Author Topic: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.  (Read 5833 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

427rouser

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
    • View Profile
1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« on: December 29, 2020, 01:52:30 PM »
Hello friends thought I would share my 56 Tbird project. Power will be a 427 SOHC backed by a TKX  Tremec, 9" with 3.89 gears and traction by Detroit.
« Last Edit: December 29, 2020, 01:57:22 PM by 427rouser »

cjshaker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4448
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2020, 02:41:18 PM »
Very cool! Looks like you already had an FE in it to begin with? I'm kind of surprised that a cammer will fit in a first gen T-bird.
Doug Smith


'69 R-code Mach 1, 427 MR, 2x4, Jerico, 4.30 Locker
'70 F-350 390
'55 Ford Customline 2dr
'37 Ford Coupe

machoneman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3846
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2020, 04:35:59 PM »
Very cool! Looks like you already had an FE in it to begin with? I'm kind of surprised that a cammer will fit in a first gen T-bird.

Yeah, based upon my neighbor's 57 Bird, I'm also surprised a SOHC will fit w/o a ton of hacking.
Bob Maag

427rouser

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2020, 04:47:28 PM »
They "kinda" fit I have pics of 3 or so with cammers in them retaining stock suspension. Our first fit will be with original suspension and if we can't get the manifold height we want I am going to a straight axle style either transverse or parallel to be determined.
« Last Edit: December 29, 2020, 04:53:47 PM by 427rouser »

machoneman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3846
    • View Profile
Bob Maag

Stangman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1683
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2020, 06:27:25 PM »
Looks like your starting with a nice looking car already. How long have you had it. Is the Rebel rouser finished or are you just starting something else

427rouser

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2020, 06:53:24 PM »
Rebel has been done for quite awhile have had a blast taking it to nostalgia events etc. The Bird is a California car zero rust and has a 390 with Edelbrock heads etc already in it, but was still sporting the little rear end and old auto transmission. I originally was building the SOHC for the Rebel,  but wanted to be able to use and drive it more than the sitting around it would do in the coupe. I feel like it's going to make a great combo with the bird.

Royce

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 777
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2020, 10:25:18 AM »
Hate to show this because of bad memories but I can't help myself

A somewhat famous little bird Cammer car

« Last Edit: December 30, 2020, 10:27:23 AM by Royce »
1955 Thunderbird Competition Coupe Altered Chassis "War Bird" 383 Lincoln Y block 520 hp
1955 Thunderbird 292 275 hp Y Block
1956 Ford Victoria 292 Y block

1957 Mercury 2dr Wagon "Battle Wagon" drag car 
1957 Thunderbird Glass body Tube Chassis drag car 333 cu in 500 hp Ford Y block
1961 Starliner 390/375 clone
1965 GT40 tribute w/FE
1966 Falcon Pro Touring project
Kaase Boss 547. 840 HP 698 Torque  pump gas
1992 BMW V-12 5.0
2001 Lincoln 5.4 4 cam.
1968 Cougar XR7

WConley

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1157
  • No longer walking funny!
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2020, 11:58:56 AM »
Hate to show this because of bad memories but I can't help myself

A somewhat famous little bird Cammer car

The story goes that the cammer was "liberated" from the scrap dumpster at Ford's Engine Manufacturing Development Operations (EMDO).  I remember that dumpster well.  Lots of perfectly good stuff would get tossed in there after mock-ups or tests.

I may have accidentally found a set of 30 lb injectors for a friend's boosted 5.0 project in that dumpster one time  ;)  Those were the days when 30 lb injectors were actually big!!
A careful study of failure will yield the ingredients for success.

gt350hr

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 941
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2020, 12:58:52 PM »
Hate to show this because of bad memories but I can't help myself

A somewhat famous little bird Cammer car

The story goes that the cammer was "liberated" from the scrap dumpster at Ford's Engine Manufacturing Development Operations (EMDO).  I remember that dumpster well.  Lots of perfectly good stuff would get tossed in there after mock-ups or tests.

   Bill Coon had that cammer BEFORE some of the FACTORY racers got theirs!!!!!!!!! When management found that out Bill was in the hot seat. If it weren't for the good exposure the car got , he might have lost his job.
I may have accidentally found a set of 30 lb injectors for a friend's boosted 5.0 project in that dumpster one time  ;)  Those were the days when 30 lb injectors were actually big!!

Royce

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 777
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #10 on: December 31, 2020, 09:39:54 AM »
Bill Coon a dumpster diver???    Seems in character to me  LOL
1955 Thunderbird Competition Coupe Altered Chassis "War Bird" 383 Lincoln Y block 520 hp
1955 Thunderbird 292 275 hp Y Block
1956 Ford Victoria 292 Y block

1957 Mercury 2dr Wagon "Battle Wagon" drag car 
1957 Thunderbird Glass body Tube Chassis drag car 333 cu in 500 hp Ford Y block
1961 Starliner 390/375 clone
1965 GT40 tribute w/FE
1966 Falcon Pro Touring project
Kaase Boss 547. 840 HP 698 Torque  pump gas
1992 BMW V-12 5.0
2001 Lincoln 5.4 4 cam.
1968 Cougar XR7

427rouser

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #11 on: June 09, 2021, 09:09:46 AM »
Update getting closer on the SOHC being completed, looking forward to dropping it in the bird and get some headers made.

Stangman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1683
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #12 on: June 09, 2021, 11:55:52 AM »
Nice keep up the good work

pbf777

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 482
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #13 on: June 09, 2021, 03:41:55 PM »
     Nice project!     :)

     I have a '55 T-Bird which I have decided to hot-rod; my goal is to install the Ford GAA V8 engine I have, though I have worked out much of the requirements, this would definitely turn into a project!    :o

     Scott.

WConley

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1157
  • No longer walking funny!
    • View Profile
Re: 1956 SOHC Thunderbird Project.
« Reply #14 on: June 09, 2021, 06:40:28 PM »
     Nice project!     :)

     I have a '55 T-Bird which I have decided to hot-rod; my goal is to install the Ford GAA V8 engine I have, though I have worked out much of the requirements, this would definitely turn into a project!    :o

     Scott.

Holy crap!  That's a giant engine.  Apparently somebody got one to (somewhat) fit into a Mustang:

A careful study of failure will yield the ingredients for success.