'66 Thunderbird Kustom

[Can-Con]

Jim, how about just cutting the rear side window openings back so they're similar to the standard roofline? 

I've always preferred that myself over the "Town Hardtop" roofline.

 

 

Edited June 3, 2023 by Can-Con

[customline]

2 hours ago, Can-Con said:

Jim, how about just cutting the rear side window openings back so they're similar to the standard roofline? 

I've always preferred that myself over the "Town Hardtop" roofline.

 

 

It's a great idea, Steve, as you photo proves. I will admit, though, that I have toyed with the idea of adding a "porthole" to the roof (please don't tell anybody ?).  I would like to remove the "vinyl" texturing but my hands can be very painful after a job like that. Your idea would necessarily involve smoothing that roof but it does look really good in your photo (how did you smooth yours?)  I will seriously consider your suggestion as I am at that point now. I'm just a little indecisive about how to proceed. It will be a hardtop, that much I know and I thank you for your input, Steve.

[Can-Con]

1 minute ago, customline said:

It's a great idea, Steve, as you photo proves. I will admit, though, that I have toyed with the idea of adding a "porthole" to the roof (please don't tell anybody ?).  I would like to remove the "vinyl" texturing but my hands can be very painful after a job like that. Your idea would necessarily involve smoothing that roof but it does look really good in your photo (how did you smooth yours?)  I will seriously consider your suggestion as I am at that point now. I'm just a little indecisive about how to proceed. It will be a hardtop, that much I know and I thank you for your input, Steve.

Jim, That kit is actually a '64 annual hardtop and the roof came that way. 

If you wanted to do that roof on yours, you could keep the vinyl texture if you like. All you'd really need to do is cut the opening back and add a thin strip to replace the drip rail. 

Since it's a custom, anything goes, right? ?

[ea0863]

Looking sweet!

[customline]

9 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

Jim, That kit is actually a '64 annual hardtop and the roof came that way. 

If you wanted to do that roof on yours, you could keep the vinyl texture if you like. All you'd really need to do is cut the opening back and add a thin strip to replace the drip rail. 

Since it's a custom, anything goes, right? ?

 Absolutely, Steve! Customizing is unmitigated freedom. For better or worse ?. Beauty is in the eye.....well, anyway....I'm still entertaining roof swap ideas and I can't shake this one. 

I really like that Impala roof but not wanting to cut up a good Impala, I'm thinking about incorporating just the custom backlight panel into the 'Bird roof and duplicating the angles of the Impala C-pillar. I'm just kicking it around. ? it's a custom, right?

 

 

[mrm]

2 hours ago, customline said:

 ...

I really like that Impala roof but not wanting to cut up a good Impala...

 

 

DO IT!

It's only plastic after all.

[customline]

4 hours ago, mrm said:

DO IT!

It's only plastic after all.

Well, we'll just have to wait and see what I come up with. ?. I just found a replacement for the engine I stole out of the Impala kit. Gonna hafta think real hard about cuttin' 'er up. (Actually, Steve's idea is a pretty good one. I'll probably start there ?)

[mrm]

12 hours ago, customline said:

Well, we'll just have to wait and see what I come up with. ?. I just found a replacement for the engine I stole out of the Impala kit. Gonna hafta think real hard about cuttin' 'er up. (Actually, Steve's idea is a pretty good one. I'll probably start there ?)

I personally like the Impala roof way better. That squared up T-bird roof does not go in any way with the flowing lines of the car.

[Claude Thibodeau]

Hi Jim!

If you have access to one, a 70 Monte-Carlo roof would do well. I have one that I've removed from an AMT Carlo to make a Nomad out of it, and I was testing it lately on a similar Tbird as yours. Almost a shoe-in, and would spare the precious Impale. Just thinking aloud...

Also, if you don't absolutely need to keep your TBird windshield, a 90 Cougar greenhouse would make it very contemporary. See below on a 58 'Bird. 

Good luck with your project!

CT 

CT

[customline]

3 hours ago, mrm said:

I personally like the Impala roof way better. That squared up T-bird roof does not go in any way with the flowing lines of the car.

I do too, Mike. But it may involve a substantial amount of reworking of the Impala roof. The windshield is a big thing when doing a full roof swap like that. It's not my first. What I see is the easy inclusion of the Impala's custom backlight as a way of contributing to the "flow" due to the forward bow of the backlight which is one aspect of the impala roof anyway.  Also, the angles of the C-pillar are easily modified to match the Impala's and the attachment of the roof to the windshield is not an issue. Using the Impala roof will  A) wipe out a good body, and  necessitate windshield work. I could possibly use the front edge of the 'bird roof grafted to the Impala roof but I see a hight difference and chopping the windshield posts is trouble I would like to avoid. If I'm not satisfied with the 'bird roof after mods I still have the Chevy roof to use or a convertible custom Thunderbird and a whole Impala to build. Logical?

You may have seen a previous roof swap I did. I wonder how the Camaro body would look with a lid from a '63 'Vette ?

[customline]

3 hours ago, Claude Thibodeau said:

Hi Jim!

If you have access to one, a 70 Monte-Carlo roof would do well. I have one that I've removed from an AMT Carlo to make a Nomad out of it, and I was testing it lately on a similar Tbird as yours. Almost a shoe-in, and would spare the precious Impale. Just thinking aloud...

Also, if you don't absolutely need to keep your TBird windshield, a 90 Cougar greenhouse would make it very contemporary. See below on a 58 'Bird. 

Good luck with your project!

CT 

CT

Hey, Claude, that old crow looks fantastic with that feline lid.  I Like your ideas but I'm trying to avoid any A-pillar work on this one. I was lucky with the '53Ford/Camaro thing. It just worked out but I'm just not that committed to this build because of the curbside nature of it. I'm sure I can get where I want to go with a minimal amount of difficulty (windshield involvement.) Thanks for your input, as always.

[customline]

Here we go. This is the roughed-in roof, just tacked but fully committed. Had to cut the vent below the glass away in order to fit the custom bezel in place. The C-pillars have been cut to match the angle of the Chevy roof and I will need to attach some Evergreen strips to trim out the side window openings.  Some reinforcement will be added inside to secure the backlight area, then it's Bondo time (my favorite part). I'm thinking it may look better without the vent windows. It should add a little more drama. Thanks for looking. 

Edited June 5, 2023 by customline

[customline]

I welded the roof on today. I noticed a slight warp across the top panel (on a corner-to-corner axis.)  That impacted the attachment process. The remedy was to make the attachment to the windshield header first and then just bottom it out the C-pillars and straighten it out. Consequently, I decided to retain the vent windows for the strength. Without those posts, it would be unpleasant, if not difficult to finish the body work. I could probably 86 'em before the last primer coat should someone like to debate it ?. You could tell me it would make my tinnitus quiet down....

I added some strip to the roof to change the window profile to look more like the Chevy. I'm open to debate on rounding the top corners JUST like said Chevy. And I'm hearing the voices saying "why would anyone want to do this to a freaking T-Bird?? "  if you have to ask that question, you'll never know.

But then a voice says " just because you can, it doesn't mean you should. 

MI

 

[Andy Oldenburg]

I love what your doing to your bird and even more enjoy the comments and responses! Very entertaining! Your customizing is going into the right direction? Hope to see the final result soon!

[customline]

1 hour ago, Andy Oldenburg said:

I love what your doing to your bird and even more enjoy the comments and responses! Very entertaining! Your customizing is going into the right direction? Hope to see the final result soon!

Thanks Andy, it's way past the point of no return now. I'm hoping for at least a 51% approval. Here's a quick view of my morning's Bondo work. I'll have some primer on it today to check contours. Hopefully this roof idea will be an improvement over the stock kit roof. The vinyl was a non-starter for me and then this Impala roof showed up on my radar. I like the concave backlight but didn't want to trash the whole Impala to get it. I tried to get the general look of the Impala roof but it's still not there yet for me.  I had to compromise a bit too much maybe.  I may or may not add back the rain gutters....Thanks for looking!

[customline]

I decided to just go ahead and add in the rain gutters before I prime. I cut a backlight pattern too. Neither the color of the "glass" nor the color of the sheet metal is decided yet. More later.....

 

[Vintage AMT]

I've been following this build and your 63 build, glad to see that old school modeling still going on... Really need more of it here.. Bird is looking real good. I'm working on a 61 Galaxie Kustom, hope to be ready to post a WIP soon.

R

[Calb56]

I love it... I saw this doing a Google search. 62 Bird with 61 Starliner roof.

You're a bad influence on me.

[customline]

5 hours ago, Vintage AMT said:

I've been following this build and your 63 build, glad to see that old school modeling still going on... Really need more of it here.. Bird is looking real good. I'm working on a 61 Galaxie Kustom, hope to be ready to post a WIP soon.

R

Thanks for your interest, Robert. My stuff is old school because I am, in fact, old. ?.

[customline]

4 hours ago, Calb56 said:

I love it... I saw this doing a Google search. 62 Bird with 61 Starliner roof.

You're a bad influence on me.

That thing is beyond awesome. If Ford had thought of that, they'd have sold a million more. 

[customline]

Another quick mock-up . Now I need to fill the gap below the backlight and some other minor defects with some Mr. Hobby. Comments always welcome.

[Calb56]

I love it, very clean mods so far.

[customline]

16 minutes ago, Calb56 said:

I love it, very clean mods so far.

Thanks, Charles. It isn't as clean as it may look. I'm hoping for a really good paint job to bring this one home. 

[bisc63]

Coming along nicely!

[customline]

1 hour ago, bisc63 said:

Coming along nicely!

Thanks, Rusty. I'm going to try a front-hinge hood. It's that or it's magnets. Lots of fussing with cleaning up the body.  Lots of boring stuff to deal with now. This is where some projects die on the vine.  I'm thinking Testors Extreme Lacquer in turquoise or ? orange? emerald? Wherever the spirit  shoves me. 

Hey, how about that lip that sticks out under the grille? Is it me or does it need to be trimmed back?

Edited June 7, 2023 by customline
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