The Heritage was produced in significant-enough numbers to not really be special, but it is the designated 'high-end' model that will be most-desirable in the collector market in stock condition. The best way to ensure that your car will hold or improve its value is to minimize the amound of dollars spent on it, and spend the money on things requiring repair and restoration that will bring it to a better condition than it is right now. If you hold on to the car for 5-10 years, this may change (witness what's happening with early '70s cars today). While it's admirable that you want to spend $10,000 for what amounts to a modification project, in the short-near term you'll get it back a fractionof it if you have to sell. Lastly, I will be the bearer of bad news: values for '77-'79s are very low right now in part due to the number of them that are still around, and lack of interest in them compared to Mustangs, Camaros or Firebirds of the period. You have to strike a balance - too much carburetor is wasteful, as is too little. The most-logical and best bang-for-the-buck changes I would recommend would be have a dual exhaust system installed, look at upgrading the ignition system, and maybe an aluminum 4-barrel intake/carb combination sized for your anticipated driving demands. High-compression heads/pistions will result in the need for high-octane (and very expensive) gas. The stock aluminum intake that was used on '79 Heritages helps, but it is still a two-barrel. will not yield more than marginal gains in acceleration and mileage. are in place.Īs for performance modifications, you need to face the fact that you have a 2+ ton car that is not a Mustang, and that whatever you spend for exotic items like state-of-the-art intake manifolds, custom exhaust headers, roller rocker arms, etc. It probably would be better for you to rebuild your original 351 versus installing a crate motor since you already know your block will fit, and that all linkages, lines, cables, etc. This was a unique feature for the Heritage cars. I recommend that if you do go ahead with this, consider having the seats upholstered with a velour and patterend the same as the seats currently in the Heritage, complete with adding the T-bird emblems in the seat backs. With that being said, if you go ahead with such a conversion, be aware that less than 4% of total '77-'79 production came with bucket seats and consoles, so finding all these will be tough. Keeping an eye open at swap meets, on the auction websites or even some 'Parts/Accessories Wanted' ads may yield a copy you can use to see how all these items are connected.īucket seats and console were not originally available with the Heritage option, and as such installing them will adversely affect the value of your car. You should also try get a copy of the '79 Wriring Schemaitcs, but to the best of my knowledge these are not being reprinted. I don't know if '77-'78 looms are the same, but I highly recommend starting with a '79 harness first. You will probably need the wiring harness from the parts car you pull the dash cluster from to make sure you have all the connectors. The difference will be in upholstery pattern and material.Īs for the Sports Instrumentation Package, this was optional for '77-'79 and standard on the Diamond Jubilee and Heritage models. The same seats, console and steering column without the shift collar/quadrant from a '77 or '78 T-bird, or '77-'79 Cougar XR-7 should work. Unless you can find something specific, it may require you to do some fabrication/modification work. Linkage should be similar, but I don't know the exact differences as to how they work on the C4 versus the C6. Ford only built 12,047 '79s with the package, or 4.24%. Med.Of all the 'rare' options for the '77-'79, bucket seats with the console and floor shifter are among the most desirable and hard to find.

Olive Bronze Met, Olive Fire Olive Stardustįall Bronze Met, Bronze Fire Bronze Stardust Ivy Bronze Met, Green Fire Green Stardust 1971 Lincoln Continental Paint Codes YearĬhestnut Met, Chestnut Bronze Met, Med Bronze MetĬalypso Coral, Vermilion, Competition Orange

1979 thunderbird interior