1956 Ford Thunderbird
| Factory correct restoration |
 Nothing works quite like the smoke wrench for motivating metal.  And if that doesn't work--get a bigger hammer!  We'll recreate the existing 12V green tape found on the original horns.  The center link, freshly powdercoated, with new bushings.  Spike draws the short straw and starts sorting bolts by the hundreds.  Tim decides there is nothing so fun as reassembling parts after they've been sent out for powdercoating, plating, etc. It's easy to take something apart and put it right back together, but add a four week delay and the noodle-scratching begins. Thankfully we take many pictures and have plenty of resources for this.  Here is Spike's job up close: figure out where all of these bolts go and sort them back into their appropriate bags. Then, do the black oxide ones. Then, do the gold cadmium colored. If you finish that, sort the green chromate, chrome and powdercoated items too.  There is nothing so fine as to seeing a component assembled and ready to install.  This is the original power window safety relay for the Thunderbird.  Here are the internals of the relay. Though it works now, it will not be reused in this fashion.  This part is nearly unobtainable. Because of that, we'll have the relay's externals replated to look new again.  Back from plating, we begin reassembly of the relay. Note the shine of the parts. A new ground has been soldered to the base.  New wiring is made and connected to the base terminals.  Finally a modern relay is connected to the leads and will be hidden in the relay housing.  And here it is, tested and ready to mount to the firewall.  Speaking of, here it is mounted. As many firewall components as possible will be installed prior to lowering the body onto the frame.  The washer bag brackets, air vent cable support and brake booster bracket are installed. Also note the 'new' horn relay as well on the fenderwell.  The battery tray, master cylinder and wiring pass-through are installed.  Headlamp buckets come next. Go to page PREVIOUS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 NEXT PAGE |