Hey Steve! I guess its true when they say great minds think alike.I was going to ad another post myself suggesting a possible vacuum leak.That would make the most sense.If the idle speed screw is not holding the RPM at 900 something else is allowing air in for the motor to run.If the speed screw is not in contact with  the carb lever the motor should die due to lack of air.If you remember I went through all this idle speed(wont idle in drive) when I installed my rebuild about a year ago.Once I got some help from you and reset the idle speed screw so all that was visible was the little square box for the transition slots I was able to set it properly.As you said everyones first instinct to grab the screw driver and turn up the speed screw.Once you get too much transition slot showing you will never get it to idle properly.

  

Well no one else has said it.. Clay, nice bird mate !



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

That is a sharp Bird! Just looked at the photo. I was talking with the owner of a 29k mile original trailer queen yesterday in San Jose and yours is as nice if not much better. Beautiful color scheme.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

Thanks guys, and no trailers for me. I love driving this car.

pops (AKA) Clay

'56 Thunderbird

From a fellow Bird-er. Looks very sharp and I love the colour combo. I am intrigued about the exhaust exit though. Have you done away with the bumperettes and using a down-turned exhaust? 

Richard

Richard,



I do have a down turned "shake out" exhaust on the car at this time. I have the continental kit and and/or the bumperettes for it, but am undecided on what direction I want to go with the back end (if any). I really like the clean look it has now. I never have been overly keen on the bumperettes (front or rear) and I have mixed feelings about the continental kits looks. I like the exhaust exiting in the corners of the continental kit's bumpers, just not sure I want to hang all of it over the rear end. Thus there is a quick and dirty "shake out" exhaust until I can be sure of what I want to do at the rear end.



I'm rather liking the minimalist look of the front and the rear.

pops (AKA) Clay

'56 Thunderbird

Yeah I know what you mean at the front but I have to say the exhausts exiting through the bumperettes at the rear is cool. Just so 50's and space-age. It's what gets all the comments at the shows here in the UK

Richard

Richard - Clay's car is a '56  - and the bumper is a '55. Really cleans things up and looks very nice I think. 

The '56s have the exhaust coming out the corners of the rear bumper and the "Continental Kit" exterior tire carrier as the standard arrangement. The tin internal part the tail pipe exits into - and the bumper itself - suffered from the caustic effects of the exhaust and water vapor over the years. The previous owner of my car had the turndowns added as a "self preservation" move I'm sure.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Normally I wouldn't like exterior body mods to an early T. Bird, but puting the conti kit up in the rafters suites me just fine. That car looks super clean as is & a person could always put a modern compact spare in the trunk. It has always struck me that when Ford went the conti route on the 56's they were throwing in the towel, as far as them being serious sports cars...

Paul

Paul,



I have a mini in mine too.

















Even with it, once I put two canopy chairs, my cleaning and waxing materials, and a couple of jackets, and a blanket it is pretty full.



Hmmmmm.............. Looks like I could lop off a few inches off of the hold down stud.

pops (AKA) Clay

'56 Thunderbird