Vintage Thunderbird Club International

I got my bird a year ago and just got it back on the road after dealing with a bad steering box. The stock drum brakes always seemed to be not as good as the ones on my 63 bird I had long ago. I just figured it was because of the bigger 3 inch shoes on the 63 as opposed to the 62 I have now. I disco...

I had the same problem, turn the wheel to the right a little and it would dart way over. Turning left a little was fine, acted like it should. I pulled the box and had it rebuilt, re installed and I am having some trouble. If I turn right a few degrees and hold it, it does very small darts back and ...

Just got my rebuilt steering box re installed in my '62, took 3 people to do it but its in! I had the pin that goes in the coupler for the steering column in my hand and then it was gone... Its a split pin and I need to know what size it is or where to get one?

Aaron, I had my master cylinder and booster removed because I am upgrading to a newer style booster and a dual MC. Its much easier to get to the steering column connection and the hose connections on the box this way! Just a FYI and good luck!

Ok so finally back to work on the bird after finishing another project. (70 El Camino engine swap) Box got rebuilt and just got re installed today. Had to un bolt the pipes and strap them out of the way. Got a strap wrapped around the box and then used a 3 inch pipe wedged across the middle of the c...

You can get closer to it by removing the 3 screws for the door striker and pushing it back into the door carefully.

Thanks for all the replies and help. The pics really help! Right now I am contending with the fuel line. It loops directly under the box, I need to bend it out of the way without damaging it to allow the box to come out. I think I can squeeze it past the exhaust pipe, might have to drop them as well...

I would do compression tests and see if all the cylinders are ok, get an idea of the health of the engine and head gaskets. If it is a high mileage motor, it will need a rebuild and doing it in the car is not the way to go. Maybe give that "Engine Restore" stuff a shot.

I am removing my steering box to get it rebuilt. I removed the "pivot bracket" that goes around the area where the box couples with the column. I was then looking for either a rag joint style or a Pin with cotter key style joint where the column joins with the box. I found neither, I rotat...

Thanks Scott, I couldn't find a loose rod, but pried hard on the rod going to the inside handle and it slowly opened. Now to figure why it happened and why the outside button is stuck all the way in...

Help! I was troubleshooting the driver side door lock not working. Key turns fine but does nothing. I pulled the striker panel to get access to the back of the lock cylinder and could see the linkage is not attached at all. Decided to button it back up and research more of what should be attached to...

Wow Steve that sounds like a nightmare. Least you got some good insurance money for it. My neighbor worked on cars for 30 years, told me the door adjustment is behind the door panel. So I pulled the panel off and there are 6 bolts that hold the 2 hinges to the door. We loosened them up, wrestled wit...

While I was working on removing my brake booster, I decided to swing the column over to the right, see if I could get more room to get at the booster nuts and C clip. It wouldn't move... I jiggled and pulled and accidentally pulled it out of park. the door was wide open and caught my sons 99 GT as i...

OK, so I got pulled off the master cylinder, now trying to remove the booster. Wow this is a PITA! I can barely fit down in there and the "C" clip is totally blocked by the column and a bunch of wires and fuse box. I don't see a way to get to it as its facing the wrong way. I decided to un...

I had this problem in my 62, no tail lights and brake lights were very dim. Traced it to not having a good ground. I drilled a hole through the taillight "bucket" into the bumper, put in a screw and both lights got bright. Plan was to tun a wire from the screw to the socket somehow, didn't...