Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

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Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my T-Bird, but I get very frustrated at Ford's "If it's older than 10 years we won't support it" attitude. It seem like every little thing that breaks on my Goded car has been discontinued. Power door lock motors. Horn ring. Fuel gauge sender. Window motor. And although I have not had the following problems on my car I know others who have: Weather stripping. Rocker and quarter panels. Miscellaneous switchgear. 87-88 Cougar headlights. And because these cars are relatively obscure (especially 87-88 models because of their two-year-only run) the aftermarket does not seem to have stepped up. We have been completely abandoned by not only the aftermarket, but by the builder of these cars, FoMoCo. Some people chastise others who junk these cars, but the simple fact is that if nobody junked them none of us would be able to drive them, because more often than not, used replacement parts is our only choice. And these parts are only going to become more rare as these cars fall further into obscurity.

Just imagine the shiznit we'd be in if our cars dodn't share many Mustang components. No more ball joints, brake rotors or pads, tie rod ends, steering racks, engine parts, etc. We'd be screwed.

Compare Ford's attitude to GM's. Partially because so many GM's share parts, and partially because GM actually gives a , you can buy new replacement parts for virtually any GM vehicle. Need an instrument cluster for that '89 Olds Trofeo? No problem. '83 Monte Carlo need a control arm? Here you go. GM actually has a corporate "GM Restoration Parts" program. I'm sure Ford does too, as long as you own a Mustang, but nowhere near the scale of GM. They own AC Delco, a HUGE aftermarket division (which, ironically, is also the only source for many T-Bird/Cougar small parts). GM works with aftermarket suppliers so people with, say, an '81 Z/28 can buy a brand new quarter panel. Heck, if you call any GM dealer with the VIN of your car, regardless of age, they can tell you whether there are any open recalls. Ford, on the other hand, completely disowns all of its children once they hit 10 years old (and I bet it'd be younger than that if they could get away with it). Last year when the ignition switch burned up in my '88 I called Ford about the recall. They couldn't answer whether it had been completed or not. This was Corporate Ford, BTW, not just a dealer. I ended up buying a switch and putting it in myself (even though after examining the old switch and seeing the old "E-something" part number i know the recall had never been done). I find it rather interesting that a company that is so into "retro" doesn't seem to give a rat's ass about its heritage. You're expected to throw your old Ford away and buy a new one.

I know this seems a bit harsh, but after my fuel sender fiasco today I'm really starting to see how much of a pain in the ass it can be to keep these cars on the road.

Take care of your cars, folks. As time goes by it'll be harder and harder to fix 'em when they break...