FORGOTTEN 1962 Ford Thunderbird 428! Will it Run & Drive After 28+ Years? Part 2 

Definitely want to see part 3 on the TBird.

Fantastic seeing drive! Those tail lights look the business at night. Can't wait to see its journey.

Boy, did this bring back some memories, both good and bad (LOL)! I have a '63 T'Bird that I brought back from the dead. COMPLEAT resto-mod from the ground up. It was a 390 but had it bored .020 over, EDELBROCK heads (ported and polished), Fuel Injection, HEI Ignition, Disc Brakes, Ceramic coated headers, completely new interior, Vintage Air AC, new Texas Morning Dew pearl paint, completely new front and rear suspension, dropped her 1-1/2 inch front and rear, etc., etc., etc. It took the better part of three years, but she is a "SWEET RIDE". BE SURE to change that single-reservoir brake system out to a dual reservoir if you haven't already. GOOD LUCK!!!!

I’d love to see the work you guys do on this car, no matter how many parts it takes. I hope you can restore the old girl to her former glory.

Great looking T Bird!!! 👍👍

One of my all time favorite body styles of any car.

I love the taillights.

I love this car!

Thank you for your APPRECIATION to your subscribers

A ride down memory lane for me. I restored a '66 T-Bird in the late 80's, and it didn't look that much different from the '62 under the hood. If memory serves me, it was still a 390 at that time. At the time I got it, the engine had been rebuilt, but it leaked like crazy, so had to redo rear main seal and valve cover gaskets. The front end was a mess, so did a complete cleanup and rebuild of the front end. It turned out to be a great road car, and felt like sitting in a jet with that "modern" dash, gauge pack and swing-away steering wheel. Looking forward to the next step on the '62!

Part 3 here I come!!!

Music conveys mindset to approach such challenges, one task at a time done lovingly and well after determining that it’s core justifies the time and effort.

My mom had a 63, I loved that car and the sold it in the 70's with only 63K miles on it

Pearl white would look great!

I never understood what was inside a power brake booster. Thanks for taking this one apart!

Michael , I've got a special request. Please give your Dad a hug from all of us. I pretty sure your decision to start a U tube channel was probably one of your best. Some of us know your story and getting in front of a camera brought back your confidence and gave you a goal. Your father in an inspiration to all Dads out there.

You both are awesome working great together as father and son on your project car. Great memories… thanks for sharing your story with bringing your Thunderbird back to the road.

What an absolute gem. I am so thrilled you and your dad keep finding and reviving these classic vehicles! I have always thought that several versions of those T-birds were some of the nicest looking cars ever made, and you will no doubt keep that trend going. I say put some American Racing Salt-Flats on it, swap the front brakes to disc brakes, and get that engine dialed in, and you've got yourself one heck of a nice weekend cruiser!

How cool to work together father and son. My dad would show me how to do something and then leave me alone to do it and never work on stuff with me. I would have loved to work with him like your dad does.

"Get hi-hi-high. Really makes you feel so fine, Really goes down so smooth, Really puts you in the groove. Have you heard? What's the word? It's Thunderbird." (I think you all know the band.)

Defiantly a car worth restoring

Praise the Lord you put the skirts on! These cars don't look fully dressed without them. The ford full wheel cover from the 56 ford truck look good on these. Great build, Love the Father and Son connection. Cherish it. Love the videos...please keep them coming!

For it only having one light it sure does light up well

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CAR. THIS IS ART....I WILL LOVE TO HAVE ONE

This car looks like a space ship!!!

Congrats. Nice to see such a old car coming back to life..

Good Job You & Your Father Getting Your Grandfathers T-Bird Un-Locked,Up, Running, Driving, What A Beauty, Sounds Good, Needs A Little Loving Make For A Nice Cruiser, Can’t Wait To See What’s Next..

This was great! When I was a kid, my Mom drove a 63 T-Bird Landau Coupe and it was an awesome car! So seeing you and your Dad bringing this 62 back to life brought back a lot of memories! Cannot wait to see you dial it in and clean it up! Will be following this one closely!!!!!

Wacky cars, you said? That thing is a gem. To get it back on the road and cruise around town in it how would you not wipe the smile off your face?

This Thunderbird is so beautiful! Love it!

Great Job BB on getting the 62 T-BIRD running and braking back home. yea! part 3 with a detail cleaning..

When they’re up to snuff they give a magic carpet sensation when rolling, the 428 is good for gobs of effortless torque.

I was the 2nd owner on a VERY NICE 62 Tuscon Yellow bird (just like yours) with a 390... Beautiful black interior.. Viewing this makes me miss that wonderful car...

Love those T Birds.

This has to be the first video, of all the channels I watch, where someone has gone through the brake booster 👍🏻. Car is looking good, can't wait for more on it, especially the clean up 🤙🏻💥

Back in the day I had a friend that had a 61 T-Bird and we had a lot of fun in that car!

Can't wait to see her all decked out. Thank you!

Awesome garage rescue and drive! It looks to be in a pretty good shape. Looking forward to see you bringing back it's shine and pride! Ooh, the look when you backed in and up your driveway; such a nice cruiser 🤩

I appreciated seeing you take the vacume booster apart.

I had on every similar to this one in high school back in the ‘70s. Mine had the smaller V-8, P.S. and P.B. Enjoyed it for several years. Wish I had it back.

Wow! Loved the T Bird rescue.

Can't wait for part 3 .you done good with this car 🚗

Nice video 📹 and workmanship Mike and Chris

Another solid find. I love 50s/60s cars.

I used to rebuild T-birds back in the 80"s.

I owned a 62 Thunderbird that looked exactly as your car here to the "T". I purchased it back in 1968 while I was stationed in the Air Force in southern California. It drove and it had a wonderful ride. It was certainly a beautiful car.

I really love this car , it’s going to be a fantastic project really looking forward to the finished product.

love the look of those birds so cool

Yes sir, that's my cup of tea right there, yes sir.

Another enjoyable episode. She's got some fine lines.

The gauges the steering column look so awesome.

That’s a sweet rig

I love those old T birds. I had a 66 for about a year. It will be great to see this one to the end.

Michael, The early 428 engines were a fairly high compression engine. Ford recommended that only high octane fuel be used in them and that is probably the reason for the pinging. The only 428 car that I had was a 1969 Mustang super cobra jet 428 and they had an even higher compression ratio than the Thunderbird version. The Mustang was a Mach one four spd car and had 390 to one gears and a traction-loc rearend. It was bought new in 69. The 61 thru 63 T-bird was always one of my favorites next to the 55 - 57 baby birds. It's great watching the enjoyment you are having getting this bird to fly again. And the family history of the car makes it even more important. I am sure your dad is having as much fun as you. Good luck and have fun! 😎

I acquired a 1961 TBird in may this year. Has the original 390 and has been sitting since 1992. My next task is to rebuild the brakes as well! So cool to see someone going through the same processes as myself!

Totally awesome 62 Thunderbird

Between the Galaxie, Ranchero now T bird...I'd say a nice little Ford collection you are putting together

That thing looks straight. Very pretty car.

Those space rocket style back lights look super cool driving that thing at night. I love the 60s vibe. Super sketchy though. Here in the UK the chances of the cops pulling you over and throwing the book at you would be HIGH!

A part of me wants to find one of these, and do a light restomod to it. Nothing wild, just disc brakes, better suspension, bolt on goodies for the engine etc. It would be a really fun 3 season driver.

my favorite style

I NEED PART 3 AND I NEED THE TB. IM IN LOVE!!! JAJAJAJAJA

"Woah it fell out of park!" "It's starting off in second gear..." lol! Welcome to the Ford-o-Matic transmission. It was notorious for the "falling out of park" thing - there used to be videos online of an unmanned '59 or '60 "Squarebird" buzzing around in circles, in reverse, in a parking lot, until some brave soul leaped into it at the right second and stopped the beast. The second gear start-off was because you probably had it in D2 instead of D1, which was normal operation; D1 would start you off in low. Those old monstrous motors had nothing if not torque, and a second-gear start was pretty standard back then.

The first video video I watched was the '61 Galaxie - Our family car was a '62 Galaxie. The 2nd was the '66 Mustang - Our next car and my first car was a '67 Mustang. Both cars felt extremely familiar (especially with my Mustang having the same 6-cylinder engine). So, my next car was a '62 Ford Thunderbird - You NAILED it! Wow, I'm kind of reliving my past! Thanks for bringing us these great videos!🙂

very entertaining,great videos...all of you...Greetings from Germany

Love these year T Birds. Neighbor lady had a white '63 with black vinyl top way back then, always remember that car. The chrome trim down both sides and the top of the fenders that is also the door handles is max styling.

Full chrome reverse with solid baby moons. They look good on everything. But few do it anymore.

I carried a brake adjuster spoon,in my nail apron and used it as a pry bar.. I loved it. Pex

Please keep us updated on your progress. Very interesting!

Michael, Fords were famous for jumping out of park in those years because the shifter didn't have strong detents in each position. Also, Ford 3-speed automatics until around 1967 were designed to start in second if you used the "D2" position. "D1" would start you in first.

Gotta love the TBIRD

This TBird is a keeper!

Love this model thunderbird

I hope you make it look as beautiful as the 911 it definitely Deserves it

That particular car has always been a personal favorite! It had such a distinctive look and lines that watching you brinier back from the dead was a singular pleasure

My favourite car

My mother had a 63 T, which looked like yours.. Hers had a 390.. Keep that 428 in there... Enjoyed your channel.. take care my friend...

Love the car love e father son stuff 😀❤

Amazingly beautiful car. I'm looking forward to see it shine.

Love the car. Prefer original hubcaps though than some non standard wheels.

Good job man.Thanks

The tail lights are really nice looking in the night like that ...

Man, she's running nice!

My Grandfather had one. Damn fine Car.

In 1974 I had a 61 just like that one ,white with blue interior,I lost it when a teenager was racing in the heart of downtown Renton ,Wash and hit my bird at over a 100 miles an hour and Totaled it.

Life can be grand! Good job!

Very cool bird! The power assist steering ford used back then worked well but always seemed to leak. And do yourself a favor and put a dual pot master brake cylinder on it for safety. Lots of places sell them. Great job and hope to see it daily driveing!

Oh man, ever since I got to play Street Rod 2 on PC back in 1991 or 1992 (when I bought it in the bargain bin at KB Toy Store at the Allentown, PA Lehigh Valley Mall, and believe me that I was absolutely ADDICTED to that game) I have always wanted two particular cars, a 1966 Thunderbird with a 428 or 429 with a 4 speed manual, or a 1958 Chrysler Imperial with a 426 Hemi (or a 440 six pack) with a Hurst 4 speed manual. I'd even love to own Christine with a 440 six pack, no 318 Poly with dual four bbls (but they did make great horsepower for a 318)...

My uncle had one I loved that car so cool I was about 17

This T Bird should definitely have the original hubcaps on it. She's a real beauty.

Beautiful car! My first car was a red 63 T-Bird, 390 ci with leaky rear main seal. But, super fun cruiser!!!

My fav car! I had a black 82 TBird!

That is an awesome old car 😎👌🏻 so cool 👍🏻

Your pinging issue may just be those hot spark plugs. Depending on what was done to the engine upon rebuild, you may have enough compression to need a colder spark plug. I run into this issue when I built my 445 FE for a truck. I built it with 9.5:1 compression and the autolite 45's don't work at all. I went with an industrial application type plug for a 427 side oiler, this gets the center electrode out of the flame front so that it stays cooler. Those plugs have worked for me, I pull very heavy loads over passes at the speed limit without overheating the plugs or detonation. Before I had detonation problems and the plugs would start miss firing in a short time. After the plug swap I was able to set the ignition timing properly as well with 32 degrees overall advance.

A buddy of mine had a 62 Tbird convertible in about '73. Seems like it had a 429 in it. We had a lot of fun in that car!

Great Thunderbird! I love it and I like your videos! best wishes from Germany! Mike

You're a lucky man. Doing car projects with Dad, so cool.

I’ve never seen anyone fix a brake booster before only replace. Cool

If the car is starting off in 2nd gear you might be making the common mistake of not moving the shifter down two notches from neutral instead of one. That's how the shift quadrant on the Ford CruisoMatic works. In 2010 I purchased a '62 T-Bird in that same color (Corinthian White), mine had a red interior and was a 10,600 mile original car when it came into my possession. It had obviously spent the vast majority of its life sitting in a garage because the interior was still in mint condition - not a single crack in the dash pad or steering wheel. By the way, not a big deal but the emblems on the rear quarters are installed wrong; the thicker part of the emblem should be toward the front of the car. Good luck with your revival!

The Bird run’s Free! Those were highway cruiser’s.