General => Lounge => Topic started by: P71 on March 11, 2007, 10:31:07 PM
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: P71 on March 11, 2007, 10:31:07 PM
The registry thread has provided some GOOD discussion! Here's some facts so far:
87 20th Anny's are LS's not XR7's (I honestly did not know that).
Mikie's FILA came with a 5.0 and a 3.08 7.5" open rear (He still doesn't believe that :flame: )
Medium Canyon Red is a clearcoat metallic paint.
Paint codes:
1987: 33 - Silver Blue Clearcoat Metallic
1988: 26 - Medium Red Clearcoat Metallic 91 - Medium Grey Clearcoat Metallic
Interior Codes:
1988: FD - Scarlet Red Leather HD - Scarlet Red Cloth BH - Charcoal/Raven cloth
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: 84 Fila on March 11, 2007, 10:43:55 PM
Hey, even if it is open, I found this on coolcats. If you don't mind me using it Eric: Rear Axle Ratio Conventional Locking 8 M 2.73 Y Z 3.08 F R 3.45 5 E 3.27 6 W 3.73
And according to my door tag: (http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r9/84fila/000_2144.jpg)
I have AX code Y wich is a 3.08. Not much of a change but still. Now to me it apeares that the rear is not original to the car. The CA's maybe but it just looks newer. The hell with it anyways, as I have another rear going in it soon that will make me happy :evilgrin:
/ end minor rant/hissy fit
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: 5.0willgo on March 11, 2007, 11:12:47 PM
Quote from: Aerobird Motorsports;133882
Medium Canyon Red is a clearcoat metallic paint.
*innocent whistling* haha
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: P71 on March 11, 2007, 11:16:14 PM
One day I will beat Mikie with his 3.08 open 7.5" rear.
Newsflash, the Fairmont's not gonna have a 3.73 posi 8.8 either!
*sigh*
At least 5.0, Eric, and I came to a conclusion on the paint :hick:
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: vinnietbird on March 12, 2007, 06:23:15 AM
Any ideas about my core support tag that has a bunch of numbers and "Tulsa State fair" stamped on it across the bottom of the tag?
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: 84 Fila on March 12, 2007, 08:37:22 AM
Quote from: Aerobird Motorsports;133902
One day I will beat Mikie with his 3.08 open 7.5" rear.
Newsflash, the Fairmont's not gonna have a 3.73 posi 8.8 either!
*sigh*
At least 5.0, Eric, and I came to a conclusion on the paint :hick:
Ok, after this I'm done, promise. The rear in the fairmont is probaly an 8.8. The kid said he put the posi 3.73 guts in it. Mine is god know what, but it doesn't matter. If the bird ever gets truly restored then I know what is should have. I'm trying to to sound like a dick but the whole thing with the car is that what I'm told isn't always what I see. And since I'm not a " bird god", I don't know EVERYTHING about them. IF the car is a 3.08 open then it's getting pulled for an 8.8 this spring. IF the car is in fact a posi car it's still getting pulled for an 8.8 in the spring.
Ok, now that I'm done with the mini rant, thanks for the info on the bird. If you need anything else ( pics to document, more info...., what ever), just let me know. As of now I'm the only Fila that posts here that I know of. I want everyone else to know about her if you really wana resister her. I'll do what ever I can
Mikey "Fila"
P.S. I'll get the info on the Cougar as soon as I can
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: beaterjeep on March 12, 2007, 08:57:27 AM
Fila, I can help with the VIN code for ya, if you or anyone else wants to look it up and see what all it originally came with.
The VIN is as follows: 1MEBP9237GH629958
Hope this helps ya out a lil bit.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: Cougar5.0 on March 12, 2007, 09:33:52 AM
Yeah, my 20th also came with the 2.73:1 7.5" open rear - puke.
Is the rear-end the main reason you describe the 20th as an "LS"?
I thought that the sway bars etc. indicated some of the other features included in an XR7 package :shrug:
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: Thunder Chicken on March 12, 2007, 10:00:58 AM
Quote from: Cougar5.0;133959
Yeah, my 20th also came with the 2.73:1 7.5" open rear - puke.
Is the rear-end the main reason you describe the 20th as an "LS"?
I thought that the sway bars etc. indicated some of the other features included in an XR7 package :shrug:
There are other reasons, mainly in the interior. XR7's got TC-style seats, a full console, and floor shifter. I believe the XR7 was also identified in the VIN, just like Sport, LX and TC Thunderbirds were.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: P71 on March 12, 2007, 10:22:56 AM
Vinnie, No clue man, but I'd love to give a shot at it! Can you post up a pic of it? I'm sure Eric wouldn't mind a look-see either...
Cougar5.0, You have to ask Eric, I thought all the 20th's were XR7's, but I've only owned 1 Cougar :hick: He told me they were LS's. (Check out CoolCats, Eric's got a whole page on the Anny cars)
Mikey, We rag on you because you for some reason you just can't grasp your car. It's an appearance option. You got a cool interior and paint and 10" drums with a swaybar. Most FILA's were 3.8's. Be happy that you have a factory 5.0 car. That being said, it IS an SO. It HAS a 3.08 open. Have you ever looked under cars? The rear ends always tend to look "newer" because they don't get the oil blast from the engine/trans. I tell you what, you REALLY up to knowing what rear-end you have? There's a metal tag on it, take a pic of that and the rear cover. Then we can without a doubt tell you what's in it. Same thing for the Granada. And take it from 10 years of buying cars, when somebody claims it's "3.73 posi" it's usually not. Case in point, the last TC I bought (2 weeks ago) the guy claimed it had a 4.11 Mustang posi rear. I jacked the car up by the pumpkin and spun the wheel, the other wheel went the other way and the driveshaft made 3 1/3 revolutions. "3.27 open" I tell him, worthless, dropped the price and then proceded to tell me what was ACTUALLY wrong with the car. People say the darndest things to sell parts/cars hoping you have no idea what they are talking about. Just let it go man. You want to own the rarest of the rare with all the power and fully loaded, then come up here and check out my old 83TC or Layla. Thunderjet302's car is another example, loaded out the hilt. Be happy you actually got a 5.0 in a FILA and take some axle pics, until then I don't want to read 3 page speculations about mythical monster axles in 79 Fairmont's. Sorry for the rant man but I'd like you a lot more if you weren't so annoying :hick:
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: 84 Fila on March 12, 2007, 11:28:25 AM
I know that Mike. And I have 9" drums, not 10. Joe just got me the Vin for the cougar so I'll post that up. Is there anything else you need to know about the Fila?
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: 1badcougar on March 12, 2007, 01:34:44 PM
Cougar5.0,
From what I have read, the 20th annys were based on the LS with some handling upgrades. All of these came with the 2.73:1 7.5 rear.
My from sway bar is 1 5/16". I never measured the rear sway bar. I have the 10" drum brakes. Mine has been upgraded to a mustang 8.8 3.55:1 rear because I destoryed my 7.5 (converted to ls) drag racing. I have also changed the complete interior (done before I found out only 5,002 of these car were made, was missing the computer for the 2 position power memory drivers seat) and converted to 5 speed.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 12, 2007, 01:48:12 PM
Quote from: 1badcougar;133996
Cougar5.0,
From what I have read, the 20th annys were based on the LS with some handling upgrades. All of these came with the 2.73:1 7.5 rear.
My from sway bar is 1 5/16". I never measured the rear sway bar. I have the 10" drum brakes. Mine has been upgraded to a mustang 8.8 3.55:1 rear because I destoryed my 7.5 (converted to ls) drag racing. I have also changed the complete interior (done before I found out only 5,002 of these car were made, was missing the computer for the 2 position power memory drivers seat) and converted to 5 speed.
so ALL 20th anny's had a 7.5 inch, 2.73:1 ratio NON Traction-Lok, aka open differeential? i was wondeing about my car so i checked the door tag sometime like 6 mo. ago, and i coulda sworn i saw in "M" in axle code, which, according to coolcats is a 2.73 with Trac-Lok. maybe i was looking at the wrong thing.
on a similar note--
Aerobird--ill be home next weekend, so i wanna check my car out and get all the details so i can add mine to the registry for ya!
Mike(84Fila) left out some of his VIN. should I do that too? ive seen that before. is it some security risk to your car if you gie out its VIN? just showin off my ignorance...:D
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 12, 2007, 01:57:26 PM
Quote from: Aerobird Motorsports;133967
The rear ends always tend to look "newer" because they don't get the oil blast from the engine/trans.
NOT trying to start anything but i kinda gotta disagree at least in the case of my car (so really ive no basis it could be an anomaly, maybe the original owner never washed the undercarriage in the winter!)--my rear end "looks" as old as the one on my 38 buick. RUST ALL OVER the entire thing. now granted just surface rust and its not biggie, we all know the steel on a rear end is THICk but still there isnt one speck of paint on it :giggle: i WISH it got the oil blast! i dunno i just dont like it all brown. ill probably yank it someday and POR-15 it or something :hick: apparently you can just put that stuff right on existing rust or something, least thats what ive heard
/end hijack
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: 84 Fila on March 12, 2007, 03:46:44 PM
For the record, It's not that I don't belive that it came with a 7.5" 3.08 open, I'm pressing the fact that might not be the original rearWhen I came into knowing of this car, it was getting new struts, a motor in it and a tranny. It's not beyond the relm of possibilty that it was changed. So from this point on I recongnise the fact that my car HAD a 3.08 open in it. Not what does it have in it NOW?
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: Tbird232ci on March 12, 2007, 03:48:12 PM
Quote from: 84 Fila;134035
Not what does it have in it NOW?
Take a picture, and you wont have to ask the question anymore.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: Thunder Chicken on March 12, 2007, 03:53:58 PM
Quote from: ZondaC12;133999
so ALL 20th anny's had a 7.5 inch, 2.73:1 ratio NON Traction-Lok, aka open differeential? i was wondeing about my car so i checked the door tag sometime like 6 mo. ago, and i coulda sworn i saw in "M" in axle code, which, according to coolcats is a 2.73 with Trac-Lok. maybe i was looking at the wrong thing.
Several years ago I had looked at a 20th a local car lot was selling. The door tag in that indicated it had the 3.08 Trac-Lok rear. Course, it is a Canadian car, and things were different here.
BTW, some of our older members will remember when I was looking at that car (it would've been around late 1999/early 2000). It was before I bought the '87 Sport. Well, believe it or not, the guy STILL Has it for sale! It was $3500 originally and I offered him $2500 because the car needed exhaust work and the safety sticker expired a year previous even though the window sticker said "New safety", meaning he'd had the car on the lot for at least two years. He wouldn't take it. After selling the Sport I decided to take another look. This time the paint was badly faded and chemical burned (he had it parked close to a coal fired power plant's smoke stack), the tires were all cracked, and the floor was getting ripe. Still, it could've been saved. He told me he'd take that $2500 I had previously offered him, and I told him the offer was now $1000.
That was in late 2002. It is now nearly five years later and that guy STILL has that car on his lot! Counting the two years it sat there before I looked at it the first time, that car has been sitting outside, unprotected, under a smokestack, for TEN YEARS!!! It looks horrid now. Paint is history, wheel openings and door bottoms rotting, four flats, missing trim pieces... the guy ruined the car through sheer stubbornness. I wouldn't offer him $100 for it now, as all the "good" 20th anny stuff is no good anymore (seats faded and trashed, moonroof seized, gold emblems all with gold flaked off).
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: 84 Fila on March 12, 2007, 03:54:53 PM
I will next time it's in the air. And I did look for the ID plate one one of the bolts on the rear cover. I didn't see one. Now I'm officaly done with the Hi-jack
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 12, 2007, 04:59:57 PM
http://www.coolcats.net/fox/20thanniversary.html
"The only available options were a power moonroof, power antenna, illuminated entry, keyless entry, automatic climate control, engine block heater, and the Traction-Lok axle with 3.08 gears."
so yup that makes sense that the one you saw had the 3.08. thats a sad story! its awful how badly some people neglect automobiles.
cant wait til friday, now im really curious, gotta know!!!
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: EricCoolCats on March 12, 2007, 06:57:26 PM
Actually, I have to amend that...there was another option on the 20th (and all other Cougars and T-Birds from 1983-88). It was the front license plate bracket. Even though it was provided at no cost to the buyer in a state that required a front plate, it was still an option. It carried its own order code and its own part number. Sometimes that's the deal-breaker on a "fully loaded" car...but oh well, that's how it goes. ;)
Quote
Any ideas about my core support tag that has a bunch of numbers and "Tulsa State fair" stamped on it across the bottom of the tag?
Maybe it was a special edition made for the fair. I don't know for sure...you need to post a GOOD photo of that here. We can probably help decipher the "bunch of numbers". No clue about the fair thing. That is rather odd...then again, there are some unique buck tag stampings for these cars. Actually I know someone that had his re-made due to a connection that he had. It used the factory-style stampings and everything. One of these days I'll have the dude make me one with "LICK MY SACK" stamped in, and bolt it to the convertible. We'll see how many people notice that one. ;)
And just FYI...Ric and I deciphered a few things about his '85 today. While going through my dealer order books I found what could possibly be a very rare combination of colors for 1986: Midnight Blue XR7, charcoal bottom striping...and a Desert Sand interior. I don't recall ever seeing one of those in that combination of colors. Same with black, also...a black '86 XR7 with a Desert Sand interior has got to be uncommon. I would tend to think those two cars would be collectors' items in the future, simply because of the already-scant XR7 availability, plus the color combos. Those have to be just gorgeous...I hope at least one of each existed.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 12, 2007, 07:49:05 PM
its funny, for about the first year i drove the car, the front plate wasnt on. my dad had taken it off after the small accident in which he rear-ended someone in traffic at like 5-10 mph or something, and i just never got around to putting it back on. i was always worried i might get pulled over. i probably crossed paths with a hundred or more police officers, never saw one so much as give my car a second glance. finally i was like "okay stop putting this off, im bored as hell today lets put the license plate on!" :hick:
i oughta take it back off, looked better without it! course, then there are those holes there...:yuck: though i dont remember noticing that particularly, theyre probably small enough where it just isnt that ugly.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: 5.0willgo on March 12, 2007, 09:56:47 PM
So my '88 is only missing 4 options then. And two of them, it may have had.
They are... Argent wheels - came with the white inserts Leather wrapped wheel - I have the standard issue TC type wheel Block heater - Never looked on the orginal block but that's been gone for over 4 years now Floor mats - Got the car with 172K on it. If it came with mats, they were probably long gone by then. I do have a set of Ford mats from a junk Cougar though.
It has the license plate bracket since the car has been a MD car since new.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: P71 on March 13, 2007, 12:47:06 AM
Layla's only missing the block heater (original engine was gone and it was sold new in Seattle so it *may* have had it) and the dreaded automatic tranny (A4LD). I have every single other TC available option including the front plate holder (which is in the trunk :hick: )
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: Cougar5.0 on March 13, 2007, 01:21:34 AM
I am going to continue to think of the 20th as a third "trim" in '87.
The large diameter front and rear sway bars and quad-shocks say "XR-7" which was traditionally a V8 car with a handling package and special badges inside and out. The only weird thing they did with the 20th was use a 7.5" rear. After swapping in the TurboCouple rear, I was unaware of any additional OEM suspention upgrades.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 13, 2007, 01:33:31 AM
So being that my car is pretty loaded (as far as I know I'm only missing the sunroof and a block heater to have every 88 LX option) why do I have a block off plate next to the power antenna switch? Does anyone know what went there?
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: Ifixyawata on March 13, 2007, 07:00:56 AM
Quote from: Tbird232ci;134037
Take a picture, and you wont have to ask the question anymore.
He's right, Mike. It's great that you want for your car to be something so one-of-a-kind, but these cars are some of the last you'd expect some average Joe to switch the rear ends in. We're all glad you're so enthusiastic about your car, but a lotta things we tell you on here, you'll have to take at face value, remember, a lot of us have been tinkering on these cars for longer than you, and hey, a lot of others even longer than me. People like Aerobird have had TONS of these cars & really know what they're talking about. Basically I'm saying you can't expect to get the answers you want by asking a question time & time again. I'd wager that there's about a 95% chance that the rear end in your car is exactly what the door tag says. There's no way it came from the factory with anything different and there's a very slim chance that someone changed that rear end. The proof will be in the pictures. And if you're still not 100% sure on whether it's trac lock or not, I'll bring my floorjack over personally and we'll do the tire spin test on it, then we can put this 'mystery rear end' issue to rest.
I also take part of the blame for the big debacle over the Fairmont rear end. I'm good friends with yet another Mike, who owns the Fairmont. I'm the one who introduced these two Mike's and all that. He bought the car thinking it was a factory 302 car and it turns out that someone's dropped a 351 and C4 into it and the good Lord only knows what else's been done to the car. (I will say some of the work is pretty rinky-, though.) I've never looked at the rear end in question, nor have I done the tire spin test on it to see if it's really track-lock or not. I can't vouch for any of these claims, nor can I deny them.
Anyway... so yeah. That's how it is.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: Ifixyawata on March 13, 2007, 07:01:45 AM
Quote from: thunderjet302;134180
So being that my car is pretty loaded (as far as I know I'm only missing the sunroof and a block heater to have every 88 LX option) why do I have a block off plate next to the power antenna switch? Does anyone know what went there?
Programmable ride control or fuel octane switch in a TC maybe? I'm not familiar with the loaded dash switches as my car's a py base model.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: 84 Fila on March 13, 2007, 08:30:56 AM
Tire spin soundlike fun sometime. Wait till I take ownership of the cougar though,as we can play with that too. As for ( the other mike), if you could please try to figure out what the hell is in his car so I can be swapped into mine and we can just take mine out and play with it. It sound like an idea to me.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: P71 on March 13, 2007, 10:52:54 AM
Quote from: thunderjet302;134180
So being that my car is pretty loaded (as far as I know I'm only missing the sunroof and a block heater to have every 88 LX option) why do I have a block off plate next to the power antenna switch? Does anyone know what went there?
Got a pic? On Layla it's the Ride Control switch and foglight switch, neither of which an LX would have.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: 5.0willgo on March 13, 2007, 10:56:40 AM
Quote from: thunderjet302;134180
why do I have a block off plate next to the power antenna switch? Does anyone know what went there?
I have one too. I'm thinking it was something that was TC specific maybe?
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: EricCoolCats on March 13, 2007, 11:07:38 AM
For those V6 and V8 cars with the power antenna, the other spot was left intentionally blank for future expansion. Obviously Ford never expanded. :) But it does make a nice spot for an aftermarket switch. I've even cut out that hole and adapted a factory fog light switch to run other things.
One thing we're very fortunate about is that the 1985-88 dash is very flexible to add stuff, whether they be switches or radios or other 1-DIN sized features. A lot of newer cars don't have room for stuff like that. Another nice feature is the manual power antenna...that way you can play a CD without having to put the antenna up. Of course, that can lead to a frozen antenna motor eventually...
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: 20th anny 5.o on March 13, 2007, 01:34:06 PM
Quote from: Cougar5.0;133959
Yeah, my 20th also came with the 2.73:1 7.5" open rear - puke.
Is the rear-end the main reason you describe the 20th as an "LS"?
I thought that the sway bars etc. indicated some of the other features included in an XR7 package :shrug:
I stand Firm that the 20th Anniversary's have XR-7 suspensions for the fact that when i fudged my black rub strip up when i called Ford to get replacements they told me it was an LS with XR-7 suspension package.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: EricCoolCats on March 13, 2007, 02:12:03 PM
Quote
I stand Firm that the 20th Anniversary's have XR-7 suspensions for the fact that when i fudged my black rub strip up when i called Ford to get replacements they told me it was an LS with XR-7 suspension package.
In essence that is true...20ths featured the sport handling suspension as standard. In fact the 20th and 1987-88 XR7 suspensions probably all were the same, save for the standard open rear end on the 20th.
But the 20th was NOT an XR7. It was an LS with the 20th Anniversary Option. Similarly, the first-gen Aero Cats had option packages for the LS and XR7 models, which each featured their own order code on top of a standard Cougar (GS). It was rather backwards the way that Ford required dealers to order a specific car model. I don't know if that system was a holdover from the 1970's or what, but it could be pretty confusing for the uninitiated. I sure hope it's not the same way today.
I've been gathering information from the dealer order books and let me tell you, there were some strange requirements for some of the models. As much as we like to think of these cars as "something for everyone", a lot of things were rather limited when it came to ordering one. But there are also some rather surprising things that were welcomed. I particularly like that fact that almost every option could be ordered a la carte, outside of a preferred package. That made individuality a certain thing, something that most of today's cars lack. Naturally that led to many different combinations, and thus the discussions here about what was standard and what was optional. In a nutshell, if someone tells me their car has something that both the brochures and the order book state could not be possible, I tend to agree with the person, as the "proof is in the pudding", so to speak.
There were just so many strange things that could have happened. Take, for example, Ric's 1985 GS. He ordered the optional hood stripes, but on his car the stripes end on the header panel, not at the edge of the hood itself like nearly all other cars I've seen. Years later he actually found one of the guys that hand-painted those stripes on at the Lorain plant, and when asked, the guy told him "it depended on what mood we were in that day." So how's THAT for a definitive answer! LOL! Those guys could have been drinking up a storm the night before, come into work all hung over, and decided, "Let's screw with people and make the hood stripes longer today." And believe me, that's a small sample of what happens in an assembly plant.
Any given day, anything was possible. ;)
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: DakotaEpic on March 13, 2007, 02:17:42 PM
Quote from: Aerobird Motorsports;133967
Vinnie, Thunderjet302's car is another example, loaded out the hilt. Be happy you actually got a 5.0 in a FILA and take some axle pics, until then I don't want to read 3 page speculations about mythical monster axles in 79 Fairmont's. Sorry for the rant man but I'd like you a lot more if you weren't so annoying :hick:
Just to rub it in/ pat myself on the back, my car was even more loaded than Thunderjet's it had the floor shifter + everything his had including the TC seats. Minus the paint though, was the two tone paint an option, or something dealers just did?
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: Thunder Chicken on March 13, 2007, 03:00:48 PM
Quote from: Aerobird Motorsports;134243
Got a pic? On Layla it's the Ride Control switch and foglight switch, neither of which an LX would have.
You sure it's not the premium fuel switch you've got by the ride control and power antenna? I haven't seen as many TC's as you, of course, but every one I've seen had the fog light switch in the light switch panel left of the column (including my car, which isn't a TC but has a TC panel with factory fog light switch)
Quote from: DakotaEpic;134274
Just to rub it in/ pat myself on the back, my car was even more loaded than Thunderjet's it had the floor shifter + everything his had including the TC seats. Minus the paint though, was the two tone paint an option, or something dealers just did?
The two-tone was factory. Is your car a Sport or LX? I had only thought the floor shifter was only available in Sports and TC's, and the TC seats only in TC's and 88 Sports
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 13, 2007, 03:29:55 PM
I know for a fact that in 87 it was possible to order a LX with a floor shifter and sport seats factory. There's a guy in the T-bird club with one and it's factory original 25,000 mile car. In 88 you couldn't as far as I know order a LX with a floor shifter and console. You had to get a Sport to do that.
Quote
Just to rub it in/ pat myself on the back, my car was even more loaded than Thunderjet's it had the floor shifter + everything his had including the TC seats. Minus the paint though, was the two tone paint an option, or something dealers just did? Today 01:12 PM
Sport seats didn't come with power recline though:flip:
j/k:D
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: kingcars on March 13, 2007, 03:31:58 PM
What do the TC seats even look like? What differences are in them? I know my seats have lumbar support and several other controls, but thats about it.
One last thing: Stop turning this into an E-peen comparison thread :P . hahaha
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 13, 2007, 03:36:15 PM
Sport/XR-7/Turbo Coupe seats are all the same. They were also used in Mustangs of the same era. They're just collectivly called sport seats.
Fine I'll stop being an ass about my options :D
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 13, 2007, 03:38:20 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats;134247
For those V6 and V8 cars with the power antenna, the other spot was left intentionally blank for future expansion. Obviously Ford never expanded. :) But it does make a nice spot for an aftermarket switch. I've even cut out that hole and adapted a factory fog light switch to run other things.
One thing we're very fortunate about is that the 1985-88 dash is very flexible to add stuff, whether they be switches or radios or other 1-DIN sized features. A lot of newer cars don't have room for stuff like that. Another nice feature is the manual power antenna...that way you can play a CD without having to put the antenna up. Of course, that can lead to a frozen antenna motor eventually...
Ah now I know.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: P71 on March 13, 2007, 03:42:59 PM
HAHAHA
Carm, You got me on the switch, it's the ride control/prem/power antenna panel. The fogs are with the headlights. Been sooooo long since I actually SAT in the car instead of under the hood... :hick:
TC seats are high-back buckets with headrests and power lumbar. They could be bolted to power or manual racks.
As for the LX/Sport/buckets debate....
I have a customer in Bellingham with an 88 TBird, base, not even an LX, with very few options. Those options are: 5.0, floor shift, full console, buckets, power windows/mirrors. That is IT. It's got the chrome window trim so I know it's not a sport (guy's owned it since the early 90's). It looks like some Mustang guy tried to order a "sleeper" TBird then figured out it wasn't an HO!
You guys *may* want to check out the new For Sale - Leads section, I put up a LOT of interesting fox's...
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: P71 on March 13, 2007, 03:43:39 PM
HAHAHA
Carm, You got me on the switch, it's the ride control/prem/power antenna panel. The fogs are with the headlights. Been sooooo long since I actually SAT in the car instead of under the hood... :hick:
TC seats are high-back buckets with headrests and power lumbar. They could be bolted to power or manual racks.
As for the LX/Sport/buckets debate....
I have a customer in Bellingham with an 88 TBird, base, not even an LX, with very few options. Those options are: 5.0, floor shift, full console, buckets, power windows/mirrors. That is IT. It's got the chrome window trim so I know it's not a sport (guy's owned it since the early 90's). It looks like some Mustang guy tried to order a "sleeper" TBird then figured out it wasn't an HO!
You guys *may* want to check out the new For Sale - Leads section, I put up a LOT of interesting fox's...
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: kingcars on March 13, 2007, 03:44:06 PM
Quote from: thunderjet302;134291
Sport/XR-7/Turbo Coupe seats are all the same. They were also used in Mustangs of the same era. They're just collectivly called sport seats.
Fine I'll stop being an ass about my options :D
Hahahaha. Cool, glad to see I have the cool kids seats then :D . They are extremely confortable too (at least mine are).
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 13, 2007, 03:51:11 PM
Quote from: Aerobird Motorsports;134295
HAHAHA
Carm, You got me on the switch, it's the ride control/prem/power antenna panel. The fogs are with the headlights. Been sooooo long since I actually SAT in the car instead of under the hood... :hick:
TC seats are high-back buckets with headrests and power lumbar. They could be bolted to power or manual racks.
As for the LX/Sport/buckets debate....
I have a customer in Bellingham with an 88 TBird, base, not even an LX, with very few options. Those options are: 5.0, floor shift, full console, buckets, power windows/mirrors. That is IT. It's got the chrome window trim so I know it's not a sport (guy's owned it since the early 90's). It looks like some Mustang guy tried to order a "sleeper" TBird then figured out it wasn't an HO!
You guys *may* want to check out the new For Sale - Leads section, I put up a LOT of interesting fox's...
Hmm the 88 brochure dosen't even list the floor shifter as an option on the base or LX. According to that the only way to get a floor shifter is to order a TC or Sport. So what do ya know the dealer info was wrong again:hick: .
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: kingcars on March 13, 2007, 03:59:05 PM
Does anybody know if someone could've (or did) snuck an HO Tbird or Cougar out of the factory? That'd be awesome :D .
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: P71 on March 13, 2007, 04:23:10 PM
His car *could* be an 87, I honestly can't remember. I didn't believe the car until I saw it, it's only got 60K miles and is VERY nice.
NO HO snuck out, we know that for a fact.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: Thunder Chicken on March 13, 2007, 05:27:49 PM
Quote from: thunderjet302;134291
Sport/XR-7/Turbo Coupe seats are all the same. They were also used in Mustangs of the same era. They're just collectivly called sport seats.
Fine I'll stop being an ass about my options :D
Not quite :hick: '87 Sport seats are the same as the base seats except they don't have the consolette installed. Only 88 Sport models got the TC seats
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 14, 2007, 12:35:43 AM
I'm still wondering how this guy I know got an 87 LX with leather Sport seats and a floor shifter. Odd.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: P71 on March 14, 2007, 12:38:37 AM
Quote from: thunderjet302;134409
I'm still wondering how this guy I know got an 87 LX with leather Sport seats and a floor shifter. Odd.
The same way you did, by adding it! :hick:
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 14, 2007, 01:03:29 AM
Nope the car is 87 factory original. It has the sport seats and floor shifter listed on the window sticker. I checked the VIN and it has P62 in it so the car is a LX. I have no idea how that car got those options. The car is all original with 25,000 miles. Screwy Ford:screwy:
Oh I don't have a floor shifter just the full console. I'm going to stick with the column shifter just for fun:hick:
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: DakotaEpic on March 14, 2007, 04:02:28 AM
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;134284
Is your car a Sport or LX? I had only thought the floor shifter was only available in Sports and TC's, and the TC seats only in TC's and 88 Sports
It was an LX.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: EricCoolCats on March 14, 2007, 10:35:04 AM
You know what's the strangest thing about full consoles? They were not on the options list. They had no order code. So how did one get a console?
By ordering the proper seats.
I sh*t you not.
Now...if one would have ordered the articulated sport bucket seats, one would have also gotten the full console with it, as part of the seating package for that particular trim level (LX/LS, Sport, XR7, Turbo Coupe, etc). It is possible that in 1987-88 the floor shifter was part of the seating package as well. I haven't found 1987 or 1988 dealer order books yet to confirm this. I'm basing this information on the 1983-86 books that I do have. And no, I cannot find any information about a floor shifter and non-turbo cars in 1983-86...I don't believe those existed. But I do know of several factory 1987-88 Cougar LS models with floor shifters. So at some point in 1987-88 the floor shifter was an option. We just have to figure out how one was able to order one: whether it was a standalone option that required certain seats, or if it was part of the seating package itself. It may also have been a V8-only thing too. We won't know anything until those books are found.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on March 14, 2007, 11:03:19 AM
Eric has it correct... Until actual dealer order books are located, just saying my car has this, or I know one that has that, don't mean Jack Schitt... Of course if there is legit documentation(window sticker, etc.), then that's another story...
The Fair model Vinny mentioned is interesting... Likely it was mfgd as part of Fords display at the Fair, or possibly could have been part of a fleet Ford supplied for use at the Fair... Guessing it may also have the Home Office Reserve DSO code(89)...
the '88 buck tags have much info('87 have less) about the car options(keyless, moon roof etc)imprinted on them including the date of build. Also much of the same info is listed on the door jamb sticker(trim, paint codes, etc)...
Tags have 6 lines... decode as I know... DN=don't know
1988 Tag
Line #1 3179... DN (but probably rotation number, # of vehicle build for week) S64...(prob body type, all TC have this code) T... engine code in VIN 169765... last six of VIN
Line #2 2A... DN 1C... Paint Code(black)
Line #3 KE... DN, but is on all with Keyless CO... DN, but on every tag I have
Line #4 FD... Red Leather(FB blue leather, BH, black cloth) JH... year & assembly plant(Lorain) as coded in VIN 0203... Feb 03 1988 build 89... DSO(District Special Order) in this case home office reserve(company use)
Line #5 KEY... Keyless entry CL... DN, but all keyless have this code) (MOON will be listed as first entry on this line if equipped)
Line #6 T2... DN 8G975... DN(have also seen 8G976)
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: Tapkin on October 16, 2009, 02:28:33 AM
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;134312
Not quite :hick: '87 Sport seats are the same as the base seats except they don't have the consolette installed. Only 88 Sport models got the TC seats
I got sportseats like TC ones, my car was made 09\87. I got 88 model year?
Also i wonder: on tag, in transmission line i have code T55KK. Aod, and what spindles i have? Anyone got info about this?
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: Beau on October 16, 2009, 06:12:16 AM
Tapkin, the VIN will determine if your car is a true Sport, the first 7 digits should read: 1FABP61**********
According to Carm's site (http://www.foxthundercats.net/samscars.htm)
60 = Base 61 = Sport 62 = LX 64 = TurboCoupe
Hope this helps:D
BTW, I too have an '88 Sport, also had the TC-style seats...
IIRC, the '87 Sports had the lower-level seats, but the TC style doorpanels.
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on October 16, 2009, 08:49:45 AM
Quote from: Tapkin;295010
I got sportseats like TC ones, my car was made 09\87. I got 88 model year?
Also i wonder: on tag, in transmission line i have code T55KK. Aod, and what spindles i have? Anyone got info about this?
1988 production would have started in August(maybe even late July) of '87, you have a early '88... The transmission code also includes codes for all four springs used(makes a lot of sense huh?)... T is the code for the AOD tranny, which was the only automatic used in '88 for 3.8 & 5.0... Spindles will be same as any other Tbird(4 cyl Stang), other than the Turbo Coupes which got the 5.0 Stang type(11" rotors)... Yes that's right, the 2.3T 4cyl Birds got 5.0 Stang spindles and 3.8 & 5.0 Birds got 4cyl Stang spindles(10" rotors)...
BTW this is for '87 & '88, prior all used the small Stang components...
Quote from: FordTruckFreeek;295019
IIRC, the '87 Sports had the lower-level seats, but the TC style doorpanels.
Nope, the LX & TC use similar door panels, while the Sport uses the Base Bird DPs...
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: BCA on October 16, 2009, 10:45:06 AM
Quote from: thunderjet302;134416
Nope the car is 87 factory original. It has the sport seats and floor shifter listed on the window sticker. I checked the VIN and it has P62 in it so the car is a LX. I have no idea how that car got those options. The car is all original with 25,000 miles.
In the 1987 dealer book I have, the Articulated Sport seats with the full-length console were indeed and option on the LX model. However in my 1988 dealer book & order guide, that option does not appear for the LX model and they were limited to the Sport & Turbo Coupe.
Brent
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: thunderjet302 on October 16, 2009, 12:37:42 PM
Quote from: Tapkin;295010
I got sportseats like TC ones, my car was made 09\87. I got 88 model year?
Also i wonder: on tag, in transmission line i have code T55KK. Aod, and what spindles i have? Anyone got info about this?
Yep it's an early build date 88. My 88 T-bird was built 09/87 as well.
Quote from: BCA;295049
In the 1987 dealer book I have, the Articulated Sport seats with the full-length console were indeed and option on the LX model. However in my 1988 dealer book & order guide, that option does not appear for the LX model and they were limited to the Sport & Turbo Coupe.
Brent
I figured that out awhile ago. I just never posted up my findings as I forgot about this thread:hick:
Title: Lessons learned from the Registry thread
Post by: Tapkin on October 19, 2009, 03:02:12 AM
I got Tbird Sport, and what about springs? 55KK? Whats the difference beetween 5.0 LX 88 springs or 5.0 stang?
Door panels on my car are not the same with panels wich my friend got on his 88 5.0 LX Tbird.