Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => Lounge => Topic started by: EricCoolCats on July 24, 2006, 12:41:11 PM

Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: EricCoolCats on July 24, 2006, 12:41:11 PM
I just picked this up:
(http://www.coolcats.net/ximages/dlpanel.jpg)

Part number E6SZ-14B089-C, listed for 1986 Thunderbirds.

So I have to ask those of you that have a lot of T-Bird knowledge: what the hell is this from?!

It's definitely NOT from a 20th Anniversary Cougar, because all of those had power door locks. I'm not aware of any pre-20th Fox Cougars that had the memory seat option. And I didn't know that you could get that on a T-Bird at all. What 1986 T-Bird had memory seats but the power locks as an option? élan? LX?

Throw me a frickin' bone here people. ;)
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: nirvanagod on July 24, 2006, 01:10:31 PM
Are there any cross reference books you can look at to see if it may have come from a Mark VII or perhaps and 87/88 Cougar/T-bird? Cause that looks like the basic door arm rest piece just with a different function. Perhaps it was just mislabeled?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: jkirchman on July 24, 2006, 04:54:28 PM
Could it be from a 30th Anniversary T-Bird?

edit:  guess not if it's listed as being for an '86
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on July 24, 2006, 06:52:43 PM
cool
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: thunderjet302 on July 24, 2006, 07:05:10 PM
Where did you get that? I've never even seen or heard of that being in an 86 T-bird. That's weird.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 84 Fila on July 24, 2006, 09:06:14 PM
Doesn't look like anything out of an 84 either
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: CougarSE on July 24, 2006, 09:54:45 PM
Eric is that thing for the right or left door panel?  I don't have that style door panel to compare too.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Innes on July 24, 2006, 10:06:55 PM
:wtf: O yea that the super secret part for the super secret special edition cars that were super secret special ordered for the CIA so don’t tell anyone.

All joking aside if you guys don’t now man it must be ether an error or something special.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 84 Fila on July 24, 2006, 10:12:27 PM
It says memory seat on it, Does that narrow it down any. Is it even from a T-bird. MN-12 maybe?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Cougars 2 go on July 24, 2006, 10:21:32 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats
I just picked this up:

Part number E6SZ-14B089-C, listed for 1986 Thunderbirds.

So I have to ask those of you that have a lot of T-Bird knowledge: what the hell is this from?!

It's definitely NOT from a 20th Anniversary Cougar, because all of those had power door locks. I'm not aware of any pre-20th Fox Cougars that had the memory seat option. And I didn't know that you could get that on a T-Bird at all. What 1986 T-Bird had memory seats but the power locks as an option? élan? LX?

Throw me a frickin' bone here people. ;)



How many different countries was the 80's TBird sold in?  I know Hyundais have BIG differences in available options depending on the country they are sold in.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: EricCoolCats on July 24, 2006, 11:22:35 PM
It's for the driver's side, on the 1985-88 high series door panels. I don't know why a car would have a memory seat but no power door locks...that just doesn't make sense to me. But obviously this exists, and filled some purpose. We just don't know what purpose that was! LOL

When we figure this out I have another weird part for these cars to let you guys chew on. But for now this one really has me scratching my head. It could be for the Mexican market...that's about all I've come up with.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 84 Fila on July 24, 2006, 11:27:44 PM
Export car option?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Ifixyawata on July 24, 2006, 11:35:53 PM
I'm sure, well, I would think, anyway, that a car could be ordered that way.  But why there would be a part like that sitting on a shelf somewhere, I dunno.  I mean, I never thought the memory seats could be ordered outside of the '87 Anniversary edition.

Odd.  Very odd indeed.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: thunderjet302 on July 25, 2006, 12:01:21 AM
I'll talk to some of the guys in the VTCI and see if they know anything about this. They have a bunch of info on T-birds so maybe they know something about this memory seat option.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Warbird9 on July 25, 2006, 12:18:18 AM
Maybe Gunkle04 could try to track down this elusive tidbit?:D
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 84 Fila on July 25, 2006, 12:30:11 AM
Whats the other odd part?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Ifixyawata on July 25, 2006, 12:57:01 AM
As far as I know, the ONLY Fox car *excluding the Lincolns* to recieve a memory seat was the 1987 20th Anniversary Cougar.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: EricCoolCats on July 25, 2006, 09:19:32 AM
Quote
As far as I know, the ONLY Fox car *excluding the Lincolns* to recieve a memory seat was the 1987 20th Anniversary Cougar.

That's always been my assertion as well. Now, 20ths were all mid-year cars with production starting in Feb. 1987. They HAVE to have an E7 part number on that panel. That was a unique panel to the 20th so it warranted its own engineering. Plus, like I mentioned before, they all had power door locks. That panel I just bought cannot be for a 20th--wrong engineering year and wrong part for the car. It has to be for an '86 something. I don't know of any other Ford vehicle that used our door panel parts.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 84 Fila on July 25, 2006, 10:06:11 AM
LTD? Stang'?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: V8Demon on July 25, 2006, 04:04:49 PM
Quote
They HAVE to have an E7 part number on that panel.


Even if engineering and tooling for it started in '86?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: EricCoolCats on July 25, 2006, 04:11:12 PM
Quote from: Paul Flockhart
Even if engineering and tooling for it started in '86?


I have thought of that...it's possible...but again, all 20ths had power locks. The panel itself had an empty space for a switch built into the underside, since its debut in 1985 (which would technically give an E5 part number to the casting). This is a specific 1986 part from the engineering number. It was made specially for some reason. So filling that spot with the memory seat switch somewhere down the line, not a big deal. Finding the car that had this combination...that's proving to be more difficult.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 84 Fila on July 25, 2006, 05:57:53 PM
Could it be a one off part from the factory?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Thunder Chicken on July 25, 2006, 07:04:09 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats
I have thought of that...it's possible...but again, all 20ths had power locks. The panel itself had an empty space for a switch built into the underside, since its debut in 1985 (which would technically give an E5 part number to the casting). This is a specific 1986 part from the engineering number. It was made specially for some reason. So filling that spot with the memory seat switch somewhere down the line, not a big deal. Finding the car that had this combination...that's proving to be more difficult.

There is the possibility that the part is an "engineering mule", although I don't know how it would end up all packaged up and in a parts department. When I worked at the Saturn dealership we were given an engineering mule, but it was a whole car. It was a 1997 Saturn SC1 (it was 1995 at the time). The car was basically a showroom ready pre-production vehicle except that it had been used for testing, so it was deemed not roadworthy. Normal companies would have sent it to the crusher, but Saturn distributed their mules to dealerships to create "cutaway" cars to show off the upcoming features. I got to cut the car up - a week of straight time labour during a normally slow period, and I got to destroy a car :evilgrin:

The point I'm making, though, is that even though this car technicaly did not exist until 1997, every part on it was engineered and built in 1995 (or even earlier). Is it not possible that the part you have was manufactured in antition of Ford offering memory seats in all versions of the Bird and Coug and therefore made it with the lock delete (or, perhaps, a non-power-lock equipped 20th)? This wouldn't explain the part actually being offered for public sale, but it may have slipped through the cracks. If this is the case you might be in posession of one of the rarest parts for these cars in existence :D

Another possibility is that the part was intended for a different car line. I dunno if those panels were ever used in any other car, but I do know that even though the manual HVAC controller for 85-88 cars says "T-Bird/Cougar" right on it, you'll find the identical part in late 80's to early 90's Econoline vans, including the "T-Bird/Cougar" marking. It's not unimaginable that the panel could've been labelled as a T-Bird part but have been destined for, say, a Mark VII or Continental
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: EricCoolCats on July 25, 2006, 08:03:04 PM
Quote
The point I'm making, though, is that even though this car technicaly did not exist until 1997, every part on it was engineered and built in 1995 (or even earlier). Is it not possible that the part you have was manufactured in antition of Ford offering memory seats in all versions of the Bird and Coug and therefore made it with the lock delete (or, perhaps, a non-power-lock equipped 20th)? This wouldn't explain the part actually being offered for public sale, but it may have slipped through the cracks. If this is the case you might be in posession of one of the rarest parts for these cars in existence

That is about my only conclusion. Except it's 1985 and 1987. ;)

Ford assigns engineering numbers to parts to be manufactured well before the car actually is. Whether those parts actually make it to the final showroom-floor vehicles is another question altogether. In other words, you can have an official Ford part from a Ford vehicle, but that part may never have made it into the production car at all. This just may be one of those situations.

In any case...it's mine mine mine. Nyah. :flip:
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 4mykid on July 25, 2006, 09:03:58 PM
Thats parts pretty cool but....whats it good for!? Its cool that its rare but it has absolutely no use to anybody really. I must ask how and where do you find something like that?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: LittleAngel1198 on July 25, 2006, 09:25:33 PM
Actually, you never know if it could be usefull to someone.... just because no one is sure exactly what car it comes from, doesn't mean that eventually they won't find out. ;)
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Thunder Chicken on July 25, 2006, 09:53:13 PM
...Or add the function to their own car :p Although I can't imagine adding the memory seat but not adding power locks...
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: CougarCoupe88 on July 26, 2006, 12:40:04 AM
who knows maybe a one off sliped off the line 20th no power options only the seat. would seem pretty dumb.

i have seen an optionless cougar? tan on tan. manual interior everything even the morrors. not even a tape deck just an am fm radio. which i grabed just bc it's so weird not seening a tape player.

and wasnt the tan interior a verry uncommon color mostly found only in the 20th their it was sitting in a junk yard . in a no options car lol. i love how these cars came optiond
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: shorangerbird on July 26, 2006, 11:44:40 AM
-i don't know if this helps or no eric, but

#1.  it wont even pull up on the current ford computer catalogs...

#2.  thank goodness for microfische....

according to the final issue of ford microfische dated november '93,
e6sz-14b089-c was the lh  door lock switch cover plate for  85 thru 89 thunderbirds/cougars with OUT power equipment, with memory seats. could have been any model (base, lx,ls,etc) as long as it was thusly equipped.  we have an old paper pricing book from 1997 (which ford did away with in 2000) and the number you have was not in there, which meant that it had been obsolete from ford for at least 2 years then.  the e6sz-a had a retail of $26 then, and the e6sz-b had a retail of $30 .    the a being a blank one(no equip at all) b being w/power, no memory...  hope this helps....
-stu:locked:
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: EricCoolCats on July 26, 2006, 12:56:20 PM
Oh that definitely helps, Stu...thanks! You sure it's listed for 1989? Because I don't think that panel was the same on the MN12 cars. Anyhow...looks to be a legitimate part. BTW, I have that microfiche set also, just no reader. :(

I'm going to call 'mystery solved' on this one. It exists, could be ordered for a brief period, but was never really used on the cars. Cool!

Y'all ready for the next one? ;)
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: LittleAngel1198 on July 26, 2006, 01:43:51 PM
Sure... Whats in the next box Alex??


 (Yea, I know...it's Eric, but for some reason, Alex just sounded like it fit better.) LOL
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: EricCoolCats on July 26, 2006, 02:03:21 PM
(http://www.coolcats.net/ximages/atcpanel.jpg)

Discuss. :)
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 5.0willgo on July 26, 2006, 02:19:46 PM
Okay, something about that unit looks different than mine.
I don't remember a "mix" button.
Isn't there supposed to be an A/C button on there somewhere?
I haven't looked at mine in so long..

Dangit, I have to wait until I get home to compare...
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Bird351 on July 26, 2006, 02:32:22 PM
Here ya go:
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 5.0willgo on July 26, 2006, 02:41:59 PM
Quote from: Bird351
Here ya go:

Thank you!! Wohoo, I knew it was different but I was starting to go crazy there for a minute.

So Eric, did that come out of a Cougar or T-Bird?
Or maybe a truck or van unit?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: EricCoolCats on July 26, 2006, 02:47:32 PM
It's from a 1985 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.

So yeah...ATC with no air conditioning. Again, Ford engineers smoking pot. ;)

BTW...nice dash panels, Ben. Like the color.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Bird351 on July 26, 2006, 02:52:35 PM
Heh.. thanks.. it's a product of my painting practice. That's my two-tone dash of pewter and gunmetal.

I was originally going to post this next pic along with the first one to show one other CC unit that the mystery unit wasn't, but I couldn't find it in time. By the time I found it, you had already replied.. but I feel like posting it anyway. :p
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 1FSTCAT on July 26, 2006, 03:30:56 PM
My interpretation of that is not "NO A/C". Why would there be an "economy" button, if there was no A/C??

Besides - it's AUTOMATIC. You shouldn't have to decide if you're getting A/C or not. The A/C should be on all the time, unless you press "OFF" or "Economy".

I think it's different than what we're used to, but not significant.

 --Ed
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: shorangerbird on July 26, 2006, 03:33:26 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats
You sure it's listed for 1989? Because I don't think that panel was the same on the MN12 cars.


-yeah, i agree on that part of it too eric, but if the microfische says it you know ford cant be wrong...:giggle:
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: thunderjet302 on July 26, 2006, 03:38:28 PM
I thought all Fox T-birds had A/C standard?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 84 Fila on July 26, 2006, 04:30:20 PM
Mine has AC but not climate control. Though it's currently cut out of the car thanks to the preivious owner. What years had this as on option?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: EricCoolCats on July 26, 2006, 04:31:40 PM
Ben, I think what you have is a late 1988 panel. I recall discussing this before...I also have one of those panels laying around. Tom, I believe, mentioned something about his '88's and that panel.

Ed, I would tend to agree with you. I should rephrase that: "ATC with no air conditioning markings". However...there is no explicit perception that a/c exists on this panel. One certainly cannot tell by looking at it. It is, plain and simple, one of the strangest and counterintuitive heater panels I've ever seen in any vehicle. If it actually does have a/c built into it...bonus! The later panels were much more intuitive and easier to see at a glance. That's what makes this such an anomaly.

Where the harnesses plug in, in the back, the wafer board on this panel has an extra contact stripe. I noticed on all the other ATC panels in my collection that the stripe is missing on them. It does...something...
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Thunder Chicken on July 26, 2006, 07:03:19 PM
Quote from: thunderjet302
I thought all Fox T-birds had A/C standard?

Nope. My '85 didn't have A/C (or any other options except metallic paint and full size spare)

Eric: I know that memory seat panel wouldn't apply to an MN12 because the MN12 cars had their window switches in that space
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: JeremyB on July 26, 2006, 07:05:53 PM
Quote from: Thunder Chicken
Nope. My '85 didn't have A/C)

Did your non A/C '85 MVAC box have a spot for an evaporator?
I know there were dealer options for A/C and I'm curious as to how they went about putting the A/C in.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: MexCougar on July 26, 2006, 07:14:57 PM
Mmm, i have both in my car,they are called "cougar high tech-useless  expensive edition) it includes a non-iluminated entry system and no rear seat........

Now , really, i´m amazed, those parts are odd ! where did you find those ? maybe those where for the south american market. Remember, here we have V6 four speed birds....
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: EricCoolCats on July 26, 2006, 07:56:59 PM
The ATC panel came right from the '85 TC at the boneyard. Took that one out myself. The other is an NOS part from an auction. I have good luck at finding parts for these cars. ;)
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Tbird232ci on July 26, 2006, 08:08:13 PM
What you can do is some EVTM tracing to find out about that ATC panel. See how the pin out is for the ATC with A/C, and compair it to the one you have. The EEC harness has ungodly amount of wiring for the A/C system, so youll be able to tell a difference.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Royce 67/87/97 on July 26, 2006, 08:32:09 PM
It seems like I saw that part (the door panel) somewhere not too long ago, and thought to myself "weird." But I don't remember where...

As for the Ford microfische listing for use up through '89......would they have included those '89 model Fox Cougars/T-Birds for the Mexican market?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Haystack on July 26, 2006, 09:15:20 PM
I found two cars with these at the u pull it yard about 1 1/2 years ago when I was going through looking for a new steering colum. I found one in a 83-86 tbird and cougar.  They had about 50+ cats and birds.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: cougrrr302 on July 26, 2006, 09:37:21 PM
Only thing I can think of, is a Ford Employee Special Ordered kinda thing. That is wierd.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Thunder Chicken on July 26, 2006, 09:37:29 PM
Quote from: JeremyB
Did your non A/C '85 MVAC box have a spot for an evaporator?
I know there were dealer options for A/C and I'm curious as to how they went about putting the A/C in.

Dunno if it did or not. I'd never gotten far enough under the dash to find out...
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: BCA on July 26, 2006, 10:14:54 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats
(http://www.coolcats.net/ximages/atcpanel.jpg)

Discuss. :)


It may seem strange to some of you with the other panels but that is the same panel that is in my car so I am used to it and I don't know any better. ;)

Brent
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on July 27, 2006, 12:16:05 AM
Quote from: EricCoolCats
Ben, I think what you have is a late 1988 panel. I recall discussing this before...I also have one of those panels laying around. Tom, I believe, mentioned something about his '88's and that panel.

Actially I believe most if not all '88s got that panel, The ones I've seen without the extra labeling were '87s.. Not being a fan of the auto temp, I avoid it like the plague...

In the States A/C was std on the Fox Birds, but it was a option on Canadian units... At least that applies to the '85 up models, never paid much attention to the '83-'84s..
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: thunderjet302 on July 27, 2006, 12:17:22 AM
I though A/C was standard in the USA:D
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: kyle2ooo on July 27, 2006, 12:20:42 AM
Quote from: TurboCoupe50
In the states AC was std on the Fox Birds, but it was a option on Canadian units... At least that applies to the '85 up models, never paid much attention to the '83-'84s..

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!:bowdown: :america:
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: SSX on July 27, 2006, 09:34:02 PM
Cool.  I found a stripper T-bird in the junkyard with nothing in front of the windshield.  No cruise, no A/C, no rear defrost.  Must have been canadian...but no defrost must be a royal pain.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Thunder Chicken on July 27, 2006, 10:18:00 PM
If it had no defrost it wasn't Canadian (or didn't have its original rear window). Rear defrost was standard equipment here. So was a block heater, starting in a certain year (of which I forget)
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: MexCougar on July 28, 2006, 12:39:21 AM
Maybe mexican car, my car doesnt have rear defroster, but the dad´s 84 cougar had, i still have that rear window. And i dont have cruise control. I have the A/C (not working) but i´m sure it was an option...
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Ifixyawata on July 28, 2006, 12:48:39 AM
There was an '83 Cougar at the park at CJ this year with no rear defrost.  Neither in the window nor in the dash.  It also was without A/C.  That was one bare-ass heater panel.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Beau on July 28, 2006, 12:55:18 AM
Does anybody have pics of a rear window w/o the defrost stuff..?
I'd like to see one..
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: V8Demon on July 28, 2006, 06:51:50 PM
A defrosterless window would most likely be for a car sold in a country where the threat of frozen glass was minimal.  Mexico perhaps?
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 5.0willgo on July 29, 2006, 08:49:43 AM
My '86 doesn't have a rear defroster. Then again, it doesn't have much of anything.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: Haystack on July 31, 2006, 12:16:38 AM
neither does mine, it just dosent have the lines on it. You dont need a very good imagination to picture it. I have only see two cougars with my own two eyes that has defrost. And I live in salt lake city. Greatest snow on earth.
Title: My "WTF" Part
Post by: 84 Fila on October 01, 2006, 09:38:58 AM
(http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/10/27309141172.jpg) (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3546083)
(http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/10/27309141155.jpg) (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3546082)
(http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/10/27309141192.jpg) (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3546080)
(http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/10/27309141038.jpg) (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3546079)
Found this in the right brake light. Any idea's? If it helps the harness it came out of has an XR& tag on it.
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: BEARMAX on October 01, 2006, 01:21:42 PM
Hey That Looks Like A Bulb For A Tow Package You Plug The Trailer Lights In To
Title: Weird T-Bird Part
Post by: 84 Fila on October 01, 2006, 01:55:49 PM
Maybe the XR-7 the light harness came out of had it then? I know my car doesn't.