good opportunity...
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 31
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 784
From: Simi Valley, CA
if i only had enough time for one more vehicle project...
1962 Ford Thunderbird
1962 Ford Thunderbird
If you think parts are expensive and hard to find for F100/350's, just wait till you tackle one of these 1961/63 Birds.
Many parts are almost impossible to find. The P/S system was only used on these Birds, and is totally different than any other Ford system used before or since.
If you need to change the heater core, Ford's flat rate manual specified 8 hours worth of time, because the entire dash has to be removed to get at that heater core.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,836
Likes: 3
From: Elizabethtown, PA
My grandmother's daily driver was a '66 Bird up until a few years ago when she finally quit driving. We had a hard time keeping it on the road as some parts were becoming a real problem. I would have kept it but I didn't fit in it at all. I could never get comfortable.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 94
Likes: 1
From: Lanexa, VA
I used to have a '62 Lincoln. I was told that they were built by order only and were assembled on the same line as the birds. When an order came in a Lincoln was built between two birds on the same line (no computerized robots at Ford in those days). I don't know how true it is.
All the Lincolns had a 430. Power Steering pump was direct drive, mounted between the harmonic balancer and the block. The power steering also powered the intermittent wipers. A slider on the dash set the pressure level needed to activate the wiper motor. Really odd stuff. Parts were very hard to get. An outfit in Connecticut was a great source. I had to get some new exhaust valves, lifter rods and rocker arms for it once.
Great car. I still miss it. I had it when I met my wife and she still misses it.
It was the exact same model that became the deathmobile in Animal House.
Anyway, I know whatcha mean about the birds...mine was just super sized.
All the Lincolns had a 430. Power Steering pump was direct drive, mounted between the harmonic balancer and the block. The power steering also powered the intermittent wipers. A slider on the dash set the pressure level needed to activate the wiper motor. Really odd stuff. Parts were very hard to get. An outfit in Connecticut was a great source. I had to get some new exhaust valves, lifter rods and rocker arms for it once.
Great car. I still miss it. I had it when I met my wife and she still misses it.
It was the exact same model that became the deathmobile in Animal House.
Anyway, I know whatcha mean about the birds...mine was just super sized.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 484
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From: pahrump nv
i have a 63 bird very very hard to get parts for 61 62 birds not that hard but 63 looks the same but different under the skin shocks dash and another interesting thing about the ps on the birds it also runs the windshield wipers weird huh
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12,281
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From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 784
From: Simi Valley, CA
The 1961/63 Birds and 1961/65 Lincolns were assembled in Wixom MI, and shared several structural parts including the cowl, windshield, windshield posts.
No Lincolns were built to order after 1939, excepting the 1961 and later models built for Government use.
JFK was riding in one of these special Lincolns on that fateful day in November 1963.
Ford built these Lincolns to order, then sold them to the US Gov't for ONE DOLLAR.
Lincoln production figures: 1961: 25,160 / 1962: 30,151 / 1963: 31,233 / 1964: 36,297 / 1965: 40,130.
First and only year Lincoln outsold Cadillac: 1991.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 484
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From: pahrump nv
grill fenders and hood are also all different plus the three markings on the door it was no longer on the quarters and the only year they had single exhaust and how about the break away column that was way too cool
Last edited by jacks61ford; Oct 10, 2008 at 01:29 AM. Reason: for got something didnt want to double post
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 978
Likes: 1
From: darrington wash
i swear that car and that girl and me would have been the perfect match....