TOM & SHARON TRADEWELL

   Many of you have heard that my latest Thunderbird project is a 1963 Thunderbird Roadster convertible. I purchased this car from Dale Peck and I have been working on it ever since. Dale had all of the heavy duty restoration done years ago. Dale got busy with his work and other things and he realized that finishing this car was not possible with his other commitments. When I purchased the car in July 2019 it would be fair to say that it was about 60 percent completed. Jim Rugg told me that it should take about forty hours to complete. I was naive as far as putting a car like this back in working order so the one or two hundred hours that I have spent working on the car has been quite an experience.
     I have got to admit right here that without the help and advice from many of our members I would not have made near the progress that has been obtained. Dan Schaefer and Ed Schmidt had put together swing away steering columns in their own cars. This was my source of knowledge because there was NO steering column in this car when I brought it home. The few hour job of installing a steering column turned into a week of assembly, disassembly and reassembly. By the time we finished with the final assembly we all were well versed and educated on how not to put a steering column together. A lot of wires had to be put in and out of that steering column more than once or twice. Thanks Dan and Ed for your help and guidance. I really wanted to drive the car now that I could steer it but that had to wait.
     The cars brakes did not work. I found that from sitting many years the brake lines had become plugged as the brake fluid absorbed water and rusted the lines. Realizing that I would not want to see this happen again, I ordered stainless steel brake lines that will not rust. Yes the few hour job of fixing the brakes took another week.
Along with the brake lines being plugged so was the gas tank and fuel lines. Luckily the carburetor had no gas in it so no harm was done there. New gas tank and fuel lines and it was time to start the engine that had not been started in over twenty years. My friend Art and I removed the valve covers and poured a little oil down each push rod. Then we cranked the engine with the plugs out and ignition disconnected. After a minute of cranking we could see oil making up to the rocker arms a very good sign. I will say the engine had been rebuilt by Dale�s friend and it was spotless inside. The engine was then started and sounded like a brand new engine.
     Next step was to install the front bumper and grill assembly. Another few hour job that took a couple days. Thanks to Dan again and Joe Bunzel who had been helping all along. The car was STARTING to look somewhat complete. As the car was running, had brakes and lights I decided to take it to the front end shop and have it aligned and checked over. It rode and drove pretty nice after that.
     The next project was to get the convertible top mechanisms working. This was another few hour job that took two weeks. Again I would still be working on that top had it not been for Dan and Jim Rugg troubleshooting the system. With the mechanicals working like a clock, I was ready to visit custom top shop in Butler. They had done the top on my 1955 T-bird and did a fine job. The top turned out beautiful and I have talked enough already. I am now working to restore the complete interior and this few hour job should take me about a month.

1963 SPORT ROADSTER