Four speed+Thunderbird

I have a 1962 Ford Thunderbird with a 390FE and I want to put a toploader behind it. Any advise on the swap?

 

you know the car has a ton of similar parts to a Galaxie right? You probably gonna have to fab your own trany mount-Galaxie pedals will work if you DONT have a slide away column.
The bellhousing is the same as a 390 Mustang too.
Good luck and make sure to ask questions if you got 'em...

 

I know it can be done as I saw one in 62,that the owners said they ordered from Ford. They said there was nothing in the sales literature that said they couldn't so they ordered one. However they did say it took 6 months for them to get it. Wish I could tell you more about it but the only thing i remember is that they still had the column shift so they could use the swing-away wheel. Good Luck, Mike

 

That will have to be a mostly custom setup. A rare option on 1960 Thunderbirds was the 3-speed manual trans.

If you can get in touch with Eric Van Vechten (follow the link below), he's done the swap in his '60 and could give you some pointers. However, you probably already know that '61+ Thunderbirds didn't get a manual transmission option. http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/message/1207512806/I%27m+still+around!

 

just saw a complete 1960 T-Bird stick set up in a junk yard. couldn't believe it was still there ($$$ I imagine) I don't know that it would adapt any easier than much cheaper truck parts

 

I would guess that he'll have to run a hydraulic clutch setup anyway. The '61 and up Tbirds went to a unibody ch***is so I don't think the same pedals would work.

The guy I mentioned above set his up with a hydraulic slave cylinder using a Lakewood ****tershield bellhousing and a long tailhousing toploader from a Galaxie (so the shifter would be far enough back).

 

58-60 T-birds were also unibody, although I still don't know if the clutch pedal setup would work.

 

I know this was years ago but anyone had any luck with this?????

 

You'd want to go with a 5-speed now days!