Search found 100 matches

by ornithology
Sun Jul 03, 2022 4:53 pm
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: fender top trim - repro quality and match?
Replies: 2
Views: 518

Re: fender top trim - repro quality and match?

as time was running out to have my '63 "Admiral Bird" looking good in time for our wedding, i went ahead and got the repro fender top trim from good old Bird Nest. not too much trouble getting them on, and they line up well. as Jim mentioned, the rear ends (where they meet the doors) are f...
by ornithology
Sat May 14, 2022 2:49 am
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: how to open the shifter lamp housing?
Replies: 3
Views: 560

Re: how to open the shifter lamp housing?

thanks guys, you were exactly right. indeed, a couple of my trusted sources did not have one in immediate inventory, nor did they have much knowledge about it. i considered raiding a salvage column in my area, but now i can restore this one. pretty small potatoes, considering other things on my list...
by ornithology
Tue May 10, 2022 12:00 am
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: how to open the shifter lamp housing?
Replies: 3
Views: 560

how to open the shifter lamp housing?

this is the shift indicator lamp housing, with the burnt bulb hidden inside. how do you replace the bulb inside? do you pry off the end piece with the diffuser on it, or pry it off from the mounting base? was looking to replace the housing as well, as the wire has stripped, and it shorts out. but i ...
by ornithology
Sat May 07, 2022 6:05 pm
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: Silver Mink Interior Rarity
Replies: 5
Views: 536

Re: Silver Mink Interior Rarity

this thread needs fotos! 😊
by ornithology
Wed May 04, 2022 6:23 pm
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: 1963 rag joint/steering coupler hardware compatibility
Replies: 0
Views: 268

1963 rag joint/steering coupler hardware compatibility

hey gang - the 12-point bolt on my 1963 rag joint/steering coupler seems to be stripped (on the steering box side). this is the type that is splined on one side, and has a totally different, non-splined shape on the other. i saw a trusted (but expensive!) source on ebay listed the full joint ( with ...
by ornithology
Wed May 04, 2022 6:18 pm
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: steering column grounding
Replies: 6
Views: 685

Re: steering column grounding

^^^ very cool test rig, Karl! interesting development - we took a closer look at my rag joint, and it turns out the 12-point bolt seems to be stripped (on the steering box side). i had been getting continuity across the joint with a multimeter, but perhaps even though it is still mechanically making...
by ornithology
Tue May 03, 2022 9:40 pm
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: steering column grounding
Replies: 6
Views: 685

Re: steering column grounding

Could be a broken wire inside the column. When I did my steering column the wires were in bad condition. They were brittle, some were short and had been repaired a number of times over the years. The trouble is there is not much room inside to do anything. Karl. did you pull the column to do the wo...
by ornithology
Fri Apr 29, 2022 2:48 am
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: steering column grounding
Replies: 6
Views: 685

Re: steering column grounding

thanks, Karl - i actually found that topic while searching the subject here, and alas i did the rag joint job a few years back, and checked continuity with the wire afterwards. it's one of the few areas of the column that i know was done right 😆. i appreciate the tip about the steering box ground st...
by ornithology
Wed Apr 27, 2022 12:21 am
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: steering column grounding
Replies: 6
Views: 685

steering column grounding

hey gang! my horn has almost never worked, and while attending to the ring, contact brush, relay, horns, etc. as well as trying to get my shifter display illuminated, i seem to have an intermittent grounding issue in the column. in some wheel positions, i have loud horn contact, but then it is compl...
by ornithology
Mon Jan 24, 2022 10:08 pm
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: gearshift indicator lamp wire
Replies: 1
Views: 314

gearshift indicator lamp wire

the lead from my gearshift indicator lamp was cut, or yanked, it’s only several inches long off of the bulb end.

i haven’t found anything coming out of the steering column to match it to...
do any of y’all know where the lead is supposed to end up to get power?

cheers.
by ornithology
Thu Dec 30, 2021 2:38 am
Forum: 1961-1963 Modified/Custom Thunderbirds
Topic: Carb question
Replies: 3
Views: 1114

Re: Carb question

i run our local (Southern Cal) Union/76 gasoline (91 octane) and it has the usual E10 ten percent ethanol. one of the many things i'm grateful for on my bulletbird, is that it always starts with out much fuss. if it sits over a week, it might take 15 seconds of cranking like you said, but only occas...
by ornithology
Thu Dec 30, 2021 2:24 am
Forum: 1961-1963 Modified/Custom Thunderbirds
Topic: side marker/lights, anyone?
Replies: 0
Views: 615

side marker/lights, anyone?

i live in the city, and every now and then when checking out my Bird's reflection in the windows of retail shops, office buildings, etc. i notice the lack of side markers or lights. other 60's and 70's cars i've had used them, and now i can see a certain vulnerability at night, where the entire side...
by ornithology
Thu Dec 09, 2021 7:16 am
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: help for a worn windshield?
Replies: 3
Views: 508

Re: help for a worn windshield?

thanks guys, i'll look into the buffing and Cerium Oxide. i think it's a fairly moderate condition. interesting indication - i just replaced my stupid plastic wiper blades with the original Trico steel ones, and they came with NOS rubber fills. last night it rained, and i was excited to try the new ...
by ornithology
Thu Dec 09, 2021 7:06 am
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: engine stalls over speed bumps
Replies: 5
Views: 659

Re: engine stalls over speed bumps

thanks, fellers - i had a feeling it was something simple. indeed, i'd been looking at the points a couple days earlier, thought i was pretty careful while snapping the cap back on... felt and looked straight... but i gave the cap another wiggle and it actually budged a bit, and seems to have settle...
by ornithology
Thu Dec 09, 2021 6:55 am
Forum: 1961-1963 Thunderbirds
Topic: Grille to bumper finish panel
Replies: 9
Views: 1078

Re: Grille to bumper finish panel

not the easiest part to find in great condition. but they're out there. i grabbed one that didn't look as nice as my grille and bumper, etc. as i was on a deadline to get the Bird presentable, and i figured i might have to upgrade it later. but i was happy to realize that once installed, the worn ar...