1964 Tail lights

[T-Ray]

Hi, new member of the forum and new T-bird owner. I just bought a '64 standard hardtop and I know they didn't have the sequential turn signals, but I was wondering if anybody has heard of anyone putting them in after the fact? Can you take the wiring out of a '65 and transplant it, or even modify the existing housings with the aftermarket electronic box that eliminates the vacuum box on these cars?
Maybe a bad idea but thought I'd ask anyway. Thanks for any replies. Terry

 

[Joe Vandatta]

Terry,
I would forget the transplant as the wireing lay out is pretty complicated ( I have a 66 and have been there)
What vacuum box are you refering to?

 

[T-Ray]

I had assumed the T-bird sequentials would be similar to the ones in the '67-'68 Cougar. In those cars there is a vacuum box that controls the firing of the sequentials it has a disc with metal contacts inside that fires the bulbs in sequence as it rotates. Thanks for the advice, I had pretty much dimissed the idea already.

Terry

 

[Youngin']

I'm not expert on cars or wiring, just a beginning hobbiest, but I have seen an electronic replacement for the stock sequential wiring... It appears to be a much easier option. You might want to look into that.

 

[Captain Mike]

Check way back in the archives of this site for another "thread" that covered this topic. There's a company that sells a modern electronic taillight sequencer for the 67-71 Mercury Cougar that will also work on the 64-66 Tbird. It replaces the servo-mechanical setup on the 65-66 Birds and can be retrofit onto a 64. Problem on the 64 is that the big silver bird emblem on the taillight lens obscures the sequencing effect. Good luck.

 

[tbirdman]

Check way back in the archives of this site for another "thread" that covered this topic. There's a company that sells a modern electronic taillight sequencer for the 67-71 Mercury Cougar that will also work on the 64-66 Tbird. It replaces the servo-mechanical setup on the 65-66 Birds and can be retrofit onto a 64. Problem on the 64 is that the big silver bird emblem on the taillight lens obscures the sequencing effect. Good luck.

See Adding sequential light article

Also see more info at the Northwest Vintage T-Birds Web Site