1965 Ford Thunderbird 427

Page 2 - Other 427 T-birds

 

 
Pictures modified in Paint Shop to show 18" Rims and tinted windows (They arnt in yet!).  

 !!!UPDATE!!! 427's back in the hole!

Put the motor back in with the headers on for a test fit, all fits except the drivers side valve cover is to tall and hits the brake booster. So looks like i'll be selling off the rebuilt original and getting a new booster with a dual reservoir master cylinder to make it fit! Theres about 5mm clearance each side between the shock towers and headers so its a tight fit. Droped in really easy, had the motor mounts on, gearbox off and every thing in the engine bay out though. I'm going to hide all the wiring so just checking to see where everythings gona go then the motors comming out again so I can make some changes and i'll repaint the engine bay again. Thinking of fabricating some custom mounts to get a smaller PS pump and A/C comp, may even make a serpentine system. Got a ford 3G 150A chrome alternator to go on and an electric water pump and electric fans too. I'm looking at converting all the old vaccum stuff over to electric so may end up removing the vac tanks yet.

Here is an old ford advert showing the tbird in a color similar to whats on my car. (The car is gold its just the sunset making it look like this)

 

Factory fitted 427, there is 6 left that I know about 1-1963, 2-1964's and 3-1965's there was supposedly 120 427's put in thunderbirds but it is very hard to document this.
Click Here for an article on the 427 tbird & Hi res pics of my Bird.
This is going to be my weekend kruizer, my son and I have spent 7 years so far on a ground up rebuild, its just had a bare metal respray in a custom colour. All the chrome is NOS, new or rechromed. I am changing the upholstery from the original red to black, I have some mint black door panels, just have the dash and the seats left to do. (I still want to do it cream with rosewood veneers on the door panels but will have to win lotto first!)
The car has only done 58,000 original miles and the 427 was rebuilt and bored .30 over in 1972 not sure what the mileage was then but it cant of been much! I had the 427 fully rebuilt, balanced and blueprinted in 2004. New forged .30 over pistons, 427 le manns rods, stock internaly balanced steel crank (ground and polished 10/10), Weiand Alloy Intake manifold, Holley 750 cfm carb, stock 427 cam, Melling high volume oil pump, Modified oilling system, The heads are the stock medium riser 427 ones but have had a bit of work done to them and have stainless valves, ceramic coated full length headers and Mallory twin point dizy. We start it up on the floor every second month until it goes in the car. It sounds wicked with the headers and no mufflers, but the neighbours dont think so haha!

Because it was rebuilt in 2004, before it goes in the car we will pull it down, do abit more to it and check that its still good. Its going to get roller rockers and a cam with a more aggresive profile, Electronic distributor, 4 bolt main kit, Electric Fuel Pump, Canton 9qt oil pan with baffles and if the budget allows, electronic fuel injection and a vortech supercharger! (Again I will probably have to win Lotto first!)

The transmission is the stock FMX but has been rebuilt, shift kitted and had a few modifications done and has a higher stall tourque converter.

I'm looking at narrowing the diff afew inches each side so I can get deaper dish rims on and converting the rear to 4-link and Air Bagging. Will be using Air Ride Tech Shockwave air struts with double valving up front and a seperate Bag/Adjustable shock in the rear, with two Air tanks on ethier side under the car where the leaf spring would normally go. All that will be run by a Dakota Digital control system (pressure and height based). I have all new suspension parts (bushes etc) so that will all get done at the same time.

The huge standard brakes have been fully rebuilt, new disks up front, the calipers have been sleaved in stainless steal, all new brake lines, new master cly and booster, Rear drums had a light skim (I will put some pictures of the rear drums up some day, you wont belive the size they look big enough to stop a truck!) I also have a wilwood adjustable brake proportioning valve in there to lock the front brakes, not that it'll need that with a 450hp 427!

Im not sure what wheels to put on it but will be 18" Torque Thrust 2's or Centreline Daggers.

 

 

A pic of my Fairlane and T-bird

 

Here's a pic before we started

 

 

Here's what it looks like now!
I just put on my NOS set of side trim still needs to be lined up and the door gaps smaller.

 These are the new clips that came with the NOS side chrome. 

Another picture down the side.

The guards were acid dipped, painted, undersealed then repainted again inside.

 

All the new chrome on the guard notice the 427 badge?

The other side. I'm missing the clips for the C chrome so haven't got that on yet.

New door handle and gaskets.

 

 

New Thunderbird script.

 

 

New Cragar rims the tyres still have the blue stuff on them! Check out the detailed spinners.

 

Nice Shiney paint!

Trunk full of more new stuff. The rubbers are only sitting in there, still need to be glued.

 

 

The engine bay has never looked so good!

 

 

Here's the big 427FE detailed to match the rest of the car.

 

 

Here's the new back bumper and lights, still needs adjusting.

 

 

Close up of above.

 

 

New Thunderbird emblem

 

 

New Tail lights (when I get them going I will take pics of sequential lights)

 

 

Here is an animation I made of the sequential lights going!

 

 

Nos right hand mirror.

 

 

New Hood bird.

 

 

New Fender Gunsight.

 

 

Right side (still needs the NOS Trim put on)

 

 

Left hand side with New Bumper.

 

Here is the latest update

 

 

Don't forget to sign the guestbook, check back soon for more updates. Also go check out my 1963 Fairlane.
Cheers Earle