need quick T-Bird help

A friend of mine has left his 1966 T-Bird at my house while he's gone for a while and I went to move it and I can not find the parking brake release on this thing, I feel like a retard, but I looked everywhere. Does anyone know anything about these cars. Please help and it is ok to make fun of me, but only if you can tell me where the release is.

 

I havent driven my 61 in about 4 years, BUT if I remember right, the release is on the pedal itself, like a little crome thing on the right side or somethin, I dunno. I havent looked at it in a while.. Check the pedal!

 

nope not on the '66, anyone else.

 

Shot in the dark, but I believe some E-brake pedals are pressed to lock and also pressed to unlock.

 

Tried it already, doesn't work. thanks anyways.

 

I am pretty sure it has somethin to do with pushin the pedal or somethin with the pedal... Check it closely, get down there an look. If it has a cable pull somewhere you should be able to follow it to its location. the mechanism is prolly just stuck. Or the handle is broke off somewhere. Either way you can release it with like a screw driver just get down there an fuck with it.

 

might be a vacuum release switch somewhere on the dash, some t-birds had those. (I think)

 

the srewdriver idea is my next resort, I just figured there had to be a few of you out here that at some point have owned one of these. I have looked around down there and haven't seen anything. There are all kinds of little gadgets on this car, like a tilt away steering wheel, so who knows what you actually have to do to get that brake to release.

 

I looked for that too. I know the door locks are vacum, so I looked around for a switch somewhere already.

 

Maybe try slidin the column over an stickin it in gear??

 

I think if the door locks are vacuum then so is the e-brake, I just don't remember where it is.....shit I hate getting old!

 

I said I feel retarded, not that I am retarded. No I tried that, actually that's how I found out the brake was on, ok maybe I am retarded.

 

Cut the fuckin cable. get it over with

 

Are you sure, cause I looked, but I could have missed it. would it have anything to do with the colum like the tilt away steering wheel.

 

If it was mine I probably would have already done that. Of course if it was mine I would hope I would know how to take the brake off.

 

I wasn't callin you retarded, I WAS SAYIN maybe it would release if u swung the column over.... tryin to help dude, not be an asshole. BTW NEVER leave a car set up with the parkin brake on. The cable will freeze. Tell your friend. lol

 

I have a '65 T-Bird. The brake on mine does release when you put it in gear and that is the only way I know that it does release. It may be something in that mechanical release that is stuck or just needs lubricating.. I'll go out and look at mine.

Spike

 

I know you weren't calling me a retard, but thanks for the heads up on the cable thing.

 

Its probably really obvious and your really gonna feel like a tard when you figure it out.

 

Thats ok, when I was checkin my 61 out for the first time when I was think of buyiin it. I couldnt figure out why I couldn't swing the column back over lol. Had to throw it up in park, hold an swing.. I felt dumb. Oh wait... I am dumb

 

that's what I was gonna suggest....once you pull it out of park it might just release the brake all by itself.

 

I already feel like a tard, it's a freakin' parking brake, how hard should it be to release the damn thing. Oh yeah, I'm defineltly going to feel stupid when I figure out there is some lever right in front of me or something like that.

 

Have you tried starting the car and putting it in gear? From what I remember they had an automatic brake release that I believe was vacuum operated.

Hope it helps.

 

Car must be started. put in gear. Brake SHOULD release. At least thats what mine does..

Spike

 

Yeah that's how I figured out the brake was on in the first place. Started it up, let it warm up, put it in gear and it wouldn't move, oh wait the brakes on, and that's where this whole episode started.

 

Thanks, I go mess with it some more. It might need some coaxing.

 

look for cracked vacuum hoses...

 

Well it never did release as it was supposed to, but the old trusty screw driver took care of that problem and I was able to move the car. Thanks everone for your help. As far as why it wouldn't release well it's not my car so I don't care, I have enough broken cars of my own.

 

You put it in gear.
If that does not work (which seems the case), there is a SMALL lever on the p-brake unit itself that you pull with your foot to manually release it.
You may have to grovel alongside the car to see it, but it IS there.
Cosmo

 

Hey I knew a guy who forgot he had to press the clutch to start his Viper and called the Dodge dealer to come a pick it up and take it to the shop cause it wouldn't start! Cost him a few hundred bucks cause he IS a retard! He's SO retarded he told everyone at work what happened. This dude shouldn't even have a drivers license much less a Viper. Course not long after that, he totaled it.