My son just bought a 1964 Thunderbird for his first car. He is only 14 so we have a little time but we are building a 1965 Ranger right now as well. The Thunderbird will be his daily driver so I want it to be safe as we can get it.
We are installing 3 point seatbelts first thing. I am thinking of doing a disc brake conversion and a passenger side mirror as well.
What have been some of the best modifications have you completed or seen?
Thank you
I've had my '64 since 2018 and have raised four teenagers, and here's what I would recommend:
Go through the brake system completely and make sure hoses, lines and components are up to snuff and not worn or leaking. Yes
disc brakes would be a nice to have and a fun project to install, but drum brakes are fine for now if you want to prioritize the
disc brake conversion to later. Best to install a dual
master cylinder in either case for safety reasons. Keep an eye on brake fluid level in the MC to detect any leaks, including the insidious leak from the MC into the booster. Make sure the e brake is properly adjusted and the vacuum release mechanism is working properly. And make sure the vacuum line to the booster is in good condition/no leaks.
The shift mechanism is a weak point on these cars. When the shift lever, detente plate or steering column bushings are worn, the shifting isn't positive. The transmission can hop out of gear unexpectedly, and Park may not hold. Make any repairs necessary. Check the swing away steering mechanism operation to ensure that when the steering wheel is swung all the way to the right, the car is locked in Park. He should do this whenever he parks the car on a slope.
Make sure the
gas tank and associated hard and soft lines are in good condition and there are no leaks.
Make sure the
power steering system is operating properly and the hoses are in good condition and not leaking. The steering wheel should be very easy to turn when the engine is running. And if the
power steering should fail while driving down the road, the car would be very difficult to control.
Make sure the suspension is tight. If the control arm bushings, ball joints or other suspension components are worn, the car will wander and be difficult to control, especially at freeway speed.
The '64 didn't have rear seat belts standard, so installing belts in the rear is important.
Also, make sure your son understands that it's not a muscle car. It's 4400 pounds of iron that can do a lot of damage, and it must be driven responsibly and conservatively for the safety of passengers, other drivers and pedestrians.
Should be a fun project for you guys, keep us posted!
Doug
