Vintage Thunderbird Club International

krave · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 99 Location: SoCal

I will be getting new tires 225 45 18 and then will be lowering the car but am nervous about dropping it to much and was curious if there a formula or any good rule of thumb the tires will be about 26 inches in diameter the rims are 8 inches wide.The width of the tire if I remember right is just over 8.75 inches

I was thinking about cutting one coil out of the front and maybe a 1 inch lowering block in the back.

But any thoughts and or suggestions would be appreciated..

Thanks... Gary

Dirty Birdy · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 11:29 pm Post subject:

Its really tough to say without knowing backspacing of the rims. I dont see the rear being an issue, its the front that you have to be concerned about. Before lowering the car I suggest mounting your new rims and tires on the car then turning your wheels lock to lock while inspecting the clearance you have. Make sure you have the clearance needed for the drop that your after paying close attention to the springs, inner fenders, outer fenders, ect. Remeber to save some room for compression of the suspension too. Hope that helps a bit.
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I couldnt fix your brakes so I made your horn louder!

krave · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 99 Location: SoCal

Well I got it all done might have been able to go lower but thought I would be safe rather than sorry.

novanutcase · Joined: 17 Nov 2008 Posts: 801

Sweet!!! Looks good!! You're right you could have gone another inch on the front but it looks good nonetheless!!!

John

car guy · Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 340 Location: Santa Fe, NM

I think it's just right. Don't want to go too low.

Is that mission viejo, by any chance?
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Timothy

It's for my twin boys. Sure, they're only 4 right now, but it's all for them! And the girls, they'll want to drive too - they won't turn 3 for a while yet, but when they do, I'll have a pit crew!

krave · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 99 Location: SoCal

car guy · Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 340 Location: Santa Fe, NM

Wow, Chino has come a long way. I lived there in the late 70s, it didn't look like that then!
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Timothy

It's for my twin boys. Sure, they're only 4 right now, but it's all for them! And the girls, they'll want to drive too - they won't turn 3 for a while yet, but when they do, I'll have a pit crew!

jidi · Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 218

Looking good!!

krave · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 99 Location: SoCal

Dirty Birdy · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 4:34 pm Post subject:

I think that is a really good looking stance. No real gap in between the top of the tire and the fender well in the front. Looks good and is still functional. Nice work! Have you tried measuring the distance from the bottom of the rocker to the ground front vs rear/ side to side? Looks pretty level.
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I couldnt fix your brakes so I made your horn louder!

texastomeh · Joined: 27 Sep 2008 Posts: 388 Location: Dallas, TX

Krave,

Is it just my old bad eyes or is that a Satin Black body with a Gloss Black top? Cool

Also, could we get a little better look at those tail lights? Cool

texastomeh
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Tom Hartfield
"GETTING old is GREAT! BEING old SUCKS!"
'63 TBird HT
'53 Corvette Replica
TR186 Triton Bass Boat

Aussiebird · Joined: 10 Oct 2009 Posts: 16 Location: Sydney Australia

Nice - Same as above, do you have a better pic of those tail lights? look great side on. Are they something you made up or purchased off the shelve? Wouldnt mind a pair on mine as well :)

novanutcase · Joined: 17 Nov 2008 Posts: 801

krave · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 99 Location: SoCal

The tail lights are a mix of a 61 Thunderbird and a 59 caddy.I got the idea from some one on this site and who had made some for their 63. They were kind enough to share with me how they did them.Now the tail lights are my favorite part of the car.

To do it what I did was cut about a a 2.25 whole out of the middle of the stock lenses and bought a set of 59 caddy led taillights and glues them over the wholes one the stock lenses with epoxy and to my amazement they have held up really well.The only thing is to make sure that the bullet(caddy taillight) is glued on to the Thunderbird lenses straight.I have one that is just a little off.

wisconsinjimmy · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 589 Location: Cushing, WI

WOW! that is just tits I like it hello1

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"Quando omni flunkus moritati When all else fails, play dead"