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Reply #105 – September 05, 2009, 10:45:35 AM

Quote from: jrad235;289964

Oh man, that is just too cool! I would love to just look back at the car and "Click" have the doors lock and the lights flash. That would be awesome! Congratulations on the install.

I think I would have to rewire my trunk release as it only works with the key on, did you have that problem?

Also, how did you tap all the wires? Wire taps?

You won't have to rewire anything. I had no problem wiring my trunk release to operate with the remote. With the trunk release switch in the glovebox, the switch is wired 12v+ from the ignition key only and the opposite wire is pink which carries the voltage to the trunk release actuator. So just connected to the pink wire on the back of the trunk release switch. Keep in mind you do have to install a couple of relays not included in the kit for dome light illumination and trunk release. A couple of the signals from the Audiovox unit I bought use negative pulses, so the trunk release has a relay to convert the negative pulse to switch 12v+ to the pink wire on the back of the trunk release button. You will better understand once you see the wiring diagram in the installation instructions.

I did a cut and splice with butt connectors and electrical tape to seal the connections. I would avoid using scotchlock connectors but it can be done using those too. A proper splice is to cut away some of the wire insulation without cutting the wire in half. Then you wrap the bare wire you want to connect to the bare wire you are splicing into and solder it and heat shrink it or use quality electrical tape.

I like doing quick connections so I have always been a butt connector w.

This is the Audiovox unit I bought off eBay. It is the only one I found that has all the features including a trunk release. Be aware that other units on eBay only unlock doors and do not have options for trunk release, dome light illumination, etc. The control module is much smaller than it appears. It's about 3 inches square.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200378338976&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

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Reply #106 – September 06, 2009, 01:06:39 AM

I just got one of the clear turnsignal/parking lamps I bought off eBay! I am waiting for the other to come in. I am excited because I really like the clear lamps better and I was afaid I would not find them any time soon, much less for a reasonable price.

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Reply #107 – September 06, 2009, 01:27:53 AM

Here is a pic of the blue LED's lit up in the instrument cluster...

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Reply #108 – September 06, 2009, 02:19:51 AM

Ooh, blue! Heh, You weren't joking about it not dispersing the light well, but it's still pretty cool.

I just ordered the lock actuators and the alarm, so we'll see if I ever get them installed!

I would like to see a picture of those clear corners though.

You are just tearin' through this car! Don't you have a job to do or something!:D

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Reply #109 – September 06, 2009, 10:19:09 AM

Quote from: jrad235;290084

Ooh, blue! Heh, You weren't joking about it not dispersing the light well, but it's still pretty cool.

I just ordered the lock actuators and the alarm, so we'll see if I ever get them installed!

I would like to see a picture of those clear corners though.

You are just tearin' through this car! Don't you have a job to do or something!:D

It's hard to tell by the pictures because blue light does not photograph well, but the cluster now has great illumination. I placed LED bulbs at the top front of the cluster for more direct light and it makes a big difference. I replaced one bulb in the back of the cluster so the odometer and shift indicator have good backlighting. The rest of the standard illumination bulbs I removed from the cluster because they are no longer needed. I also put a blue LED bulb in the HVAC rotary panel and that completes the look.

Take you time installing the keyless entry system and prepare to buy about three extra relays to make the starter inhibitor, trunk release and dome light illumination delay all work. Local auto parts stores have these four pin relays in the light and fuse section for about $5 a piece. I have not wired in the starter inhibitor feature yet. I ran out of time the other morning so I had to wrap things up.

The clear lamps I got are not the corner lamps. They are the turn signal lamps in the front of the bumper under the headlamps. They are the 1983-only clear units. In 1984 they changed to amber.

If you are thinking about the side marker lamps next to the headlamps, we are pretty much stuck with the way they are with the amber lens unless you wanna do a custom paint trick like they show in the mods section of Coolcats.com

I do have a set of cornering lamps I kept from my former 1989 Tbird that I could not use because I installed a 1996-97 front bumper cover on it. I am thinking of installing these when I get ready for paint refinishing. I won't be using the bodyside moldings, so the 89 Tbird has these nice finishing bezels that can be painted to match the body color.

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Reply #110 – September 06, 2009, 12:45:11 PM

With a couple wiring diagrams you can install a factory keyless module fairly easily... I have one from a '98 Taurus in my TC, but they are all the same from about '00 to '04(maybe later)... It does everything but operate the lights(too lazy to connect)... The Taurus and a few other models went to the new module in '98, you do not want the earlier ones as remotes are hard to find at a reasonable price...

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Reply #111 – September 06, 2009, 01:41:07 PM

Watchdevil - Yeah, I thought you were talking about the corner lamps:hick:

I do have the clear signals on mine, just one of them is cracked.

Well, next time I have the cluster out maybe I'll change the lights too!
Did you just solder LEDs into the old circuit?

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Reply #112 – September 07, 2009, 06:22:31 AM

Quote from: jrad235;290137

Watchdevil - Yeah, I thought you were talking about the corner lamps:hick:

I do have the clear signals on mine, just one of them is cracked.

Well, next time I have the cluster out maybe I'll change the lights too!
Did you just solder LEDs into the old circuit?

I bought a 4 pack of Blue LED's with wires attached to them. For the front of the cluster, I secured them to the top inside front with a little soft velcro tape and ran the wires out of the back side of the cluster. I soldered the wires to an unused bulb socket contact on the ribbon circuit. Then I took the remaining LED's and soldered them into the regular bulb sockets. One went into the back of the cluster behind the odometer and the other two went behind the rotary HVAC control panel.

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Reply #113 – September 07, 2009, 06:30:33 AM

I went to Pull-A-Part yesterday and pulled a passenger side power seat track and associated wiring from a 1986 Lincoln Continental. It went in with only one small modification. I had to drill extra holes where they mount to the back of the floor. I also had to remount the passenger side seat buckle to a different location. Stick with the Tbird/Cougar tracks if you can find them.

From that Lincoln Continental I did make a great score on some perfect gray vinyl seat belt sleeves that go where the belts mount to the floor at the inside of the rocker panels. They are better than the ones they used on the Birds and Cats originally. I also got two perfect buckle trim pieces. I'll post pics later.

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Reply #114 – September 07, 2009, 07:24:18 PM

No need to take a door panel off. Driver's side kick panel contains two pink door lock and unlock wires in the thicker harness. They are the two thinner of the four pink wires in the harness. The wires match the ones at the factory lock/unlock switch. The thinner harness runs to the back of the car to the taillamps. The brown wire in the thin harness is for parking lamps, taillamps and dash illumination.

The alarm module is installed but not mounted. All wire is covered with black condiut. To the right is the two relays needed for dome light 30 second illumination and trunk release.

Got a set of four used speakers out of some late model Fords. Two 6 1/4" for front and two 5x7 for rear. Later, I gotta find some good 3" speakers for the dash.

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Reply #115 – September 07, 2009, 07:30:22 PM

Aftermarket door lock actuators to replace bad factor ones. Sorry for fuzzy pic this time.

Here are the seat belt covers and belt trim that I scored off a Lincoln Continental.

Getting ready to solder power seat wiring harness into the driver's seat harness.

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Reply #116 – September 07, 2009, 07:37:43 PM

Wiring harness addition completed, seat track installed, seat reinstalled over power track. It was easier to install this way. If you look closely at the rear floor bolts on the track, I had to make a new hole in the track for it to mount.

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Reply #117 – September 09, 2009, 05:26:26 PM

Quote from: TurboCoupe50;290131

With a couple wiring diagrams you can install a factory keyless module fairly easily... I have one from a '98 Taurus in my TC, but they are all the same from about '00 to '04(maybe later)... It does everything but operate the lights(too lazy to connect)... The Taurus and a few other models went to the new module in '98, you do not want the earlier ones as remotes are hard to find at a reasonable price...

Would that work with the factory keyless entry pad?

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Reply #118 – September 19, 2009, 11:01:47 AM

Here are the new cut keys! I got the Turbo Coupe set just to get the unique trunk key. It turns out the Escort/Tempo ignition keys work fine after having concerns that they may not go in far enough into the ignition lock cylinder. Of course here is my new keyless entry remote.

I installed the new clear turn signal lamps...

All she needs now is a new set of headlamps...

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Reply #119 – September 19, 2009, 11:10:19 AM

I have the repaired door panels back on.

Here is a shot of the dash from the passenger side.

I am so ready to do the carpet and headliner.

I am thinking of going with a dark gray or charcoal carpet and getting extra yardage to do the lower doors, armrests and rear package shelf. This car is not ever going to be a "correct" restoration because I like things personalized much more.

I have to think about replacing those window wipes real soon!