Vintage Thunderbird Club International

Doing a safety check on my new 1962 with KH wire wheels. I found the right rear axle is wrong. The wheel centering lip to be too small by 1/2”. The rim is being centered by wheel bolts only and all the vehicle weigh is on the bolts. The left is good with the rim being centered on the axle lip with ...

I've found that the best price for correct Burtex trunk kits (made by ACC) is Rock Auto.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/for ... vering,561

Trying to determine the color for the dash, upper door and rear seat panels. Lower door portion, armrests and center console are original pearl beige. Mine have been repainted a non stock color and has scratches that need repair and don't have a color #. So if have to repaint want to go back to ori...

That’s an original for certain. And you only need four. The spare does not have, or need, a spinner cap installed.

I still want to know how to tell them apart. Dave Dave, Look at the photos in this thread and compare them to your cover. https://www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=12046 Reproduction covers are generally thinner material than original covers, but you would need to know that diff...

That’s definitely the wrong clutch. To get the configuration back to factory you’ll need both a correct clutch and a two sheave generator pulley. You can try the used parts dealers: Birds Nest, Pat Wilson, and John Draxler. Both items occasionally show up on EBay as well.

Thanks Jim. I am just trying to figure out why there’s a (1/2”) spacer of washers on the A/C compressor to line it up with the water pump pulley? Thanks Dave I'm wondering if your AC Clutch is the correct part for a '62 Thunderbird. The correct clutch is 2 1/4" in depth. There are variations f...

aa010175 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 31, 2023 9:01 pm Is there any chance the 3 belt water pump pulley can be put on backwards? The largest pulley is closest to radiator. Looks odd to me. Thanks Dave

That is the correct orientation.

There are several easily discerned visual differences between the original '63 spinner caps and the reproductions. Original pans are SS, repros are chrome plated steel. The original thunderbird emblem has very crisp, well defined lines, the repro has more rounded edges. The original's "THUNDERB...

Any help would be appreciated to find a source for a coolant temperature sensor with the correct specifications for my 63 Tbird. The old and recently purchased new sensor (Amazon purchase) read around 100 ohms at 180 degrees, which will not deflect my temperature gauge that much. Research online an...

I can not find a belt diagram on the net or in the shop manual. I have a generator, P/S and A/C. My water pump and crankshaft pulley has 3 slots. What I have is wrong and someone has put washer spaces between the block and compressor. Any photos or diagram would help. Thank Dave These pictures of a...

My emergency (dash) brake light is missing the red lens. Where can I purchase one? Thanks Dave They aren't available in commercial reproduction AFAIK, but I can make one for you. Send me a private message with your mailing address and I'll send one out to you. There is no charge. When I replace the...

A common source of steering play in 61-63 Birds is the relatively light-duty idler arm assembly. That style was replaced in '64 with a much heavier, vastly superior assembly. Rare Parts makes a '64 reproduction and it is a direct swap on a '63. it's actually cheaper to buy it from a Thunderbird vend...

I've always thought that Ford put the rubber spacer between the starter and the bell housing to correctly position the bendix relative to the ring gear. In '63, that rubber spacer was replaced with a superior metal spacer that completely covered the contact area beween the bell housing and the rear ...

I have always have installed the top frame assembly with the package tray secured to the frame. Two people can accomplish the task easily. I've always thought there was a greater chance of scratching paint with the tray being installed separately, although I suppose it can be done that way. P1020533...