Technical 62 Thunderbird Convertible.....HELP!!! (EDIT) Now A Resurrection

I recently bought a 62 Thunderbird Convertible that had been restored 20+ years ago and then left to languish in cold storage on a farm. The owner passed away and the guy I bought the car from bought it from the estate. The car runs great, body is decent, interior is nice, but I'm worried I may have bit off more than I can chew. I was aware the top wasn't working and was told the car was missing the pump....... nope. I got the trunk open over the weekend (it turned out it was being held closed with a strap). lol
It turns out all the screw locks, limit switches, rams, pump, relays/busbar and wiring is gone........ including the drivers side cast mount that attaches the top frame to the car.
Could anyone advise where I could get the missing parts from? Does someone know of one being parted out? Rams and pump would probably make sense to buy new.......... but all the other bits and pieces. Most importantly to start would be the cast bracket to mount the top to the car.

Any advice/help/tips/leads would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

I'm sure someone here has answers....

 

Can you try the guy who bought the farm/estate?
Maybe this stuff is sitting on a shelf?

Try the thunderbird sites , my guess is it won’t be cheap

 

Couple places to start

http://forums.aaca.org/forum/117-ford-thunderbird/

http://www.tbird.org/clubs.htm

I wouldn’t tell them you’re a member here and where you might be headed.

 

this is one of those optimistic "how hard could it be?" moments - always look good with top up - post pic of car

 

Check out t-bird nest.

 

I have a couple of manuals in the classifieds that will cover a lot of stuff on that car.. 61 and 63

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/gm-and-ford-shop-manuals-parts-books.1099375/

 

Haha. The only reason I'm thinking I may have bitten off more than I can chew is I previously had a '57 Skyliner that has a similar system (less the hydraulics) that I never could get working correctly. Unfortunately you need the screw locks that are missing to keep the trunk lid closed............ unless you use a strap. lol
Here's the car.

............... and here's the proof it was in a "barn"!! I supplied the trap. lol

 

Unfortunately the widow has moved on, and the PO doesn't have any contact info.


WOW!!! 1000th post. It only took 13 years.................. do I get a cake??

 

This was my thought. Right next to the box of trim for my '59 Ford... I just watched one of those TV car shows where they fixed an old Lincoln ragtop. AND they had all the parts there... sometimes you can still buy partial electrical harnesses for the old Fords.

 

Your best bet will be a donor car if you can find one. Barring that, a lot of these parts are available in the aftermarket as 'generic' bits (screw actuators, rams, limit switches, etc) but I'd hate to even guess at the cost and the fabrication and 'reverse engineering' required will be daunting. Not an impossible task, but definitely not for the faint-of-heart...

 

I don't think I would consider this car as "restored". There is stuff there that wasn't touched before the "restoration" 20+ years ago.

 

Totally agree! "Restored" is a relative term. I should have said the car was freshened up. lol

 

I was watching an episode of Jay Leo's garage where he was talking to an expert on the workings of the top mechanism on his Lincoln Continental convertible. Apparently that's all this guy does and he has sources for the parts. Check it out on YouTube.

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I've spent a fair amount of not so fun hours working on the top mechanism of my brother's 64 tbird vert. Given the amount of missing parts, I think you best bet is a donor car take what you need and sell the rest to pay for it. Even then it's going to be a huge job to get all that complexity and ancient electrics working correctly.

Since you're basically starting from scratch you might consider reengineering from scratch. Regular hydraulic top motor for the top, maybe linear actuators to move the deck and flipper. Control it all with a electronically controlled relay board, limit switches and a custom programmed single board computer like a arduino or raspberry pi. Great project for your local maker/electronic hobbyist or learn some new skills yourself.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NM8H5S...t=&hvlocphy=9003212&hvtargid=pla-312609067332



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Graft a Starliner roof on and forget about it.

 

There’s a local guy going thru a skyliner up here, and that’s got to be even worse. I’d start with the Thunderbird sites, I know there’s not as much available as there is for the little birds. But they do have a following.

If it fails,283John may have a point. I’ve seen the blue car, and it’s even more stunning in person.

https://www.google.com/search?q=for...8&hl=en-us&client=safari#imgrc=-LWtkkjxAHAcpM:

 

@Yutan Flash should be able to help. A local guy here has hired a guy from Florida to come to Iowa to work on his T-Bird 3 or 4 times. It wasn`t cheap, but he knew what he was doing. More than likely not an option for you. Workin on a 62(non convertible) tomarrow.

 

Try French Lake Auto for parts.

 

For the amount of work and research involved ( I have done this) you may look into making a Carson top.

 

^ is a good idea. But if it were me, I'd get a top cut off a hardtop, and use the top to pull a mold off of and the trim/glass for a fiberglass lift-off top ala '55-57 'Birds.... Best of both worlds.

 

I would be tempted to put a Sports Roadster tonneau on it, and a snap on cover for when it rains, while I searched for a rusty parts car.

 

Tbird nest and Macs both should have what you need

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I put the top up or down on my 64 Buick manually, never was a problem.

 

On a tbird the top automatically folds into the trunk. First the trunk lid opens, then a hard tonneau flips open, then the top folds into the trunk, then the lid closes and latches itself down via a screw mechanism. Up is the opposite sequence. A little more complex than a standard convertible top.

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I know where there is a old T-Bird (early to mid 60's), not sure of the year (the front end is off it), but can give a look and see this upcoming weekend if you want. Just let me know.

 

Thanks everyone for the comments. Looking into everything. Keep them coming.

Coconuts, sent you a PM.

 

Www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net to get to Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l's website.
Www.vtkc.com for VTCI chapter in Kansas City area.

Would expand further but my modem is fried and I'm fat- fingering on my phone.

 

Everyone loves a challenge.... I guess this one’s now my current one. lol
Starting to hunt down the missing top parts. May have something to post soon but don’t want to jinx it.
I had a full set of rims from a mid sixties ford that needed new shoes....... as did the Thunderbird. What a coincidence. Looks a ton better already. Have a full set of hubcaps on the way. They’ll help also.