Delete Reply #345 – February 22, 2010, 11:20:33 PM Quote from: 1Bad88tbird;311015Those taillights did look good. That's how I did my headlight covers with the Bird emblem. I've always liked the sequential taillights myself. I have a kit on my bird too.Because the circles had to be added to a shorter lens than the 87-88 models, the tops and bottoms of the circles had to be cut off so each circle would be large enough in width to look right and well balanced in scale showing through the lens. Smaller exact circles would have just looked stupid. It was kinda cool how painting the black behind the lens lent this dark red look that contrasted with the clear red circle areas.I really miss that old red Tbird... Quote Selected
Delete Reply #346 – March 14, 2010, 12:59:20 AM Not much progress going on lately. I am at a virtual standstill. I have test fitted the newer 87-88 interior door panels and they will work out great, but I cannot go with the darker gray just as they are so they will need to be recolored or reupholstered to look right. Love the newer style map pockets, more intergral armrest and better power door lock button location. I decided to play with chopping my photo again to see how I will like a set of turbines on my car and I like them. Of course I am still beating my head on whether to try a 87-88 LX nose or not... Quote Selected
Delete Reply #347 – March 14, 2010, 11:43:10 AM Yeah, I had that same dilemma (The header conversion) but the fact that I would have to rewire the lights, and the other fact that I have more important things to take care of(Running gear),I decided to wait on the cosmetics. Quote Selected
Delete Reply #348 – March 14, 2010, 08:39:03 PM Quote from: jrad235;314147Yeah, I had that same dilemma (The header conversion) but the fact that I would have to rewire the lights, and the other fact that I have more important things to take care of(Running gear),I decided to wait on the cosmetics.I swear it is so love-hate with the Cougar header panel that I am using now. I like it but it just doesn't feel exactly right. When I look at pictures of the original swept back Tbird nose and any picture of a black 87-88 Tbird it makes me wanna change it. I really think the swept back nose is more in character with the car. When I think about this 84 Tbird I like to think about the 1960 model with the smooth nose, browed headlamps and the dual cowl dash design that ties in with the Mustang dash I am using. Wiring lamps is a big no issue for me if I wanna make a change. I think I am not going to be satified until I get a 87-88 Tbird LX nose and just try it. It's the kind of thing I can always change back since it would be a minimal investment.Today I did piddly stuff. I had to break down and secure the shifter indicator collar around the steering column with a hose clamp so it would stop slipping when you change the gears. It's the prefect fix if you have a broken collar. I secured the driver's side knee panel. I took the glove box apart and painted the rusty metal backing. I also painted the rusty rear console bracket. I installed the molded carpet panel to the inside of my trunklid and I secured the 87-88 style door panels and armrests. I still need to move on with the mechanical work. I don't even no where to start, but I know I need to do brakes first so the thing will stop! Quote Selected
Delete Reply #349 – March 16, 2010, 11:43:44 PM Seriously considering this look...This is a quick chop with some crudeness but you get the idea... Quote Selected
Delete Reply #350 – March 17, 2010, 12:07:03 AM Quote from: Watchdevil;314548Seriously considering this look...This is a quick chop with some crudeness but you get the idea...I'm stealing that pic for my computer wallpaper :D Quote Selected
Delete Reply #351 – March 19, 2010, 12:36:20 AM Another SVO EYE pic... I think I may be closing in on a look that just might work for me... Quote Selected
Delete Reply #352 – March 19, 2010, 08:18:00 AM i considered doing a SVO esque glass headlight conversion on my 87. the major hang up for me was building a decent looking set of bezels to complete the look. i dont have the patience to work with fiberglass, and have too many other things higher on my priority list at the moment.i have read that the buckets from an early ranger will work for the conversion of the composite lensed SVOs back to glass headlights. might be sumthin to look into for this as well. Quote Selected
Delete Reply #353 – March 19, 2010, 11:10:16 AM Quote from: gumby;314908i considered doing a SVO esque glass headlight conversion on my 87. the major hang up for me was building a decent looking set of bezels to complete the look. i dont have the patience to work with fiberglass, and have too many other things higher on my priority list at the moment.i have read that the buckets from an early ranger will work for the conversion of the composite lensed SVOs back to glass headlights. might be sumthin to look into for this as well.It's funny, back in the day I thought it was a step backwards for the SVO Mustang to have the sealed beam headlamps and was relieved when they were fixed to aero ones a year later. Now, the aero headlamps look cheesy to me, probably because they are too flat and don't provide any definition of detail so I feel the old recessed sealed beam look is more interesting. I suppose the next day off I will be in search of an 87-88 Tbird LX nose to aquire so I can satisfy my notion. I really like how my crude photo chops look with that headlamp treatment. The important design elements I like being included for my car is the bird-like characture of the front end with the smoother nose, brows over the headlamp openings and even the bright simple eggcrate grille pattern which helps the car look wider than it is as opposed to the all smooth Turbo Coupe nose. It's just becoming quite a game for me to figure out a compromise that works. I do feel a great deal of loyalty towards the four-eyed look with the parking lamps in the bumper, but I am not as crazy about the full height grille designs. The four-eyed Cougar header looks nice, but it's still too upright and stiff for the Bird's character, especially when using the Mustang dash inside. Real birds only have two eyes, not four so there is some logic to cling to. I figure if I go with the SVO look, I can still use two of the rectangular halo hedlamps that I have installed now. They are all dual beam designs with the hi-beams disabled on the outer lamps only. I am still crazy about the amber halo lighting feature. The only thing I am not able to figure out yet is how finished looking the lamps will be installed into the 87-88 nose. It may be more interesting for it to remain unfinished looking like two headlamp covers that are rectracted with the headlamps exposed. Certainly that is not something most people with retractable headlamp doors desire to do, but in this context it just may work. My Bird is all black anyway and I do not think it I could pull it off as well if my Bird was a different color. It's still hell though having more than one look that I like for these cars. Sometimes it's mush easier to not have so many interchangable options. However, I liken it to how us guys like to change our facial hair because basically it is one of the only things besides the hair on our heads that we can change about our appearance.Going with the 87-88 grille means that I will be changing all the Bird emblems to the newer style, which mean I will be able to put to use a couple of NOS quarter panel emblems I have has for many years. This will also mean changing the taillamps to the 85-86 style so the birds will match. With that in mind I will later be able to incorporate a sequential three element LED turn signal design installed inside the taillamp units. Quote Selected
Delete Reply #354 – March 19, 2010, 11:32:31 AM You will probably have to search pretty far and wide to find a sealed beam that will fill up the cavernous hole left by the old composite. I looked into doing something similar with the large hella lights that have replaceable bulbs in them. Also, Hardbody Pathfinders have HUGE glass headlights. But mouing them might be a difficult venture. -Z Quote Selected
Delete Reply #355 – March 19, 2010, 11:42:37 AM Quote from: 88CougarGT;314925You will probably have to search pretty far and wide to find a sealed beam that will fill up the cavernous hole left by the old composite. I looked into doing something similar with the large hella lights that have replaceable bulbs in them. Also, Hardbody Pathfinders have HUGE glass headlights. But mouing them might be a difficult venture. -ZI am not as concerned about filling the entire hole... I'm liking the shadow box effect. Here's more visual aspects I photochopped quickly... Quote Selected
Delete Reply #358 – March 19, 2010, 02:51:44 PM I don't know.....even on the SVO Stangs,it looked like they installed the wrong head lights.I think the flush mount look better,but,it has to be the way YOU want it. Quote Selected
Delete Reply #359 – March 20, 2010, 12:50:10 AM Quote from: vinnietbird;314950I don't know.....even on the SVO Stangs,it looked like they installed the wrong head lights.I think the flush mount look better,but,it has to be the way YOU want it.Just for that comment Vinnie.... :flip: J/K!!! Quote Selected
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