There is an 87-88 on egay with the column shifter and a 5.0. Did they ever make a base model v-8? Mine was a "sport" and I never knew there was any other way to get the V-8.
Ad has it listed with a "Mustang motor", but I don't think it's been swapped.
The column shifter was standard on the base models. Mine (88 base 5.0 'Bird) has the column shifter, as do most others. Floor shifters are rarer.
Then what is special about a "sport"?
The Sport has the floor shifter, leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter, TC-sized sway bars, stiffer springs, traction-lock rear, blacked out trim, full digital dash (87 only), full buttstuffogue dash (88 only), TC-type seats (88 only), and a few things that were optional in base models were standard in Sports...
Some 88 Sports had the 8.8" rear, but most 88's and all 87's had the 7.5". I believe they also all had 10" rear drums (as opposed to the base 9").
In contrast, base models with the V8 had as standard equipment open 2/73-geared 7.5" differentials, chrome trim, column shifters, non-sport seats, smaller sway bars (and most had no sway bar at all on the rear), base instrument clusters - in other words, everything that was standard equipment on a base V6 'Bird was also standard on a V8 'Bird. By the same token, most things that were optional on base V6 Birds were also optional on base V8 Birds (such as traction lock, 3.08 gears, bigger rear brakes, full digital dash, power windows/doors/seats, etc). The console was also optional on base models, and the floor shifter was available as an additional option (you could get a console without the floor shifter, but if you got the floor shifter you obviously HAD to get the console). Back then you could order options individually, so interesting option combos exist. My 88 5.0 Cougar had power windows but no power locks. My current 88 base 5.0 Bird has power windows & locks but no power seats. Both cars had factory A/C (optional here in Canada). A very few cars had very few no options at all - my 85 base V6 Bird had metallic clearcoat paint as its only option.
A Sport can be identified by the VIN. Base 'Birds are 1FABP60, Sports are 1FABP61. LX's are 62, TC's are 64.
Hey Carm you forgot to mention the full console...
Pecking order is Base and LX have the column shift with either 3.8 or 5.0.. Sport(5.0 only) and TC floor shift only...
Sport's use TC springs and swaybars. Exact same part #s and everything.
Just to set the record stright, a Sport is a TC minus:
The 2.3T---> 5.0
8.8 TL D. Brake rear --> 7.5" TL drum
"most" loaded --> " Stripped down"
Just wana set my self stright on this
Good info! Thanks, I appreciate it.
I knew about the consoles due to my previous question about them.(Hard to put a non-rail-shifted transmission in a car with a full console)
Man, I miss my black Sport.....
Now I'm just trying to find a decent DD, and worry about a project body later.
Dave