67 Thunderbird cruiser. Another GS450H project.
Posted: Fri May 13, 2022 5:01 am
This is my 1967 Ford Thunderbird. I've had it since 2006 when I bought it from a pawn shop in Colorado and promptly drove it 850 miles home to Nevada. Its got some minor body rust on the rear fenders and parts of the vinyl roof, but otherwise is a pretty solid full framed car. I put it on a scale several years back and its a hefty 4,850lbs, but between a full framed car and all four corners are big easily replaceable coil springs it wouldn't bother me if it got a couple pounds heavier at the end of the day. The brakes are already massive as well.
The FE engine and C6 transmission are very very tired. I took it off the road and de-registered it about two years ago though it starts right up with a splash of gas. I was doing some adding up, and determined to rebuild the factory engine and transmission, the cheapest it would be is about $6,000, maybe $8,000. For a decent 400-500HP V8 engine, aluminum heads, fuel injections, roller cam, all the stuff I would want to do, probably upwards $12,000. So, since I already have two other big block V8 cars (and a turbo L6), lets make this one electric! $12k would go a long way. The rear track width is about one inch difference from a Tesla S, and that would be a dream conversion, but for cost and perfectly adequate driving, the GS450H ought to do the job!
Here it is, 1967 Ford Thunderbird. Complete with suicide doors, sequential tail light blinkers and dozens of options. Its a fully loaded car I would like to get the A/C functional as well.
I haven't even started down the path of deciding what kind of batteries to use. I'm hoping to end up with miles of space under the hood, then the ~22 gallon gas tank area behind the rear axle and then even if I get into the trunk space I could take up a bunch of trunk space and still have loads of trunk space available! Initially I'm thinking a good 60-100 mile range car. Perhaps even a daily driver to relieve my Bolt.
Few interior shots just because The purist are probably going to lose their minds because it is a high optioned car.
The FE engine and C6 transmission are very very tired. I took it off the road and de-registered it about two years ago though it starts right up with a splash of gas. I was doing some adding up, and determined to rebuild the factory engine and transmission, the cheapest it would be is about $6,000, maybe $8,000. For a decent 400-500HP V8 engine, aluminum heads, fuel injections, roller cam, all the stuff I would want to do, probably upwards $12,000. So, since I already have two other big block V8 cars (and a turbo L6), lets make this one electric! $12k would go a long way. The rear track width is about one inch difference from a Tesla S, and that would be a dream conversion, but for cost and perfectly adequate driving, the GS450H ought to do the job!
Here it is, 1967 Ford Thunderbird. Complete with suicide doors, sequential tail light blinkers and dozens of options. Its a fully loaded car I would like to get the A/C functional as well.
I haven't even started down the path of deciding what kind of batteries to use. I'm hoping to end up with miles of space under the hood, then the ~22 gallon gas tank area behind the rear axle and then even if I get into the trunk space I could take up a bunch of trunk space and still have loads of trunk space available! Initially I'm thinking a good 60-100 mile range car. Perhaps even a daily driver to relieve my Bolt.
Few interior shots just because The purist are probably going to lose their minds because it is a high optioned car.