Battle Dress

This month in May, we (again) feature the 1956 Ford Thunderbird, albeit in "Battle Dress!"

The photo is one of thirty included in The Thunderbird Anthology CD. NOTE: The Continental Kit, rearbumper and wheel-covers have been removed (to reduce weight). Also, the windshield has been replaced with a small windscreen. The headlights are taped over, as is a large portion of the grille area. The tonneau cover further adds to the streamlining measures. The man at the left has just removed the "timing-hose" - after the front wheels crossed it to start the official course timing mechanism. Although not specified, this is obviously a Daytona Time Trials photo. (A front-view of this 'Bird will be featured in the June issue!)

Spring Tech Session 2008

Sat. April 19th -- THE TRIP TO THE KEIL'S NEW HOME IN JOHNSBURG began at 8 a.m. when my 'Limo Driver' Bill Werth picked me up to start our (rainy) 1-hour trip north.

photo caption: Len Keil at work on his 1957 fuse wiring.

Arriving on-location at 9 o'clock, we found a vast spread of pastries, etc., set-up in the spacious garage by Mary Keil. We learned that Jim Wilson was en route in his '57, but had suffered a freak failure of his accelerator linkage! Ken was on his way to the scene, but found the damage to be severe, precluding any chance of roadside repair... The seemingly endless supply of edibles and coffee helped us fill-in the time as we awaited Ken's return to start the T-Bird Tech-Session at 10:30 a.m.

PROJECT: Install a small, non-obtrusive, 30 amp. fuse-holder to protect the under-dash wiring loom on 'Birds fitted with electronic ignition systems. This safety measure eliminates the possibility of shorting out the wiring, should the ignition key remain in the "ON" position with the engine not running. The damage can occur in a matter of minutes, as the coil-resistor (P/N 12250) overheats. The Bussman assembly, BP/HHG-RP, sells for a mere $2.99, thus making this minor deviation from 'pure stock' well worth the effort and cost - since the end-result is protection of the entire wiring system! Ken pointed out that this installation serves a dual-purpose, since removal of the fuse prevents anyone from starting the engine!

A number of members were involved in the project, as indicated in some of the event photos. With several T-Birds parked in the driveway, the Keil hacienda became a point-of-interest for several neighbors! Mary Keil made the 'Iuncheon-run,' and she returned at 12:30 with some very tasty, monster Subway sandwiches, a welcome treat for our band of hungry T-Birders. Other items were included in the session, e.g., the timing on Bob Sroka's '57 was checked and adjusted. Ken reiterated his recommendation that the best solution to the question as to best oil for the T-Bird engines is: Shell - Rotella T (at $8.95 per gallon). This product overcomes some of the hazards to camshaft life compared to other oils that have reduced zinc content.

All-in-all, a very valuable session for us. Thanks to Mary (aided by Sandi Kraatz) for the food projects and Len, for making his spotless garage available!

Shade-Tree Mechanics: Dan Anderson, Steve Davajon, Bert Eisenhower, Pete Ekstrom, Jim Elijah, Gordon Gluff, Joel Greenberg, Len Keil, Joe Kraatz, Pete Kramer, Paul Mounts, Ron Pavlov, Lloyd Schellin, Gary Smithe, Ken Smizinski, Bob Sirocco, Paul Ureche, Len Vinyard, Bob Wenderski, Bill Werth, Joe Wintz, Tom Wolfe and Joe Zambian. A special note of appreciation for Ken's Tech info.

1956 T-Bird Price and Options

1956 Factory Options
Total Produced
Convertible 16,631

Standard Equipment
292-cid Y-block V-8 engine
Automatic choke
12-volt electrical system
Dual exhausts
There-speed manual transmission
Hotchkiss drive: ball-joint front suspension
5-leaf spring rear suspension
Five 6.70 x 15 tubeless tires
All vinyl interiors with harmonizing looped-rayon carpeting
17-in diameter deep-center Lifeguard steering wheel with 2-in. adjustment
Lifeguard double-grip door latches
Lifeguard rear view mirror
Astra-Dial control panel with illuminated control knobs
Parcel compartment with locking-type push-button latch
4-way illuminated starter-ignition switch
Parcel courtesy light with integral switch and automatic door switch
Dual horns
Half-circle steering wheel horn ring
Glass-fibre hardtop

Additional Cost Options
Full-flow oil filler
4-way power sea $65
Swift Sure power brakes $34
Master-Guide power steering $64
Power-lift windows $70
I-rest tinted safety glass
Fordomatic Drive $215
Overdrive $146
White sidewall tires
Fuel and vacuum pump unit
MagicAire heater $84
Radio $107
Rear fender shields
Full wheel covers
Simulated tire wheel covers
Engine dress-up kit
Auto-Wipe windshield washers
Turn signals
Lifeguard seat belts (March 1956)
Lifeguard padded sun visors
Lifeguard instrument panel padding (March 1956) $22-$32
Thunderbird 312-cid four-barrel V-8
Thunderbird 312-cid dual four-barrel V-8
Convertible fabric top alone $75
Both tops $290
Tonneau cover

Thunderbird Club Of America - Revisited

After publishing the photos of two (2) Thunderbird Club grille-badges in the December 2007 issue of BIRD-NEWS, I received a few responses from CTCI members from across the country. None, however, provided a convincing link to the origins and history of this particular organization. So, my research (search) continued - an effort that closely resembled an "archaeological dig" - and finally led to what I consider to be the definitive answer to my quest.
The Program Book for the 7th CTCI International Convention, "Dearborn Once More in '74" revealed the story on the formation of TCOA in June of 1956! As noted in the account, the TCOA group in Pasadena, CA became Chapter 2 of the organization that was headquartered in Dearborn, MI. Incidentally, some CTCI members did refer to Dearborn as the possible locale for the TCOA. Evidence supporting the 1974 account exists, due to the fact that I received the two (similar) badges from a California T-Bird owner - some 35 years ago! So, at long last, I consider the mystery as solved - CASE CLOSED. -- Editor


THUNDERBIRD CLUB OF AMERICA, INC.

On June 1, 1956, eight Thunderbird car owners met In the Green Room of the Pasadena Athletic Club to form a car club. With Hal Edmonds as President and Ray Davis as Vice-President, they obtained the 2nd Chapter of the Thunderbird Club of America from the club national headquarters In Dearborn, Michigan (the Dearborn Chapter was No. 1). Shortly afterward, we were incorporated In the State of California as "Thunderbird Club of America, Southern California Chapter," a name we still officially carry.

Our first of many car rallies was held on June 21, 1956, and ended at the Palm Springs Tennis Club with a police escort. Our first annual Economy Run was held over Memorial Day weekend in 1957. That run took us to the Ford Proving Grounds in Yucca, Arizona, and was so popular that it was repeated in 1963. On many of these events, Bird owners from the local T-Bird clubs, the Bay Area clubs and CTCI members have been invited to participate. We have been to Monterey, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Fresno, Las Vegas, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico.

After the trip to Estes Park, Colorado, in June 1965 by some of our members, we applied for and were granted Chapter No. 15 of CTCI. After six months of operation, our TCOA Chapter has a membership of 37 cars, and at the end of the first year a membership of 70 cars. (We count the car as representing a membership - 1 car, 1 vote.)

When a group gets too large, It is difficult to please all, so we have had occasions when a small group became unhappy and broke off into a "splinter group." We have managed to survive these breakoffs and continue to operate at TCOA. We are, however, trying to keep our membership of a size that will permit us to become more than 'mere acquaintances' (there are 9 of our present membership that have been TCOA members for 10 or more years.)

Because TCOA was formed when our cars were new and there was no procurement or repair problems, our purpose was directed more toward the enjoyment of our Thunderbirds through social activities and recreation. However, as time goes on, their preservation and care has been stressed more and more. We have made many good and lasting friendships over the years, and as time goes on, hope to make more.

Thunderbird ownership is more than owning a car!

Martha Nicoll
Advisor Counsel
R. L. Bledsoe

Ford Model T turns 100

Email Subj: RE: Fwd: Fw: FORD MODEL T TURNS 100: CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS UNDERWAY
Thanks Bert, but I can't open .eml attachments, so ...
I took Mr. lacocca to the Nethercutt Museum last Wednesday for a pre-arranged VIP tour. Jack and Helen Nethercutt accompanied us on the cycle and treated us to a VIP lunch. Really nice day. I had been trying to get him to go for over a year and it finally worked into his schedule. He had never even heard of it!! He was totally impressed - who wouldn't be - and vows to return. I had them play the big Wurlitzer and he really enjoyed that too. Trying to arrange a photo shoot in the next several weeks with him and Shelby and my first car for a Mustang Monthly 45th Mustang Anniv issue for next year. Should be fun if I can get them together. They already agreed, just need to set up a time.

Summer's about here - car shows galore!
Best,
Bob


Editor's Comment: Bob Fria - a former CTCC member - is the proud owner of the first production 1965 Mustang Hardtop S/N: 100002.
Bob and his wife Joyce now live in California. We toured the magnificent Nethercutt Museum when visiting the Fria's in 2003. By sheer coincidence, Jim and Sally Schmidt from Gainesville, FL happened to be on the tour at the same time of our visit. Bob has met with Lee lacocca on several occasions - for photo shoots with Bob's "Number 1" Hardtop Pony car! Bob's Mustang was on display at Ford's 100th Anniversary in '03.

Tech Tip: Polarity of the Coil

As our Classic Thunderbirds get older and older, and the mechanics who grew up working on these cars become fewer and fewer, simple common repairs and procedures become overlooked or forgotten. This is the case with the installation of your car's coil. The coil is the cylindrical object which is mounted on the top of your engine. It has a short "spark plug" type wire attached to it which connects the coil to the center of your distributor. The coil has two other wires attached to it. These wires attach to positive and negative terminals on the coil. The order of placement of these wires on the terminals of the coil is what determines the coil's polarity. The coil is made to conduct current in one direction, from the battery to the distributor. If your wires are connected to the wrong terminals, your car may still function, but you will be conducting current backwards through the coil. This is not very good for your car or your coil.

Incorrect polarity of the coil is a common problem for original six volt system 1955 Thunderbirds. The six volt Thunderbird uses a "positive ground" as opposed to the 1956 and later Thunderbirds with use a "negative ground." What this means is that the positive terminal of your coil, marked with a "+" or the letters "POS", should be connected to the small wire which goes to your distributor. The negative terminal of your coil, marked with an "-" or the letters "NEG", should be connected to the small wire which goes to the "hot" or battery side of your starter relay.

On 1955 Thunderbirds which have been converted to a twelve volt operating system, and on al1 1956 and 1957 Thunderbirds, the correct polarity of the coil is obtained by attaching the wire from the positive terminal of your coil to the "hot" or battery side of your starter relay. There will also be another wire attached to the positive terminal of your coil which should be connected to your resistor. The wire from the negative terminal of your coil should go directly to your distributor. As most cars today operate on a "negative ground" principle, only a mechanic familiar with a "positive ground" system would know the proper polarity for a 1955 Thunderbird coil. For this reason, you should check to make sure your coil's connections are as they should be. I thank Ken Smizinski for this month's "Tech Tip".

source: CTCC Tech-Tip Manual 1993-1997

Tech Tip: Radial Tires

Many Thunderbird owners, myself included, love to drive our cars. Our cars, however, just don't seem to drive as well as our regular "day to day" cars. This is due to the fact that most of our Thunderbirds are equipped with bias ply tires. These tires have a tendency to "hold" or "find" the grooves in the road. As a result, lane changes can become a complicated and often unpredictable procedure. Radial tires, however, which have become standard issue in the auto industry of today, reduce or eliminate the handling problems associated with bias ply tires. These same radial tires have also proven to be safer and more durable than standard bias ply tires. So the question has always been, "why not put radial tires on my Thunderbird?"

The only simple explanation for the continued use of the bias ply tire is that the bias ply tire was the original type tire on our cars. If you are a purest, this is probably reason enough to continue using bias ply tires. Many people also stress that the Thunderbird's suspension was designed to be used with bias ply tires. This fact is true, but there have been no significant adverse effects associated with the use of radial tires on a car such as the Thunderbird which is only driven occasionally. You may have accelerated wear to original suspension components, but these same components most likely should be replaced due to age and existing wear. The existing suspension can accept radial tires and the improvements in handling and steering are, and I quote Mr. Ken Smizinski, "PHENOMENAL!!!". A Thunderbird equipped with radial tires can drive and handle like a new car. At speeds of sixty-five, the car will drive straight as an arrow. Lane changes become as uneventful as receiving this month's issue of "Chevy Magazine." In addition, you will have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your Thunderbird is riding on the latest, safest, and best performing tires made today.

If you have decided that your car is in need of a new set of radial tires, the following information is for you. The 1955 and 1956 Thunderbird requires a radial tire size of P205/75R15. The 1957 Thunderbird radial tire size is P205/75R14. The largest "standard" radial white wall tire made is 1.3 inches wide. Firestone has such a tire. Get a low mileage radial tire if you don't drive your Thunderbird every day. As a result, the extra money you might spend on an extended mileage radial tire would only be wasted. Your tires will dry rot before you even get close to their mileage life expectancy. You can get a good quality radial tire for approximately $45.00 to $75.00 each.

If you want those "wide" white walls, there are specialty tire manufacturers who have just begun to make "wide" white wall radial tires. Antique Auto Accessories makes such a tire. Their number is 1-800-742-6777. The white wall is between 2 1/4" to 2 1/2" in width. This tire, however, is a remanufactured used radial tire. In other words, it is a retread tire. The tire, however, is made here in Chicago and you can pick them up. You can thus avoid any shipping charges. The price per tire is around $110.00. Coker Tire will begin production of new wide white wall radial tires sometime this summer. They will be available through any local Coker Tire distributor such as Sears, Just Tires, etc. Their phone number is 1-800-251-6336. The estimated cost per tire is $150 to $160.

source: CTCC Tech-Tip Manual 1993-1997

Tech Tip: Coil Resistor

For those of you out there who own a 1956 or 1957 Thunderbird, this tech tip is for you. The coil resistor is a small, and often overlooked, component of your car's ignition system. The coil resistor receives the voltage from your battery and converts it to a level acceptable to your coil. The 1955 Thunderbird's were equipped with a six volt electrical system and this lower voltage was allowed to flow directly to the coil. A coil resistor was thus not needed on the 1955 Thunderbird.

If your coil resistor is not functioning, you will know it! Your car will not start or it will stop running. As this part is often left on the car until it fails, you may have a coil resistor that is pushing forty. Though this may seem to be a young age to some of you, a little "preventative maintenance" should be in order. A replacement coil resistor can be purchased for about $5.00 from most of the Thunderbird parts suppliers. If you own a concours quality car and intend to show your car in either the Primary Original or Senior Primary Original category, you will need to find an original style coil resistor. An original coil resistor can still be purchased through your favorite Thunderbird parts supplier, but the cost will be substantially higher.

The coil resistor is a rectangular part measuring approximately one inch in width by about three inches in length. The center of the coil resistor is made up of a porcelain type material and is surrounded by a metal shield. The coil resistor is mounted next to your coil. It mounts to the bottom of your coil bracket which is attached to the top of your intake manifold and stands straight up. There are two wires which attach to the coil resistor terminals. The top terminal of the coil resistor is connected to the wire coming from the ignition switch. The wire will be coming out of the main wiring harness. The bottom terminal of the coil resistor is connected to the wire which goes to the battery side of the coil. If you put a new coil resistor on your car, be prepared for the first time you operate your car with the new resistor. Your coil resistor will smoke and become very hot. This is normal for the first few times you drive your car with a new coil resistor. After the porcelain coating has burned off, your resistor will stop smoking.

Source: CTCC Tech-Tip Manual 1993-1997

Fall Tour is in the planning stages

Save the dates, Oct 3rd-4th&5th. We're heading up to the Uplands of Southwestern Wisconsin! Exploring the scenic backroads and many sites to see, Cave of the Mounds and Little Norway-a Norwegian Settlement.
On Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 our Little Birds will be featured at the Mt. Horeb 27th Annual Fall Festival, while we enjoy the area shops and Historic Museums as well as the Festival.
We have found a Brand New Holiday Inn Express opening May 30th in Verona and will be meeting with the Groups Mgr.
We will keep you updated on our progress.
More to come!

Lisa and Pete Ekstrom

48 in 08- May update

Some of you are probably wondering why you haven't heard much about 48 in 08 lately. Mostly because Doc and Lucy have been doing some pre-'48 in 08' traveling:
Doc was out-of-country for over 2 weeks touring New Zealand and Australia with members of the Santa Clara Valley CTCI Chapter. (They did not take their Thunderbirds but did meet with a Thunderbird club in Australia.)
Lucy just returned from the Arizona Route 66 Fun Run in Seligman/Kingman/Topock, Arizona. This trip provided the perfect opportunity to try out the cruise control recently installed in Betsy Bird. It worked great and will be used a lot on the Interstates during the 48 in 08 tour.
Now we're ready to concentrate on 48 in 08 again -- only a couple months before we start the tour. Here's the latest:

1. A few 48 in 08 apparel items will be available soon, including 48 in 08 caps and shirts. Check our website in another week or two for full details and photos. A portion of the sale price of each item - after setup cost is recovered - will be donated to Mc Pherson College's Automotive Restoration Department.

2. A limited number of small car window 48 in 08 static-cling decals are now available. They look like the 48 in 08 sign on the Chick Magnet. One will be provided for each Thunderbird registered for 48 in 08. They will also be available for purchase. If you want a free car window decal, register now while supplies last.

3. The historic Dearborn Inn has been selected for our overnight in Dearborn, MI, Monday, August 25. This hotel was built by Henry Ford in 1931 and is near Greenfield Village.

4. We would appreciate receiving all Registration Forms by June 30 so we have contact information for everyone participating in the tour before we are on the road (our mail will be on hold at the post office during the tour).

5. The 48 in 08 website has been updated, including the start of the May-June Newsletter, additional Hotels, more Friends, and a section where Photos taken during the 48 in 08 tour will be added as we travel.

Note: It has been a challenge to keep up with the e-mail and phone calls. If we haven't responded, please accept our apologies and contact us again.

Hope to see you this summer in Portland and/or during 48 in 08.

Lucy Clark, phone 714-630-4066
Doc Dockter, phone 650-591-5939