1963 ford thunderbird windshield wiper conversion kit

#1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD WINDSHIELD WIPER CONVERSION KIT PROFESSIONAL#

The trunk floor has a built-in access door for servicing the fuel sender so one does not have to drop the fuel tank. My experience tells me, however, that when the good Ford taketh away, the good Ford also giveth. Additionally, noxious gas fumes emanating from hidden 50-year-old fuel hoses with rusted twist clamps can be hard to find when many mechanics, both amateur and professional, would never expect them to be hidden in such a manner. The cavity behind the aforementioned splash shield is a nice home for 50-odd years of detritus, the kind of detritus that will rust fenders, causing previous owners to bondo over said rust and not look any further into its root cause. This fuel hose, one of three, is completely hidden from sight behind a splash shield. And while “intense” may be a strong adjective to describe a nice year in the garage (a bad day in the garage, and so on and so forth…), I have found some of Ford’s engineering choices “very distressing.” My experiences with the Thunderbird, however, have been a little more frustrating, maybe a 5 or a 6. For example, my experience so far with General Motors products of the 1960s and ’70s that aren’t Corvairs has been on the green side of the scale, maybe a 2 or a 3. If we instead modify the pain scale to relate to antique car ownership, I can simply and directly relate my thoughts and emotions regarding the “ownability” of my fleet. If you’ve ever been to a doctor’s office, the pain scale will be familiar, although I’ll never understand how someone suffering from “discomforting pain” could be smiling. Therefore, I’ve certainly had a few late to the game questions for Ford’s engineers since I bought my ’63 T-Bird last year, questions that mostly start with “Why?”.

Having maintained a growing fleet of mid-century Americana from Detroit’s Big Three longer than I’ve been driving, however, I am in a unique position to judge such sundry criteria as the ease of maintenance, parts availability, and general functionality of the cars that collectively form our automotive heritage and landscape.

#1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD WINDSHIELD WIPER CONVERSION KIT PROFESSIONAL#

Also, check to make sure that the vacuum source lines are connected correctly to the engine.I am not a mechanical engineer, nor a professional mechanic.It will not hurt the engine and will clear up soon after all the fluid is purged from the system. There will be some white smoke from the exhaust as the fluid is sucked into the engine. Run the wipers several minutes after the fluid hose is disconnected to remove excess fluid from the wiper motor.

It’s a good idea to have an old rag or towel on the floor under the inlet to catch any drips once the fluid hose is removed. It usually takes about a pint of brake fluid to complete the process.Also, to prevent blade drag on the dry windshield, squirt soapy water on the windshield, this will provide lubrication for the blades. Make sure the vacuum hose is always below the level of the fluid.The brake fluid will soften the dried leather seals in the motor. Then work the wipers by hand until they work on their own.Turn on the wipers, run the engine at idle, turn the wipers and the vacuum should suck the fluid into the wiper motor.The wiper inlet tube is located on the side of the motor facing the radio. I use a plastic bottle with a hole punched in the lid and a rubber vacuum hose that fits snugly on the wiper inlet tube. Connect a clear bottle containing Dot 3 or 4 brake fluid to the inlet tube on the wiper motor located under the dash.

1963 ford thunderbird windshield wiper conversion kit