Bagging a 1964 Thunderbird

[Johnny]

Hi guys, I just joined this group because i' m interested in putting an air bag setup under my 64 Tbird.
I see that front and rear Coolride kits are available for my model Thunderbird. Has anybody done one of these cars with the leaf sprung rear end? Unfortunataly there were no instructions available on the site for my car. I am interested to know where the rear bag is mounted, in front or behind the axle? The kit shows new shocks supplied. I was wondering where these would be mounted?

Any comments help much appreciated

Cheers Johnny

This is what I want my car to look like... I did a photoshop job on it :D

http://www.toqinc.org/kustoms/low.jpg

[UncleOtis63]

Johhny,
I bagged my 63 Bird with the Cool ride kit in the rear and shockwaves up front. This is the setup I reccomend (and was highly recommended to me). The extra money you' ll spend on the shockwaves will almost be offset by the fabrication you' ll do to relocate the shocks up front with the Cool Ride system.

I' m sure for the set up in the rear is exactly the same for a 64 as it is a 63. You can mount the bags either in front or behind the axel. Up front from more travel up and down and behind the axel for more stability. I asked the same question and that was the answer I got. I located the bags on a single leaf spring behind the axel and couldn' t be happier with the results for the price. The shocks supplied with the kit will bolt right in to your existing shock mounts. They are shorter than stock and I believe the reason is to limit the travel as not to over extend the bags. Good luck!

Regards,
Shawn

[Johnny]

Hi Shawn. Thanks heaps for the info. After looking at your car and seeing what equipment you used I have a much better grasp of how all this stuff works. The total in parts adds up to about 2 grand. I' m in Australia so unfortunately its gonna cost me abot 1 1/2 times that. [&o]
This just has to be the ultimate in ride quality and adjustability. Your car can look stock standard or slammed on its guts :D
You might be interested in this page. www.toqinc.org/poncho/airbags.htm
I put this up for some friends to look at. The guy that owns this 63 is in Canada. He did all the work himself including bracketry.
Thanks so much for your input.

Cheers Johnny

[UncleOtis63]

That is a nice ride but I like your comment about having the option to keep it looking stock or lay it on it' s guts. I love the look of the stock hub caps tucked under the fenders.

As far as ride quality! This is my first custom so I only have the stock ride with bias ply to compare it to. This 4500 lb bird would plow through corners bad so I put radials on it. That only helped the problem. After the bags, problem solved. This thing corners 1000 times better. The only improvement could be with some heavier gage sway bars. And no more floating down the highway like an ocean liner.

[Johnny]

Thanks Shawn! I was thinking about Astro Supremes but I don' t want to fill the fenders with wheels. I too like the tucked under look. The other option is to run the factory steel rims (no caps) with a bullet hub cover and bullet lugs. I painted a spare 64 Tbird wheel rim I have with a really cool metalic blue paint which matches the interior trim exactly. That with maybe a chrome trim ring and the big chrome bullet could do the trick.
Fitting an aftermarket heavy duty sway bar to these cars is the quickest and cheapest way of making them drive better. About 8 yrs ago I rebuilt the front end completely and fitted an 1 1/8" diameter sway bar. The difference on the hwy is astounding. The car no longer drifts and sways like a boat. The original was only about 5/8" and its hard to believe Ford thought it would actually work. Doing this to yours could only enhance its driveability.

Cheers Johnny

[darren@ridetech.com]

I dig the whites Johnny...