Good day all. Like most of you here, I have a story.
Now read through this with an open mind because I'm about to say some things that some of you might not like.....
I've been a Chevy guy my whole life, and now I am a die hard Honda guy. I know, I KNOW......please don't hold that against me.
My brother-in-law in serving in the US Army currently. Next month he gets shipped over seas to A-Stan and has left me with something to occupy my time. His 66 T-bird.
To be honest, I have never once gone all out with a Ford motor. Chevrolets, all day. Hondas, better than a couple dozen. Fords........never. I am ASE certified in a number of different areas, and I have done 2 years of technical college to be an automotive technician. That was in 1999. I currently work as the Commercial Manager at Advance Auto Parts locally.
Long story short, I'm no rookie to cars.....to any aspect of cars really. So I'm not looking for torque specs, or how a carburetor works.
What I DO need help with, is what are the quirks with these things? What are the little things that are common with my generation of Bird that even a seasoned wrench would get caught off guard by?
I'm looking for a coach. I promise it won't be a full time job, but someone who has played with one of these that might have some free time, and/or the heart to help a guy help a soldier. I have 16 months starting next month to do the following to this car:
~dash lights don't work
~fuel gauge doesn't work
~temp gauge doesn't work
~power windows don't work (if you run a jump wire to the motor from the battery, they work)
~engine overhaul (stock 390)
~want to ditch the mechanical sequential taillight rig, and get an updated electric version
~the only piece so far that I see is "missing," is the chrome trim piece that runs across the top/center of the rear window. Everything else seems to be there.
~we are looking to re-wire the entire car. It seems there have been a lot of hands in that dash and I don't like that.
~small hole in the driver side floor board, just under where your right heel would rest.
~brakes
~chassis (old cracked bushings, shocks, possible air bag setup)
That's all I can think of as of now.......here are the pics as she sits:
