UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. May 22, 2008, 02:09:32 AM Kyle's 85 bird to date. It is still a work in progress.A brief history: I purchased the car in 1989 as a sophomore in high school with 18,000 miles on it. I drove the car through high school and college before storing it with 128,000 miles. The V6 started having issues, and I could not afford the constant expenses. I decided to purchase a Ford Taurus and park the bird. It sat for nearly 10 years until around October of this past year. My grandma passed, left some money that she willed be spent. I knew that I wanted to put it into my bird. I had my favorite mechanics install a Jasper rebuilt 351w. Everything is new front to back on the underside anyway. I have included a general picture timeline that shows the car from storage to where it is today. The wifey says that I can start getting estimates on a paint job. WoHOO! I wonder what she wants.... anyway.... I hope you enjoy. I sure am! I love driving my first love again.EDIT: A bit more history .... As my folks and I were looking for my car, the first car I really, really liked was an 84 Cougar. I didn't like the color much, dark brown, but I loved the style. It was a bit rough, and had gold rims. After that, this style was all that I looked at or for. It really was love at first sight when it came to the cougars and tbirds. I was really looking exclusivly for the Cougar becasue my older brother, Troy, had an 84 bird. I also really liked the more boxey looking rear 1/4 window area, as opposed to the sloped rear window. bbbuuuuuut, one day my parents and I were driving into the big city of Scottsbluff, NE to go to the mall and spotted my 85 sitting in a lot right next to the highway. We stopped, looked, and fell in love. The rest is history. Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #1 – May 22, 2008, 02:12:03 AM ... more Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #2 – May 22, 2008, 02:17:36 AM ... more Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #4 – May 22, 2008, 02:25:06 AM that vinyl on the sunroof will make me laugh for the next day. Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #5 – May 22, 2008, 02:28:15 AM :wtf: Yeah, man. I was a sophomore in high school.... never removed for some wierd reason... not until recently... and now somehow it ruined the tint on my sunroof and is permanently ghosted in. It is the name of the car... and has nothing to do with the driver.... got it.. :) Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #6 – May 22, 2008, 02:59:47 AM looks good just needs the bottom painted all black or a full custom paint job. that car looks good and i am sorry you could not drive it for years but i think its nice you got to fix it all up can't wait to see even more pics of it. Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #7 – May 22, 2008, 03:19:46 AM Thanks, man. I appreciate it. I really cannot believe that it is sitting in my garage ready to roll. I'm planning on painting it... probably all the same color, Claret red. A custom paint color I picked while I was in college. Used a school loan on it. I'll have the entire thing painted, though.... it really looks better in pictures and from a distance. I'll update this thread with more pics as time passes.My wife is so cool, she likes to just go out on the highway with me and cruise. Feels good. Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #8 – May 22, 2008, 03:36:31 AM go check out my cougar got it my old 87 T-Bird got wrecked but i like when bad stories turn out good.Bad thing could not drive it for years.Good thing got to drive it and its getting close to being about done and the wife digs the new ride. Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #9 – May 22, 2008, 10:36:56 AM Awesome!!! The engine bay and underside are so cleeeeeean!!! gimmegimmegimmegimme!!!! LOL Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #10 – May 22, 2008, 10:47:05 AM Nice work.I wish the Sport was ready for paint.I'm getting closer by the week.Keep us posted,and,great looking car. Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #11 – May 22, 2008, 10:53:09 AM OUCH! That had to hurt... the car and your heart. Looks like you have plenty to do and to fall back on... it's all good, even though it was bad.And hey, why you flipping over my "sweetness" on the sunroof.... "Car Pimp" on the ash tray... now that's funny. LOL. Quote from: Carpimp1987;220181go check out my cougar got it my old 87 T-Bird got wrecked but i like when bad stories turn out good.Bad thing could not drive it for years.Good thing got to drive it and its getting close to being about done and the wife digs the new ride. Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #12 – May 22, 2008, 10:59:10 AM Thanks! I wipe down the engine and bay after every time I drive it. My wife thinks i'm wierd. Sometimes I'll wait until she goes to bed and then go out and hang with sweetness. Yeah, the underside WAS clean. I had pics with the exhaust, etc. right before I drove it home, but my camera card was corrupt. The day I took it home it started poaring not 2 miles from the shop... didn't stay clean under there for long. But it still looks good. I'm planning on taking it back down to the shop for the first oil change so that they can check all the nuts n bolts are tight. I think they just want to see the car again. LOL. I'll have them put her up on the lift and snap some pics.I have a million pics of the process. I went down to the shop every week and snapped pics. I really, really glad that I did.Quote from: ZondaC12;220211Awesome!!! The engine bay and underside are so cleeeeeean!!! gimmegimmegimmegimme!!!! LOL Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #13 – May 22, 2008, 11:01:02 AM Thanks a bunch! Most of the work was done by somebody else. I wish I had the skills of some of you... I can do the basics, but I enjoy every minute of it. This would not have been done for a long, long time if it were not for grandma. I hope she can see how happy I am.:D Quote from: vinnietbird;220212Nice work.I wish the Sport was ready for paint.I'm getting closer by the week.Keep us posted,and,great looking car. Quote Selected
UPDATE 8/27: The 85 Bird - lots of pics. Reply #14 – May 22, 2008, 11:53:24 AM Looks great! are you going to lower it?Whats going on with the rear mudflaps? they are killin it with the body kit on there. Do you have a rear bumper cover? Quote Selected