jpeg
F26CC1F8-DB46-4C47-80EE-60DACA5935E9.jpeg
710EAFCA-79CB-47E8-8F57-742BEEC4C6EA.jpeg
5319E217-1668-4CB7-87E7-C4F43136DDBA.jpeg
1499582A-D424-4369-A767-B380455914D9.jpeg



Fully Engaged
Posts: 128
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:12 am
Location: Spring Hill, Florida
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 11:27 pm
Couple more...
Attachments
D4D47EBC-EB49-4906-A0DB-7890B4A863E3.jpeg
C6827AAC-BC42-40E9-9113-EFDDC487E43E.jpeg
6BD3511D-8BD1-4A74-95D9-6A52B06E4DC6.jpeg
83AEB2C8-B4D1-4E12-8793-C8ABB1344430.jpeg

User avatar

Board Moderator
Posts: 9870
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:40 pm
Location: ARIZONA
PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 12:17 am
Looks to be in great shape.
Nice project.
1968 Coronet R/T


ACTS 16:31



Top Contributor
Posts: 6205
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:17 pm
Location: Pahrump NV.
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 6:14 am
Dam nice start! Looks really solid!!!!

Screaming to be MILDLY Customized! 1 & 1/2 inches maybe two inches out of the roof and lower a Little with wide tires! Keep it a Big block. :goodjob:
Image

Image

Image

Image


https://www.allcollectorcars.com/for-sa ... p/2278595/

460 Ford
Image

https://jonkaaseracingengines.com/shop/ ... der-heads/
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.



Fully Engaged
Posts: 128
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:12 am
Location: Spring Hill, Florida
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 9:47 am
Ha! I’ve eyed both of those!!! How do you chop a top with addressing the glass? That purple one had my eye from the beginning, not sure if I’m skilled enough. Don’t think I can swing the Boss 9 motor, but have a standard bore DOVE block with trick flow heads and aluminum intake.

User avatar

Board Moderator
Posts: 9870
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:40 pm
Location: ARIZONA
PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 10:38 am
Chopolds and Sauceman have some customized projects in this section. BAM55 is customizing a truck as well. You might pick up some tips from their posts.

Chopping tops and lowering require a lot of forethought, planning and skill. Do your research before biting off more than you can chew.

How are your metal working and welding skills?

These older Thunderbirds look good just the way the are in my opinion but it's your car so be sure to have a plan before you delve into it.
1968 Coronet R/T


ACTS 16:31



Top Contributor
Posts: 6205
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:17 pm
Location: Pahrump NV.
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 3:10 pm
"Chopping tops and lowering require a lot of forethought, planning and skill. Do your research before!" That's is a FACT my friend

Lowering it isn't all that all that hard lots of ways to do it and a lot of Kits available to do it, I suggest All bolt on's to be reversible.
Not all the ways to do the job are good ways! you can hurt a cars value if its done the wrong way.

A Botched Roof chop will also ruin a cars value big time!
Definitely Not a Mod for the Semiskilled or faint of heart.
Being able to hand form panels is a must have skill for this job.

That said Its a square Top and one of the more easier tops to chop in my opinion Find a good Metal man like Chopolds or other customizer that's done more than a few I am sure they would love to do it for you.

As far as the glass goes they cut the Original glass to fit the car after the chop is done.
They start by making Templits of the glass making them fit the car, then overlay the Templit on the glass and cut the Glass to match the Templit.
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.



Fully Engaged
Posts: 128
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:12 am
Location: Spring Hill, Florida
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 6:05 pm
Yeah I did some online research on dropping the roof, I think I can manage the cuts especially this is straight forward and like the purple one it is only lowered in the front. The biggest issue is the speculated cut rate on the glass is 1:3, these are roughly $600 a piece so possible $1800 not including the labor cost just for the windshield, which is massively curved. I can spend the money elsewhere. I do like that look though. Went through it today with the pressure washer inside and out, have a small rust spot in front of the rear wheel drivers side about half a dollar size, I suspected a drivers side repair on the headlight, looks like it was hit at one time, and small bondo area passengers side above the fender skirt, its solid there just looks like a dent. Will know more as I dig in, not sure what to do with the headlight area, I knew the hood was off by about a 1/16th or so there, finding fenders which are part of the structure not a bolt is difficult. The lower rad support has a good amount of rust, a gentleman at a Thunderbird website makes these so I will be purchasing one from him. Still have to stay focused on the steering and motor fitment, before I dig into the body. Almost seems like the easier part LOL.

User avatar

No Turning Back
Posts: 774
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:06 pm
Location: I live in a house
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 10:43 pm
That is a sharp car and looks like a fun project.

I'd stay away from the top, there is a lot going on when chopping a roof.

But since you have it that far apart, I would raise the tunnel and bag that car. I love the way my Caddy rides with bags at all four corners. Add wide whitewalls with the factory hubcaps or wire wheels!!! Wu hu!

You can cut and raise the factory sheetmetal tunnel - don't forget to add some reinforcement at the cross braces. That is what I did the first go around on my car.

65 Cad drive shaft clearance (2).jpg

Tunnel Welds (1).jpg

65 Tunnel Raise Final (2).jpg


Or...like my second time around, you can form a complete new piece(s) for a more radical drop.
Attachments
LS Tunnel #2 (5).jpg
LS Tunnel #2 (4).jpg
Sent by the random thoughts from the voices in my head...
Next

Return to Completed & In Progress Member Projects

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests