1964 66 Thunderbird Convertible Top System Bypass

[@chucksgarage7165]

This video saved my behind. I don’t have a permanent bypass YET, but I definitely WILL! My top has been working fine and it went dead as a hammer in the up position. Using this video I was able to get the deck lid open so now I can troubleshoot it! THANKS!

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Your welcome

[@jimletizia1942]

Nice work Nick. That’s a great way to solve the problem. I’ve had to unbolt the lid from inside the wheel wells to raise the trunk lid. I have had to do that before and it’s a pain. I’m going to use your technique here to unlock and raise the trunk lid. We will really thank you when the lid will not unlock and open.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

The owner of the car is taking a lengthy trip in the car and she is not a mechanic and I dont want her to get stuck with not being able to open the trunk. Restored or not, they still find a way to fail!!! Thanks Jim.

[@jimletizia1942]

Nick, you have done one heck of a good job restoring that 66 Thelma and Louise tribute car. I know pictures can be deceiving but you have done a stellar job and getting that car right. They have to be thrilled with you being the one restoring it. I can’t see why that car would fail at any time for a long time. I know, it is a Thunderbird but one of the best I’ve seen. You’re really good at what you do man keep it up. We love your videos.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

@@jimletizia1942 Thank you very much Jim. I hope the car turns out as good as your praises. They really dont know anything about the car and I hear so many horror stories from people who travel with a Thunderbird. However, I will take little trips in it before I deliver it to hopefully work out any bugs. I may also follow them for a while too, I think that would be fun. Well see what happens when we cross that bridge later. In the mean time, Im getting close to finishing. I cant wait to get it on the road once and for all. Thanks again, Nick.

[@jimletizia1942]

I’m going to have to bite the bullet and send my flip tray limit switch to certified restoration for a rebuild. It’s about $450 to rebuild that switch. Mine only works in one direction. So the trunk lid will not close without turning that slot on the switch an 1/8”. I think I’m better off having it rebuilt though unless i can figure out how to adjust it. Other than that I got my top working really nice. But there’s always something as you know. Jim

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

@@jimletizia1942 There is adjustment instruction for the upper back panel limit switch in the shop manual in the convertible section in case you didn't know. I refer to that in my video, "Thunderbird flap and upper back panel limit switch adjustment." Don't condemn the switch and spend so much money without trying to adjust it first.

[@manuel7246]

Great solution Nick! Well done and clean. Just perfect. 👍

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Thanks Manuel.

[@patrickmcnamara5846]

Looks like I’ll be doing this project. Thanks for the help.

[@rciancia]

Nice job..... now that TBird is more in the class of a James Bond car... add one more switch for the missiles :) Great way to protect this and provide a workaround :)

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Thanks Ron. Yeah, I wish I had the radar screen that the 64 Thunderbird convertible had in Goldfinger. If I had the missiles button, Id be arrested in short order and there would be a bunch of blown up cars around town, Id go nuts.

[@darinseverns2759]

That is a great idea! I will be doing something similar. I'm so sick of removing my back seat. :)

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Sounds like your top needs some work too. Good luck.

[@J_R_Shop]

That's a great idea, and a good location for the bypass switches...I was wonder how a person would get the rear deck open if something went side ways with the factory setup. Thanks!

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

A good use of the ash tray that will otherwise never be used again. Thanks.

[@vermbird8393]

thanks so much. have a good week-end. wlr.

[@Retic4355]

I have a 1963 Caspian Blue(1 of 2 known) M Code With A/C and power windows Im wanting to fully restore. Do you still restore thunderbirds?

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hi Shawn, yes, Im doing a 66 now.

[@Retic4355]

@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 is there a way to contact you? Would love to discuss it with you.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

@@Retic4355 my email is [e-mail]. send me an email and Ill give you my phone number. Thanks.

[@stevedavajon2194]

What a rare car! Love you color and ofcourse it being an M code. Good luck with the restoration. I have a 63 heritage burgandy convertible. I love the rare colors that you don't see very often.

[@chrissmollen3190]

I need to get into my trunk but my motor and trans are out of the car. Can I hook a positive and negative wire to a battery on a switch and trigger those relays?

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Chris, yes you can. Sorry for the delay in responding, I was out of town.

[@chrissmollen3190]

@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 Thanks so much.

[@bradborrows8784]

Hi there, I am hoping you can help me out. I recently received my dad’s 1965 thunderbird and the boot is not opening. I have managed to get it man7ally unlocked by watching some of you videos but I can’t seem to get it to engage the open phase. He had the manual bypass you put in to unlock it but I am at a bit of loss how to get it to open. I bought the service manual to see if there is a manual process to get it to fully open but if you have guidance I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Brad, two things happen when the boot (deck lid or trunk lid here in America) opens, first it unlocks by unscrewing, then it opens (lifts up) fully hydraulicly. If it is not unscrewing, then either there is no power getting to the screw motor, or the screw motor is bad. If it is not opening hydraulicly, then either there is no power to the hydraulic pump or the pump is bad. In either case, if there is no power to the motors, then maybe its the relay that controls those movements? The shop manual will show you which relays those are. The book does show you how to manually open the boot, deck lid, and its not hard. Good luck.

[@vermbird8393]

i guess for a start can you tell me where to buy those triple spade connectors, cant seem to find them on amazon, will look on eBay too

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

I got them at O'Reillys, Dorman # 86437, 22-18 gauge. Also try "Conduct n tite" #85614.

[@jasonburns4279]

Hi I have a 66 landau that im trying to put back on the road, that has been sitting over 20 years, im in need of 4 factory rims for the car. Do you know of a good place to get them? Also what size rims and tires are best to use on it? Thank you, your videos are great and very helpful

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Jason, the correct tire size is 215/75R/15. If you go to 225 size, they will hit the inner fender well when turning. 66 uses a special rim to clear the caliper. Call Birds Nest and see if they have any. They may also have new rims. Thank you.

[@jasonburns4279]

@@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426 Hey thanks for getting back to me. I have a couple of the rims but they are so rusted the tires wont seal anymore, and someone has put 14 in rims on the back of the car. iv been looking for a set of used rims with no luck. ill call them and see. thanks for the tire size the info i got online said to use 195/70/15 but i thought that was kind of small.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

@@jasonburns4279 Yes, 195's are way too small. 215 is the correct size. I see 225's all the time too but you can see the rub marks inside the wheel wells where the tire hits. The factory original tire size back then was an 825/15 or G78/15. Rusty rims are usually junk. I don't have any good rims anymore. If Birds Nest doesn't have them, look in Hemmings Motor News. Thank you.

[@vermbird8393]

so it looks like on the deck unlock relay you completely removed the original rubber plug and used a double spade, with one wire to the deck unlock motor and the other to the new ash tray switch? you had to cut the plug off and solder a new female spade to the red wire, yes.

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

No, I only cut the end of the plug off around the female connector on the end of the plug. This wire is the wire that sends a signal to the relay telling it to send power to the screw motor. My bypass sends the same signal to that relay telling the top to unscrew. The other relay is basically the same thing, I cut the end of the plug off around that female connector. That wire does basically the same thing, it engages the relay sending power to the top motor telling it to raise the deck lid. All I did was add wires that tell those relays to engage allowing those functions to work. The third wire was the power wire sending power to each bypass switch from the circuit breaker located just above the relay pack in the trunk. The little connector I bought is like a "Y", where you can plug two wires to the top and the bottom plugs onto the relay. I hope that makes sense. This video is for 64-66, I think your car might be a little different. That's what I need to look into. Problem is, I don't have a 61-63 to test it on so I can only look at the wiring diagram and hope I understand it correctly.

[@vermbird8393]

hi nick i really like this video on bypass deck open fix. i have a few questions, i have watched the video 4 or 5 times. on my 63 the deck unlock relay has 1 wire going to the new switch as its the end of the line. the deck open relay has 2 wires one for the solenoid and one for the pump motor. thus would i not need 4 wires going to the new switch's including the power wire. my 63 has no circuit breaker near the relays , should i put one in with one side from the buss bar and the other to the new switches in the ash tray.? i don't know how to cut off the rubber plugs correctly where do you get those double spade connectors . if you have the time could you send me a little picture/schematic on how to do it on my 63. i would be very appreciative of your help. thanks. warren..

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Hey Warren, let me look into it and Ill get back to you later. give me some time okay, like next week or so. Thanks.

[@vermbird8393]

ok great. next week is fine. wlr

[@ihave35cents95]

You're going to retire on that car

[@vintagethunderbirdrepair9426]

Boy aint that the truth!