58 Tbird

[newstang 388]

I bought this ugly thing even though i didn't need it in my way.

I figured its cheap and in good shape might as well.

Problem is anything that needs to be replaced already out values the car.

What you guys think of it?

 

[Mike65 475]

I like it. The body & most of the interior look to be in good condition.

[newstang 388]

1 minute ago, Mike65 said:

I like it. The body & most of the interior look to be in good condition.

the body was repainted 15years ago, single stage looks like, the interior is shot. Im afraid that will cost more than its worth. 

Not to mention all the chrome is pitted and bumpers are insanely expensive.

[RPM 1,190]

As long as the price was right, ya can't go wrong. Is that one of the squarebirds? I'm too lazy to look it up?

[newstang 388]

8 minutes ago, RPM said:

As long as the price was right, ya can't go wrong. Is that one of the squarebirds? I'm too lazy to look it up?

i believe so,  i would have preferred a 2 seater but $2500 i figure isnt too bad

 

[mustangstofear 608]

Price was right.

[bigmal 225]

Love it. very cool

 

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

If it had the right mods it would make a hot hot rod 

[newstang 388]

1 hour ago, Ridge Runner said:

If it had the right mods it would make a hot hot rod 

this actually is a nice idea. problem is, dumping $ into this will never pay off.

 

[Vicfreg 771]

Nice car.  Add a little cream color accent to that blue and it would look cool.  Some even had the roof painted in a lighter color.

The '58 is the first year "Squarebird" and does not share some parts with the later years (59-60)

I hope you have all the exterior trim parts, but those are interchangeable.   The '59 grill is cool, with horizontal bars.  

the '58's have a unique rear suspension with coil springs.  Apparently, they are not the best, and the later years went to leaf springs.

Looks like a fun cruiser, but will be very expensive to restore.

I would take the "Roadkill" approach, and get it running and see if you can drive it.   

Assume it has a 352?    that would be a "H" code.   That was the only engine option in '58.  The '60s had the Lincoln 430 V8 available.  In '58, there was a super rare "G" code that was designed for exported cars.  It is a 332 V8

Yours looks like it has an original Carter 4 barrel carburetor. Nice vintage piece.

My cousin in in the T-Bird club.  This is a great website for the Squarebirds:

https://squarebirds.org/picture_gallery/TechnicalResourceLibrary/trl.htm

[newstang 388]

21 hours ago, Vicfreg said:

Nice car.  Add a little cream color accent to that blue and it would look cool.  Some even had the roof painted in a lighter color.

The '58 is the first year "Squarebird" and does not share some parts with the later years (59-60)

I hope you have all the exterior trim parts, but those are interchangeable.   The '59 grill is cool, with horizontal bars.  

the '58's have a unique rear suspension with coil springs.  Apparently, they are not the best, and the later years went to leaf springs.

Looks like a fun cruiser, but will be very expensive to restore.

I would take the "Roadkill" approach, and get it running and see if you can drive it.   

Assume it has a 352?    that would be a "H" code.   That was the only engine option in '58.  The '60s had the Lincoln 430 V8 available.  In '58, there was a super rare "G" code that was designed for exported cars.  It is a 332 V8

Yours looks like it has an original Carter 4 barrel carburetor. Nice vintage piece.

My cousin in in the T-Bird club.  This is a great website for the Squarebirds:

https://squarebirds.org/picture_gallery/TechnicalResourceLibrary/trl.htm

Thanks! thats a great site. I was thinking of going cheap as possible. i have all the interior, but it needs to be recovered. the chrome scares me. Its all pitted. The bumpers also need rechorme. I hear Keystone does it for less than half the price of everyone else. 

 

[newstang 388]

I do believe the milage is correct, but notice how everything is pitted.

 

[Kris 90]

You could always paint the chrome. It would look pretty good and offset the green. Plus be way cheaper than having it rechromed. 

[newstang 388]

2 hours ago, Kris said:

You could always paint the chrome. It would look pretty good and offset the green. Plus be way cheaper than having it rechromed. 

i was thinking of that too. 

[LoneWolf2U 136]

On 10/8/2020 at 10:17 AM, newstang said:

this actually is a nice idea. problem is, dumping $ into this will never pay off.

 

So use what you have and make it a one off. Unless you have parts and plenty of cash at your fingertips.

I have seen many that do just that, Its not all stock and not over the top modded and still looks cool.

There is that buyer out there that wants the odd driver so people look.

[newstang 388]

Just an update on this money pit pig. gave it a quick paint touchup, fixed some rot spots, reman the trans and freshened up the 352.

Also did hydroboost because i had an extra laying around. Tomorrow it gets the new radiator and disk brake conversion. So much for just a quick n dirty fix.

I taught my grandson to operate the levers on the forklift and he lowered it while I lined it up/

 

[Vicfreg 771]

Looking good.  Gotta love the young guy painting the transmission....

[newstang 388]

considering what the dash looked like before, (above pics)  i can deal with this.

its still pitted, but some buffing shines pretty good.

 

[newstang 388]

The turn signals on the dash pretty much describe todays situation. no matter which way you want to turn, you can only go down :-)

 

[RPM 1,190]

How old id your little buddy, 7 or 8? He looks like quite the helper, engaged and all. 

[newstang 388]

9 hours ago, RPM said:

How old id your little buddy, 7 or 8? He looks like quite the helper, engaged and all. 

He is 7, he loves coming to work on cars.