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Topic: hubcaps (Read 3222 times) previous topic - next topic

hubcaps

Reply #15 –
I've seen several style wheels that look good on the Tbird so I'm sure you'll find something you like.

The five spoke look tends to make the car look sporty. I played around with these wheels off of a SVT Contour.

Some Mustang wheels look good too.  Good luck. :D
tbirdregistry.com
26480
27373

hubcaps

Reply #16 –
yeah I was about to put mine on earlier today after school and the rear tires look really py, im gunna pay a visit to the junk yard to see if i can find some good 16" tires so i wont have to fix a flat soon. but i figured out hoiw to take the caps off so thanks lol.

hubcaps

Reply #17 –
Quote from: rodsterh;311565
I've seen several style wheels that look good on the Tbird so I'm sure you'll find something you like.

The five spoke look tends to make the car look sporty. I played around with these wheels off of a SVT Contour.

Some Mustang wheels look good too.  Good luck. :D


I never took notice before that some other 4-lug Ford cars besides the RWD ones have the same bolt pattern. My only concern would be the offset on a set of FWD wheels. However I am so picky with wheel styles and the look of most five spoke wheels has worn off for me since I have had so many cars with them in the past. My Mustang has the Bullitt style wheels from the factory and I am even getting tired of looking at those. Would love to have a new certain set of 2010 style wheels for the Mustang but I will not be changing any time soon. I am focusing on my Tbird only until it's complete.

I have always been a big fan of radial finned wheels, so the Mustang turbines are still on the top of my list.

hubcaps

Reply #18 –
I had the factory wire wheels on my T-bird when I got it. I replaced them almost immediately with some T-bird 8 hole 14" wheels.




I'm now running Turbo Coupe 16" Snowflake wheels. I like them better and they are exclusive Thunderbird wheels.




88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

hubcaps

Reply #19 –
Quote from: thunderjet302;311848
I had the factory wire wheels on my T-bird when I got it. I replaced them almost immediately with some T-bird 8 hole 14" wheels.


That is such a nice Bird you have.. two tone paint and all...

I wouldn't mind a good set of 8 hole wheels. They look really good in your older pictures with the white lettered tires. You gotta have the right tire size for them to look substantial which yours do. They look right and tight to me being one of the original factory wheel offerings. I keep seeing 8 hole wheels here and there in the salvage yards but never a full set and I am resistant to doing any kind of labor intensive restoration to a set of wheels since none that I have seen are in good shape.

Ya know those 8 hole wheels do a good job of retaining the TRX wheel look on a conventional size. I like my original wheels but  the tire availabilty and price.

Oh yeah and your Bird beak is still making me crazy and indecisive about wanting to switch out the header panel for the newer style. It would be an interesting mix with the 84-86 body with a 87-88 nose. If I was not so tight on money this month I would probably be out in the salavage yard tomorrow to snag what I could before it got gone. I don't mind having extra parts and trying them out to see what I like best because they are generally dirt cheap. I can always change my mind. I just have to commit to something before the day comes the car goes to paint and body work, which is not anytime soon.

hubcaps

Reply #20 –
I'm going to have a set of 8 holes available pretty soon :D
Fox-less at the moment

hubcaps

Reply #21 –
Quote from: hypostang;311892
I'm going to have a set of 8 holes available pretty soon :D


Good shape? With tires or without? Hmmm.... Let me know how much and I'll see if I can swing the expense soon.

Thanks so much for the tip!

hubcaps

Reply #22 –
Very good shape , tires are borderline but will come with the wheels and if i could get the $50 i paid for my turbines I would be thrilled
 I am in no hurry to move them though , so I can wait as long as you need. 
 I'll get you some pics tomorrow if you wish
Fox-less at the moment

hubcaps

Reply #23 –
Pics would be good and in good shape definitely worth $50 to me. Shipping from TN should not be too bad being as close as we are to each other. I think I paid more than that for just the wheel covers I bought!

hubcaps

Reply #24 –
I just used the factory size tire on the 8 holes: 215/70/R14.

The Snowflakes have a slightly bigger than factory size on them. The factory size is 225/60/R16. I'm running 225/55/R16 tires on mine.

The white letter tires on the 8 holes make the 70 series tires look less tall. They do however give the car a bit of a hillbilly look. The Snowflakes make the car look more classy ;)
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

hubcaps

Reply #25 –
Oh and Watchdevil I'd keep the stock T-bird header panel on your car. Trying to get the 87-88 header to match the body lines won't work well at all and the car will look a bit funny. Plus in my opinion the factory look is the way to go:D
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.
 

hubcaps

Reply #26 –
Quote from: thunderjet302;311959
Oh and Watchdevil I'd keep the stock T-bird header panel on your car. Trying to get the 87-88 header to match the body lines won't work well at all and the car will look a bit funny. Plus in my opinion the factory look is the way to go:D


I will not be using body side moldings at all when I get the exterior refinished. It's virtually impossible to find any in good shape, so there would not be an issue with the header panel lining up with the fenders. I have seen the four eyed header panel and bumper cover installed on a 88-87 car in a salavge yard. There were no actual fitment problems as the front fenders were only modified in certain places, not completely recontoured for 87-88 model years. The only thing that was done for 87-88 was the recessed groove above the bodyside moldings of the 83-86 cars was "filled-in" smooth and the body-side molding raised slightly to cover the top of where the old groove would have been. If cars were equipped with cornering lamps in the bodyside molding, the cutout was raised in the sheetmetal stamping to line up with the raised molding.

Now if a 87-88 header panel is installed without the corresponding bumper cover, there would be a gap all the way across the bottom of the lamps and grille. The 87-88 bumper cover is raised on the top front compared to the 83-86 bumper. There would also be a mismatch with the 83-86 front bumpers swept back on the ends with the center straight accross while the 87-88 header with the lamps and grille installed would come to a point in the center conflicting with the straight accross center of the 83-86 bumper cover. For it to look right though you would have to use the 87-88 front bumper along with the same year header panel.