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Hello Folks, I just joined this forum and looking forward to talking with ya'll and trading ideas and repair/problem solving. I usually have a lot of problems that need solving when it comes to these old cars. I just turned 67 years old and am a retired Insurance Adjuster/Claims Mgr in the auto collision dept. I live in upstate S.C. and presently have 5 classic cars. 1928 Model A, 1964 T-Bird, 1963.5 Galaxie Fastback, 68 GTO, and 1976 Eldorado Conv. Just bought the Galaxie. Have had the T-Bird about 15 years and it has a verified/documented 46,000 actual miles. As soon as I learn how to upload pictures I'll put some in file. The wife and I love to camp and travel [mostly to Florida]. We have a 5th wheel RV and pull it with a 1997 F350 Dually. I also belong to a T-Bird and GTO forum. Thanks for listening and as soon as I start piddling with my 63 I'm sure I'll be back on here with some questions. Thanks, Mike
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Welcome...I Want to see pics of the Caddy😎500 cubic inches...love it
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Welcome. The big Ford in my signature block explains the reason I hang around here, though I fail to make time to drive it enough. Cool fleet you have.
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From recent Galaxie owner to another, welcome. Can't wait to see pics of your fleet.
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"am a retired Insurance Adjuster/Claims Mgr in the auto collision dept."
We won't hold that against you!! I have a 63.5 Galaxie with a 390 just got road worthy. My neighbor has a 66 Tbird that I have worked on extensively. I think you will find the Galaxie much easier to work on. It's built more simply, the engine compartment is bigger ..more room to move around in the engine bay as well as under the dash, working on the grille is much simpler. Reaching things like starter solenoids, horn relays etc. Those T bird are just over bit too over engineered! My friends 66 has vacuum lines everywhere ...running even his a/c and heater controls. Bunch of relays in the trunk for the sequencial tail lights, vacuum canisters under the fender, on the firewall, in the trunk!!! Yuck.
If you need some questions answered about your 63 let me know. I have rebuild, replaced or restored almost every aspect of my car. I can answer trim/moulding questions, interior, engine, power steering etc.
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Thanks to all for the welcome. I know what you mean about the T-Bird being more difficult to work on. I recently had to replace the starter and it was a very hard repair. When I finally got it off I installed studs back into the screw holes in the bell housing and when finally worked starter up thru tie rods and idler arm it just slid on the studs. I couldn't see any way to hold that 75lb starter up with one hand and start bolt with other hand. The car only has 46,000 miles since new and has given very little trouble in the 15 years I have owned it. But lately a few things have messed up. I think its just due to age. Lately it has started pulling to the left. If you jack the front tires off the ground and start engine the steering wheel will spin to left by itself. This points to bad steering gear. Very expensive and hard to change out. I got as much old fluid out as I could and changed the filter in the resiviour and d it with syn fluid. This helped some and I am hoping that driving it and then changing it again will solve problem. I will try to post some pictures tonight. I know how, but last time I tried they would not post due to something wrong with computer. I have since had help desk work on computer and hope they will post this time.
Last edited by jackgray1 (February 15, 2017 9:44 am)
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Yo Dude!! Ref. your T-Bird. Been there, done that. I bought a 66 with a.c. in 2010 for 6K. I stuck 7K+ into it
for mechanical improvements. It took a year to sell it at a huge loss. It finally sold for $7100.
I drove it to the Thunderbird Ranch here in Wi. They removed the dash, console and seats to replace all the
cut vacuum lines, a.c. hoses and more. Have you touched the p.s. pump yet. It's under the compressor.
T-Bird coups of that era have nearly no value. The starter needs a shop hoist for a standing mechanic to bolt in.
My T-Bird got replaced by a 59 Ford Galaxie Sunliner convertible...soft top. What a breeze to work on compared
to the T-Bird.
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