Originality Specifications

1964 through 1966 Thunderbird

The following is an attempt to get some of the basic information regarding originality for Thunderbirds into the hands of all who want it and to do it for free.

If there is information you wish me to put here or if you find mistakes I should correct, please email me Here.

    ITEM DESCRIPTION 
1964 1965 1966
Block, heads, intake, front cover, oil pan, 
water pump
Black 
(Aluminum (DSO 81) Canada)
Black 
(Aluminum (DSO 81) Canada)
Corporate Blue
Air Cleaner  Castillian Gold 
(see below for formula
Castillian Gold 
(see below for formula
CorporateBlue
Dupont #76585D
Valve Covers Castillian Gold 
(see below for formula
Gold Bronze CorporateBlue
Oil Fill Cap black black black
Power steering pump & 
-----Reservoir-------- 
A/C cars have black remote reservoir
black casting 
argent reservoir
black and has 
integral reservoir
Black or Corp. Blue 
and has integral 
reservoir
Transmssion and bellhousing cast-not painted cast-not painted cast-not painted
Radiator and surge tank black black black or 
Corporate Blue
Pan above radiator black black black
Radiator hose clamps 

Heater hose clamps

Tangential on all Tangential on all Tangential on all
Power brake vac hose clamps pressed type pressed type pressed type
Fan blade---without air cond. 

with air cond.

5 blade without clutch 

7 blade w/clutch

5 blade without clutch 

7 blade w/clutch

5 blade without clutch 

7 blade w/clutch

Windshield washer bag Black "Thunderbird" 
with screw lid 
(see note below)
Black "Thunderbird" 
with screw lid
Black "Ford" or 
"Thunderbird" flip lid
Carb linkage light gold cadmium light gold cadmium light gold cadmium
Engine compartment side walls same as body color same as body color same as body color
PCV hose and metal tube blue like engine
Firewall Black Undercoating 
very thin and semigloss
Black Undercoating 
very thin and semigloss
Black Undercoating 
very thin and semigloss
Hood latches  light gold cad. plated light gold cad. plated dark grey primer
Hood hinges *also see note below light gold cad. plated light gold cad. plated light gold cad. plated
Hood Hinge springs black black black
Starter  black black black
Alternator  natural alum. natural alum. natural alum.
Battery 29N 
27BF (optional HD)
27F 27F
Ignition Coil black w/mustard top black w/mustard top black w/mustard top
Differential black housing 
red oxide carrier assy.
black housing 
red oxide carrier assy.
black housing 
red oxide carrier assy.
Drive shaft natural natural natural
Shock absorbers Bronze, Black or Silver Bronze, Black or Silver Bronze, Black or Silver
Rear springs black or silver (argent) black or silver (argent) black or silver (argent)
Front springs black w/color stripe 
for identification
black w/color stripe 
for identification
black w/color stripe 
for identification
Steering Linkage natural natural natural
Fuel Tank Tin plated or galvanized 
(may have black undercoat)
Tin plated or galvanized 
(may have black undercoat)
Tin plated or galvanized 
(may have black undercoat)
General underbody black and undercoated black and undercoated black and undercoated
Convertible top frame Black Black black
Headlight bulbs Tung-Sol, Westinghouse, 
GE
Tung-Sol, Westinghouse, 
GE
Tung-Sol, Westinghouse, 
GE
Headliner off white match interior???
seems that most were white or off white
match interior??
seems that most were white or off white
Visors off white 
conv--match interior?
match interior??
seems that most were white or off white
match interior??
seems that most were white or off white


Ride Height for 1966

From Product information, 1966 Cars Technical Service Advance Information...
Wheelhouse opening method used for an initial evaluation. If these are out of specificaiton, the suspension method must be used. Before performing procedure, "curb loading" and tire inflation must be checked. 1) Full tank of gasoline, radiator filled and engine oil level full. 2) Spare tire, wheel, Jack and handle in place. 3) Front seats in rear position. 4) All other leading removed.

Wheel opening at highest horizontal point parellel to road or level surface. Push down on centre of front bumper and release. Measure height. Lift on Center of front bumper and release. Again measure height on both front sides. Do same for rear.

Riding height: Front - 27.66 inches
Rear - 22.72 inches - hardtop - ----------22.60 Convertible

Tire size - 8.15 x 15

Tolerance: Front +1.26, -.62 inches Rear +.58 - -.67 inches

Maximum side variation 1/2 to 3/4 Inches


Windshield Washer Bag

Ford offered a blue-colored as well as a black-colored washer bag with dealer-installed windshield washer kits in '64 or so which was the same size as the one used in '61-'63 'Birds. It has "FoMoCo" in large letters toward the center of the bag with a rectangular surround (rounded upper corners) and the phrase "Made Right...Fits Right...Lasts Longer"


Battery Info

27BF used an unusual top cover style hold down with one hole offset from center, because the squarebirds battery bracket required it.

Voltage Regulator............ a solid state regulator is available that will fit these cars and will help eliminate the bouncing of the ammeter and the flickering of the lights. Here is the direct Ford Part number for the electronic regulator;
FOPZ10316A . It is also available from Napa.

It is not concours correct as the cover is quite a bit lower, about half as hight.


Seat Belt Light

The seat belt light on the 64 and the early 65 were conrolled by a push swich located inside the light unit. You tap the lens and the light would shut off.

Somewhere along the line in 65 they also used a switch in the seat belt retractor that was supposed to shut this off. Obviously in those years when we did not like wearing seat belts there was enough complaining that Ford changed it again by installing a time delay relay that would wait for about a minute then turn the light off automatically

Some of the early 1966 cars may still have the retractor switch.

The relay is about 1/2 inch by 2 inches long and is located up under the dash by the steering column.


Paint Codes for Emberglo color


The Ditzler paint charts show factory color code "V" for Emberglo, and
Ditzler's code number is 22610. The Lucite code # is 4700LH.
The Centari code # is 97770AH.
The DULUX # is 97770DH.


Hood Hinge color research

Research has shown that the original factory hood hinges were a yellow cad color. However during the flairbird era, Ford had service replacement hinges that were not this yellowish/gold cad color. These were a medium gray phosphate color. There are many factory delivered 1966 Thunderbirds that have
hinges with this coating. Both hinge "colors" will be accepted by VTCI w/o point deduction. As for the Eastwood cad color painting kit, it's just that a paint kit. It's fair to say that from twenty feet away the color looks good. But when the painted item is right there in your face, the results are not the best. It's a obvious "paint-job". If you go to all the trouble of removing the hinges, why not have them repaired and replated. Or best yet, replace them with new. What kind of dollar value do we place on our own labor? Monkeying around with the hinges, the cleaning, painting, and then having them get scratched by the springs and mounting hardware just does not seem to be the best choice.
Gregg Z

 

Paint codes for Castillian Gold in Dupont, Ditzler and Sikkens

Paint number for Dupont is 4292 and this is in lacquer


Ditzler lists a color code for Castillian Gold as #32277.

DDL31842 QTY: 1 quart

Code, color, cumulative parts ,parts,
DMA346 black 50.0 50.0
DMA307 midas gold 62.0 12.0
DMA329 yellow 74.0 12.0
DMA384 yellow 144.0 70.0
DMA316 CRS. alu 228.0 84.0
DMA349 Fine alu 986.0 758.0


Formula for Sikkens Castillian Gold Metallic (FA62:I) 666 328.4 g 400 334.1 g 952 362.0 g 977 394.9 g 333CS 641.2 g 333C 969.6 g

Total 969.6 g


This is a photo of the 1965 Air cleaner on a car that originally came from Calif. as it has the hose connection on front.

disclaimer:

For you who think I am the expert I want to warn you that I do not know everything about these cars. I am only posting what has already been determined by a large group of Thunderbird Enthusiast to be as close to original as we know it. Each club has different rules that they judge cars by at the shows and if you are competing in a show or intend to I highly recommend that you contact the club and get a copy of their judging rules so as to be able to know what you should do to be competitive in their event.

I also feel it is the clubs duty to provide these guidlines for its members so as to hold a fair judging for all participants. This has been my stand on this issue for many years and I feel it is one of the weakest areas of all the clubs for the '58 and up Thunderbirds.

To improve this situation I urge each of you to contact your clug hierarchy and bug them to increase their efforts in this area. As members and car owners the main thing we want in a club is information flow. Become active and get the info flowing.

That is what this website is all about. Please excuse any mistakes and help make the improvements with me.


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