Vintage Thunderbird Club International

Did you clean out the fuel system and put in fresh gas before you started the car? There's a good chance that if the gas contained ethanol that it was no longer good after three years or longer. Ethanol can do bad things to these old fuel systems including ruining the diaphragm in the fuel pump, and...

I believe the idle should be between 600 and 700 rpms.

I don't understand why since many trucks run inner tubes with radial tires.

Rick you can always buy an inner tube. With the Kelsey Hayes wire wheels on my Sport Roadster inner tubes are required. A new tube from Coker Tire is $21.00 plus shipping.

I have found that if the idle is too high it will cause dieseling.

Karl, Yes the wires are correct and the loom also had the correct connector to the regulator.

Rick, I don't have a steel wheel as my T Bird is a Sports Roadster with the wire wheels. I'm replying to you because I see that you live in Columbus, Ms. I live in Brandon, Ms. Do you ever get down to the Jackson area? Incidently my car was sold new at Schwartzfager Ford in Meridian. I'm sure if you...

Hi Karl, Sorry for not getting back to you sooner but I was traveling for the last couple of weeks. When I took my alternator in to have it rebuilt they told me a diod was burnt out. Later I found out the stater was shot and had to be replaced. Finally I got it back and it works great. Then I was ha...

Karl, I received the wire loom from Thunderbird Headquarters and it has the correct plug. I inquired about buying just the plug but that is not available. Now I have to wait to get my alternator back from the rebuilder to put it all back together.

I quizzed the customer service rep at length and he assured me that the plug was as original and 63 specific. I guess I'll know for certain when it arrives.

Today I took my alternator to a rebuilder who tested the unit and found a diod not working so he is going through the unit for me. Also, I spoke with Thunderbird Headquarters who said they have a replacement loom which they are sending out this week.

Hi Karl, Thanks for your reply. Looks like you have a nice solid coupe to work on. I was lucky as my care only has 53,000 miles on it and I am the third owner. I bought it from a young man who used to work for me and have the history on the car from new. Tomorrow morning I am taking my alternator in...

Thanks for the reply Alan. My car is a Sport Roadster and the build date is February 8, 1963. It has the separate loom between the alternator and regulator.

Can someone help me find a wire loom for 63 alternator to the voltage regulator? It must have the correct connector for the alternator which is original. Thanks.

This happened to my car as well. The problem with mine was that the exhaust pipe was resting against the transmission pan and cooking the fluid causing the fluid to burp out of the dipstick. Mine also caught on fire and almost destroyed my car. The result was that I had to have the transmission rebu...