February 2021 Newsletter OFFICERS: President: Marc Koszak 412-266-0562 [email protected] Vice President: Wayne Bane 724-594-7482 [email protected] Secretary: Mary Beth Meyer 412-747-0769 [email protected] Treasurer: Jerry Longstreth 412-466-9091 [email protected]

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Spring start-up: As for gasoline, you should be good to go if you put Stabil in the tank Tips for getting your Thunderbird back on the road before storing your car. If not, you might consider adding a water- By: Jeff Peek – Hagerty.com absorbing product or — if you’re really worried about it — just drain the You grumbled when Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, even though tank. you realize a startled groundhog really can’t predict an extended Check your belts and hoses for cracks and decay. Since rubber breaks winter. You will wait up all night on Feb. 28, just to see if March would down over time, examine the condition of your tires, too. Make sure come in like a lion or a lamb. For classic car owners in northern states, they’re inflated to the correct air pressure. And don’t forget the spare. the long wait for spring can be excruciating. The good news is, it’s almost here. Take advantage of the time you have left by prepping Water can not only damage your engine, but it can cause brake your car before its first drive. You’ll both be better for it. problems, as well. If your car has been sitting for a while, consider bleeding your brakes. They should feel firm when you push the pedal. Start with your battery. If it’s been on a trickle charger all winter, disconnect it from the charger and reconnect the battery. If you simply By this point, you should already know if any mice spent a comfortable removed the battery and stored it in a warmer spot for the winter, time winter in or around your engine. Also check inside the passenger to charge it up. compartment, especially under the seats and in the glove box. And one last thing — check the headlights, turn signals and brake lights, which Check your fluids. Start with a walk-around and examine the floor may require the help of a friend. beneath the car. Drips are common and expected; puddles are not. A It’s finally time to start your car. If you’re just testing the engine, make fresh oil change is recommended since water or other fluids may have sure an exit door is open enough to allow exhaust to escape. If the found their way in your crankcase. While you’re at it, replace the oil weather allows for a drive, make that first one fairly short — after a filter. Also check your other fluids — brakes, coolant, transmission, warm-up, a half hour or so should put the car through its proper paces. windshield washer. Do they look dirty? Are they at the recommended And before you take drive No. 2, do the ol’ walk-around again. No level? Smell your transmission fluid. If it smells burnt, change it. major leaks? Tires look good? Let ’er rip, and enjoy a safe driving Generally speaking, if you can’t remember the last time you drained season. and flushed any particular fluid, it’s probably time to do it again. UPCOMING EVENTS: Nothing planned and suggestions are welcome. We will contact you of any upcoming events.

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Current Membership: 63 Members

FOR SALE: 1956 Ford Victoria $45,000 1957 Thunderbird Contact: Carol Vivaldi 1965 724-939-7306 $40,000 [email protected] Contact: William Dillick $29,000 FIRM 724-545-9633 or Jerry Longstreth 412-466-9091 312 V-8, Automatic, Coral Sand w/White Hardtop and Black 1956 Ford Victoria: Fiesta Red and Black, 292 V8, automatic, Convertible Top, Power Steering, Power Windows, Radial Tires, Radio original owner, AACA Grand National Winner, 86,000 miles. works well, Have original Town & Country Radio, 44,000 Miles, 1965 Ford Thunderbird: Frost Turquoise, 390 V8, second owner. Original California Car in good condition. AACA Grand National Winner, 32,000 miles.

1957 Thunderbird 2002 Thunderbird Contact: Ron George Contact: Jan Good 724-784-0316 412-366-1991 [email protected] [email protected] $35,900 $21,500

Thunderbird Blue, with full blue and black interior. Matching blue Starmist Blue, rebuilt engine, new Goodyear radials, restored in 2002, hardtop, hardtop dolly and black boot. Excellent condition, no dings Kelsey Hayes wire wheels, new top and interior. No hardtop. or scratches. Everything works on it as it should. 34,907 miles. 2 FOR SALE:

1955-1957 Thunderbird Men’s and Ladies’ Golf Shirts: Turquoise / Thunderbird blue golf shirts with Convertible Top the Pitt Birds logo. Contact: John Vierthaler, Contact Mary Beth Meyer at 412-818-5898. Littleton, CO The price is $25.00. Shipping and handling to 303-204-2484 your address is an additional $5.00. [email protected] $1,750.00 This is a Prestige Thunderbirds convertible top. The condition is like new.

2003 - 2005 Thunderbird Complete Exhaust Converter back, 24,000 miles, excellent shape. $175.00 Contact Robert Willcock 412-427-1387 Cell, 412-771-5827 Home [email protected] Phone: Technical: (740) 949-2217 Phone Orders: (866) 949-1956 www.hillsresto.com Email: [email protected]

2004 Thunderbird Hardtop Red with a cart. Will fit 2002-2005 $800.00 or best offer. Contact: Wayne Bane 724-594-7482 or [email protected] 2002 Ford Thunderbird SALEEN BONSPEED PROTOTYPE #1 For price, photos and details, click on the link below: 2002 Ford Thunderbird SALEEN BONSPEED PROTOTYPE #1 | eBay 3 It’s a buyer’s market for Ford’s final T-Bird....for now By Jeff Koch from September 2020 issue of Hemmings Motor News

Ford's two-seat, V-8 Thunderbird concept was a show-stopper on the Whisper White was available in 2002-'03, Thunderbird Blue (an aqua 1999 car-show circuit. Created under the watchful eye of Ford design metallic) in '02 only, and Inspiration Yellow was also an '02-only color. legend Jack Telnack, with details seen to by after Telnack's Mountain Shadow Grey and Desert Sky Blue were only for '03, as was 1997 retirement, it was sporty without being a sports car, luxurious Silver, Merlot, and Ice Blue were '04-only hues, while Monterey Mist without costing an arm and a leg, elegant yet modern, and comfortable was an exclusive for the Pacific Coast Roadster edition. Bronze, without being excessive. Some fuss was made about the 11th- Medium Steel Blue, Cashmere, and Inca Gold only appeared in 2005. generation Thunderbird's modern-retro style at the time: the eggcrate Of these, Inca Gold is the rarest of all T-Bird colors, with just 187 built. grille and driving light nacelles, the non-functional hood scoop, the round twin rear lights, the chromed script badging, the removable Production ended in July 2005 with barely 68,000 built over four years. hardtop with the porthole, and the generous proportions with ample It wasn't a huge sales success in Ford's eyes, but the most recent rear overhang. But these could easily just be seen as touchstones on Thunderbird still outsold the original two-seat T-Bird by 15,000 units an otherwise modern shape. and lasted a year longer. With the oldest of these cars coming up on two decades in age, it's still possible to find a clean, low-mileage The production car's platform was shared with the Jaguar S-Type (and example out there. later, the Jaguar XF) sedan. The Thunderbird also shared its platform with the Lincoln LS sedan. Its much-heralded arrival as a 2002 model, For this buyer's guide, we spoke to two people: Philip Wegener of with the first models built in 2001, ensured a 19-month initial Thunderbird Specialties, an online-based shop that deals exclusively production run and sales numbers that far outstripped Ford's 25,000- with parts for the 2002-'05 Thunderbird, and Ken Berger of Phoenix, unit-per-annum estimate. More than 31,000 T-Birds, or 46 percent of Arizona, a serial T-Bird buyer (nearly a dozen since his first new one in all 2002-'05 T-Bird production, were '02s. For this reason, production late '01) who owns our Torch Red '02 feature car. Between them, a can easily be broken into two groups: 2002s and the rest. clean picture of what to watch out for emerges.

Ford updated the Thunderbird annually with special editions and exclusive paint colors. Torch Red and Evening Black are the only colors that lasted all four years. 4 Continued on the next page. It’s a buyer’s market for Ford’s final T-Bird Continued Body The body was unchanged during the T-Bird's four years of life, "There's a high core charge, and you need lots of information— the although a discreet V8 badge appeared on the fender behind the front part number, your car's engineering number, the odometer reading, wheel opening on '02 and '05 models only. Philip noted that "Doors the VIN, the owner's name, and the old core.“ and rear quarter panels are unavailable from Ford, although the front Small but significant interior differences separate the and rear bumper covers are still available through the dealer." The Interior/Top 2002 and the 2003-'05 models. The 2002 gauge cluster was unique, hood and trunk lid are both made of sheet-molded composite and are with the gauge faces arranged to appear as if they overlap. The 2003- also not available from the dealer. '05 gauges are their own individual semi-circles. The 2002 has a hook Philip suggests that the bulk of Thunderbird owners babied their cars, on the glovebox latch (presumably for a trash bag); it disappeared in making plenty of good-quality, low-mileage examples readily available. '03 and never returned. The '02 model has vinyl sun visors, while the Rust typically isn't an issue: He's found that "most put their 2003-'05 has cloth. Subtle differences in material and color can help Thunderbirds in hibernation from October to April.“ identify one year from another. Optional complementary body-colored interior trim was available with some colors. Something to note is the boot that covers the folded soft roof. "The '02 soft boot took up most of the trunk," Ken said. "In '03, Ford went with a "Rattles and squeaks from the hardtop generally come from improper different padded multipiece design that could be folded and stored. I attachment," said Philip. "There are two clamps in back and two bolts think it's an improvement. And the snap configuration is the same— in the header; if it's not done in sequence" then noise can crop up. All any boot will fit any year.“ years of hardtop will fit any 2002-'05 T-Bird, regardless of whether it was equipped with one at the factory or not. Hardtop-equipped models Also, the optional hardtop can leave rub marks between the trunk lid came with a folding hardtop rack for storage when not in use. and the soft-top well. "Any hardtop is going to do that," Ken said. "The factory put the tops on when paint was still fresh." The factory offered The convertible soft-top latches have plastic bushings that deteriorate a hardtop protection kit consisting of mylar strips, gel, and an and crack, releasing a spring, and the pivot arm can also break. This is applicator. Thunderbird Specialties still has a few sets in stock, though "in the top five of overall issues with the Thunderbird," Philip said. it has developed a stainless- steel protection strip said to prevent "Repair kits are available from Ford. It sells an entire clamp assembly; scratches and reduce rattles and squeaks in the hardtop. Thunderbird Specialties sells individual components." And watch for a worn or weather-beaten convertible top as well. Electronics One of the things that scares collectors about modern cars is the cost and complexity of fixing various computer systems. Other issues include a six-CD changer that will neither return nor play "The one that fails most is the FEM, or Front Electronic Module, your music (occasionally fixable by disconnecting the battery and lighting," Philip said. "I must get five calls a day from people who need letting the electronics reset; otherwise the unit needs to be opened and an FEM, but Ford obsoleted it in 2018. There are also the PCM, or re-lubricated), seat leather than can crack or fade, and the inner door powertrain control module, and REM, the rear electronic module." handles. "They work fine, but the chrome peels. Little stuff like that is What's more, each module is vehicle-specific—you can't just plug one annoying," Kenny said. According to Philip, "Inner door handles are in you scrounged at a boneyard and make everything right again. increasingly difficult to find; the handle is riveted to the latch assembly Because of this demand, Philip reached out to Ford, and prevailed and was never available separately. Disassembling and rechroming it upon it to do something. is expensive, and with a used handle, you're replacing one 15-yearold part with another." Ford did: Through Thunderbird Specialties, and not through standard Continued on the next page channels like your local dealer's parts department, Ford will remanufacture the FEM. 5 It’s a buyer’s market for Ford’s final T-Bird Continued Engine The Thunderbird's 32-valve DOHC V-8 The 2002-'03 has two available wheels: a displaced 3.9 liters (242-cu.in.), and despite the painted silver 21-spoke or a chromed seven- Jaguar architecture was a unique variant built in spoke (the special Neiman Marcus and 007 Lima, Ohio. The AJ30's block, crank, pistons, editions got chromed versions of the painted and fracture-split, forged-powder-metal wheel). The 2004-'05 models had a refreshed connecting rods are all unique to this engine wheel selection. and are not shared with Jaguar. The 2002 "The transmissions don't get beat up much—the version offered 252 horsepower at 6,100 rpm, engine doesn't overpower them, which helps," and 267 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm. For 2003, said Philip. "The transmission is sealed—you the updated AJ35 variant added electronic can't even check the fluid level from under the throttle control, variable timing on the intake hood. Most transmission issues, I have found, camshafts, and an electric cooling pump are caused by opening the system and creating (replacing a hydraulic unit) for reduced drag. problems that didn't exist before that. Oil change Power was bumped to 280 horsepower at 6,000 shops often underfill or overfill. Ford rpm. The AJ35 ceased production in 2006, with recommends just leaving it alone.“ more than a quarter-million built; AJ- architecture engines will cease production in The one tire to check on, though, is the spare. September. "The donut spare can blow up in the trunk from age," said Ken. "You gotta get it out. One day The biggest issue with Thunderbird engines is you hear a 'boom!' and you have a trunk full of with the coil-on-plug ignition. Philip said, "I've rubber dust." Philip explains further: "They get heard from people with high-mileage cars who dry-rotted over the years, and most owners haven't had issues, and I've seen them go bad never look at it. At 60 psi, it can explode and on cars from 20,000 to 70,000 miles. Motorcraft tear up the liner and panels of the trunk. And makes a correct replacement and, at $75-$90 even if it's intact, if you put a load on it, it each, they're not expensive, but labor is. And probably won't hold up. The 2002 spares were once one coil fails, the others won't be far made by Firestone; they switched to another behind, so you should do at least one bank of company after 2002. It's a special- order piece the V-8 at a time, if not all at once." Ken says from a tire shop since most dealers and shops that part of the problem is that "the valve covers don't carry them. leak, and oil fills the valley where the coil packs The four-wheel independent suspension is very are and shorts them out. It's not a hard fix, but robust, Philip claims. Your local Ford parts it's annoying. If you keep them dry, and if the counter and local parts store should have all of gaskets are good, they'll go forever.“ the other components needed to keep a 'Bird Brakes and Suspension All of Thunderbird's feeling fresh. Watch the bushings, however: factory wheels were 17 x 7.5, fitted with They're hard nylon and can crack with age. P235/50R17 95V Michelin Pilots. It's a common Some Lincoln LS suspension parts are enough tire size, although some owners move compatible with the T-Bird, none from the S- up to a 55-series for a little more sidewall and Type Jaguar are— despite riding on the same ride comfort. platform. 6