1966 Thunderbird Convertible (resto-"not"-mod)

[Bob in St. Louis]

I'm putting this in The Outhouse, since it's not a PT car, and to be quite honest, it's not even my car (mods, please move if necessary).
But I figure since I'm hanging out, and learning from y'all, at least I can show off some pretty pictures of a neat car and some improvements I'm performing.

Here's the story....

A friend asked if I would do some work on his '66. It's rare that I do something neat without having my trusty camera with me, and since this will be parked in my garage for a month or two, there's no excuse not to have some photos.

The windshield is nearly 50 years old and badly scratched. So bad, that while driving at night, it's hard to see through all the little light reflections off the scratches. So he's having a glass company replace the windshield. Here's where the fun starts..... They said that due to the design of the dashboard, they're afraid they'll damage the dash unless it's dropped down, and that it's nearly impossible to reinstall the seal and glass with the dash interfering.

So my job is to remove the dashboard.
But I can't get it down until the entire center console is removed. All the way from the radio to the back seat (It's all one piece).

But that can't come out unless the back seat is pulled out, as it goes over the top of the console. But I can't get the back seat out, because the roadster tonneau cover is covering the back seat. But I can't get the tonneau cover out because the ragtop is stuck closed and it has to be opened up to get the tonneau off.

Got it?

So......I spent three hours sitting inside the trunk to fix the convertible top.
Then I could lower the ragtop.
So I could take the roadster tonneau off.
So I could get the backseat out.
So I could get the console out.
So I could get the dash pulled out.
So the glass company can replace the glass.

Still with me???

Rear view of the patient. You can see the Tonneau through the rear windscreen.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/1_zps9f6f37d6-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/1_zps9f6f37d6.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/2_zps924db9af-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/2_zps924db9af.jpg.html)

Again, you can see the tonneau through the window. It really makes this a sexy "roadster" with the top down.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/3_zps12571f0c-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/3_zps12571f0c.jpg.html)

Here's a shot of the "Swing-Away" steering column. I suppose it's there to let the fat guys out of the car.
The column when swung to the right:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/5_zps0711a01b-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/5_zps0711a01b.jpg.html)


And when centered:


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/6_zpsb10f1920-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/6_zpsb10f1920.jpg.html)

Ohh that's clean, and very original.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/7_zpsc7ef80d1-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/7_zpsc7ef80d1.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/8_zps39b2f039-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/8_zps39b2f039.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/9_zpsda0df7e7-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/9_zpsda0df7e7.jpg.html)


When you attempt to drop the top, this is as far as it gets.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/10_zps0fc52863-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/10_zps0fc52863.jpg.html)


Here's the trunk I spent three hour in fixing the hydraulics to get the top to complete it's mission.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/11_zps6f6d471c-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/11_zps6f6d471c.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/13_zpscb536e02-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/13_zpscb536e02.jpg.html)




more soon.....

[Bob in St. Louis]

The hydraulics repaired.
This is with the top down, and the roadster tonneau cover installed over the back seats.



https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/14_zps00d8e4a1-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/14_zps00d8e4a1.jpg.html)

[Bob in St. Louis]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/15_zps6e20b6c7-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/15_zps6e20b6c7.jpg.html)


More of that truck I spent the evening in. Note the ram on the right side is fully extended, while the driver side is retracted.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/12_zpsaf41d1c2-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/12_zpsaf41d1c2.jpg.html)

Now that the top is down, I removed the tonneau.
Now I can take out the back seat.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/17_zps4f64ede6-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/17_zps4f64ede6.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/18_zps8ab0dd82-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/18_zps8ab0dd82.jpg.html)

Some of the photos are fuzzy. I think it was the lens fogging up. I was bring it outside in the humidty from the nice cool (dry) house.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/20_zps32b5b007-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/20_zps32b5b007.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/21_zpsff3e12ee-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/21_zpsff3e12ee.jpg.html)



Front seats out.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/23_zps69bdf225-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/23_zps69bdf225.jpg.html)

[Bob in St. Louis]

Found the build sheet in the left side back seat

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/60_zpsba738df8-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/60_zpsba738df8.jpg.html)


The tunnel;


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/35_zpsb4801142-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/35_zpsb4801142.jpg.html)


Behind the rear seats and all the top electrical/hydraulics.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/65_zps450dedd6-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/65_zps450dedd6.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/64_zps30c1d053-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/64_zps30c1d053.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/63_zps99e1462e-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/63_zps99e1462e.jpg.html)

The front of the tunnel, and the HVAC control panel.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/33_zps76756d07-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/33_zps76756d07.jpg.html)



I thought this was interesting.
A rotted out vacuum line, broken in half. It was placed behind the accelerator pedal rod. Just for grins, I reattached the hose and pushed the pedal to the floor and it pulled the hose in half again. I wonder how many years this has been like this, and how frustrating it was to tune the carb with a 1/4" vacuum leak. duh.
The car ran pretty good, but didn't like being forced past half throttle.
I'll be fixing this. ha ha

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/38_zpsfab54090-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/38_zpsfab54090.jpg.html)


So the console is out. The dash it dropped down. I begin the amazing task of removing chrome from around the windshield.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/56_zps7bacdd16-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/56_zps7bacdd16.jpg.html)

There are five pieces of chrome around each 'A' pillar. In all, there were 18 pieces of chrome that surround the windshield I removed.
Those 18 pieces of chrome are held on with 71 screws. Yes. I counted them.

[Bob in St. Louis]

The car owner wanted the glass company to do "all the glass work", but I quickly tired of waiting for them and took the glass out myself.
I figured there'd be rust under the seal that would need to be repaired. Lo and behold, there was NONE!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/73_zps9897765b-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/73_zps9897765b.jpg.html)

Glass installed (not worthy of a photo, as we've all seen a windshield)

The car owner bought new screws for reassembly. Each set of screws is numbered and categorized for where they go in the car.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/76_zps9500fc8b-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/76_zps9500fc8b.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/77_zps4830b392-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/77_zps4830b392.jpg.html)


Rusty old console will get a make-over with official '66 Ford interior white paint. An awesome product.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/78_zps6e1a8c47-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/78_zps6e1a8c47.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/79_zpsee0d6d7b-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/79_zpsee0d6d7b.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/80_zps3fb6ce96-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/80_zps3fb6ce96.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/81_zpsb87037bd-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/81_zpsb87037bd.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/82_zps7cb67ec9-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/82_zps7cb67ec9.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/88_zps51403b0f-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/88_zps51403b0f.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/89_zpsfc30b984-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/89_zpsfc30b984.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/90_zps2ed14f6e-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/90_zps2ed14f6e.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/91_zps69860d6a-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/91_zps69860d6a.jpg.html)

[Bob in St. Louis]

Here's one of those "little things".
The front ashtray is lit. My buddy wanted the bulb to show more light. The easiest way to do that was to open the little hole to a wider slit.
The slit can't be seen, as it shines through another slit in the ashtray.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/92_zpsfcc65823-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/92_zpsfcc65823.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/93_zps2f5f39f4-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/93_zps2f5f39f4.jpg.html)

The rear side interior panels. The chrome and stainless have been removed and polished. The white is repainted.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/94_zps4f97b171-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/94_zps4f97b171.jpg.html)


The chrome on the console goes back together;


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/95_zpsd8867b97-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/95_zpsd8867b97.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/96_zps6f5f546a-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/96_zps6f5f546a.jpg.html)

[Bob in St. Louis]

Alright...that's all I've got. All those pics were taken in the past month.
I've got the next two days off work and will dedicated all daylight hours to reassembly of the car.
More pics after things are reassembled.

Hope you enjoyed so far, thanks for watching!
Bob

[andrewb70]

Cool project Bob. I moved the thread to project Updates. Looking forward to further progress.

Andrew

[Bob in St. Louis]

Thanks for moving it Andrew. I didn't put it in the official project update sub-forum since it's not a PT car, although "technically" it is a project (even though it's not my car).
But with 166 views, and not a single comment, I'm thinking that there's no love for an old, fat, stock, Ford on this site! hahaha

Oh well. This phase of the project is nearing its end, and I'll post a few more photos as things wrap up.
We'll see what happens after as far as continuing the thread.

Rock on guys!

[Bob in St. Louis]

After five weeks, we have reach the end of this "chapter".
My buddy wanted the car back yesterday so he can detail it and enter the car in a car show next weekend. There was a few things I didn't get to, but over all the big stuff got done.

The plan was to get the car back last night, but the car changed our plans, so we ran long on the delivery date. After spending 36 hours of the past three days, I can say that I'm proud of what this car "is", as of right now.

Not sure if I can make it, but after all the blood, sweat and tears I've put into this car in the past five weeks, I'd love to walk into that car show next weekend with my camera and snap some pics of that car in its glory competing with the other cars.

I feel like a proud papa.

I've spent 59 hours working on this car the past five weeks. Most of which was in the past three days. To say that my body is sore is an understatement.

Here's a few glamour shots of the interior....

Note...the really awesome looking green glow to the instrument backlighting.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/108_zpsd8014d04-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/108_zpsd8014d04.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/111_zps105f037f-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/111_zps105f037f.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/112_zps1a345cdc-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/112_zps1a345cdc.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/113_zps3b3c30a2-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/113_zps3b3c30a2.jpg.html)

See those black stripes in the back of the seat trim (chrome)?
Those are the reflections of the seatbelts laying across the bottom of the back seats.
I have yet to see this car outside in bright sun, but I have no doubt that sunglasses would be mandatory.
Right now it's late at night and dusk turned into a thunder and lightning storm, so the "bird" came back into the garage for the night.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/114_zpsff13f2c1-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/114_zpsff13f2c1.jpg.html)


But that's not the coolest part.
Here's how a four seat "top down" convertible transforms into a two seat roadster, "top up".


-- Top down, four seat:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/115_zps4c07f837-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/115_zps4c07f837.jpg.html)

-- Top down, two seat, with the roadster "tonneau" cover installed:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/116_zps8fcca699-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/116_zps8fcca699.jpg.html)

-- Halfway through the transformation:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/117_zps08f2a152-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/117_zps08f2a152.jpg.html)

-- Almost finished.....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/118_zpsd62a2833.jpg.html)

-- Two seat "roadster", with the top up:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Stuff%20I%20built%20for%20other%20people/Scotts%201966%20Thunderbird/119_zps956a267d.jpg.html)

Thanks for watching. ;)