Decoding Casting Numbers
The location of all the casting numbers can be found
in the current version of VTCI's concourse rules.
The rules also decode the dates.
Casting Numbers
Thunderbird: An Odyssey In Automotive Design
by William P. Boyer 1986 Taylor Publishing Co.,Dallas
The Thunderbird Restoration Guide 1958-66 by William Wonder. May be found at:
Amazon.com
Also published in 1997 by Motorbooks International. Highly recommended!!
T-BIRD: 40 Years of Thunder by John Gunnell (ed) 1995 Krause Publications
How To Rebuild Big Block Ford Engines (FE & FT)
by Steve Christ HP Books 1983. Must reading if you are rebuilding your 352 or 390 FE
The Chevrolet Racing Engine by Bill (Grumpy) Jenkins 1976 S-A Design Co. Publishing,
Santa Fe Springs, CA. (fascinating read on the high performance 4 stroke motor)
Lubrication Guide
The Lubrication Guide for the 1959 Thunderbird can be found in the
1959 Shop Manual in Group 15, Maintenance, Lubrication, and Special Tools.
It is on 15-3 & 15-4. It is probably on or near the same pages in the '58 & '60 Manuals.
Lube Chart
Bumper Jack Information
The base part number is B8A-17088-A.The base should be stamped AJ-C
The handle is cadmium plated while the cupped washer 44729-S8 is zinc-plated.
The Ratchet assembly is painted semi-gloss black. The jack base silver cadmium.
Reference: Table of Contents 7.4.3 G4-10 of VTCI's '58-'60 OFS revised 6/21/07.
Technical Alexander has a collection of detailed help with
10 Common TBird Repairs on this site. We are working on recovering
the photos for the dashpad replacement...
Sources For Parts
Thunderbirds Southwest,
La Grange, TX
Sells classic cars, including Tbirds
Parts & Complete Restoration Services. Ask for Lance, the owner
Bird Nest
A great place to find parts. 1958-1966 Tbirds. Great assistance!
Thunderbird Ranch
Used & new parts, decals, restoration services, technical assistance.
John Draxler is an outstanding person & resource! Pittsville, WI.
Pat Wilson
Thunderbird parts (NJ) 1958-1966
Good source of used parts & good help. 20 years of parts & restoration.
Fan Shroud
Fan Shroud
(See Squarebird's Forums for discussion of installation -
They were intended for early 60s Galaxies, which also had FE
motors. Some modification is in order for mounting onto the
TBird engine compartment, but not alot) Legend has it that Ford
used a shroud on the 1960 convertibles for better cooling but
no actual examples have been found. Will also work on the '58 & '59)
