Vintage Thunderbird Club International

I think I can get the exhaust header off, which should make things a little easier (fingers crossed). But yes, that steering gear weighs a ton! Maybe I'll send the car back to KTL and have them do it.

Thanks Bill. Good to hear from you again. You confirmed what I thought - I need to rebuild the one I've got, which means I need to spend the rest of my life removing the old box and installing the new one. I did that once. It's not fun.

The steering on my '61 has never been tight, but now the gear box has developed a leak and it's making strange groaning noises. I'm thinking of upgrading my steering to something newer. I'm already using the better idler arm from a '65. Anyone have any ideas to get tighter steering (later model Ford...

Wanted: Stainless drip rail moulding for '61 - '63. Both left and right sides needed.

I had some work done to fix a leak in the power steering. Mechanic said he replaced fluid with STP Type A. I've still got the leak. I've always used Amalie Type F. Should I flush the system and use the type F? Maybe it's thicker???

You bet, Bill. I treated my wife to a full '61 experience about a week or so ago when the temps went from the zeros to the 70s. Nothing like a big block.

I went ahead and installed the tach (to replace the clock) and the quad gauge (to replace the idiot lights) but kept the speedo. I wasn't sure just what type of speedo I wanted. And yeah, I know the fonts don't match, but once I get a little more time, I may redo that also. I'm running 17" whee...

Rusty: I agree I didn't need the alternator conversion but a) my generator was iffy and b) just thinking ahead in case I decide to do future upgrades.

I wasn't sure about load, so I replaced the generator with a Powergen Powermaster altenator. I wanted to keep the look of the stock generator.

Personally, since 1983. BUT, my father bought it new in April 1961.

Didn't work, Jim. I think the spring is weak. Now to find a replacement somewhere in the interweb universe.

Thanks Jim. I'll give it a try.

Anyone use Speedhut gauges? Thinking of replacing clock with tach and quad gauge. Keeping speedo stock. Opinions??

I just put the hood back on my '61. Hood is aligned just fine, but the passenger side latch doesn't want to release. Driver's side is fine. If I juggle the front of the hood and have a friend yank on the hood release again, the hood finally opens. Is this just a matter of shifting the latch assembly...

All of the lights - interior, exterior, gauges - on my '61 are LEDs. They're part of an exclusive package available at KTL Restorations in Danville, VA who are doing some upgrades on my 'Bird. You could contact them: 434-685-7353. Photo of taillights below.