'61 vs '62 FE
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 350
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA
'61 vs '62 FE
First let me apologize because this isn't about a truck but you guys have been so helpful back when I had a truck and I can't find a good thunderbird forum so I was hoping you guys might be willing and able to help.
I just picked up a 61 Thunderbird and I have a couple choices for a parts car. I can get a whole, rust free 61 thunderbird parts car that's been sitting for years. Or I can pull parts from a 62 thunderbird but I can't take the whole car.
From my research, the '62 has a better engine. (Engine is painted gold) I'm not really clear on this. Is the 62 Gold FE the Tri-Power? I've read that the '61 has a 9.2 compression ratio and the '62 has a 10.6 ratio. Should I go with the whole car or just pull the parts off of the '62? If I go with the '62, should I pull the intake and the heads?
I just picked up a 61 Thunderbird and I have a couple choices for a parts car. I can get a whole, rust free 61 thunderbird parts car that's been sitting for years. Or I can pull parts from a 62 thunderbird but I can't take the whole car.
From my research, the '62 has a better engine. (Engine is painted gold) I'm not really clear on this. Is the 62 Gold FE the Tri-Power? I've read that the '61 has a 9.2 compression ratio and the '62 has a 10.6 ratio. Should I go with the whole car or just pull the parts off of the '62? If I go with the '62, should I pull the intake and the heads?
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Joined: Apr 2004
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Not sure this is 100%, but it shows no difference '61 to '62.
FE Series Engine Specification Chart
IMO, just buy as much stuff as you can stand.
A gold engine. OK, Ford used to color aircleaners and valve covers differently depending on what engine. The blocks and manifolds were black.
Gold valve covers and air cleaner might mean 390 4bbl, or just FE. (I can't recall, Numberdummy has listed some of these in the past)
If it is a 6V engine, you'd see it and it would probably have an open element oblong aircleaner.
If it is all gold, it is probably a reman.
After all this time, there may or may not be OEM parts in there. FE stuff interchanges for the most part, so as I said above, just get everything you can. If you can't use it, you can sell it.
Serving suggestion, ymmv
FE Series Engine Specification Chart
IMO, just buy as much stuff as you can stand.
A gold engine. OK, Ford used to color aircleaners and valve covers differently depending on what engine. The blocks and manifolds were black.
Gold valve covers and air cleaner might mean 390 4bbl, or just FE. (I can't recall, Numberdummy has listed some of these in the past)
If it is a 6V engine, you'd see it and it would probably have an open element oblong aircleaner.
If it is all gold, it is probably a reman.
After all this time, there may or may not be OEM parts in there. FE stuff interchanges for the most part, so as I said above, just get everything you can. If you can't use it, you can sell it.
Serving suggestion, ymmv
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 350
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA
Ha. I was going by this link
<a href="http://www.tbird.org/DataPlate/vdata.htm">Data Plate Info</a>
But after reading through your link and coming back and reading my link, I can see where I made the mistake.
Thanks
<a href="http://www.tbird.org/DataPlate/vdata.htm">Data Plate Info</a>
But after reading through your link and coming back and reading my link, I can see where I made the mistake.
Thanks
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