1955 best tires, what was original transmission?

[FiveFiveTbird]

Hello I’m new to the Thunderbird Forum so bare with me. I actually don’t own a Thunderbird but agreed to work on a friend of mine’s. It’s a 1955 all original along with 41,000 actual miles. First of all it needs a set of tires, and was wandering what would be an original looking set that would be correct for this year? As far as the size of tire and how wide of a white wall? I want an original looking tire but in a radial version. 6.50x 15’s are on it now. Also what motor and transmission would this car come with? I’m guessing a 312 with some kind of 2 speed automatic. The valve covers say “Thunderbird Special” I believe. And one other thing where is the best place to shop for parts for it? Any information would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance!

This page contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated. As an eBay Partner, and Amazon Associate I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no cost to you.

 

[biddle]

Welcome to the forum. When you post, your title is very important. Posting the year and how many miles the car has does not really help other member understand what the post is about prior to clicking on it. I initially thought you were selling a car.

I revised the title for you.

 

[fordrodsteven]

Hello I’m new to the Thunderbird Forum so bare with me. I actually don’t own a Thunderbird but agreed to work on a friend of mine’s. It’s a 1955 all original along with 41,000 actual miles. First of all it needs a set of tires, and was wandering what would be an original looking set that would be correct for this year? As far as the size of tire and how wide of a white wall? I want an original looking tire but in a radial version. 6.50x 15’s are on it now. Also what motor and transmission would this car come with? I’m guessing a 312 with some kind of 2 speed automatic. The valve covers say “Thunderbird Special” I believe. And one other thing where is the best place to shop for parts for it? Any information would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance!

In answer to the engine.... The 1955 Thunderbird would have been a 292 unless someone changed it out. The 312's were not available until 1956. If it was originally an automatic it would be the 198 HP version of the engine with a 4 barrel carburetor. The other thing that would be different is the rear end ratio. The Fordomatic transmission was hooked to a 3.30 to 1 rear end gear ratio.

 

[FiveFiveTbird]

Ok great info! Thx for straightening the title out. I noticed it has a dual point distributor, what are the point gap specs and where can I get parts for the distributor?

 

[fordrodsteven]

As far as I know dual point distributor is not stock. Should be a tach drive distributor with a vacuum advance that connects at the carburetor. You will have to get some information off the distributor and hopefully "Google is your friend"

Also, regarding the decals on the valve covers. If the decals say "Thunderbird Special" then they are designating a 312 CI engine. The valve cover decals on the 292's only said "Thunderbird" and had the "Y" V8 logo. Is it possible someone had the engine changed? I remember at one time my dad had a 57 wagon and had a rebuilt engine installed (by Sears Roebuck). They pulled his 292 and put in a rebuilt 312 with the "Thunderbird Special" decals on the valve covers.

 

[FiveFiveTbird]

Interesting! It is not a tach driven distributor but does have an old looking electronic box on the passenger side inner fender that has some adjusting screws to adjust/calibrate tachometer? Not sure how they converted the mechanical tach to some sort of electronic version? All of this stuff looks old and original if it’s worth anything.

 

[FiveFiveTbird]

Well not a 100% sure it’s a non tach drive distributor? I will have to look closer when I get home tonight.

 

[FiveFiveTbird]

Ok it is a Holley distributor with Ford cap and rotor. It has a vacuum line to carb off of the base of the distributor with NO tach drive. Instead it has a 6 volt Sun tachometer transmitter.
It also has two old looking electric fuel pumps back by the tank in which the steel lines had been cut and by passed then goes up into a mechanical pump that has some sort of vacuum top on the pump? Is any of this factory or can anyone make sense of this??

 

[JRH]

Well not a 100% sure it’s a non tach drive distributor? I will have to look closer when I get home tonight.

Get a 1955 ford car shop manual includes T-bird

 

[Old Marine]

Hello I’m new to the Thunderbird Forum so bare with me. I actually don’t own a Thunderbird but agreed to work on a friend of mine’s. It’s a 1955 all original along with 41,000 actual miles. First of all it needs a set of tires, and was wandering what would be an original looking set that would be correct for this year? As far as the size of tire and how wide of a white wall? I want an original looking tire but in a radial version. 6.50x 15’s are on it now. Also what motor and transmission would this car come with? I’m guessing a 312 with some kind of 2 speed automatic. The valve covers say “Thunderbird Special” I believe. And one other thing where is the best place to shop for parts for it? Any information would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance!

A 1955 Thunderbird has a 6-volt electrical system, it came with a 292 V8 engine. The 312's were not available until late in 1956 and them in 1957. If it's really a 41,000 actual mile car it probably still has the bias ply 6.70-15 tires. There are radial tires available to fit the 15 inch rims and are available with the 2 inch white walls too. They are kind of spendy, around $600.00 each if my memory is correct. If it has an automatic transmission, they were three speeds. The automatic was called a Fordomatic. A lot of people change their 55 Thunderbirds to a 12-volt system. I understand why but there are some things that will need to be converted, like the 4-way seats, the generator there is a 12-volt generaator you can use instead of using an alternator. Don't forget the radio, clock, heater fan motor and all the lights as well. Good luck, its an endeavor you will remember.

 

[SHA BOP]

Hello I’m new to the Thunderbird Forum so bare with me. I actually don’t own a Thunderbird but agreed to work on a friend of mine’s. It’s a 1955 all original along with 41,000 actual miles. First of all it needs a set of tires, and was wandering what would be an original looking set that would be correct for this year? As far as the size of tire and how wide of a white wall? I want an original looking tire but in a radial version. 6.50x 15’s are on it now. Also what motor and transmission would this car come with? I’m guessing a 312 with some kind of 2 speed automatic. The valve covers say “Thunderbird Special” I believe. And one other thing where is the best place to shop for parts for it? Any information would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance!

A 1955 Thunderbird has a 6-volt electrical system, it came with a 292 V8 engine. The 312's were not available until late in 1956 and them in 1957. If it's really a 41,000 actual mile car it probably still has the bias ply 6.70-15 tires. There are radial tires available to fit the 15 inch rims and are available with the 2 inch white walls too. They are kind of spendy, around $600.00 each if my memory is correct. If it has an automatic transmission, they were three speeds. The automatic was called a Fordomatic. A lot of people change their 55 Thunderbirds to a 12-volt system. I understand why but there are some things that will need to be converted, like the 4-way seats, the generator there is a 12-volt generaator you can use instead of using an alternator. Don't forget the radio, clock, heater fan motor and all the lights as well. Good luck, its an endeavor you will remember.

I have owned my 55 Bird since 1987 as second owner. I am determined to keep it all original as much as possible. I appreciate that you may believe it has 41,000 miles but you may note that the last digit in the odometer is not in tenths like modern cars. The last digit is miles. So, you may want to take another look at the miles.
I hope to keep my 6 volt system as I have never had an issue. However, there are a few issues; I only use Optima 6V batteries with more output than most 12V batteries and there is a great old style case that covers the Optima to make it look original equipment. I converted my old 6V generator to an alternator housed in the old style generator so it looks original.
As I always say, you do not buy a 70 year old car and then look for the cheapest way to maintain it, it is like growing old, it is not for sissies.
It is simplest to keep it 6V and make a few mods instead of converting this wonderful example of the 50's to something different.
I converted my old points to electronic ignition with no visible change. All exterior light bulbs are now LED and Halogen headlights. These are simple projects that the old bird deserves.
Before you purchase tires, ensure the date of manufacture is current. Do not accept old tires that have been on the shelf of dozens of years. My tires were about $400 each, wide white walls. Do a google search for best prices or a trusted tire shop. Then you must decide radial or not radial. Good question for this Forum as much knowledge is available from this group. I learn from them.
I expect my post will be tossed out as was my last one because I did not follow exact protocol for one reason or another.
Best of luck with a fun project.

 

[Tom Alpers]

I have owned my 55 Bird since 1987 as second owner. I am determined to keep it all original as much as possible. I appreciate that you may believe it has 41,000 miles but you may note that the last digit in the odometer is not in tenths like modern cars. The last digit is miles. So, you may want to take another look at the miles.
I hope to keep my 6 volt system as I have never had an issue. However, there are a few issues; I only use Optima 6V batteries with more output than most 12V batteries and there is a great old style case that covers the Optima to make it look original equipment. I converted my old 6V generator to an alternator housed in the old style generator so it looks original.
As I always say, you do not buy a 70 year old car and then look for the cheapest way to maintain it, it is like growing old, it is not for sissies.
It is simplest to keep it 6V and make a few mods instead of converting this wonderful example of the 50's to something different.
I converted my old points to electronic ignition with no visible change. All exterior light bulbs are now LED and Halogen headlights. These are simple projects that the old bird deserves.
Before you purchase tires, ensure the date of manufacture is current. Do not accept old tires that have been on the shelf of dozens of years. My tires were about $400 each, wide white walls. Do a google search for best prices or a trusted tire shop. Then you must decide radial or not radial. Good question for this Forum as much knowledge is available from this group. I learn from them.
I expect my post will be tossed out as was my last one because I did not follow exact protocol for one reason or another.
Best of luck with a fun project.

why do you think the rightmost digit of the odo is not tenths? It's a white drum with black numbers unlike the others which are black drum with white letters. Looks it it counts 10ths to me. What's different on the 55/56/57 from more modern odo's is that the modern ones have one more digit on the left so they can count past 99,000.

 

[SHA BOP]

I believe I posted in the incorrect space:

why do you think the rightmost digit of the odo is not tenths? It's a white drum with black numbers unlike the others which are black drum with white letters. Looks it it counts 10ths to me. What's different on the 55/56/57 from more modern odo's is that the modern ones have one more digit on the left so they can count past 99,000.

My apology, but my car shows 087,000 miles and I read this as 87,000 miles. I am not an expert and I may be wrong. I stand corrected. Thank you

 

[Grumpy Rick]

As stated above, the original trans is a 3 speed, but note that they always start out in second gear unless you physically shift it to Lo.

It sounds like previous owners have modified it in several ways, which is not unusual for a 70 year old car. I suggest you just get it running good and tell the owner to enjoy it.

 

[DynoDan55]

I have owned my 55 Bird since 1987 as second owner. I am determined to keep it all original as much as possible. I appreciate that you may believe it has 41,000 miles but you may note that the last digit in the odometer is not in tenths like modern cars. The last digit is miles. So, you may want to take another look at the miles.
I hope to keep my 6 volt system as I have never had an issue. However, there are a few issues; I only use Optima 6V batteries with more output than most 12V batteries and there is a great old style case that covers the Optima to make it look original equipment. I converted my old 6V generator to an alternator housed in the old style generator so it looks original.
As I always say, you do not buy a 70 year old car and then look for the cheapest way to maintain it, it is like growing old, it is not for sissies.
It is simplest to keep it 6V and make a few mods instead of converting this wonderful example of the 50's to something different.
I converted my old points to electronic ignition with no visible change. All exterior light bulbs are now LED and Halogen headlights. These are simple projects that the old bird deserves.
Before you purchase tires, ensure the date of manufacture is current. Do not accept old tires that have been on the shelf of dozens of years. My tires were about $400 each, wide white walls. Do a google search for best prices or a trusted tire shop. Then you must decide radial or not radial. Good question for this Forum as much knowledge is available from this group. I learn from them.
I expect my post will be tossed out as was my last one because I did not follow exact protocol for one reason or another.
Best of luck with a fun project.

@SHA BOP
I’m interested in your 6V alternator conversion.

 

[seatramp]

Welcome to the forum. When choosing a tire you need to note that tire/wheel clearance is tight on these cars and for a radial it is different than the stock bias ply size due to profile. There are radials that will fit but like OLD Marine says they're spendy. As an addon to Grumpy Rick's info, something to note is the 1955 and early 56 had air cooled transmisions which weren't changed to liquid cooled until mid 1956. Some of the mods that were done to these cars maybe hard detect due to the desire to maintain a purist look but the members here are always willing to help sort stuff out. Look at it as you're embarking on a learning adventure and have fun.