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Post by airdog on Aug 7, 2016 22:37:30 GMT -5
First let me say any advice offered will be greatly appreciated. This will be my first V-8 derby. At 52 i am getting kind of a late start. I am not looking to get anything out of this but a good time with not to many bruises.
I have searched the internet for days to no avail. The one thing I have learned, this is not a good car to derby. Well it's to late for that because I have started already. So what I would like to ask those of you that happen to know the T- birds weak and strong points. What can I do to this bird so I may atleast get a few good whacks in.
The car: 1969 Thunderbird with 460 thunderjet automatic. It is rusted out on the front and through the floor you can see the ground. The front bumper brackets are nearly rusted.through. It sits rather low to the ground I believe there was a lowering kit installed. It is to low.
Please I am already aware that I should just get another car so please don't remind me of that because nothing can or will talk me out of it. If i go out on the first hit I want it to be atlast good one.
Thankyou in advance
Bryan airdog Miller
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Post by redneckracing12 on Aug 8, 2016 10:35:12 GMT -5
Best advice I can give is to put a good cage in the car... you are going to need it.
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Post by fordpowerforever on Aug 8, 2016 14:27:32 GMT -5
get a good bumper and bracket setup mounted on the front. weld the A arms down to gain as much height as possible, tuck the trunk and pray, good safety gear. put a good tune up on it and let it get real hot and see if it will still start. Good block ground and good ground direct to solenoid mounting. Add a u joint and the steering box. Reinforce tie rods. Thea rearend is good enough just get it welded up. kind of a pain in the ass so make sure you know what your doing when you pull it apart.
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Post by airdog on Aug 9, 2016 0:33:31 GMT -5
I have a cage and a half in there. So much I believe I am over weighting it.
weld the A arms down to gain as much height as possible.
Thankyou I never thought of that I am going to do that tonight.!
The car now is sitting at 19" in front and 20 in the rear. Just seems awful low when looking at it. Rules say 24" max bumper height. The springs in the rear just do not look very stout.
Would it be bad if I stretched springs welded some 2" solid stock in between in rear so they cannot collapse as much? Or would I be creating a hazard? When I took it for a ride it seemed awful bouncy almost like it had no shocks.
I have the bird running sweet, took it for a ride and got her hot and it fired up no problem. Those swampers i put on the back made some nice marks on the brand new asphalt out front.
I was thinking on running two batteries and no alternator since I will have just a fan needing power.
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Post by metalman187x on Aug 13, 2016 1:54:27 GMT -5
these cars are really underrated!!! the fronts are tough as hell with a good bumper. weld the longest bumper shock you can along side of the frame to the a arms but make sure you use it to compensate for the dip in the front frame at the core support by running it straight out from the a arms and not following the contour of the frame. it will give you about 2 more inches of bumper height also and it will transfer the stress point to behind the a arms where there is alot more structure. tie whatever you can together between the a arms and about 8 inches behind the firewall where the unibody rails tie into the floor my suggestion would be to weld a piece of allthread to the rail under the firewall and then run it up through the firewall and use it to tie the hood down to the cowl. you can stretch the springs and weld sucker rod to them and it will work but i would try to get the height out taller shocks or stuffing them or twist in spaces before i weld to them. i have seen it work but i dont trust it. if you decide to go that route make sure you weld every seam all the way around so the spring dont break them when they try and move. most importantly HIT HARD and HAVE FUN people take this way too seriously these days and its nice to see someone who is still balls to the wall and doesnt care if his ride gets junked in one hit
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demoboy333
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Post by demoboy333 on Oct 24, 2016 16:59:34 GMT -5
Yes these are very underrated. Looking at picking up a 2 door an 4 door here soon. If u do ur research an look at the frames people will understand why a suicide thrunder bird is underrated now days just bc the swapped to full frame 67 to 71 dont mean they r any weager then old ones .... we are looking at taking these two to stock class which is a mild build.
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Post by redneckracing12 on Oct 24, 2016 20:00:22 GMT -5
Yes these are very underrated. Looking at picking up a 2 door an 4 door here soon. If u do ur research an look at the frames people will understand why a suicide thrunder bird is underrated now days just bc the swapped to full frame 67 to 71 dont mean they r any weager then old ones .... we are looking at taking these two to stock class which is a mild build. An older Bird would destroy one of these cars without a doubt. Just because it's full frame doesn't mean it's good. |
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demoboy333
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Post by demoboy333 on Oct 24, 2016 20:03:24 GMT -5
Not saying the older ones are weaker or that just because it's full frame it's stronger. Not here to fight over it. But the car can hold its own if people give it a chance.
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Post by dirtydeeds on Oct 26, 2016 22:03:19 GMT -5
Especially if the floors need patched.😜
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Post by pantera77 on Oct 31, 2016 19:28:20 GMT -5
I've always heard these things are terrible demo cars. I've got a '68 as a driver and I can't imagine it holding up that well.
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