Stubborn Ol’ Bird? (plus Video 4)
Have you seen the 1983 John Carpenter supernatural horror movie, Christine? It's based on a Stephen King novel of the same title and features a possessed 1958 Plymouth Fury.
Sometimes we think this old bird has a mind of it's own but instead of repairing herself like Christine, she instead seems to say, "Nope, I'm tired!" and spits some gear oil on the garage floor in protest.
When we last left you we had done some work on the complex hydraulic and electrical system that controls the convertible top. All the old hydraulic hoses were replaced and, except for one deck lid cylinder that began leaking past its seal (requiring replacement), we were about ready to install new trunk mats.
It was while cycling the top and making adjustments that the hydraulic pump decided it had had enough.
Though it was completely dead at the switch, with power applied directly to the motor we were able to get it to spin slowly for just a second.
The pump was removed and disassembled on the bench to see if we could find the problem. Aside from the automatic transmission fluid that normally flows through the system, we found gelatinous sludge in the reservoir.
After removing the pump from the motor and cleaning everything we hooked a battery up to the motor but, unfortunately, it barely spun. It was tuckered-out, done, toast.
These pumps are spendy. The only rebuild kit we could find was just as expensive as a new assembly. Rather than get one from a T-Bird parts supplier (at an inflated price) we went right to their source: Hydro-E-Lectic in Florida. Getting both a high volume pump and the deck lid cylinder we needed from them was the best deal - but took a week to arrive.
When it arrived, the new pump bench-tested great. The new deck lid cylinder was slightly different in appearance but installed without a hitch. That's also when we learned that while the old pump was dying it killed 1 of 8 relays that are part of the top controls. We pried the relay open (hoping to save it) and found the contacts severely burned with no continuity when closed, and concluded that the failing motor drew excess current - burning it up.
We ordered a new relay and a few days later one arrived but it was wrong - not the part number we ordered. The vendor promptly shipped the correct one but by then we'd lost another week.
With the top working again we got the trunk area trimmed out with new mats and side panels.
The old multi-piece carpet pieces went back in, along with the seats and new seat belts to replace ones that were missing.
The lube was changed in the rear diff (really old and nasty), motor oil and filter changed, and other fluids topped off. We were finally ready to road test and tune. Or so we thought...
Yeah, the T-Bird gave us the the bird, so to speak, when the core failed in the radiator and tinkled coolant all over the driveway. One big leak would likely be followed by others later if we tried to repair it. And old school radiator shops are a thing of the past around here. Replacement copper radiators for a '63 Thunderbird are currently stupid, stupid, stupid expensive. Almost double the price of just a year ago.
We found a good alternative at a more reasonable price but lost (you guessed it) another week waiting for it to come from Michigan.
In this video progress report on the '63 T-Bird we take a look at a dressed-up trunk and radiator woes...