Authenticity to the Extreme: 66 vs. 67

[67cab-dk]

1966 speedometer

1967 speedometer in action

[gradyjacoway]

Dan,
Does anyone have pictures of 1966 option factory light tan suitcases??
I believe there was 5 or 6 different size suitcases for 1966 models.
Chris Dunn of Lincoln land had them in the early 80's. i tried to buy
them, but they were not for sale.
I do not know if 1967 models had them too?

Thanks.

Grady

[Dan Szwarc]

Thomas does.

[67cab-dk]

This luggage set came in 1967 not 66
ther are twelve pieces in a complet set

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2260951/2

[JAB]

The vinyl armrest pads on the 1966 have a crisp edge along the perimeter of the top of the pad. The 67 pad has a rounded edge around the top perimeter. The overall dimensions of the armrest pad in each year is identical. It should be noted that the part number for both pieces is identical, so it is possible that both styles ended up on 1966 or 1967. In all the cars I have looked at, the "crisp" version appears to be in the 66 and the rounded in the 67.

John Brewer

[GOldman Classics]

Hello all,

I have a 120 mph speedo where the speedo roll does NOT turn red at all. This came out of a 1974 Town Car. How many years was that setup used? 1970 to 1977?

Dan

[NickG]

The forward engine compartment lip is different between 1966 and 1967 to clear the base of the new hood ornament:

1966:

1967:

[TonyC]

Thanks, Thomas. Hopefully, the same switch is used for 66 and 67, just different knobs and locations.

To respond to an older post by Kent, the headlight switches themselves are the same, save for the obvious differences in the knob and the adjusting disc; however, there is enough of a variation at the mounting bracket between the two years that they will not straight-swap out. I know, because I compared Frankenstein's switch to a '67 switch I have stashed in my spare-parts box. The '67 bracket is larger than the '66, and the sleeve to the auto-adjuster is longer on '67 than on '66. That means that the shaft for the '67 knob is longer. Also, the '66 adjuster is held in place with a removable nut, whereas the '67 adjuster is stamped onto the bracket. The brackets of both years are permanently stamped onto the switch bodies, so they cannot be swapped. In fact, the only way you can use the switch of one year on the other is to disassemble both switches and transfer the parts you need. That can be done.

Below is a picture of the '67 auto-dim switch I have as a spare. I don't have a pic of Frankenstein's, but the bracket is shorter on the '66 model.

Now on another note, regarding the air cleaner decal: Do all '66s miss the "4V/462" decal on their original air cleaners, or just some of them? I know they're on all '67s and early '68s; but Frankenstein, whose air cleaner is the only one from '66 that I've seen up close, doesn't have one, nor is there any trace of evidence that there ever was one. I also know that no decal was ever placed on any of the 430 engines' cleaners (at least, none that I've ever seen).

---Tony

[Dan Szwarc]

66s should all have 462 air cleaner labels. Every car I have seen has had one unless it was refinished and left off.

[TonyC]

That's the odd thing--a refinishing would have even subtle evidence, and there is none. In fact, the only refinishing was to the body, with p**s-poor bondo filling and a paint job that must've been applied with a Brillo pad--right over the original gold paint! Whoever had the car last was not concerned with a proper refinishing, much less to anything in the engine compartment.

Maybe it was a factory fault? Maybe it was left off by accident, in a hurry to finish the car that Friday, being that they didn't have a Saturday work schedule back then (at least, I don't believe they did).

---Tony

[Dan Szwarc]

The label is mylar and plastic. It can be peeled off without leaving any residue. They degrade starting at the edges and slowly peel back due to the heat. It's always possible that some cars were built without it, but there is no specific evidence it was a trend or a change.

[icecube]

thanks to you now i know that my car is a mutant
its a 66 LC
but has the 67 grill


67 front passenger fender


67 radiator support



66 interior





67 hood


66 engine compartment


what a mess

[TonyC]

Aw, don't feel bad about it, Icecube. Frankenstein is a mutant as well--another reason why the name fits him. He's a '66 as well...refitted with '67 dash pad, steering column, door panels, vent window motors, ceiling trim, front pillar trim, wheel covers, trailer hitch, trunk lock cover, door edge guards, window switches (well, about four of them, anyway), left lower control arm, fuel tank, transmission, and engine block (though the crankshaft is the original from his original engine). He also has a '65 power steering pump, valve pushrods (well, two only--the others are original), distributor, valley pan, and PCV system; a '68 starboard-side mirror, repaired and upgraded with a mirror frame from a '69 Mark III and cables from an early-'80s Ford LTD; one '69 brake caliper, and '69 headrests on the '66 seats...and late-'70s lighted mirrors on his original visors, an early-'70s washer fluid container, a windshield mirror from a late-'80s Escort, and a late-'70s trunk latch with a built-in solenoid wired to a '72 release button. Additionally, his right front window motor is from a '79 Town Car, and his left front window motor is from a late-'80s Bronco. Uhhh, I think that's it for now, not counting the aftermarket components.

Feel better now?

---Tony

[icecube]

Tony ,LOL , now that's a real Frankenstein , I'm sure you know that the real Frankenstein from the movie had less parts than your car . how can you remember all the parts , did you mark em

[Dan Szwarc]

I didn't know 67s had different front radiator supports. Could it be because of the third horn 67s have?