T- Bird Bra

[RETROBIRD]

Still have mine. Haven’t used it in years. Fit was good however the mesh they use rips easily. My wife repaired it a couple of times. Paid quite a lot back in 2006. Does protect against stone chips somewhat. Wouldn’t buy one again!

[Bellevue-K]

Have been braless since I had ClearShield installed. Actually, virtually all the films, regardless of manufacturer, work better than bras and most people can’t even tell if you’re wearing one. One less thing to store when it’s off.

Glad to see this post as I've been curious about the cost for the ClearShield.

While I actually have the OEM Tbird cover, I've never used it (or taken a long trip before).

I noticed a neighbor's vehicle recently with ClearShield on the front end as well as the door edges and I liked that idea.

Thanks again for your post.

[Frank Dreano]

Lebra is also under the covercraft company!

I ran my $66 LeBra cover on the bird during our 3 hour drive to Sanibel Island, it worked just fine.
Tight fitting and not that hard to install/remove and mentioned on the first page of this thread...

Not sure spending a bunch more money would have gotten me anything better.

[chromer]

Bill, you might want to try the mustang ecoboost site. There's a guy on there who does professional detailing, including ceramic coatings. He seems to be very knowledgeable about all kinds of finishes and remedies. I believe you could find him in the forum about paint finishes. Guy goes by Paul-G and he's in Chandler, Az

[wcoates]

Apologize Guys as this isn't even a T-Bird issue but I have to say That Bird Folks know damn never everything and getting a reply on the Volvo site is like pulling teeth. Below is a post I previously made. The paint that was under the plastic covering did not get exposed to the elements and is consequently a slighty different shade than that which was exposed for 10 years. Hardly noticable but it is starting to drive me crazy. Any help on products that might help blend the two areas. Not really thinking we'll see anything but thought I'd ask.


"I just bought a 10 year old retractable hardtop convertible that had this type of clear plastic covering and it was installed when new. At 10 years it had splits in the very top layer and dirt got into the cracks and it was filthy. Taking it off was a big deal leaving a glue paste that was a nightmare to remove. .

After taking it off it did leave a line where the covered paint did not get exposed to the elements. "

[Skip]

Have used the Ford bra on mine since it was new in 2001. Most recently in late June. Use it for long road trips only. Put it on the day before, take it off the day after we return. It fits and looks great. I don't have an issue with the license plate bracket as I have a custom made front plate bracket instead of the factory bracket as I didn't want to use the factory issue bracket as it required holes in the valence panel. I can remove just the plate or the entire bracket easily. Went without a front plate until I got stopped for not having one. It took six years for that to happen, but that is a story for another thread. Plus the bra fits well around the new bracket.

[007Cruiser]

well I've screwed around long enough, I can't get the one I want in time for the trip. - Guess I'm going without! Probably a joke there somewhere..

Don’t worry, be happy.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

You still got Tomi

[camadsen_1]

well I've screwed around long enough, I can't get the one I want in time for the trip. - Guess I'm going without! Probably a joke there somewhere..

[2K2BIRD]

Craig, when I had the netting replaced on my Ford one, I had them add netting to the supplemental light openings as well.

[camadsen_1]

Dot- Paul- Jerry- Thankyou all, the fact that there's no netting over the Aux light area eliminates the Ford one for me. Now I'm just torn if I should just go without or not.

[SugarDaddy]

We bought the Ford bra in 2002, and still have it. We use it primarily on long trips, not around town.

You do need to take the bra off when you get to your destination because there are usually small bugs, debris and things caught between the bra and the car body. A light rub line is visible on the hood and fenders after I remove the bra. Typically, I thoroughly clean the backside of the bra and the front, after arriving at our destination. Then, re-install the clean bra before heading home. Once home, clean both sides of the bra thoroughly (vacuuming the backside) before putting it away in a cabinet.

Like Paul, the screen mesh over the grille area eventually wore out and tore. I bought some heavy mesh screen material at a local hardware store and took it to my auto upholstery shop. They cut out the damaged screen and installed the replacement screen about 6 years ago. I never had any other problems with the front screen mesh after that.

[2K2BIRD]

The screens in the Ford bra were definitely a weak point.

With regards to dealer installing the bra. I'm not sure if it is still the case with new Fords, but when we bought the T-bird in 2001, any Ford accessories that were bought (and installed) when buying the car was covered by the same 3 year 36K warranty the car was. I bought the first Ford bra with the car, so when the screen mesh tore up a couple of years or so later, it was replaced with a new one by Ford. By the time the screen tore on the second one, the one year warranty (usual warranty when not bought with the car) was up and I decided to have the screen replaced by a local upholstery shop. When that screen bit the dust a few years later, I bought some stiffer, pet resistant screen at a local hardware store and had it used as a replacement. I think that was 5 or 6 years ago and there is no sign of the screen breaking down at this point.

I find myself using the bra less and less. It is hard to keep bugs, dust, debris and small stones out from under it and if they are there a rub is possible. Next to being out of focus, it is absolutely the best way to ruin a picture with the car in it. It is problematic when it rains. I'm debating as to whether I will use it for the trip to Minnesota and down the Mississippi.

[BirdsAndBugs]

I can't agree with anything said above. Ours isn't an every driver any longer but when it does come out of the garage it's for a 10,000 to 15,000 mile road trip and I wouldn't leave home with out the bra on the car. Yes, I hate the looks of it but it has saved many a stone chip on the front end. When the trip is over the bra comes off the car.

I have the stock Ford Bra.

Clearly you DO agree with everything I said Spence. The bra is fine for preventing rock chips during highway driving on road trips. I just don't recommend leaving it on permanently as many people do.

[5bird7]

Dot, have you had any issues with the bug screen covered license plate cut-out? Ours has torn.

RBIRD

Robert, We've had issues with the screen when used "OVER" the license plate bracket but there was no screen in the area of the license plate, just vinyl. The license plate area was solid vinyl when it arrived and was useful for those that didn't have a front license plate installed. The screen above the plate area has torn on both Ford bras we've used because of the added stretching of the netting caused by the protrusion of the plate bracket (George didn't want to cut the vinyl at that time and also didn't want to remove the bracket and license plate) . It has also torn on the bra that you see in the picture above which George cut out all of the license plate frame area, I suppose from just age and use on the road. The screen is more or less there to keep the rest of the bra taut on the car so tears reduce it's effectiveness in that department. I plan to replace the screens "someday"


Craig, the running light loops are attached to the screen at the top and could be cut off and more screen added in those areas. There is no screen in the area of the running lights anyway, it just protects the body painted receptacle for the lights itself.

There was an instruction sheet that came with the bra and anyone could install it. I don't recall anyone using their dealer to install the bra. There were instructions on this site on how to install it but I assume those pictures are now lost on the site. Talk about the procedure probably ended well before you joined and the thread was never brought up in any searches you may have made. I'm sure I have old pictures of part of the procedure but it would take some time for me to find them.

Most wanted the Ford bra because it had the Thunderbird emblem embossed and colored on the nose piece and it appeared to fit the best of the bras available at the time, with no wrinkles.