Re: 63 Classic blinker switch...

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005, Timothy O'Connell wrote:

> Anyway....the switch is shot and I what I'm hearing is "don't go NOS or
> Used".  Sooooo.....I guess we'll have to wait for Blazer unless someone's
> got another source for these.

Sometimes I don't know how I ever put up with the problems I have
with my 63 Classic, getting parts!

My column switch got intermittent on me, and I ended up rebuilding
the switch myself with a junk spare that was as bad as the
original.

The switch comes apart easily, but man, take photos and make
drawings!  Those little slippery/greasy nylon brass and rubber
parts are nasty to puzzle out if you screw up.

Mine's been OK since i fixed it, though I have no cancellers.

I wiped off (not degreased, lazy) the little switch contact
pieces, and buffed them square again with sandpaper (I forget
grit; fine) on a flat block. Touched up the contacts in the body
part. Packed it all full of chassis grease and it's fine now.

I did the same to my headlight switch, rebuild contacts then added
relays, brakelight switch is a Ron Francis with relay added,
ignition switch I had to take apart and fix all the contacts (and
manually re-key with a handful of junk keys -- car came without
keys -- 1988, before internet and Peter Stathes!), only the fan
switch hasn't been pried apart and repaired -- yet. Haven't taken
apart and fixed oil and water sensors but somehow I feel that's
coming up.

On the 70 Hornet, I had to disassemble the intermittent wiper
switch, square all the contacts, wipe the crud off the
potentiometer, grease pack and epoxy back together again.

So why is it I drive old cars?!


I hope to drive my Classic another 18 years... then it will really
be old. THere's a guy who drives an original! never restored! Ford
Model T to Bob's Big Boy in Burbank; it's the most rattle-trap
looking thing you can imagine, but runs. Puts a coffee can under
it to catch the drips. All sorts of toggle switches drilled into
the door (they look older than my Rambler). The turtle deck door
has a bailing wire latch, and is filled with parts, tools, pieces.
Seats are rotted with wood slats and blankets. Coolest damned
thing in the place! 80+ years old! My Rambler could do worse than
that!