I Learned to drive in a 55 T-Bird. My father had a custom oversized radiator in it. I remember cruising at 115 with the top down. She had long legs. Thanks for sharing your adventure with your T-Bird. I always loved the art deco interior.
One of the problems that causes heating in these Baby Birds is build up at the rear of the block. The waterway there is very narrow. I spent well over 10 hours chipping away what was like concrete in the block. I'm just putting my Bird (5th one) back together and have left the water pump spacer out completely as I have gone with Unisteer rack and pinion which allows me to do so. Also doing away with belt drive fan and installed a Davie Craig 16 inch thermo fan and digital controller. The fan pulls 2120 cfm. Would like to have installed a Davies Craig 12 volt water pump but room does not permit. Australia calling.
@@DickShaw Hoping to fire my bird up today. I have put the extras in to make it a better driver. Disc brakes, big booster, rack and pinion, MSD ignition, and Hodgkiss front and rear swap bars.
mine runs under half and l added a thermo fan to assist in heavier traffic, in Australia where l am, l have had her in 35c (95f) and she sits on half, l got stuck in peak hour traffic and she climbed to nearly what yours was showing and thats why l put the thermo on, been good since. I was a tad shocked to see how high yours was
Hi Dick, a terrific install video for the Paragon spacer. I bought 2 for a ‘56 and a ‘57 . I love your videos and only question this. You seem to be a real stickler for things being perfect. I have seen most of your videos and they all represent the kind of guy who will not except anything less than exact…. Why does your clock not work? Only kidding… I truly admire your work
I have a question nobody could answer me yet. My 56 hard top rattles and squeaks all the time and it is so annoying. Is this common on all early birds while driving with the hardtop on an can i do anything about it? Greetings from Germany, goldenrod yellow '55
Well, it is hard to tell from here. But the squeaking is most likely coming from the rubber seals rubbing on the body/ windshield frame, etc.. You could try wiping them with some talcum/baby powder and see if that helps. As far as rattles go, just make sure it is securely attached. Adjust it so it locks in place very firmly. Thats my two cents. I hope you get it figured out because I agree it can be quite annoying.
Hi Dick, just subscribed to your channel. How often do you drive your Thunderbird? Also, I have a 56 Customline and I'm thinking about putting a 272 yblock from a 55 Customline in my 56. I drive my car a lot. In your opinion if the 272 is professionally rebuilt do you think it would be a dependable engine? Your thoughts.
Hello, thanks for subscribing. I drive my T-Bird at least once a month, probably not as much as i should but i have several oldies and try to rotate. Nothing wrong with the 272 if you want to go that route, It will last you a long time. Of course something like a later model 302/351 would be better but then you would be making motor mounts etc.
Thanks for watching. It has helped in slow stop and go traffic the most but it is not a magic cure for over heating. It will take a lot of little things to add up. Better radiator, shroud, efficient fan blade, paragon spacer, etc.
thanks Dick, great instruction. I also got the new spacer and will install it on my 1955 in a few days. I wonder why you did not install CASCO's higher output modified water pump also or are you satisfied enough with temperature to keep the standard water pump? That baffle, what was it good for if Chris recommends not to use it? Thanks, mike
Thanks for watching! Perhaps I should have got the CASCO pump, maybe it would help a little as well but the stock pump seems to do the job. If I get stuck in traffic my water temperature still creeps up but never has boiled over so I guess I'm ok. Chris believes his spacer removes the need for the baffle as it solves the problem that created the need in the first place.
I Learned to drive in a 55 T-Bird. My father had a custom oversized radiator in it.
I remember cruising at 115 with the top down. She had long legs. Thanks for sharing your adventure with your T-Bird. I always loved the art deco interior.
Excellent video .... Thanks for the detailed info!
One of the problems that causes heating in these Baby Birds is build up at the rear of the block. The waterway there is very narrow. I spent well over 10 hours chipping away what was like concrete in the block. I'm just putting my Bird (5th one) back together and have left the water pump spacer out completely as I have gone with Unisteer rack and pinion which allows me to do so. Also doing away with belt drive fan and installed a Davie Craig 16 inch thermo fan and digital controller. The fan pulls 2120 cfm. Would like to have installed a Davies Craig 12 volt water pump but room does not permit. Australia calling.
It wouldn't surprise me if this Bird has some of that blockage in the block as well. Sounds like you've got a great project going. Good luck with it!
@@DickShaw Hoping to fire my bird up today. I have put the extras in to make it a better driver. Disc brakes, big booster, rack and pinion, MSD ignition, and Hodgkiss front and rear swap bars.
mine runs under half and l added a thermo fan to assist in heavier traffic, in Australia where l am, l have had her in 35c (95f) and she sits on half, l got stuck in peak hour traffic and she climbed to nearly what yours was showing and thats why l put the thermo on, been good since. I was a tad shocked to see how high yours was
Hi Dick, a terrific install video for the Paragon spacer. I bought 2 for a ‘56 and a ‘57 . I love your videos and only question this. You seem to be a real stickler for things being perfect. I have seen most of your videos and they all represent the kind of guy who will not except anything less than exact…. Why does your clock not work? Only kidding… I truly admire your work
Thanks, and the clock does work but I disconnected it because it was running the battery down :). I don't drive it enough I guess.
@@DickShaw hahaha. Acceptable answer
Make sure advance is working.
I have a question nobody could answer me yet. My 56 hard top rattles and squeaks all the time and it is so annoying. Is this common on all early birds while driving with the hardtop on an can i do anything about it? Greetings from Germany, goldenrod yellow '55
Well, it is hard to tell from here. But the squeaking is most likely coming from the rubber seals rubbing on the body/ windshield frame, etc.. You could try wiping them with some talcum/baby powder and see if that helps. As far as rattles go, just make sure it is securely attached. Adjust it so it locks in place very firmly. Thats my two cents. I hope you get it figured out because I agree it can be quite annoying.
Hi Dick, just subscribed to your channel. How often do you drive your Thunderbird? Also, I have a 56 Customline and I'm thinking about putting a 272 yblock from a 55 Customline in my 56. I drive my car a lot. In your opinion if the 272 is professionally rebuilt do you think it would be a dependable engine? Your thoughts.
Hello, thanks for subscribing. I drive my T-Bird at least once a month, probably not as much as i should but i have several oldies and try to rotate. Nothing wrong with the 272 if you want to go that route, It will last you a long time. Of course something like a later model 302/351 would be better but then you would be making motor mounts etc.
Thanks so much Dick. A 302 or 351 would probably solve a lot of my problems. Again, thanks.
GOOD JOB HOW DID IT WORK OUT
Thanks for watching. It has helped in slow stop and go traffic the most but it is not a magic cure for over heating. It will take a lot of little things to add up. Better radiator, shroud, efficient fan blade, paragon spacer, etc.
thanks Dick, great instruction. I also got the new spacer and will install it on my 1955 in a few days.
I wonder why you did not install CASCO's higher output modified water pump also
or are you satisfied enough with temperature to keep the standard water pump?
That baffle, what was it good for if Chris recommends not to use it? Thanks, mike
Thanks for watching! Perhaps I should have got the CASCO pump, maybe it would help a little as well but the stock pump seems to do the job. If I get stuck in traffic my water temperature still creeps up but never has boiled over so I guess I'm ok. Chris believes his spacer removes the need for the baffle as it solves the problem that created the need in the first place.
Dear Dick, thank you very much for your reply. I will report after I have installed everything.
Casco ran some tests and found the baffle actually made cooling performance worse. It lowered water flow 10% at 550 rpm to 20% lower at 1500 rpm.
Where look that Part?
Hello, Thanks for watching. Here is their website, thunderbird.us/ Be sure to tell them you got it from Dick Shaw and my Video.
Your block is blocked up with 50 years of rust and sediment- needs to be cleaned internally- mine near ran hot
I think you are right.
A slight change doesn’t mean the problem is solved- need to clean out the block
Agreed.