breaks and dash

[dragonfyire]

I am looking to cross referance a vehicle that i can get the front disk breaks off of for my 62 bird as i cant afford the 1000 bucks for an aftermarket setup(even if i could the wife would kill me) and also how to remove the dash so i can redo the wiring and the dash pad any help would be apreciated as i am "restoring" the car as much as i can myself and just cant figure out thes seemingly simple operations.

[kc5mhb]

I want to do the same and here is what I found. Someone said the ones on ebay are junk but the thunderbird ranch sells one for about $600. I was looking at his setup and compared it to the original manual but have yet to get a parts list together. I also found that someone else had done the 65/66 swap on the 63. The only part that I see that would be difficult to find is the plate that the caliper bolts to. According to the manual I have, the spindle is the same and the Thunderbird Ranch diagrams and pictures confirm that. Like you, I'm not ready to spend that kind of money. At the minimum, I will be converting the master cylinder from a single to a dual bowl. I have to do some more parts checking but it looks like that master cylinder was used on quite a few vehicles including Mustangs. I'm going to see if a '67 dual bowl (like I installed on my wife's 66 Mustang) will fit the booster with enough room to plumb it up. First I have to finish getting the mud dauber nests out of all the brake drums so it will actually roll without freezing up.
Thunderbird Ranch
Dash: I've just purchased the Detroit Iron Shop Manual Parts Cross Reference for 1960-1972 on CD and a digital version of the 62-63 Shop Manual. I'll look and see how the dash comes out and try to get back to you in a timely fashion.

[dragonfyire]

thanks any help is greatley apreciated

[kc5mhb]

Well I'm no expert as this is my first vintage TBird. I'm a Classic Mustang owner but I'll say this, Ford did a lot of things the same way and used a lot of the same parts in multiple cars. I looked in the two manuals I have but was not able to locate a blow up diagram for the dash pad removal. Just looking at mine, it would seem that the stainless trim would have to come off, the pillar covers, instrument panel, the radio, speaker cover, and possibly the interior dash light. I'm wondering what keeps it attached near the windshield; could be it snaps in or has tabs to keep it down. Unless someone else has any other info on this forum, I'd give it a try, just take pictures first and use ziploc bags for screws labeled where they came from. For me the best part of learning is putting my hands on it and figuring out how it works or comes apart.

[Harley Eaton]

Dragonfyire: I suspect you are talking about the BRAKES and are no planning to break anything...

[dragonfyire]

lol yes i was refering to the brakes and yes i removed all the parts ( and have since put them back) you referd too so thus i am still at a quandry as for i am fearing that i may have to remove windshield to get the dash out because i have not had any similance of movment from the dash. thanks for looking i may need to try again and the stainless is quite delicate and i dont want to replave it . i have lots of pics of the car on my profile now so anyone wants to see it :-)

[Harley Eaton]

I don't know if you have found them yet, but I seem to recall that there are two bolts whose heads are located under the front cowl panel, which means you need to remove the windshield wipers, the nuts on the wiper shafts and the panel between the glass and the hood.

[dragonfyire]

thanks i have had those off before but was not looking for dash bolts i will have to take another look and see whats going on. thanks again for any and all assistance.

[dragonfyire]

well i have had them off and the bolts protrude from this side so at least now i have a clue where beneath the dash they are.now as for brakes i am looking up alot of brake conversions but none that are specifically for the 62 or the like so what is another vehicle i can use them off of so i can cross refernce a kit for 1 of them.??? again tks for any and all assistance on this issue :-)

[kc5mhb]

There is someone on this forum who posted about doing the conversion using 65/66 original disc brakes. He purchased off ebay a set of spindles complete with the calipers and lower control arm assembly. From what I understand the spindles will swap out and work without modification although your 14" wheels will not work. I've been thinking about doing the conversion but I'm not ready to replace all my wheels yet. A friend of mine's dad has a 66 parts car and I'm trying to do a swap for wheels and front suspension with the master cylinder, proportioning valve, etc for an engine he wants that I have. I have not seen the car but if its what I am looking for, I'm going to do it and keep the parts until I'm ready for the wheel and tire swap.

[dragonfyire]

thanks thats great info but i am curently looking for a differnet model ford that i can cross reference because i went to scarebird.com and they have several conversion kits avail but not the tbird years in question so if anyone could take a look there and tell me which one is the one i need it would once again be greatly apreciated.

[kc5mhb]

There is some wisdom from novanutcase in this thread. I was considering the aftermarket conversion kit but having to install a spacer behind the bearing and looking at the way the conversions were built, decided to look around to see what everyone else did. Even though the conversion on Scarebird looks like a good deal, I'm concerned like novanutcase about stopping that 4000+ pound car with aftermarket products. Take a look: 62 Tbird vs mustang bullit rims

It might just be worth your while.

[dragonfyire]

yeah i have read everything on the bullet bird forum :-) but i got the info about scarebird from another thread on the forums. They look solid enough, not like ima be doing any 1/4 mile runs with it and from what i read the kits work with off the shelf items which makes replacing parts simple. but either way i need something less expensive as well its hard to get the wife to let me buy upgrades for it as it is without them costing an arm and a legg. but even if i dont use a scarebird kit i still need to know how recent of a vehicle and what model i can use that are mabe readily bought from an autoparts store instead of maybe finding one at a junk yard that may or may not fit.:-)

[pontman]

Hi dragonfyire.try mercury stuff.com for disc conversion.they tell you what newer car to get parts from and how to put it together.hope this helps.

[dragonfyire]

thanks pontman looks like we may have a winner tks ill keep ya posted as i start seing how many of these parts i can get from an autoparts store either new or rebuilt.