It was a little over a year ago that I came to the realization that my Bird was further gone than I expected–sadly, more of a restoration work than a rolling project (where I could simply fix things as they broke). Back than, I decided to work through the major areas of concern to ensure that the mechanicals were sound.
Some time in the last few weeks, the ‘Bird passed out of that phase. The engine is running strongly, brakes are reliable and the running train from the transmission to the rear wheels has been completely overhauled.
Resurrection!
It’s not to say that the car is perfect. The clunky old suspension could use some bushings and the steering box leaks Type F so fast I often wonder where it’s all going. But, the Thunderbird is ready to fly again. A drive to the beach, local shows and evening cruises are definitely in our future this summer–all completely out of the question last year at this time.
Still, “back from the dead” is a tenuous position. So, work continues–big and small. Digging into the center console last weekend, I reattached some loose trim and silenced a nasty rattle. Also, I got the seat belt warning light working again, fixed the cigarette lighter (power for cell phones and navigation units these days) and reattached the lamps that illuminate the glove box.
That all worked well, but something must have gone wrong, as the dashboard lights are now dead.
Sigh.
Under the hood, I’m getting ready to install my new (old) carb. An air cleaner is in the works and most of the parts for the choke heater are on the shelf and ready to go. I would like to do the swap in a single day, so am biding my time until everything I need (including the necessary time) is on hand.