Thunderbird 2002 convertible latch locking parts

[Quickdraw]

Bill,

Thank you for the compliment. I appreciate it.
I did a lot of work trying to get my J-Hook bushings replaced and finally had to made my own parts. I am still around but very busy.
I have been selling my parts to "He Who's Name May Not Be Spoken" and he has been selling on his web site.
I do have a small supply of pins, bushings, springs and arms on hand and "He Who's Name May Not Be Spoken" has been a great repeat customer.
I do not have a web site nor do I have the time to support one so "He Who's Name May Not Be Spoken" has those costs and is filling my needs for one. I have no formal agreement with him and have supported people who have come directly to me first. Do I think his prices are high? Yes, but he is looking at the value the parts bring to the car. Not the value of the individual parts.

"Switch"

Ford wanted me to pay $700 for the header to fix my bushings and pins and another $1k estimated labor to install. $1,700.00! I am sure there is a reason for that but I found a work around and have been told that the instructions I supply are worth far more than the parts I have supply.
I don't want to get in between the people here with obvious history. I just want to bring my solution to help other Retro Owners with the same problem.
Again, thank you for the compliment.

Oley
02 Black

That was the exact reason Martin Shkreli gave on CNBC for raising the drug price of Daraprim from $13.50 per pill to $750. That's 56 times the original price. He said he was an entrepreneur and it was his job to make money and he was providing a valuable service to those people whose lives depend on the drug for treatment of malaria. Apparently people like this have no trouble living with themselves.

You are to be commended for taking care of those people who have come directly to you (assuming the price is considerably lower than thru Phil's site).

[HKS]

Well everybody being reluctant to mention the #$%^^*#)$))%@@ got me on the hunt.

https://www.thunderbirdspecialties.c...kit-2002-2005/

Do you mean to tell me that something I bought from Chromer for $5 I could spend hundreds of $$$ on you know who's site.. I've seen some horrible pricing but this takes the …………….. Someone must remember the member who put these kits together for peanuts.

How about this solution.
https://www.getoemparts.com/oem-part...xoCduMQAvD_BwE

[Fuchsaudio]

I got my convertible top replacement arms from this guy: jimtcrowe@msn.com.

I think I paid around $ 200.00. Solid steel, with plastic bushings and new springs. It reuses the old J-hook, but everything is new and very solid.

The original Ford parts were a crappy pot-metal and failed regularly. Another sad example of cost-cutting on a rather expensive car when new !