Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Body/Appearance/Interior => Topic started by: chrome302jr on May 18, 2005, 08:13:01 PM

Title: TC header panel installed
Post by: chrome302jr on May 18, 2005, 08:13:01 PM
For those that dont know, I was involved in an accident about a month ago, which took out my header panel and messed up the bumper. I decided to install a TC header panel and fix/paint the bumper myself. As a disclaimer I did ALL the prep/paint work myself, and this is a first for me lol. I tried to color match the silver, but 18yr old silver paint is hard to duplicate, however I think it came out nice. The first pic is one with the lights off so you can see the clear corners.

(http://www.home.earthlink.net/~rbjbfam9/tcheaderfront.JPG)

(http://www.home.earthlink.net/~rbjbfam9/tcheaderfront1.JPG)

(http://www.home.earthlink.net/~rbjbfam9/tcheaderleft.JPG)

(http://www.home.earthlink.net/~rbjbfam9/tcheaderside.JPG)

(http://www.home.earthlink.net/~rbjbfam9/interior.JPG)

I just got the car back up, unfortunately I leave next week and the car stays here in Va while Im in Ga.  :(
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on May 18, 2005, 08:16:22 PM
Dayum Ronnie, that looks really good. Maybe you should think about a job doing custom paint work instead of rail roading... :D
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: 87 3.8 CAT on May 18, 2005, 08:35:44 PM
Looks great. I like the smooth roll from the hood to the bumper with the T-Birds. I love the clear corners. I have to do this to my Cat. Did you make these? I can't find anything clear to replace mine.
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: Snatchrick on May 18, 2005, 09:32:48 PM
Yeah, he made them himself. I just did it to mine also. All you have to do is take the corner apart and remove the orange plastic peice and glue it back together.
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: Bane on May 18, 2005, 09:45:45 PM
nice job, silver matches pretty  close, try to wax the rest of the silver to see if it can bring it out a lil more.

so thats what those shifters look like when they are installed right...(my previous owner must of though he was a mechanic in a earlier lifetime...)
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: Thunder Chicken on May 25, 2005, 01:47:38 PM
Looks good, though I must admit I'm curious as to how you open your windows. Where did you mount the switches?
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: chrome302jr on June 27, 2005, 01:35:24 PM
Quote from: Thunder Chicken
Looks good, though I must admit I'm curious as to how you open your windows. Where did you mount the switches?


Ive got the window controls tucked beside my driver seat for now, until I have the time to install custom switch panel a friend made. Why could Ford have put the window controls on the  door?
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: Funky Cricket on June 27, 2005, 04:46:36 PM
Quote from: chrome302jr
Why could Ford have put the window controls on the  door?



cause they were supposed to be sporty luxo-barges that no one would want floor shifters for... hehe.
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: chrome302jr on June 28, 2005, 09:09:46 PM
Quote from: Funky Cricket
cause they were supposed to be sporty luxo-barges that no one would want floor shifters for... hehe.


Guess Ford had no idea what some guys would do to these cars lol.  :evilgrin:
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: joefriday on June 29, 2005, 05:41:53 AM
I see you have one side molding with turn light and one without.  Did the wreck take out one of those too?
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on June 29, 2005, 09:37:15 AM
Quote from: joefriday
I see you have one side molding with turn light and one without.  Did the wreck take out one of those too?


No when Ronnie lost the trim a couple of years ago(actually I blew it off when we were racing), I only had a std piece of moulding to give him... :D

(http://www.chrome302.iwarp.com/images/tomron.jpg)


Actually my answer is a half truth, you'll have to figure out what part is a lie... Course Ronnie will probably have something to say about it as well....
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: chrome302jr on June 29, 2005, 12:02:43 PM
Quote from: joefriday
I see you have one side molding with turn light and one without.  Did the wreck take out one of those too?


Good eye, no mine happened to fall off and Tom gave me one. I never got around to replacing it with one with a light. Your actually the first person to notice lol. I was pretty lucky when I wrecked, it didnt take out much other than the header panel.

Tom, hopefully I can get a rematch next Friday... :D

(http://www.home.earthlink.net/~rbjbfam9/images/tomron.jpg)
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: Haystack on June 29, 2005, 12:41:15 PM
I noticed it. I figured it was a diffrent fender.
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on July 17, 2005, 05:31:28 PM
Quote from: chrome302jr
Ive got the window controls tucked beside my driver seat for now, until I have the time to install custom switch panel a friend made. Why could Ford have put the window controls on the  door?



same here for a long time , i made a panel also to mount the switches in ive got some proto-type pics if maybe you guys are inteseted
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: Thunder Chicken on July 18, 2005, 02:27:50 PM
There's a simple explanation as to why Ford put the switches in the center - they only had to use one set that way. Had they put them in the door they'd have had to use a set in each door. Cost cutting, though it's quite common in expensive European cars...
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: EricCoolCats on July 18, 2005, 03:06:49 PM
You also have to remember that Ford was in a bit of a financial jam in the early 1980's. Our cars were their first real money-makers. Until that money poured in, though, they had to make things cost-effective. It is a much simpler setup, but is not as intuitive as having them on the doors like virtually every car made since ours.
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: Ifixyawata on July 18, 2005, 03:31:42 PM
After driving these cars for a while, the center console-mounted switch design becomes intuitive.  I can't tell you how many times I've reached for the switches in the center console of the Neon.
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on July 18, 2005, 05:07:55 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats
intuitive


intuitive??? What the Hell is Intuitive???? I've gone 55+ years and never once do I remember using that word. (Goes hunting for dictionary)
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: EricCoolCats on July 18, 2005, 06:48:22 PM
Quote
intuitive??? What the Hell is Intuitive???? I've gone 55+ years and never once do I remember using that word. (Goes hunting for dictionary)


Wow...I guess you really can teach an "old dog" new tricks! ;)
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: eazrider on July 19, 2005, 10:27:45 AM
TurboCoupe50...check your email !!
  eazrider.....
Title: Re: TC header panel installed
Post by: oldraven on July 19, 2005, 01:24:38 PM
Quote from: TurboCoupe50
intuitive??? What the Hell is Intuitive???? I've gone 55+ years and never once do I remember using that word. (Goes hunting for dictionary)


I think once Ford made the TurboCoupe, you've had your head permanently planted under the hood. :D 22 years hiding in the garage might explain how you missed this crazy new slang. ;)