My virus cures

  Vic Correnti

The things I changed on my TBird made it better.  I built a new engine after a freeze plug rusted out of the old one. I changed to a dual master cylinder and upgraded the brakes. Upgraded the electrical system to 12 volts and added an alternator.  Ditched the old leaky brass radiator for a new aluminum radiator and electric fan.  Rebuilt the front end and installed a new gas tank.  Changed the tires and wheels. Replaced the exhaust system and installed a new front bumper.  Before I did all that, my best friend was the AAA tow truck driver.  I built my car to drive and we drive it a lot.  Sure, it leaks a little oil.  I have never seen a YBlock that didn't.  My car pulls like a train in second gear. When it shifts into O/D, the train starts all over again. This is by far the best driving old car I have ever owned.  It's worth every dime I have put into it.

And frankly they just look better and sound better.

I understand making things safer and more modern and trans, rear, AC, brakes, tires, etc, changes I’ll go along.
I think people today are just spoiled on automobiles with no leaks, 7k between oil changes and fuel mileage. Sure I would like 20+ mpg but most of us drive our older cars very little. A 15 gal fill up lasts me at least 2 months and I have record books on all my cars. To each his own I guess.

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

Any car with a YBlock is good for me.  I've had my share of 50s Fords with engine swaps.  They don't sound and feel the same way.   I have a good friend that is building a big buck 55 TBird restomod.  It has a 5.0 Mustang engine, rack and pinion steering, air conditioning and all kinds of other modern stuff.  A small TBird needs a YBlock.

Great Tbird you have there. Even better it's still a y block.  This a project i been trying to finish. 



Located in Harford County Maryland 

I am aware some people do not like to see these cars modified.  Values are dropping on all of these cars dramatically. There are so many of them for sale, I don't see how this is harming anything.  That said, I am careful not to cut the car or do anything that can not be reversed.  My garage is stacked with all the original parts to this bird.  If desired, the next owner can put it back to the way Henry built it.

As of today my Covid-19 project is shoveling snow, again! The temperatures are moving upward now so I expect to get a few days in on my roadster. The 56 will languish in trailer storage for at least another month. Hopefully this year it will come out ready to check over, start and go. I plan to make the Y-Block Nationals in June and then head to Bonneville with the roadster in August.

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

my take is the changes have a negative action on a great looking  bird,very hard to improve henrys dash on the early birds. there was a moment you can't activate a electric tack. i have  duraspark on my 292 and the ad on tack works fine. any way i like your car but would not have those changes.i had 2 55 birds over the years wish i kept 1.

I understand originality.  I'm am not a big fan of the restomod craze. I can't think of anything more ridiculous looking than a beautiful old classic car with 22" wheels and a back seat full of stereo speakers.  If you want a car that drives like a new car, I think you should buy a new car.

I did not buy this car because it was a '55 Thunderbird.  I wanted a rust free black YBlock manual transmission car that I could hot rod and the TBird became available at the right price.   My wife always wanted a convertible, so it happened.  Now that I have this Tbird, I find I enjoy driving it more than any other old car I have ever owned.  These cars are getting a lot more affordable than they used to be.  They will most likely all be close to worthless in twenty years.  The feeling I get when I go through the gears is priceless.

Love the tach. I have an older Sun that is doing funny things at high rpm. May ordrer one. I'm fine with your gauge setup. Restomods and hot rods are realy popular now and actially selling for more than total stockers. Never thought it would be this way. My '57 was ha hot rod/restomod before the term restomod existed. Haven't changed anything that couldn't be changed back but love the performance and drivability of my Mummert head 322 cubic inch Y Block and 4 speed toploader. Have fun with it.