Once in a blue moon between centuries, I have a small stroke of good luck. Normally, if it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.
Today, I decided to resuscitate a 1986 Ford Thunderbird that has been dormant since 2009. Of course, the dead battery was the first contest. Not a real problem as I had one that I’d removed from my daughter’s car that didn’t fit and replaced with the right one. Didn’t fit the TBird either, but it would certainly crank it. Lo and behold, the car started on the 3rd attempt and ran beautifully. That’s the first surprise of the day. Since this effort is something of an attempt to sell the car, I figured one that will start and can be driven away (notwithstanding the flat-spotted tires) is worth more than one that has to be loaded onto a trailer and hauled away. So, once I started it with the battery that didn’t fit, I figured I’d get one that does. First issue is that the battery in a 1986 T-Bird is about as rare as hen’s teeth. But, Advance Auto showed they had one, so off I go. I get to the store, and accidentally get their battery specialist who immediately recognized it as one for an older Ford. Hmm, Group 56-1 gonna be hard to get. He checked, and sure enough, they had one on the shelf, BUT, way past it’s “fresh sale date”. The bad news wa that it was a defective battery by their standards, but he tested it and found it in working condition. But he couldn’t sell it to me. So he took my old core (14 years old) and GAVE me the “defective” battery. A $200 battery, I got for the exchange value of the old one.
If I hadn’t been carrying a 40 pound battery when I left the store, I’d have done the hamster dance. Got home installed this battery and voila, the car started beautifully. For free, basically.
On top of the luck with the battery, the tires still hold air, though that’s the most positive comment I can make about them. Still plenty tread as they have less than 5000 miles on them, but sitting in one place for 14 years takes a toll. But, I checked the brakes and they too seemed to work. No dry rotted lines, no leaks. So after installing my new free battery, I drove up the street to see if it would think about moving. Brakes are a little noisy from rusty rotors, but it goes and stops. Next fix will be stuck power windows. I’m a pro with Ford Fox Body power windows. They used EXACTLY the same motor and gear box as a 1992 F-150. Ask me how I know.
The car was gonna be my retirement project and lifelong dream of a Fox Body T-Bird with a sleeper drivetrain and a good mellow rumble. It has a ground effects kit on it straight outta NASCAR. I know if I drive it much, I’ll probably overrule the missus about selling it. I always loved the Fox Birds. But it’ll make a good daily driver for someone that wants a car no one else has. Otherwise it’ll sit in the driveway another 14 years.
Today, I decided to resuscitate a 1986 Ford Thunderbird that has been dormant since 2009. Of course, the dead battery was the first contest. Not a real problem as I had one that I’d removed from my daughter’s car that didn’t fit and replaced with the right one. Didn’t fit the TBird either, but it would certainly crank it. Lo and behold, the car started on the 3rd attempt and ran beautifully. That’s the first surprise of the day. Since this effort is something of an attempt to sell the car, I figured one that will start and can be driven away (notwithstanding the flat-spotted tires) is worth more than one that has to be loaded onto a trailer and hauled away. So, once I started it with the battery that didn’t fit, I figured I’d get one that does. First issue is that the battery in a 1986 T-Bird is about as rare as hen’s teeth. But, Advance Auto showed they had one, so off I go. I get to the store, and accidentally get their battery specialist who immediately recognized it as one for an older Ford. Hmm, Group 56-1 gonna be hard to get. He checked, and sure enough, they had one on the shelf, BUT, way past it’s “fresh sale date”. The bad news wa that it was a defective battery by their standards, but he tested it and found it in working condition. But he couldn’t sell it to me. So he took my old core (14 years old) and GAVE me the “defective” battery. A $200 battery, I got for the exchange value of the old one.
If I hadn’t been carrying a 40 pound battery when I left the store, I’d have done the hamster dance. Got home installed this battery and voila, the car started beautifully. For free, basically.
On top of the luck with the battery, the tires still hold air, though that’s the most positive comment I can make about them. Still plenty tread as they have less than 5000 miles on them, but sitting in one place for 14 years takes a toll. But, I checked the brakes and they too seemed to work. No dry rotted lines, no leaks. So after installing my new free battery, I drove up the street to see if it would think about moving. Brakes are a little noisy from rusty rotors, but it goes and stops. Next fix will be stuck power windows. I’m a pro with Ford Fox Body power windows. They used EXACTLY the same motor and gear box as a 1992 F-150. Ask me how I know.
The car was gonna be my retirement project and lifelong dream of a Fox Body T-Bird with a sleeper drivetrain and a good mellow rumble. It has a ground effects kit on it straight outta NASCAR. I know if I drive it much, I’ll probably overrule the missus about selling it. I always loved the Fox Birds. But it’ll make a good daily driver for someone that wants a car no one else has. Otherwise it’ll sit in the driveway another 14 years.