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.
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that vinyl on the sunroof will make me laugh for the next day.
: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.. :)
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.
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.
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.
Awesome!!! The engine bay and underside are so cleeeeeean!!! gimmegimmegimmegimme!!!! LOL
Nice work.I wish the Sport was ready for paint.I'm getting closer by the week.Keep us posted,and,great looking car.
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.
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.
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
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?
The shop said that it will settle a little bit over time. The new springs and shocks keep 'er up a bit high for my taste. We'll see on that. I have plenty of time. I suppose one would have to either replace or cut the springs. They replaced mine becasue two of them were broken... plus they wanted to beef them up with the bigger engine in the front.
Yeah, man... the flaps will probably be going sooner or later.... just took the front ones off yesterday to put on the front ground effects. Don't you know they make the car go faster. LOL EDIT: No wait, took them off a couple weeks ago when I put on the side skirts. My bad.
As far of the rear ground effects cover/skirt. I do not have one. When I purchased my gound effects the guy only had the front and sides. I am torn on whether or not I like the look of the rear skirt or not. I have looked at a lot of other cars on cardomain and some have it, some do not. For me it depends on the angle that you look at the car. I am keeping an eye out for one.... but I will only buy one if it is pretty cheap.
That's a great story. I got my 88 Bird in HS also, and drove it even after college for a few years, before I put it in storage for about 5 yrs. I'm 31 years old now, and I'm just now getting it the way I always wanted it to be. Your car looks great...keep up the good work!
That car is awesome; a nice paint job will really set it off too. Glad to see it up and runnin :) . Enjoy it!
Thanks 88BlueBird. It is far from done, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm just lucky I kept parts of it in good shape. I'm also lucky I was able to have other people do most of the work. It would have taken me a lifetime to do this. Part of our stories sound very similar. I SWEAR that this car drove me home by all by itself sometimes. We have always looked after one another. LOL Some people thought I was stupid holding on to it... said I would never get anything for it. I always said, "yep, you're right, becasue I'm NOT SELLING it." The funny thing is that the car does not remind me of a specific person, relationship, or point in time. We are one I guess.
Thanks. All of you guys' input means a lot to me. There are few people that I know that can really appreciate this style of car. Most people know of mustangs, corvettes, etc. These really are sweet looking cars. Oh, I'm enjoying it.... a lot.
I have the front and rear but no sides. I feel the same way about the rear. I saw it on one car that really looked good but i dont think im doing skirts now so Ill leave it off for now.
Oh c'mon... no skirts... how bout a pink tu-tu. LOL. If you ever are looking to sell the rear really cheap to a heck of a guy.... you know how to get in touch with me.... but I'm in no hurry becasue I just do not know if I would put it on or not. I do, however like options.
Car looks great! The wheels arn't in my taste but I have semi-simple taste. :)
Thanks man. Appreciate it. Yeah, man... wheels are such a personal thing. Some have said they love 'em... some they're ugly. But, you know my opinion. I had to stay with something directional. Right after I bought the car, one day dad says he needed the car for the afternoon. I didn't ask why, just figured he wanted to be sure sonny boy got a good car. Well, he came home with new rims on the car for me. They were directional ones. (not pictured on my photos, actually on the front of the car). When I had my car done we went with a 9" 5-lug posi rear end. Becasue we went with 5-lug, obviously the old ones wouldn't fly and had to replace them. When looking for new ones I wanted to stay with directional becasue that is what pa picked out. Here's what they look like close up . . . .
Almost done . . . . . (http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn262/kbernadt/100_2734.jpg)
Looking good there!
pull it out of the garage and take some pics. Looks killer.
I am in love! That is one of the sickest t-birds on the site! One day my kitty will be there.
It maybe worth it to go back and get the Continental seat track then. If you guys can do it then I know I can as well with some serious effort. It will be fairly easy to see if the seat tracks bolt to the floor in the right places between the Cougar and the Continental they have in the yard right now, but it would be my luck the car would be removed by the time I make my next trip back!
Wow it looks like I won't be able to spot you by the "unpainted" ground effect any more. Well hopefully one of these days I'll see it out and about while I'm cruising around. Looks very nice sir.
Peace,
Dan W.
x2 more pics looks good friend. :D
Real purdy... You've been busy...
"Sweetness" is living up to her name! Looks very nice man. Do us all a favor and post up some more pics! That is one sharp ride...
I'll be getting some pics this Wednesday and post them up. I have been way too busy to get it done.
I just have the headliner, re-chrome the belt molding, and the windows to re-tint. I sure wish I could find that Channel Weather strip before I tint...
And thanks all for the compliments. I know you guys and gals can appreciate making these foxes look foxy.
Back at ya soon!
Have ya seen the bird out before? I am always on the lookout for other cougs and birds. I was following a maroon 87 tbird the other day in really nice shape. Gave him the thumbs up a couple times.
Yup, hope to see ya cruzn sometime. I'm glad to see another Lincolnite on the board!!
Actually I seen you bird out in front of that bar just past 33rd and Cornhusker earlier today. Around 3pm I believe. Its actually the first time I saw it since its been painted.
I can't recall if I've seen that 87' before. Just wish my Cougar was done, still needs a bit of work on it first. Right now I'm in a lifted 75 F100 4x4 with 3 county plates. Maroon-ish in color, shouldn't be too hard to spot me :D . Us Lincolnite Bird/Cougar loves are a rare breed.
Honestly I don't think I need your license plate number to know its you :D. Your ride is very awesome and unique.
Peace,
Dan W.
Yeah, man... you'll see the car there every Mon and Tues for sure. Thanks for the compliments. I'm definately proud of it.
This lot gets it all dusty though. I need to find a new parking place. LOL.
If you ever wanna take a look just stop by the little cash place. If the cars there, I'm here.
Hell, get your coug done and we'll sit in the parking lot and drink beer. Maybe we'll start a Lincoln coug/bird club by accident.
Later, man.
No problem man, I'll try to swing in after the Cougar gets done. I'd love to get a really good look at that bird of yours. Don't know about drinking a beer, not much of a drinker but I'm up for drinking anything else and save all the beer for you :D. It might be a bit but I'll swing by for sure.
Peace,
Dan W.
:wtf:
I didn't forget about the pics.... It's a rainy py pic day.
maybe tomorrow!
Ok, here are some updated pics for your viewing enjoyment.
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I know you will like!!!
You got that looking sharp. Nice.
Very nice pictures yo.
Peace,
Dan W.
Purdy Birdie!
Thanks all! I'm in love with my high school sweet heart again. What should I tell the wife. LOL
WOW ! Looks nice ! Great pics.
SWEEEEEET !!!!! I want to touch it (the car).
ME FIRST!!! :rollin:
Bull , I'm closest!!! :D:D
Ha, just touched it. I win!
That is the nicest T-bird I have ever seen!
Although I do not like the wheels, not my style :)
Is it a body kit on it?
It flows nice with the car too!
And the color i beautiful :)
Good job!
EDIT: It said T-bird here before. I did absolutley NOT change it from Cougar to T-bird!
STOP ACCUSING ME! :'(
!
\/
psssst, It's a t-bird. :burnout:
And it's gorgeous. *Drool*
Lies!! Pics or it didn't happen! :D
Peace,
Dan W.
WOW! Looks great. Can we get more pics....
Wow Kyle, that T-Bird of your's is sweet!!!! You defenately have something to be proud of!! I love the color, it looks alot like the color of my Fusion,( redfire ).
Looks very nice! I definitely like the color!
Shiny Side Up!
Bill
Very nice i drive a med red also. So please share that color and its code that would look nice with mesh wheels the same color. That's a shagy red
It's a Ford Red. I saw it on an 09 mustang in the sun and fell in love. I'll get the code and post it.
With it being a newer Ford color I really think it's redfire. Here's my Fusion, see what you think.