Can a beginner mechanic get this 64 Thunderbird to run and drive after DECADES?

[@mikemech6236]

32:32 you can tell bandit takes the security job SERIOUS 😂😂

[@mikemech6236]

53:10 dude i dont know how you do it but after watching this video definitely get the same feels , huge sense of accomplishment here after quite a battle with that engine!

[@okspeedshop]

😂😂😂 he doesn’t miss anything.

[@okspeedshop]

@@mikemech6236 man thanks so much. That’s what I show all my struggle instead of skipping over it. I want everyone to feel that once I succeed. Thanks for sharing this that is such great feedback. I appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@craigjorgensen4637]

He’s a humble guy who ended up doing well!

[@okspeedshop]

Thanks for watching

[@scottlogan2971]

1964 - '66 Thunderbird's were beautiful cars! Your '64 came with a 390 (300 H.P.) FE engine and that's what you've got. Your distributor vacuum advance line is missing and that needs to be replaced/connected. I'd install a new condenser too. The accelerator pump in that original Autolite 4100 needs a new diaphram. You did manage to get it running with the other Autolite carburetor you removed from the '65 - good for you!

[@okspeedshop]

Great eye! Thanks for watching! Still have the 65!

[@jayb.5017]

The piece in the console is a fuel pressure regulator that goes inline to the carb, they were somewhat popular in the '60s and '70s, especially during the oil embargo. They really don't work well, a carb tuning does a better job of being efficient than those did. The "lights" on the fenders are fiber optic light monitors, tells you if you have a bulb out up front. Ford had a lot of innovative options for the time period, amazing to see options that are commonplace now on a 60 year old car. That '55 is downright awesome. I love seeing the old crew cabs (4 doors) get love because they get way too much hate. 4 doors are excellent family cruisers and can be just as cool, if not cooler than a 2 door. I'll say that when you got her going and purring really well, I gave out a hearty "heck yeah!"

[@okspeedshop]

Wow man thanks for the informative comment! Sounds like you’ve been around some of these a time or two! Yeah jimmys 4 door is nice! He was always a two door guy til he got great grandkids 😄 thanks for the support!

[@craigjorgensen4637]

Those fender lights aren’t fiber optics. They are actual lights that flash with the turn signals. Love those TBirds and I know them well. They are very troublesome and difficult to work on. Miles of vacuum lines and electrical problems. He has probably sucked the carb full of crap from debris in the gas tank. He should have used a gas can and hose from the beginning!

[@craigjorgensen4637]

The old timers would often test for spark by grabbing the wires!

[@WilhelmvonB]

But , I’ll give you cred as you got it runnin’ ! The T-birds from the 60s are nice….

[@MrBuringrudm]

This really did help me with my 1965 Ford Thunderbird when I got my barn find!

[@okspeedshop]

@@MrBuringrudm awesome! They are nice cars!

[@FelixcatGarcia]

If you have no feeler gauge, use a matchbook cover, and that should get you close enough. Buy one; it's a cheap investment, and you can gap your plugs as well. Also, check your timing-sometimes, just advancing your timing will help-and check your firing order. At one point, it blew a little fire; it could be 180 degrees out.

[@okspeedshop]

Thank you!

[@1776_Garage]

Great job. Sounds good!

[@okspeedshop]

Thank ya buddy

[@tommyhall2768]

Love 64 65 t birds

[@okspeedshop]

Yes they are a piece of art

[@frosgarage9099]

Always remember, on a revival always unhook that battery when you’re done until you know there are no bad wires. Don’t want to burn your rig down.🇺🇸 Good job.

[@okspeedshop]

Man I sure learned that lesson this time! Thanks man!!

[@TheCrackerBox]

Congratulations on the growth of your channel !! As always, Thanks for another , Brother !

[@okspeedshop]

Hey thanks dude!!! You too!

[@WilhelmvonB]

The lights on the fenders are turning lights indicators. And you should’ve known that !!

[@okspeedshop]

First third experience for me! I’m a newbie! Thanks for watching!

[@NoReverse77]

If you see that accelerator pump dripping like that when you move the linkage go ahead and take the carb off and rebuild it.

[@okspeedshop]

Yep I ordered a kit for it! It was gone haha

[@catman256able]

Those things on the end of the fenders are turning lights. 🙏🎏✌️🤠

[@okspeedshop]

Weird haha

[@ClassicCarRevivals]

Thanks for the shout out Matt great video!

[@okspeedshop]

Thanks for the help!

[@ClassicCarRevivals]

@@okspeedshop yes sir! Anytime

[@kristencameron1213]

Yay! You did it! 👏 she’s a beaut!

[@okspeedshop]

Ain’t she purdy??

[@kristencameron1213]

We share a birthday!

[@okspeedshop]

@@kristencameron1213 you’re a classic! 😂

[@CharlesCox-p1h]

I haven't even watched the video yet , but those old birds are definitely keepers

[@okspeedshop]

Thanks! She will make somebody a good one

[@billshepherd5299]

Check and replace the points and condenser

[@adambell6941]

Good job! I only yelled at you 87.4 times, lol!

[@okspeedshop]

Hahaha watching it back I yelled at myself 😂😂

[@1776_Garage]

Cool car. I love thunderchickens!

[@okspeedshop]

Big motor for a little car!

[@1776_Garage]

@@okspeedshop Perfect lol

[@okspeedshop]

@@1776_Garage heck yeah!

[@ClassicCarRevivals]

Your merch came today! Dang that’s awesome stuff!!

[@okspeedshop]

Sweet!! Send pics!!

[@Tannerrebuilds]

Great video. My grandpa had a 61 or 62 tbird. Id love to get one of those. U did an amazing job. You thought the gadjets were cool in that get a 58 edsel

[@okspeedshop]

Thanks man!! Really? What all does the Edsel do??

[@Tannerrebuilds]

@@okspeedshop it has a cool tell a touch gear selector in the middle of the steering wheel and the cool speedometer

[@mustangrebuilder]

Im in Tulsa and my Mother in law lives in Broken Bow might get with you in July and see whats up LOL

[@okspeedshop]

Yeah buddy!!

[@chestercribb9075]

Nice looking old 1964 thunderbird what's the asking price we love antique cars and trucks my wife and I do we use to own 2 1966 chevy impalas wished I had kept them I drove one for 2 years but I never got the chance to drive the other one both had original engines and transmissions in them keep up the good work

[@okspeedshop]

Thank you! Owner is asking $5500 for this one and $4500 for the red one. Both have original engines. They are sweet! I’d love to have a 66 impala! Nice one

[@pablopickasso4098]

I got one for sale, in almost prime condition in upstate new York its a Arizona car no rust, let me know if your interested, thanks

[@chestercribb9075]

@pablopickasso4098 what's the asking price

[@johngallagher5341]

You’re killing me, smalls you always gotta make sure the carburetor is cleaned out. The Jets are probably clogged or the float is stuck open or shut, not allowing fuel in when it is shut when it is open it overfilled with fuel and floods. The motor had run more than 45 minutes ago.

[@okspeedshop]

I know that now 🤣🤣 I’m learning haha

[@johngallagher5341]

@@okspeedshop Yeah I know bro I started working on cars when I was like 13 years old. My mom called me and said I was too go to the auto parts store and pick up the parts and then ride my bike to her work. She helped me push the car up on the curb so I could change the starter and that’s when I learned that you have to disconnect the battery and sparks and the car alarm went off that we didn’t know. We had a car alarm on the car. Scared the Sh!t out of me 😂🤣

[@okspeedshop]

@@johngallagher5341 HAHA!! Now that’s a good memory!

[@TheCrackerBox]

Man you should buy it !

[@okspeedshop]

My wife wants it but I have too many projects 😂

[@Tannerrebuilds]

​@@okspeedshop there is never to much projects lol.

[@ClassicCarRevivals]

Now I’m done with vacation! Time to catch up !

[@okspeedshop]

How was it???

[@ClassicCarRevivals]

@@okspeedshop it was a blast! Lots of cool old trucks

[@bens1019]

If you leave key on or power to points style ignition, without motor running it will burn up coil, points or condersor

[@okspeedshop]

Pretty much what I did. Key was off but there was a wiring issue making it where it was like key was on all night haha.

[@johnirwin1137]

Might hv to rebuild the carburetor .

[@okspeedshop]

Definitely!!

[@glenngregory-bu5hp]

It goes in your fuel line I don’t remember what it’s for

[@WhiskeyDents]

What a battle

[@okspeedshop]

Probably the operator slowed the process way down haha oh well, alls well the ends well!

[@ClassicCarRevivals]

Checking in I will return later

[@okspeedshop]

Awesome thanks for the help David

[@Hypantaleo]

i have this exact same car and it won’t start… what exactly are you putting in at 16:27 ?

[@okspeedshop]

Hey man it’s just some weedeater gas pouring straight into the carb. The added oil in weedeater gas helps lube up the top end of an engine that’s been sitting.

[@Hypantaleo]

@@okspeedshopthank you!! i’m about half way into the video now.. but before i get to the end, to save me some time, what exactly did you end up doing to get her running?

[@okspeedshop]

The carb ended up needing rebuilt so I grabbed another carb and put it on and it started right up!

[@ClassicCarRevivals]

That’s a cool car

[@okspeedshop]

Yes very pretty and cool design!

[@mooosestang]

You are a dangerous man with a screw driver. I'm sure that's the original 390 FE that came in the car.

[@lindseyspano2021]

Make a gravity feed fuel tank you can hang off the hood

[@okspeedshop]

Yes I need to rig one of those for these deals

[@mikes5639]

I have a 66 thunderbird and the motor is a 390 ci. So yours is probably a 390 as well unless its a z code than you have a 428 ci

[@okspeedshop]

Yes you’re right!

[@1776_Garage]

They don't make em like that anymore. Sweet car. I'd like it but I'm pretty sure I can't afford it. Lol

[@okspeedshop]

For sure! Piece of art especially for 1964. The guy is asking $5500 for it. Numbers matching. Clear title!

[@1776_Garage]

@@okspeedshop not bad

[@TimHovis]

24 volts will get er done!!!

[@okspeedshop]

You’d sure think! 😂

[@RoadHeros610]

Did u ever see if was pumping fuel..

[@okspeedshop]

Oh yeah she’s pumping

[@lindseyspano2021]

390 6.4 liter 315 hp

[@okspeedshop]

Nice!! Thanks for the specs 👊🏻

[@johnirwin1137]

Don't kill your battery . Look at plugs , points , and wires .

[@okspeedshop]

I gave it a run for its money 😆

[@CharlesCox-p1h]

Timing

[@craigjorgensen4637]

390 engine.

[@enjoythesho1992]

Most likely a 390 i think they may have came with 292 also

[@okspeedshop]

Yes turns out it was a 390! Thanks!

[@td8195]

@enjoythesho1992 Thunderbirds hadn’t had a 292 since 1957.

[@enjoythesho1992]

@@td8195 yeah your right I forgot they stopped in 57 well you could get a 292 or 312 in 1957 but yeah

[@WhiskeyDents]

Hey Matt

[@okspeedshop]

What’s up bro!!!

[@WhiskeyDents]

@@okspeedshop not much just seeing if you could get this thunder chicken started

[@okspeedshop]

@WhiskeyDents 😂😂 even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then haha

[@WhiskeyDents]

@@okspeedshop yes sir

[@steveedwards4868]

i was born in 64 do you still have the car??

[@okspeedshop]

@@steveedwards4868 sold it but I have a maroon ‘65 that is just like it but needs a transmission. $2500

[@lindseyspano2021]

You don't have to put the spark plug by metal

[@okspeedshop]

Oh ok good to know I was thinking you had to but I guess that makes sense now that you mention it

[@codynewton7227]

I’m interested in the car

[@okspeedshop]

Awesome owner is asking $5500. Are you in insta? Ok_speed_shop

[@ClassicCarRevivals]

I’m back

[@michaeladams5201]

What are you asking for the old bird?

[@okspeedshop]

The guys asking $5500 for her

[@michaeladams5201]

Where is the old bird nesting these days?

[@okspeedshop]

@@michaeladams5201 the pineywoods of southeastern Oklahoma. Where you coming from

[@michaeladams5201]

@@okspeedshop Topeka,KS.

[@okspeedshop]

@@michaeladams5201 gotcha, little ways but let me know if you’re interested.

[@CharlesCox-p1h]

Ac doesn't work if it's not running 😅

[@josephknowler6205]

Gas

[@craigjorgensen4637]

This guy knows NOTHING about this car!

[@okspeedshop]

@@craigjorgensen4637 you’re just now figuring this out?? 😂 you must be new here.

[@craigjorgensen4637]

@@okspeedshop Yep, first time. I KNEW he would replace the coil! Coils RARELY fail!

[@craigjorgensen4637]

Im wondering if he accidentally left the ignition on all night? I would change the distributor cap.

[@okspeedshop]

@@craigjorgensen4637 yes I left the battery hooked up and wiring was messed up and coil was hot all the time.

[@daynalynds8719]

quick tip when your setting your points if you dont have a set of gapping gauges to get you out of a pinch you can use a piece of cardboard from a pack of cigarettes or a match book

[@okspeedshop]

Ah that’s a good idea thank you!

[@daynalynds8719]

Looks like a 390

[@okspeedshop]

Yes you’re right!!