Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

[Lonestar]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

I removed my RR tail light assembly when installing my XM antenna. The antenna is mounted on the flat surface area ahead of the assembly and the lead enters a factory drilled hole behind the tail light assembly. I used a ¼ drive deep dish sock and just let the stem extend beyond the socket. I was able to loosen bolt with only hand power. When re-installing the bolt I clamped a small vise-grip to the socket and applied a bit more torque to the bolt than the factory had applied.

I purchased a special tool from Miller Specialty Tools a few years ago and now receive their catalogs now and again. It is amazing to look at the specialized tools they have to do specific jobs on specific vehicles. However, it does not appear to be feasible to pay the price for their tools for only limited or one time use.

[hammer55]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

how long is the stem, wouldnt a 1/4" spintight or as some call it, nut driver work, or is it too long, I use them all the time, they are hollow all the way to the handle, just a dumb question

I removed my RR tail light assembly when installing my XM antenna. The antenna is mounted on the flat surface area ahead of the assembly and the lead enters a factory drilled hole behind the tail light assembly. I used a ¼ drive deep dish sock and just let the stem extend beyond the socket. I was able to loosen bolt with only hand power. When re-installing the bolt I clamped a small vise-grip to the socket and applied a bit more torque to the bolt than the factory had applied.

I purchased a special tool from Miller Specialty Tools a few years ago and now receive their catalogs now and again. It is amazing to look at the specialized tools they have to do specific jobs on specific vehicles. However, it does not appear to be feasible to pay the price for their tools for only limited or one time use.

[Lonestar]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

The stud is about 4 inches I believe so if the hollow area is that deep then it should work.

[joe166]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

An open end wrench would also work if that darned fender weren't there! That is the problem. For all of the other nuts (no I don't mean you), they would work fine, but the one nut that is on the side closest to the fender requires something that will extend a few inches and doesn't require space to the outboard side. A deep socket is obviously best, but to buy a 4" deep socket for one nut that you might have to take off once every couple of years just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

[428QBird]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Hey...I don't have that problem with my Bird... Just loosen a few screws and take off the lens. I use a standard bulb and no problems... but my Bird is a 1966...

Rick

[southbird]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

The hard part for me was getting the (*&^)*(^ wire off the trunk light on the right trunk liner panel. After that, a small open end wrench was all that was needed to loosen the nuts a bit and they spun off by hand. The tailight was a real fight to get out because the spring guide pin was very tight and I was too chicken to pull hard enough to get it loose. After a bit of struggling, it did come out. A bit of silicone grease on the guide pin (the kind we use on the top gaskets), and it went back in easily. Installed the nuts hand tight and just snugged them with the wrench, not gorilla tight. Hope I never need to do the 3rd stop light....

[mdbluebrd]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Okay, so I haven't gone out to look, but is that extra length really needed? Can't it just be cut off?

[joe166]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Okay, so I haven't gone out to look, but is that extra length really needed? Can't it just be cut off?

I suppose so, but the fact that the nut is far behind the back of the light and close to the fender would still make it really hard to work on plus the length of the bolt makes it easier to guide the tail lamp assembly to its proper location.

I am sure that there are ways to do this better, but cutting the bolt short might not be the best option.

[FEsTbird]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

An open end wrench would also work if that darned fender weren't there! That is the problem. For all of the other nuts (no I don't mean you), they would work fine, but the one nut that is on the side closest to the fender requires something that will extend a few inches and doesn't require space to the outboard side. A deep socket is obviously best, but to buy a 4" deep socket for one nut that you might have to take off once every couple of years just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

I think a short open end wrench would be cheaper than a deep socket--or a nut driver. I think it is bigger nut than a 1/4 inch, maybe 3/8 or 7/16. My small crescent is about 3-1/2 to 4 inches long and was just the thing. It was in my toolbox from the days of tightening the small hex SMA connectors a little more than finger tight. Once the nut is loose you can slip a socket over the bolt and use the extra diameter for faster spins.

[joe166]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

I would be surprised if you could fit any open end wrench over that particular nut and still turn it enough to keep it turning, but go for it! Let us know how it works. I would be delighted if you could tell us how it went. So far, the only viable methods I have seen involve a very deep socket or that nut driver with a hollow shaft. And that nut driver even had to be ground down in the handle area to work!

[David III]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

My answer has always been my buddy (the tool and die maker). Hey Joe, I need a six inch hollow bent nut driver with a needle-nose plier attached to the side of it and a beer holder on the end.....
All this stuff is amazing. I think the vehicles are engineered for fast assembly, not ease of disassembly.
But, after grabbing a toolbox worth of stuff and a 12-pack for what I thought would be a nightmare, I changed the bulbs in my wife's Excursion taillight in about 30 seconds. Just no telling whether a light bulb change will be quick or horrible....

[MuddyOval]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Joe, I think the Ford engineers plan their designs to make repairs and or replacements difficult. What better way to get your car into the shop and take your money?
I had my car in for a oil change a couple years back, I told the fellow as he took my car back to the garage to replace the drivers windshield wiper as it was not doing its job anymore. Come billing time, not only was I charged for the windshield wiper, but another $6 for installation. I nearly flipped....NEVER AGAIN! Its no wonder Ford has the problems it does today.......

Just curious if you work for free or do you charge to do stuff?

[Borla Babe]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Spare me your sarcasm Muddy Oval, if he had told me beforehand that he was going to charge me $6 to do a one minute job I would have told him to forget it. $6 for one minute of work is out of line and you know it!!

I hope you have a better day tomorrow.

[dartguy699]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

hi borla babe
unfortunately that is the way dealer work is. the techs are paid flat rate commission and will not work for free(i dont blame them-i wouldnt either), obviously this task is hard enough that we wouldnt want to do it so why should they be expected to do it for free? another point is that the dealer does not determine the time required for the job--the flat rate book does.i do agree however that the labor RATE is too high in most cases.
jim
p.s -if it really was a i min job it should be something that we can do ourself!

[joe166]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Spare me your sarcasm Muddy Oval, if he had told me beforehand that he was going to charge me $6 to do a one minute job I would have told him to forget it. $6 for one minute of work is out of line and you know it!!
I hope you have a better day tomorrow.

But that isn't the issue, is it? I have to say that I would never ask someone to put a wiper blade on for me, but if I did, I sure wouldn't complain if they charged me a few dollars to do it. I don't think you can charge much less than $6 or it would probably cost more to process it than what you would collect.



I understand your reaction, but I think it is overblown. Then again, it is your reaction, so feel free.