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Some folks with show cars use aviation fuel, which is not a blend. For the rest of us, we have to revamp the fuel system. New rubber in the fuel lines, a new fuel pump and a carburetor with parts and seals designed to handle ethenol. I've also got a heat isolation plate under my carb, but I...

A couple of things spring to mind--heat soak at the carburetor, or vaporized fuel in the line or pump. If you are running an ethenol blend fuel and the fuel system has not been upgraded to handle it, you can get symptoms like this, too. ~Steve

I know it's easy to blame the carb after a rebuild, but the symptoms sound more like a weak coil.

Hmmm. Sounds a lot like the problem discussed in this thread on another forum: Vintage Thunderbird Club International :: View topic - Help before it goes to a Mechanic and save me money

There are two relays there. The one on top (with 3 prongs) is the courtesy light relay The other is the low fuel light. ~Steve

Good to hear! You may want to check that the alternator is putting out good current and the starter isn't getting weak. I had to replace the whole starter/charger system before the car stopped eating solenoids. ~Steve

Sounds like you may have burned out the starter solenoid. I went through a few of those last year with the same symptoms. ~Steve

If the bottom end is good, relatively low miles and good compression, I'd get a quality rebuilder to re-do the heads and reinstall them. If the bottom end is marginal and money is no object, well, I would be tempted to upgrade to a 428. ~Steve

It sounds like a heat soak issue. Modern ethenol gas blends boil at a lower temperature than pure gas. Typically, that means that the fuel in the carb is vaporized after sitting on a hot engine for a while. I had this too and was able to better the situation with a thin spacer under the car (I...

Hmmm, ran a quick test and it looks like exterior colors only. The other site I know of is: PaintRef.com - Automotive Truck Fleet Paint Color Code Cross Reference ~Steve

Haven't used this site, but looks like it has the info you need: https://www.automotivetouchup.com/ ~Steve

Well, that's cool. There is a club in our area, The Northern California Vintage Thunderbird Club. They are not affiliated with VTCI, but do have local experts and some events every year. I joined last year, but haven't don't much with the club yet. They don't have much of a presence on the...

I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Keep us posted on your progress ~Steve

Sounds like the interior is not in too bad a shape, especially if the chrome is good and the dash mechanicals all work. There are lots of options for parts, I've used thunderbird headquaters and bird nest. Heard good things about thunderbird ranch, too, especially for harder to find parts...

Do you hear a clicking sound from the solenoid when trying a hot start?

Do you mean the padded center section with the emblem in the middle? If so, it should come out with a 1/4 turn, counter clockwise. ~Steve

These are normally included with a carb rebuild kit. ~Steve

Those two nipples are the vacuum switch for the parking brake release. You'll find the vacuum motor for the brake release up above the e-brake itself. There's a pretty good diagram of this system and others at Thunderbird Ranch: 64-66 T-bird Vac Diagrams

I'm 6' 4" too and it was far too cramped with my (manual) seat all the way back. As a temporary measure, I took off the seat, removed the riser brackets and re-installed the seat with bolts run up from underneath the car--to the cages nuts on the seat assembly--on the front only. (The back of...

Answered my own question by rebuilding the shift column. Now that I know what gear I'm in, things appear to be working normally.