Holy sonic tail feathers, Birdman!

[Sealy]

http://img.Please add your photos as an attachment. Photobucket is not permitted./albums/v348/mcsmith/Thunderbird/TBCrop.jpg

I've been addicted to back up sensors ever since I installed them on my Ranger, back in '94. Parking in DC is no fun without them and I've installed or ordered everything with them since - except my '64 Rambler.

The Bird install was relatively easy - after George sent the bumper break down.

1. Measure many, many times - use painters tape on the pod lumps. They recommend about 24" between the dots. I lined them up with the groove on the bumper (which kind of integrates them) and moved them all the way to the edge - this gives you 22". It also makes them near verticle.
2. Use the supplied drill bit. First drill the bumper and remove the piece from the drill. Behind the pod is a plastic foam absorber. Use the same bit to drill into the absorber, then a spade bit to clean the center - you need to make a pocket for the sensor body to fit in. It sounds more complicated than it is. Using the hole bit first keeps the pocket edges clean.
3. Remove the passenger side tail light per standard instructions. Then, there are two bumper fasteners on the lowerer edge of the bumper - remove them and the bumper cover is flexible enough that you can work from above and below to put the sensors in and run wires.
4. There is a rubber plug on the back wall of the trunk, down low that you can puncture and run the sensor wires through. The power wires tap in at the back up light and can be routed through the rubber gasket. I cable tied everything that looked loose.
5. The balance of the install is pretty much follow instructions. You can carefully remove trim pieces in logical order to bring the display up front - start at where you want to mount it and work to the back. Most everything in the Bird snaps together. Don't force it - black plastic turns white when stressed and there's no good way to recolor it.

http://img.Please add your photos as an attachment. Photobucket is not permitted./albums/v348/mcsmith/Thunderbird/Rear.jpg

http://img.Please add your photos as an attachment. Photobucket is not permitted./albums/v348/mcsmith/Thunderbird/Mirror.jpg

Add notes: I bought a Pyle unit from Auto Toys. I would not recommend either of them. Look for a two sensor unit with a buzzer. The Pyle unit has the buzzer built into the display so you have to use it. I may tuck it away and just use the buzzer - it's all you really need.

 

[George]

Great post - Thanks for the detailed description. Good photo's too. It looks professionally done