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Originally Posted by AllFlairedOut
Sorry
I guess i should have introducedmyself before jumping and asking questions.
My name is Josh and i am a two time Thunderbird owner. My first bird was totald while parked in front of my house 15 years ago. I recently bought another one, a 1966 Landau 428 with all the bells and whistles. for now my hopes are to make a twenty footer / daily driver.
I'm sure I will be here alot.
Thanks
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Hey Josh - Greetings and welcome to the forum. I also have a 66 with cruise, seems to be a fairly rare option. There is almost nothing available for new cruise parts, I have catalogs from 9 different vendors and there isn't enough in parts to be even worth a mention. I am sure there are lots of used parts out there from the same various vendors. I have not really inquired as I purchased a factory service manual available from the vendors or on ebay in new or used. After studying and reading about the design of the cruise control system it was pretty scary. Let's just say the advent of the micro switch and transistor has been a good thing for Ford's cruise control designs. The thing actually has a diaphragm that pulls on a chain hooked to the brake pedal to keep the speed in check when going downhill. I can only imagine how much fun it would be to try to keep this working or set up properly in a 40 year old car. I am going to opt to install the mid to late 70's and early 80's Ford style (pre ECU) that is very simple with a single throttle pull off diaphragm. I am going ot try to use all the 66 Tbird switches and just implement the newer controls. It should work well and the retrofit should be fairly easy.
The Service manual for the 66 is very detailed on the cruise control system if you should decide to give it a go. The best bet to get all the Tbird info you can for free is to find a new issue of Hemmings magazine, in the Tbird section you will find all the various vendors that have free catalogs, Nick's, Mac's, Bird's Nest, ect. and give them each a call and request a catalog, while on the phone you could ask them about their supply of used cruise parts. I have looked at photos of hundreds of 66's for sale on line in the last couple of years and I sure haven't seen very many with cruise. Good Luck with your new project!!