New Guy trying to unravel modification issue

Hey everybody, just introducing myself and here to say "Hello"! My name is Robert, and although I don't own a Shelby, I have been involved with Mustangs since the early '80s during the 20th Century . I've had mostly early Sixties Stangs ('67, '68, and some '80s) and tend towards Fastbacks as my favorite (but only own Coupes...all I can afford).

Someday I want to own a 1966 Shelby GT350 Hertz with a Paxton supercharger, but until then all I can do is dream and save pictures. My experience with Mustangs is normal to some, advanced to others. My love for this beautiful version of an American icon will continue until I'm rich enough to afford one.

Currently, I've got a 1967 Coupe in the garage and will hopefully one day get it back on the road. It's a high-option car with many goodies (some added, some it came with). As soon as I find a job that will help me survive and pay bills, I'm gonna start working on it again. But until then, I gotta learn about welding (rusty cowl) and figure out what parts I need to finish getting before I get started. I'm trying to figure out the tilt-away steering system, courtesy convenience warning system and restomodding to make a GT/CS style turn signal system. God knows some of this I don't have and it's gonna be expensive !!

I've looked through over 300+ threads and many different forums, but have been unable to find exactly what I need to know. I'm starting this new thread to see if I can get the info I need to do it right. I've met some great people here that have helped with another issue I was working on, and hopefully will be successful in the conclusion of that matter.

Earlier last week, I began securing the parts I need to convert my 1967 Mustang coupe form regular taillights to the taillights used in the 1968 GT/CS and Shelby GT500/GT500KR. My research from this forum has led me to understand that those taillights were initially from a 1964 Thunderbird. Since I've been able to secure a beautiful set of housings, pigtails, lenses and the chrome trim, it's obvious I'm committed to the change. My reason for selecting this version is because I'm partial to their styling and functionality.

My dilemma is, that I don't have the wiring harness to integrate them into my vehicle. The questions I have are many and I will list them here now:

1) Is the correct harness to use for this conversion the complete taillight wiring harness from a 1967 Cougar or a 1965 Thunderbird?
2) Besides the wiring harness that attaches to the pigtails, are there any other parts that are paramount to this working flawlessly? If so, what are they and is there an exact part list/compatibility-interchangeability that crosses over to other brands in the Ford corporation.
3) If there are other parts, what are they specifically and are there any wiring diagrams available to show the correct way to connect everything?
4) Once all the correct parts are secured, what is the exact mounting locations needed for it to function without problems, are there brackets needed for this?
5) If the 1965 Thunderbird harness and attachments are the correct parts, are they completely compatible with the plugs from the Mustang main harness?
6) Are there any parts that must be changed under the dash to allow for full functionality and delayed sequential action while using the turn signals?
7) I am retrofitting and completing the install of a functional Courtesy Convenience Panel system, and wonder are there any alterations I must make to the original harness so all of this is able to work in tandem without issues.
8) The car will have other unusual options added to make it the version I would have bought in 1967. Such as 6,000 rpm tachometer w/ tripometer, instrument cluster analog clock, the tilt-away steering column,the rear window defroster, rear speakers (stock type), a factory available reverberation component added to the correct AM/8-track radio and finally a complete Deluxe Interior with lower and upper consoles to complement the already gorgeous interior it has. My hope, is that it will be as beautiful to view as it is to create. Does anyone see issues with all of this together?
9) If there are additional things I should address, please feel free to enlighten me. I want to do this right and learn so I may help others in the future.
10) Because of the addition of all these options, should I consider upgrading the charging system to a larger capacity battery and stronger alternator/regulator? What about increasing the rating of the appropriate fuses? Can the stock fuse box/ harness handle the increased load?

It is obviously an area of contention for some that are purists, but this car has no special classifications or original options. It is my wish to make my Darling into the Belle of the Ball for me to enjoy and pass on in my family. All help would be appreciated and to those who have already put me on the correct path, I thank you. I look forward to any assistance and look forward to working with all the great people here on this board. Once I've got everything I need, a restoration/resto-mod thread of my project will be created. I'm excited and nervous regarding the scope of the endeavor, but to forge forward is my goal. All pictures will happen as I get going with this. Have a great day.

I realize that Ford is the parent company of the Thunderbird and the Mercury Cougar, so is it safe to assume (yes, I know trouble happens when we do that) both are the same? If I remember correctly, each uses a different sequential relay and/or motor and I'm not even sure if these relays/motors are needed for each side of the vehicle (left and right). I'm kinda getting flummoxed by the way it's all going. I'm unable to find all the proper items needed because there seems to be no true source of information detailing exactly what is in each system (Cougar system and the T-bird system). With that in mind, I do want to say I am steadfast in my selection of the Thunderbird taillight because I like the styling of it. I'm hoping, that soon the proper information will be given and I can begin the project. I don't want to get started and then find out I've messed up. It's a big step doing what I'm doing. I want to get all my ducks in a row before I start cutting my taillight panel to create openings for the taillight housing pigtail connections.

Thank you to all here, and I hope to be able to learn while I'm here. Soooo, "Hello Everyone!!"

 

I apologize about the length. I wanted to be complete and not create an unneeded back-and-forth wasting bandwidth. I am lucky to already have the underdash harness and the tachometer installed. The problem or the start of problem depending on perspective, is the addition of the taillight system. If I understand your points, you are stating there is a need for:

1.) the Mustang taillight harness and the 1965 Thunderbird taillight harness connecting the taillights to the taillight harness
2.) period correct "dynamite sticks", not all the relays/motors/sequential sequencers associated with the 1965 Thunderbird assembly.

What do you do to mate the harnesses? The T-bird harness from the taillight pigtails have rubberized plugs with I believe 4-6 pins. This is where my mind explodes and gets twisted up. Thank you for responding.

 

That sounds like a very easy modification. Per chance do you have a photograph of this in action? It would be most helpful, as have you been. am grateful for the wisdom you've spoken. It would also seem this is an affordable way to circumvent the rewiring debacle that would have transpired by creating a new harness combining a Cougar / T-bird harnesses to a Mustang harness

 

Great Info!

This is great information, any chance you would give me your store link? I'd like to look at what you got and maybe place an order. And thank you for enlightening me. I hope it'll be exactly what I need

 

Mr Coralsnake,
is this way much easier than using the parts and harnesses from Cougars and T-birds? I have yet to start, so I'm trying to weigh the cost and ease against period correct methodology. And thank you for your links and even answering these questions.

 

Very Useful info about unraveling modification issue

2+2gt and CoralSnake,
you both honor me with adding further information to the issue. I have been told of various sites that make after-market pigtail harnesses and tail light harnesses for Shelby's, the most popular ones are www.cobranda.com and www.cougarpartscatalog.com according to various forums. I recently checked out the pricing for the MustangProject sequential system and it's around $550 plus taxes & S/H. The tail light panel is separate and adds an additional $200 to the total. I believe that's the one 2+2gt is speaking about.

I would like to, if possible, complete this little endeavor using original wiring and parts. I'm not looking at NOS Shelby parts (too expensive for budget), just the parts that make up the look (be it the Cougar for the '67 look or the T-bird for the '68 look). I'm currently shopping around for the parts for both of the systems (Cougar/T-bird). The tail light housing assemblies I currently have are 1968 T-bird parts and I've been able to locate numerous functional complete turn signal components on the appropriate mounting pads (stop relay, turn signal sequential relay, motor)for reasonable prices. As far as the wiring harnesses, I'm very lucky to have a few colleagues that have extra harnesses they've said I could have.

My total outlay for these parts (including the housing assemblies I've got already would be around $150-300. As far as the most cost effective possibility, CoralSnake's idea of using the "dynamite sticks" is the best. It's a total of about $175 shipped, it uses the original Mustang wiring harness without much damage and can be used with the tail light housing I already have. The only additional costs after that would be the tail light panel, the spoiler style fender extensions and the spoiler trunk. These item, appear to be the most expensive out of all of it.

Overall, I hope I've cleared up the muddy waters and I'm very appreciative of the knowledge you've both shared today.

 

What does it look like??

Can anyone supply pictures of what the wiring harness and connections LOOKS like in the trunk for me? I am curious to see what the wiring for the taillights and dynamite sticks look like when installed. This would be VERY helpful.



Also, are the small fillers (part #27996 Reinforcement Rear Lamp Opening Inner) and large fillers (that go where the stock Mustang lamps would normally fit, part #27970-1 Reinforcement Quarter Panel Lamp Opening) mounted to the exterior of the tail light panel or to the inside of the trunk to the tail light panel?