Early Vettes and T-Birds

[Troy P.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

Great line of thinking to compare the two cars.

Now let's test your knowledge to see if you know any parts that were shared between the two cars - early Vettes and early T-Birds. Trust me there was at least two hard parts in common besides the tires. Any ideas? Those of you that have owned both makes should have a clue.

[Terry R.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

Windshield wiper insert and fuel filter.

[Troy P.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

Man you are too good! Those are the only two parts I know of as well. Any others members are aware of?

[Stewart A.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

I love the see through speedo. Oh and the porthole on the hard top and what is that metalic pink colour called on the 57's Bird, that's sexy as !!!!

[Jim D.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

Windshield wiper insert and fuel filter.

Most, but not all T-Birds used the same filter. Some, my early 57, came with a glass bowl that was approx. 1" longer than the typical A/C bowl. Impossible to find and not reproduced.


Jim

[Stuart F.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

Weren't there some Ford models that used the same/similar BW T-10's, as well as rear axles? No doubt the shift linkages were different, as well as probably the gear ratios and tail shafts on the 4 speeds. I don't recall any specific rear end interchanges of parts (least wise not by my group), however there were assemblies made by the same vendor I believe.

On the wiper inserts, do you mean I paid $35.00 fpr a pair of correct "dimpled" inserts when I could got some from a Ford (Dorf) parts vendor much cheaper? (We once changed the letters around on a friend's 56 Ford wagon, swapping the "F" for the "D" as a practical joke. Took him a week to figure it out).

Stu Fox

[Troy P.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

You are correct. Buy Dorf wiper refill parts when you can.

I have an NOS T-Bird fuel AC filter. I'll have to look at the bowl size.

Years ago when I doscovered that the AC filters were available from Ford I ordered several. Bu then they had already changed to the second design AC part without the domed top. So no luck there.

[Chuck G.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

Man you are too good! Those are the only two parts I know of as well. Any others members are aware of?

AC high dome fuel filter?

I had a 55 T Bird for several years. Also had my 54 Corvette at the same time. NO comparison between the two cars. The T Bird was a much better driver. More comfortable, etc.

My old "Bird" was red/black & white interior. 292 CI, Ford-O-Matic automatic trans.

Nice little car. Non port-hole hardtop.

Sold it to a friend in my NCCC Corvette club. He still has it.

Chuck

[Jim D.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

Weren't there some Ford models that used the same/similar BW T-10's, as well as rear axles? No doubt the shift linkages were different, as well as probably the gear ratios and tail shafts on the 4 speeds. I don't recall any specific rear end interchanges of parts (least wise not by my group), however there were assemblies made by the same vendor I believe.

On the wiper inserts, do you mean I paid $35.00 fpr a pair of correct "dimpled" inserts when I could got some from a Ford (Dorf) parts vendor much cheaper? (We once changed the letters around on a friend's 56 Ford wagon, swapping the "F" for the "D" as a practical joke. Took him a week to figure it out).

Stu Fox

The only transmissions available were a 3 speed auto. or a 3 speed manual. 4 speeds were never installed. The rear was a Ford 9". Nothing interchangable with a GM car.

Jim

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

Seems Ford gave up trying to compete with the Vette after 1957 and went to a four passenger version in 58 - and why not; the 57 sold only some 15, 000 while their 58 sold about 46, 000.

One last observation, this 57 T-Bird had the 312 cu.in engine with solid lifters. The owner warned me before he started it up that the Ford engine doesn't have the nice tappet "Power Purr" of the Corvette solid lifter engines, rather it just has a rattling sound like it's in bad need of a valve adjustment.

Stu Fox

I don't now where your coming from. Corvettes did not have real windows or door handels. No V8 or standard trans till 55. Compared to the the TB it was a joke why did they only sell 500 55"s. I love Corvettes but the 55-57 T Birds were 10 times what a Corvette was with way more options.
PS In 65 Ford was still sticking it to Corvette with the Cobra & the GT-40
KEN

[Terry R.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

Weren't there some Ford models that used the same/similar BW T-10's, as well as rear axles? No doubt the shift linkages were different, as well as probably the gear ratios and tail shafts on the 4 speeds. I don't recall any specific rear end interchanges of parts (least wise not by my group), however there were assemblies made by the same vendor I believe.

On the wiper inserts, do you mean I paid $35.00 fpr a pair of correct "dimpled" inserts when I could got some from a Ford (Dorf) parts vendor much cheaper? (We once changed the letters around on a friend's 56 Ford wagon, swapping the "F" for the "D" as a practical joke. Took him a week to figure it out).

Stu Fox

The wiper inserts with dots and numbers half the price and the ceramic filter element half the price. I can't recall the part # but the only difference I can tell is the top on one has about 8 little holes and the other has about 12. Can't see when its installed.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

Ken;

To reiterate some points, the Cobra and the GT-40 were hardly what one could call representative of production Fords, unlike the Corvettes. The Cobra was a British AC with a transplanted Ford V8 engine done by a former digruntled GM employee (Shelby). The GT-40 was a special built race car only. If you wanted to use the criteria of sales, as some one previously posted regarding the first few years of Vettes, then both the Cobra and GT-40's were abismal failures. That brings us back to the "Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday" importance of these vehicles. They brought more young guns into the show rooms to buy the next best thing. They in turn went out and got their doors blown off by a little old lady in a Chevy 283. (How's that for keeping the old rivalry going?)

Stu Fox

[Bill M.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

Ken;

They in turn went out and got their doors blown off by a little old lady in a Chevy 283. (How's that for keeping the old rivalry going?)

Stu Fox

She traded the 283 PG for a "brand new, shiny red, super stock Dodge"

[William F.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

Ford wasn't "sticking it to Chevy" on the street or on the drag strip, where the action was back in the day;nobody cared about 'sporty car' races. A good 327 (and mabe a good 283) would run rings around Ford's 390 and would give the Ford street 427 a good race. No comparison when it came to Chevy BB against Ford BB on street-Ford's was a joke. Only decent street Ford engines were the Boss 302 and high performance 351's which came late in the game.

[Michael D.]

Re: Early Vettes and T-Birds

...It is probably safe to say there would not have been a T-Bird had there not been a Corvette...

I've always understood there would not have been a Corvette beyond the 55s if it had not been for the Thunderbird. The decision to keep the Corvette in production after 1955 (and only 700 units) was based on GM's reluctance to abandon the two seat market totally to Ford.