Welcome to the website of the Classic Thunderbird Club of Chicagoland (CTCC). We are dedicated to the preservation of the 1955, 1956 and 1957 Ford Thunderbird.

The Classic Thunderbird Club of Chicagoland was formed in 1961 to bring together owners of this unique automobile and to provide a forum for the exchanging of ideas, technical information, social activity and fellowship. Whether your classic Thunderbird is a driver or show car, members have found CTCC an invaluable support group of spirited enthusiasts.

Come and enjoy the fun, the cars and the friendships that you will find in the Classic Thunderbird Club of Chicagoland. Don't wait, Join Today!

For membership information:
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Len Keil, President
Pete Kramer, Vice President
Liz Werth, Secretary
Doug Rodgers, Treasurer

Bob Hoge, Director
Bob Burhop, Director
Len Vinyard, Director

Bert Eisenhour, Bird-News
Ken Smizinski, Technical
Madeline Zambon, Membership
Liz Werth, Publicity
Bob Wenderski, Librarian
Joel Greenberg, Web Admin

For more information, requests, submissions, and comments, email us: info@ctcc9.com

Charter Member - Chapter 9
Classic Thunderbird Club
International (www.ctci.org)

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TIPS YOU 'AUTO' KNOW

Posted on 05/23/2010 by jlgrnbrg

Dash Lights

The rheostat for the dash lights has proven to be the weakest part of the headlight switch. If your Thunderbird has intermittent or no dash lights, you have two choices. Remove and replace the headlight switch or bypass the dash light rheostat and have full dash lights every time you pull the headlight switch. In either case the switch will have to be removed from the dash. Removal of the switch is accomplished by first disconnecting the battery, then reaching under the dash and pressing the round head of the release pin located in the center of the switch on the terminal side. Holding the pin allows the switch knob and shaft to be pulled out of the switch. When the shaft and knob has been removed, you will see a cross slot in the chrome center of the bezel. Use a straight screwdriver to unscrew the center bezel . Now the switch is ready to pull down from behind the dash.

If you chose to replace the switch, remove one wire at a time and install on the new switch. If you choose to bypass the rheostat, attach a new double spade connector to the switch connector marked "R". Move the gray wire from the post nearest to the rheostat to the newly installed double connector installed on terminal "R". This bypasses the rheostat, and the dash will have full illumination all the time the light switch is on.

This process should take 20-30 minutes to complete.

One problem is the fact you may have to purchase a package of 10 double spade connectors as I did. So if you want to bypass your bad rheostat, just see me at any of the meetings as I have the extras in the trunk of my 'Bird. I did not remove my switch from the car, the photo below is taken with an extra switch I had in my junk box.

Dave Tulowitzky

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