Our Thunderbird Customizations

[TbirdTim]

Here's the place to post your customization ideas and photos for your new Thunderbird.:wavey:

[TbirdTim]

Here's one that I found from photos that I took at our road rally last May from one of our "Atlanta Group" members. He applied the chrome bird wings that some have used on their portholes and put them on his tailights:

[TbirdTim]

Here's the visors with the airbag labels removed:

[TbirdTim]

Here's the red floor mats available from www.autoanything.com

[TbirdTim]

Here's the Thunderbird wing placed in the trunk.

[TbirdTim]

Here's the chrome strips applied to the face of the air scoop and the lower grille area vertical grille members.

[TbirdTim]

Here's a yellow Thunderbird with whitewalls.

[FordMan7]

Here's my floor mat customization - They are vinyl floor mats for a 61-63 T-bird - They are more durable than the carpet and look much sharper than the ford "truck" ribbed rubber mats for the t-bird!

They are available from most vintage t-bird parts suppliers!

FordMan7:fordsrule:

[FordMan7]

I also used some T-bird blue touch up paint and bodyshop fineline masking tape to add a little "blue" to the t-bird's wings on the wheels!

FordMan7:fordsrule:

[FordMan7]

TbirdTim,

I loved your treatment on the Hoodscoop - Based on your idea - I tried a variation of my own!

FordMan7:fordsrule:

[TbirdTim]

FordMan7: Looks GREAT! :thumbsup:

[Gobird]

Here is what I did with the extre Thunderbird script that was left after a little fender bender.

[FordMan7]

GoBird

Very Sharp....

I wonder what a new script costs????:rolleyes:

Time to go see the parts guy again

FordMan7:fordsrule:

[Gobird]

:rolleyes:FordMan7, can't help you there, the other guys insurance paid for it.

[flybrd]

I liked the look of Gobird's script behind the seats, so I did the same....the part cost right around $20...looks great!

[BLUNBIRD]

The "Thunderbird" script looks great. I'd like to do the same, but....how does it attach?

[ThunderBubba]

FordMan7;

I'm guessing it's because of the lighting but the pic you posted looks the most blue of any I have seen of a Thunderbird Blue car.:puzzled: It looks like a totally different color.:smokin:

[flybrd]

BLUNBIRD, the part comes with a strip that you peel off to reveal an adhesive on the back...it might hold...for me, it didn't, and I took Gobird's advice and applied it using contact cement (he used Weldwood's, and I used Elmer's)....hope this helps!:pbj:

[FordMan7]

Thunderbubba,

The blue is the same color - It was just a nice clear day with shaded light - That lighting makes the blue really pop out.... Needless to say that is my favorite condition to take photos in!


That color takes on a different character in every different light. From a greenish-gold hue of blue to a deep aqua color - Ford really made a great choice :thumbsup:

FordMan7:fordsrule:

[FordMan7]

Flybird,

Thanks for the price info - I'm gonna order this week!

FordMan7:fordsrule:

[BLUNBIRD]

Ordered the "Thunderbird" script this morning. $14.00 and change. Thanks for the help Gobird and Flybrd. This customization topic is great. I can't wait till Destin and seeing what everyone has done with customizations.:nuts:

[rlstonejr]

so when is someone going to come up with a solution for that ugly crimped up painted metal below the doors?

[TbirdTim]

rlstonejr: I agree with you about how ugly that stip of metal is along the bottom of the car, just below the doors. It's especially noticable on the lighter colors. I would love to see if someone could come up with an easy fix for it, whether it be adding a piece of trim to it or something else.:rolleyes:

[Gobird]

Maybe we could have some very small flames painted on the strip.:lol:

[TbirdTim]

How about some fringe along the sides?:nuts:

[DavidA]

It seems to me that someone posted that they took a mallet and hammered that seam in and up so it lay flat against the floorpan. Personally, I don't even see it, perhaps because my car is black, but that guy seemed happy with the results as I recall.

[rlstonejr]

Fringe !! I like that. could match the fuzzy dice - and I could pick up some extra cash for cleaning the city streets !!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

[dac_beth]

TTBIRDTIM;

Try this:
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/birdteck/lst?.dir=/Pinch+weld+trim&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/
:naughty::naughty:

[TbirdTim]

Looks great!!!:thumbsup:

Where do you get the trim pieces?

[rlstonejr]

Now we're talkin' - couldn't tell what color the vinyl trim is - gray, black, glossy, flat?


how much $ ?

availability ?

add to Destin festivities ?


:smokin:

[Blue Heaven]

Gotta have this!! How can we get it??

:thumbsup:

[Blue Heaven]

Received my custom valve stem caps today from logonuts.com. They look great! They are chrome and have the retro bird logo with the Thunderbird script under it on top. The background is painted the color of your car (the blue is a perfect match!) They are also theft deterent due to a pretty cool system. The caps have an inner sleeve that actually threads onto the stem. You tighten the cap to the stem with a supplied tool and voila! They cannot be removed without this tool (two are supplied). The cost is $29.95 for the four caps and two tools. Highly recommend!!
:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Gobird]

:nono:I would highly advise against bending or hammering that strip up flat. It may not seem like much but it does give a certain amount of strength to your rocker panals and adds to the total body strength of the car.:thumbsup:

[rlstonejr]

I envision my wife finding me passed out in the driveway, under the car, with a big lump on my head, after the hammer bounces back!:smokin:

[56Birdman]

Here's a shot of the hitch I put on my Bird. I use it to pull my repro Mullins trailer.
http://www.02bird.homestead.com/files/Hitch_and_ball.jpg

[DavidA]

Can you post a picture of the trailer too please?

[BluBird]

Hello everyone just wanted to pop in here and say hello.
I just joined your group and recieved my car about a month ago.
What a great car! We love it! Hope to be exchanging ideas real soon.

[DavidA]

Welcome BluBird. I hope you'll find this board both interesting and entertaining as well as friendly. There's a link for new members where you can post a bit about yourself and a picture if you like. http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=4 . ENJOY! :beer:

[VicRattlehead]

Well when i ordered my LH,RH and Trunk emblems it cost me
1W6Z-76517A20-BA L.H. Script Emblem $ 8.68
1W6Z-76517A20-AA R.H. Script Emblem $ 8.68
1W6Z-7642528-AA Trunk Emblem $12.11

Got them from Dan Newman at FiveStarFord.com i get everything from him. just placed a ~$250 order with him yesterday. he is a great guy to do business with. I plan on putting the emblems on my '96, I like the look of my 66 so i figured id get some of the retro ones for it. plus i plan on shaving the trunk lock and putting the bird right where the lock use to be.

[Joybird]

Originally posted by TbirdTim
Here's the chrome strips applied to the face of the air scoop and the lower grille area vertical grille members.

Tim, how did you do that?:smokin:

[YLO BRD]

Blue Heaven, Tried all day yesterday to get in touch with LogoNuts, I have to have those air valve caps in yellow!

[YLO BRD]

Have both the rear shelf mat and trunk mat with YLO BRD embroidered (in yellow) on them. Look really sharp, good quality! Ordered from tbird2002.com

[TbirdTim]

Here's what I did to the center stack of my new Thunderbird.:biggrin: Actually the photo is the center stack of the 2003 Lincoln LS and probably what the Thunderbird has coming for 2004. It looks great, doesn't it!:thumbsup:

[Gobird]

Looks good but I don't think I could get this done before Destin.:sad:

[Blue Heaven]

YLO BRD,
Were you able to get through to them? If not, what was the problem? I would think that the caps will look great in yellow!

[YLO BRD]

Blue Heaven, Finally got in touch with them yesterday afternoon, they had just been extra busy, and I was to anxious to wait for a call back so, I just kept trying. I placed my order, but they explained that they didn't have the yellow color match in yet and it would be a few weeks. I'm real anxious to see what they look like. I'm so glad you posted this because I almost bought yellow dice caps instead, these are definately more classy! Do you know if they will be offering the license plate bolts to match? I forgot to ask.

[Blue Heaven]

YLO BRD, I din't ask about the frame bolts, but it's a good question. I have the Thunderbird frame from autoattire.com, and they supplied some quality chrome bolt caps with it. Hope you get your yellow caps quickly, I know how hard it is to wait for something you really want!!
:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[TbirdTim]

I wanted to bring this thread back to the top for those that are new to this forum, so that they could see some of our customizations.:rolleyes:

[Quickdraw]

Has anyone found the right size chrome valve stem sleeves for our tires? Pepboys and Autozone together only had one size and they were way too long. I wrote logocapsinc.com suggesting that he offer them and he replied that there were too many sizes to stock.

:idea: I wonder if DavidAs DashWrap company makes them...

[Gobird]

Quickdraw, hate to tell you this but I have a set on my Bird that I got from Autozone here in York. Can't tell you who made them. Threw the packaging away when i put them on but they did fit perfect.

[Steve Legel]

ad in AutoWeek April 13,2003

[Blue Heaven]

Quickdraw,
I found them at Auto Zone as well.

[Quickdraw]

There must be different size Autozone stores as the one by me didn't have any at all - Pepboys had just one size. I'll look for a another Autozone nearby. Did you just measure the length? Seems like mine needed to be about 5/8" inch long.

Now you aren't talking about the chrome valve stems that you have to dismount the tire to install? They did have those.

[DavidA]

I bought my set at autozone too. They are in fact 5/8" long and came with chrome valve caps as well. :smokin:

[Quickdraw]

I spoke with the manager of the four Autozones in my area and none of their stores carry them, none plan to, and none would order them. I then went to Pepboys and their manager also said he could not order them as he would have to buy massive amounts of that size. The 1-1/4" long ones are made by schrader-bridgeport and I emailed them to see if they could sell me some, or direct me to someone would would. Lets see... maybe we could get a group buy and get the cost down to $3 :lol:

[BLUNBIRD]

If you have Advance Stores in your area, try them. That's where we got ours.

[DavidA]

Quickdraw: Do you want me to try to locate a set here and send them to you? :puzzled:

[Quickdraw]

Yes, thank you, if you would be so kind. Whenever it would be convienient for you. I'll pm my address....

[DavidA]

Quickdraw: I'll get them for you on Monday and let you know. My pleasure.:smokin: