![]() None did this better than the original 1955-57 “Baby bird” that remains a style icon from Ford 65 years later! ![]() As a result, it was customary to find cushioned rides and big V8 power plants, automatic transmissions, and full power accessories as optional equipment. These buyers were wealthy and demanded the style, options, and ease of drivability, all without sacrifice to comfort or reliability. These cars were, from the beginning, intended not for practicality but rather for function-follows-form touring. Although instead on competing directly in the sports car market, Ford instead strived to steal attention and launched the car in a new niche category, the “Personal Luxury Car”. Introduced in 1955, Ford's Thunderbird was arguably a response to Chevrolet's Corvette that dazzled the country in 1953. Bump steer could be an issue depending on where the flex joints are located for the tie-rods.įor now I think my first attempt will be to alter the control valve spring rate - like they did to the Corvette.Very nicely optioned and fully restored 1956 Ford Thunderbird! Fitted with original 312ci V8, Fordomatic, air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, chrome wire spoke wheels, 4-way power seat, and factory soft top! Refinished in Fiesta Red over Black/White interior! A solid, rust free car! The '56 has bolt-on steering arms on the knuckle - so it maybe could be altered for use with a shorter rack throw. Haven't fully checked this one out yet but I'm concerned that the travel won't be right and it'll take forty acres to turn her around. Also not bad - but needs less turns lock to lock.įinally - discovered a Dodge Omni rack at the yunk yard - rear steer like the Ford - non-power, but - it is rack and pinion. Some unknown person had modified the control valve to have a (very) much stiffer internal spring rate than standard (limited the assist) and changed the alignment specs to complement the change. Feels like an early seventies Z28 or Firebird Saginaw box.įound a "tuned up" version of the cylinder assist in a mid- 60's Corvette. The 605 gearbox "looks like" the Gearhead type that everybody hated - except the Borgeson parts are way high quality items and are known to work well and long. Not quite a bolt-in for a Ford but very close. Very nice - drove a big block '57 car and the conversion made for an excellent driver even with big nose weight. So far - found Borgeson power box used on the shoebox Chebbies. Mine's a driver - not all Ford roadster bodies were built in the 30's.the y-block thumps along nicely too. ![]() I've been on the same power steering search for my T-bird - every piece of the sucker is shot and using the word "Thunderbird" seems to even raise the price of lockwashers. and.if there are some who feel this isn't HAMB appropriate, I'd be happy to hear any recommendations about other boards which might have useful scoop. As I recall, most of the posts reiterated the same options as those above, plus some negative discussion of somebody else's kit, but I'm looking for somebody who has actually had a satisfactory experience with a conversion of this sort (i.e. I know that there was an earlier thread about this subject, but I've been unable to relocate it with the search function. If it matters at all, the car is 289-powered. I realize that '56 Fords were offered with factory power steering of the "boosted ram" variety, but I gather that these bits may be scarce, complex, expensive, and/or not very satisfactory. His successor/sons are unaware that Jim had such plans, so nothing is available in the foreseeable future.ĥ. The late Jim Genty of Jamco told me that he was intending to offer a kit using an Isuzu box, similar to one that Jamco offers for '49ish Mercuries. R&C Kevin Lee tells me that Maval (an R/P manufacturer) may be offering an appropriate setup in the future, but apparently hasn't started.Ĥ. I understand that Rick and his wife have had a string of medical difficulties, and I haven't been able to get a response directly from the website.ģ. Wurth-it Designs offers power R/P conversions, although their website is ambiguous about whether they offer '54-up or only '57-up. For some reason, they say that column (stick) shift won't work with this fortunately mine has a C4.Ģ. Fatman sells a kit to install a Cavalier power R/P. I'm interested in equipping it with power steering. ![]() My '56 Victoria should be on the road sometime this year, with a variety of chassis upgrades (spindles, springs, shocks, sway bars, disc brakes). ![]()
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