Technical Tips

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS:

If you have any technical or problem solving questions you need answered please post them on our FORUM. Do not send me an email since I am answering all technical questions on the FORUM only.

You can reach the FORUM by the link on the home page of this website.

THE SHOP MANUAL:

My first tech tip is for you to invest in a shop manual for quick reference. The shop manual has all the specs and trouble shooting guides that you will need plus much more. There is a shop manual for each year Thunderbird except 1963 which is a smaller supplement to the 1962 shop manual. For 1963 you will need to buy the 1962 shop manual and 1963 supplement. If you plan to work on your own car the shop manual is a must. There are also body and interior manuals, electrical manuals and restoration guides. Just ask us and we will give you the information you need to order one.

Vehicle Identification:

The year of your vehicle is determined by the first number in the vehicles warranty number (or vehicle identification number) on the vehicles data tag located on the front drivers side door jam on 58-62 Thunderbirds and on the back of the drivers door on 63-66 Thunderbirds. For example, a 1966 Thunderbird 2 door hardtop vehicle warranty (serial) number will read "6Y83Z100001". It is not the number under "Body" since this number determines the body style such as "hardtop" or "convertible". Any information related to deciphering the data tag is found in the shop manual of most year Thunderbirds.