I know you’re not supposed to have bellflowers and lakes pipes, but they did visually lower the car. That shot was taken for planning, there was a set of dumps to replace the lakes, and cut tips for the bellflowers. The Connie kit was something we built and came right off. It’s got 10” cheaters on 7” rims in that shot. It drove so squirrelly with the little fronts the whole project got abandoned.

Ron, I don’t remember which cut outs were on the bird, but they were the butterfly type. They leaked a bit, but not a problem with the lakes pipes on. The dump tubes were much more audible. My roadster has a set that are a “sliding door” type, and they don’t leak at all. In the winter with the top on I’d add the block off plates to the lakes to tone it down, but driving with the top down they were ok.

Ron, I tried to send a pm, but your mailbox is full. All I’ve got is the juno email, is it still good?

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Hi Mike;

Do you remember what brand of electric exhaust cut outs you used on the Bird? I'm planning on a set for the coupe. I've been looking at the Quick Time 2.5", but they are quite spendy.

Thanks

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Bellflowers out the back...First time I've ever seen them on a Bird...

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

With the Red’s headers I had electric cut outs to the lakes pipes, so you should be able to get to the down pipe for just a dump tube with a block off plate. Might take a bit of fancy welding, and exit right behind the back of the wheel well. Couldn’t make it work with the FPA collectors.



miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Phil I have 3" that exit as stock 55 bird. I have had 2" also which were a lot easier. Both have the mufflers and pipe located in the stock locations.

  Vic Correnti

CASCO and CONCOURS parts both sell repops of the 57 Tbird exhaust manifolds for about $250 ea.

Adrian found one with the ECJ9431 casting number.  I should now have both 1957 Thunderbird manifolds.  Thanks for the link!  The FPA headers are $800 bucks.  Yikes!!  I'm sure they are worth every cent, but for my application the stock 57 exhaust manifolds should fit my needs.

Once I get the motor back in I'm looking at a custom exhaust system.  I want the pipes bigger than the stock 1955 pipes.  I'm not sure now big they can make them and still have them fit within the frame rails and out the rear bumper.  I also want a side three bolt exhaust dump visible behind both front wheels.  Anyone ever seen this done?

Phil.  I checked with a friend who has been into 'Birds forever.  In checking his parts, he has an ECJ 9431-C exhaust manifold tagged as being off a '57 Bird driver's side.  He also has an ECJ 9431-A exhaust manifold tagged as being off a '56 Bird driver's side. 

Other than the casting number, I don't know the difference in the castings.

IF you can reference Gil Baumgartner's authored Classic Thunderbird Club International Thunderbird Restoration Manual, you will likely be able to obtain more info.  I don't have access to the book at this writing.   

Hope this helps.


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

I emailed Adrian and he has a 1957 Thunderbird driver side exhaust manifold he will sell me for $175.  In the photo he sent me the middle casting number is "9429" and the bolts are broken off in the exhaust flange.   Isn't the right casting number for a 1957 Thunderbird Exhaust manifold ECJ-9431-C?

This guy may have a set of 57 manifolds for a Tbird 

Adrian, lilbirds567@wmconnect.com.  No idea what he would want for them





54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ