Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => Lounge => Topic started by: Masejoer on September 30, 2006, 02:50:25 PM

Title: new old stock fun
Post by: Masejoer on September 30, 2006, 02:50:25 PM
Being surprised that this ebay listing went up so high, considering AM is selling reproductions for $40/set, I looked at the description again. All seemed fine until the picture. Take a close look. Whoever the top bidder is, they're going to be in for a surprise when someone tries to use the power windows.

Or did a model have 'backwards' controls from what I'm used to in my car?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/T-Bird-Thunderbird-85-86-87-Center-switch-plate-NOS_W0QQitemZ160035405016QQihZ006QQcategoryZ50459QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: baxo on September 30, 2006, 03:17:24 PM
That's not backwards.. that's correct.. the question is, what do YOU have in your car? ;)
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: Thunder Chicken on September 30, 2006, 03:49:07 PM
Ya, they made 'em both ways. My car is "pull down, push up" but the console plate says "push down, pull up". We actually had a thread about this once...
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: Dogcharmer on September 30, 2006, 05:02:54 PM
It just depends on how you orient the switches when you put the plate on. My power mirror controls are backwards and upside down, lol.

I need one of those plates for my 87 (some of the tabs are busted off and I had to re-paint it)... But at $132 I guess some people need one a lot worse than I do.
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: EricCoolCats on September 30, 2006, 05:27:07 PM
Quote
It just depends on how you orient the switches when you put the plate on.

Well...no...there is definitely a wiring difference for each switch. The convertible (1986) was originally "push forward, window goes down". I had to rewire it so that it's "push forward, window goes up". The grey wiring plate onto which the power window switch mounts can only be screwed to the console plate one way. You can't just flip it over, even though it looks like you can.

So true about the Aerobird plates...then again, I've been known to spend ridiculous money on NOS parts I'll never use, just to have them. To each his own. :)
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: grutinator on September 30, 2006, 06:13:12 PM
how did you even notice that? the windows on the one for sale is reverse from the one in my cougar, but i never would have noticed that if u didnt say something about it.  good eye you got there
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: Dogcharmer on September 30, 2006, 08:37:16 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats;106265
Well...no...there is definitely a wiring difference for each switch. The convertible (1986) was originally "push forward, window goes down". I had to rewire it so that it's "push forward, window goes up". The grey wiring plate onto which the power window switch mounts can only be screwed to the console plate one way. You can't just flip it over, even though it looks like you can.:)


Interesting, I guess it is just the power mirror switch that can be turned around any which way... I stand corrected.
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: CougarSE on September 30, 2006, 08:47:05 PM
If you flipped the switch then your driver window and passenger window would be on the wrong side.. and that is sure to stand out.

Now no one else has noticed that panel would have not fit his 85.  85's had glue down panels and not tabbed panels.
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: Thunder Chicken on September 30, 2006, 09:17:57 PM
I posted a pic of an '85 part that had a tabbed panel :D

*EDIT* Here's the thread http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=9382
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: Masejoer on September 30, 2006, 10:28:34 PM
Quote from: baXo;106246
That's not backwards.. that's correct.. the question is, what do YOU have in your car? ;)


Same as whats on AM's site (http://"http://aerobirdmotorsports.com/Interior.html")
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: tcanthonyii on October 01, 2006, 12:19:36 AM
I love the how ford did the reverese thing on the switches.  People get in my car and can't figure out how roll the window down or up.  I thought all tbirds/coug's were push down roll up.  They actually made some correctly or did people get pissed and rewire them?

tc
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: DVP on October 01, 2006, 12:24:31 AM
we had this this discussion when i but in my console

http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=9382&highlight=console+install

no one ever finished it though
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: Ifixyawata on October 01, 2006, 12:33:48 AM
The difference in the switches lies within the difference between a full console and consolette, I thought.
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: DVP on October 01, 2006, 01:22:34 AM
kinda looks that way, but i dont think Ford made it that easy, or we are looking to hard
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: Thunder Chicken on October 01, 2006, 10:06:36 AM
Quote from: Ifixyawata;106334
The difference in the switches lies within the difference between a full console and consolette, I thought.

That's what I had thought, too, until I took my parts TC switch and compared it to my car. My car originally had the consolette, and the TC had the console of course, and both switches and wiring were identical. The difference is in the thing the switch attaches to, not the switch itself, right? Well if that were the case, mounting my switch to the TC console plate should have resulted in the correct orientation if the switches were all the same. Somewhere, for some reason, Ford did it differently for certain cars.
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: amooset on October 01, 2006, 07:44:10 PM
I put a power seat in on the passenger side and had to swap out that plate.  I pulled it out of my 85 and put it in the 87.  The window directions are opposite now.  Maybe they switched the direction when they changed the window motor design?
Title: new old stock fun
Post by: P71 on October 02, 2006, 12:04:45 PM
That's why I make decals both ways, pick your poison! :D