Just got a 55 Bird, have a couple of questions

I don't have any pics yet, but I want to change from the 14 inch wires with 195 75 tires to 15 inch by 7 american torque thrust d's. Can anyone confirm that 15 x 7 's will be fine up front. I have a chance to get a great deal on some but in the back of my mind I think 15x6's would be best, but if 7's go that is choice for now.

The car has no skirts now and I think the rear wheel wells are cut real high and looks funny, however with 5 spokes it will be alright to run skirtless, right?

And last, I have heard on these cars that there is an easy trick to do something with the ball joints to lower the car about 2 inches up front, anyone with experience on this.

Thanks Joe

 

I've had 55,56 & 57's. First of course, your 55 came with 15" wheels from the factory ... 15X7 should work fine.
Skirts .... my wife and used to go back and forth over skirts. She thought the 55 needed them I hated the skirts.
I cut the coil to drop mine.
I love the 55 it is one of my favorite cars of all time.

Steve

 

Congrats ! The '55 is one of the most iconic 'Birds...I've had a '58 and a '66. Love 'em all.

Steve's right: the 55 came with 15's...they didn't change over to 14's until '57. Also, I agree...you DON'T need skirts on it. You'll probably lower it anyway, so with different wheels and a lowering job it'll look just fine.

Happy New Year !

JK www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

Here is the pic for you Joe.

 

I was thinking more of the 7 inch width was a concern but really I think I am over thinking it.

Any other thoughts on the ball joint mod?

 

I know these cars still have the spring pocket that is rivited to the lower A-arm. You can space the spring pocket off of the A-arm by using a piece of steel or aluminum. I can take a picture of my front end for you, if you want?

Another popular trick is to use aerostar springs, to drop it a couple of inches.

That is if thunderbirds used a standard ford A-arm, I've never had a chance to look underneath one.

 

Excellent, on the spacer idea, I did that on a 58 pontiac a couple of years ago, worked real good, rather than spacing it I dropped the spring out the bottom and cut a coil off. It was easier that way I thought.

 

I have 15x7 on mine. It's lowered about 3 ''. They rub on lock to lock turns but otherwise are fine. You cant run the skirts on the back with out them rubbing. See it in my pics.

 

so, does your have power steering? no pics, come on go do it now, please. keeping all stock, or going to do a mild custom-please.

 

I think some one makes dropped spindles for the 55-57 just cant remember who.

 

We have 15X7's with 205/75 tires on our 56 and they fit fine, but it is not lowered. Wehn they were on Studebakerdave's, which was lowered 3" (I think) the rears rubbed.

 

That 56 is perfect!

 

Ya the rears rubbed and I could not turn the fronts. I have the granada disk brake converstion it moved the front wheels out about an inch. I had new wheels made the same style for the front 15/6 with 195/15 red line tires and put all the offset to the inside. the rears are 15/7 with 205/15 red line tires again with all the offset to inside. every thing clears now. Now I'm thinking about going back to the drum brakes in the front.

 

I have the Granada spindles on my t-bird and I'm running 16x8 American racing salt flats with 205/55/16's on front and 225/60/16's.
I'm running a bunch of positive offset to keep the rear tires inside the wheels wells with abt ¾" clearance. I'm running the same offset on front and I had to run 1" aluminum adapters on the front spindles to keep the tire from rubbing the upper ball joint. I can't remember what the offset is but I think it was the max offered from AR and I had to special order them.

This angle shows how much tire you can put under the bird without cutting anything


I'm also running the stock Dana rear under it. I believe you wouldn't have any problem running the 15x7's if you get the propet offset and maybe use ½" adapter between the wheel and spindle on front.

 

I meant to ask if you meant you couldn't turn the front wheels side to side, or did you mean they wouldn't rotate because they were rubbing the spindle. I'm running a '87 Buick power r&p steering with my stock 55 power steering pump, no problems.

 

I dont think your car is as low as mine. can't tell looks like your on it pretty hard. just rubbed when turning

 

Ill get some pics up this afternoon. I put on the 15 7's.with the tires I have, 215-70-15, front and rear, cleartis more of an issue out back. But I think the bird will fly.

 

I'm not sure how much different a T Bird is from a 55 two door, but on my sedan I run AR six wide front and rear with 205 65 front and 225 70's in the rear. All 15's. It all clears fine, and the car is rather low.

 

These are my old school 14"s that I've had on this car since about 1970, hence the style. I plan to change them to 16" to have more tire choice, some day.
I've seen plenty of 16, 17's etc. on these cars. Most of time skirts don't work on the larger if you get much bigger. I prefer mine without the skirts.
The front clearance issues are generous in most sizes even lowered.

However, the rear inside edge of the rear wheel well can sneak up on you. Be sure to measure to see if the axle location is centered within the body. Ain't always so.
my setup is stock supension components but has settled to this over time.

 

BTW congrats on getting the bird. Mine was my first car-1968.

 

Hey Joe i sort of like Birds too and the 55 is one of my favorite. I am fairly sure the 15x7 with the proper back spacing will clear even if you lower it alot of coarse you will most likely have to lose skirts. This Bird has 15x6 and we lowered ot alot. In the front we spaced the lower spring mount down 1" and cut about 1 1/2 coils off the stock spring. For the rear we flipped the rear spring hanger up and put a 1" lowering block in it. The rear tires would rubb on the top side of the fender wells when we hit a big bump so we installed a set of air shock.

Rick Erickson.

 

What tire sizes are you running, that is absolutely perfect.

 

Shackles.

 

Y'sguy - leave the 14's ,they look kool

 

Wow - I love that Bird!!

 

Thanks for the compliments. Here's a different shot of it. The tires are michelin 205/70's. Like i said though 14's have a limited offering.
I've got discs on the original spindles. I have seen the A-frames dropped with spacers like has been discussed here but don't have personal experiance. drop spindles are available though. btw these rims are 6 wide.
I like the way chainsaws' bird sits. look right.

 

Added a little air to the shocks and BAM its perfect.

 

Before, this is how I got it

 

And walla, this is how it is now with a little air in the rear.

The tire size is 215 70 15's all the way around. I think a smaller front tire like a 195 65 15 would be choice but this is what I got.

There is so much room up front that I think I will just lower it a tad.
Funny how my concern at the beginning was gonna be front clearance and the rear is where the "rub" was gonna be.

Well what do you guys think.

 

I think it's a very good improvement! It will look even better when you lower the front a bit.