Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

You know the drill. You've won eleventy-billion dollars in a Nigerian lottery and are free to do whatever you want to your car without having to worry about cost (or significant other nagging). The only rule: You must do it to a fox Bird or Cat, preferably the car you have now. No Ferrarris, no Lamborghinis, no Ford GT's - strictly 1980-1988 T-Birds or Cougars.

I'd have to do more than one.

For the 1988 'Bird I'd build it this way: The complete body would be grafted onto a custom tube chassis that would also anchor an AWD system from a Navigator and powered by a Ford GT engine modded to belt out about 800 horses.  Front and rear suspension would be full independent, and of course custom made to make sure that the AWD system all fit under the car nicely.

With the body sitting on a nice, stiff tube chassis I'd then be free to have the roof cut off and a custom folding retractable hard top installed in its place. A complete custom leather interior would be made up, and an instrument panel featuring all of the latest goodies (GPS navigation, etc) would be made up as well. I'd try to keep the IP looking as stock as possible, though - I'd have all of the electronic goodies housed in the radio/HVAC center stack. Custom gauges would reside in place of the stock ones, of course.

That would be my "fun" car. My daily driver would take on a completely different persona:

I'd start out with a four-eye Bird with vent windows (a MUST). The body would be completely stock appearing with a Turbo Coupe bumper cover. The interior would be treated to the same goodies as the "fun" car. The rear suspension would be Cobra IRS, the front would feature a custom tubular K-member and coil-overs. The drivetrain, however, would be something completely different:

I would try to find a wrecked 2WD, manual-transmission'd Jeep Liberty CRD and swap the entire Mercedes Bluetec turbo diesel V6 engine and 6-speed manual tranny into the car, doing whatever it takes to make the engine/tranny fit, and more importantly, look like it should be in there. Before you all whine about installing a Mercedes engine into a 4-eye, remember that Ford installed BMW diesels into Mark VII's in the mid 80's. If Ford can look to Germany for a decent diesel, so can I. The reason I would go with Mercedes is that the engine is compact, light, and very powerful (mid 200's for horsepower, high 300's for torque). It is the state of the art in automotive diesels.

So, why diesel, when with that eleventy-billion dollars I could afford plenty of gas? Because, that's why. I'd just love to have a diesel Fox, and have often thought about finding a diesel Mark and swapping the drivetrain into a 'Bird or Coug. With unlimited funds I wouldn't have to settle for that ol' BMW oil burner. Plus, with all that money I could set up shop to make my own biofuel, thus reducing my money going to support terrorism (as I type this I'm watching breaking news on CNN that a carload of towelheads was busted in SC with a bunch of explosives).

In keeping with that theme I would also build a big-ass house, but I would make it a showcase of green technology. Wind turbines, solar panels, Li-Ion batteries to store it, solar and geothermal heat, natural gas cooking and clothes dryer, the whole enchilada. I would build the system robust enough that I was actually selling power back to the power company via net metering. But the house is a different fantasy altogether.

So, let's hear your ideas...

Fila from hell would be mine.
Full coil over front
04 Cobra IRS rear
Nice mean and low stance
GFX kit like Kyle's
Built 347 ( AFR's, Lopy ass cam, bullet proof bottom end, Demon carb...)
Simple yet effective body mods
17" Light Charcoal bullets with stickie tired ( 255-50 front, 295-45 rear)
New paint and make it look stock

I would find a good rust-free 87-88 T-Bird, no sunroof, and strip it down to the body. Cut away all the structure forward of the firewall, and cut out the floors and trunk just leaving the hull of the body. Then I would get a 105" Nascar Busch chassis and set the body down on it. I would remove a few interior bars of the cage so I could fit a passenger seat and remove the door bars but modify them so I could bolt them back in. Then I would fit a full stock gray interior, but without the full console. Roadracing seats re-covered to look factory. Then I would build a slightly de-tuned 700hp version of a drysump Nextel Cup motor and shift it through a Richmond Roadrace 5 speed and floater 9" rear with aluminum 3.50 differential and Detroit Locker. 18"x12" wheels. Car and wheels black. Maybe delete sidemolding. I would have two sets of doors with the hinges modified to lift and remove the entire door to swap them. One set of hollow doors to clear the door bars for track days, and one stock set with power windows for those days I want to drive on the street.

Wait, that's what I'm doing....
Just without the $$$$$.....
Dave

I think I would also need a second Bird.

It would be...project Stealth Bomber.

It would start life as an 87-88 TC.
- EVERYTHING would be blacked out, including the front lights.
- Interior? Black, of course. Most likely leather to avoid fading, but not necessarily if the windows are tinted.
- I'd install an infrared HUD a'la Cadillac's.
- It would see custom independent suspension in the rear and custom in the front so I could run at a minimum 255's all around.
- Tint to the maximum legal level on all windows that are legally tintable.
- QUIET dual exhaust. ....stealth....
- Four-point driver's side harness.
- Speedo HUD lifted from a GM model.
- Sonar front and rear, the front possibly tied into the cruise control so I could keep constant distance rather than constant speed. I write software for a living so this might be doable for me.
- Tires? Z-rated, run-flat, monitored for pressure with a warning indicator.
- Dual alternators. No screwing around with power issues.
- HEAVY duty radiator.
- 13" discs (ABS) on all wheels, dual-piston calipers.  17" rims to fit over them.
- Armored glass and driver's side door. No droopy-pants Philly/Chester/Camden carjacker is taking this baby.
- Pepper-spray dispenser around the driver's side window. I play dirty when it comes to carjackers.
- Armable explosive bolt on the doors so people can get out in a hurry if for some reason the car lands in water (obviously the circuit must not be armed normally and must not get shorted out when underwater).

Give me some time. I'm sure I can think of other things...

As another little qirk to bend the rules, I want a 80 Fairmont 2 door that I wana make a street DD.
302
street/strip C4
8.8 w/ 3.55's
Buckets and console with a B&M shifter
Black on black vinal
Thinking 10 holes with normal rubber( 225-60-15's)

I think I would find the most horrible looking Thunderbird I could find. Rust, dents, and just plain ripped to shreds. Then do a complete custom resto on it just because I got nothin else to do for then next 50- 60 years of my life. Just to have fun. Of course, huge engine, built transmission, rear end, yadda yadda, you know the drill. Then give it to someone less fortunate on the board, and start all over again. Of course, mine would have to be the first off the assembly line but, i don't think anyone would care......yeah. Thats what I would do. Probly buy Canada too.....:evilgrin:
:birdsmily:

Did you have to ask! You already know Finish Da bird! I would be doing it with style and class. I would pay for it! I would be fully involved in the process unlike so many rich people. First the whole car would be stripped to bare. Then it would be off to the sand blasters! You know one of those big professional places where the put your car on a rotisseries so they can do the whole thing.

The suspension: Even though I just put the bushing kit in 3 years ago everything would be ripped out and replaced. The K-member GONE, A-arms Gone. Then Tubular goes in. replace the rack, the sterring shaft  with a flaming river unit. Then I would add the whole Kenny brown Chassis setup. Have Kenny's people put it on and tune it for me.


The engine. Yep still gonna be 2.3 TURBO POWER!!!! But nothing like the stock unit. First off head over to Enslinger and have them hook me up with a fully built motor with there Aluminum Head!!! Then it would be over to Turbonetics to get the Turbo. I'd most likely put on a Stinger log header with fully 3" straight back and out in front of the passenger side tire. I know half to move the inline pump. Then I would need a Killer set of Chuck W motor mounts to hook it up to the new K member. Can't for get that we are losing the factory TOP mount inter cooler and putting a very large front mount. Add in and electronic boost controller and wide band air/fuel gauge for good measure. Don't for get we have to have a tuner so I would go with a Shift master EEC tuner. Yeah BABY makin the POWER NOW!


 
Driveline: The 5spd is nice but that would have to go. Then In goes a t-56. I have the parts custom made and then sell a kit for the 2.3t guys! Then the factory driveshaft gone and in goes a Motorsports Aluminum unit. Then the 7.5 trac loc is gone. Then in goes the 8.8 with rear disc and a air locker!

Exterior: Then car has been blasted so cut out any rust and fix everything perfect. I'm not talking a hack job pulling full panels and replacing them .I would put the  regular hood back on. Paint the car with a show stopping Dark Charcoal Metallic paint job. Smoother than a babies ass in December. Then need to top it off with some  17" Gray 5 star with some Pirelli Pzero tires. I would need new glass with tint all the way around. Black out the window trim with powder coat.

Interior: I would recover the factory seats not in the partial leather vinyl. I would have full ostrich leather front and rear. The colors would be Gray and black. THe doors would get reshaped so mold into the dash as much as possible with the 84 dash. Then cover the doors in the same leather. The center and rear arm rest would be covered too. Have the nice tall black carpet. 

Audio system and extras: I would replace the 13year old pioneer cd player changer setup with something alot more modern. It must HD setup so no more cd's and it can jack into the laptop. Better yet Wireless to the home system to add music hell even download tunes at Sonic and Micky D's. I'm not so mch into video in cars but since we have the money right!  Monitors in the visors and some in the back of the front seats. Might as well put in a game system  for the kids. THen form there it would be just adding the custom touches here and there. You know adding that real nice leather shift  to match the seats. Bunches and bunches of little things here and there.

Since I'm so rich I would also be remaking the hard to find parts for these car so people like us could find what they needed and get nice new stuff on the cheap!!Might as well just start making T-bird's and selling them!:hick:  What did you want in a  T-bird I can give it to you only NEW! Come one come all!

I would buy every fox TBird and Cougar left on the planet.

:hick:

It's going to take me a day or two to even imagine what I would do...

I would buy a time machine and go back and buy my 83 when it was new, then I would stop off in 88 and pick up my Special Edition and TC when they were new.

87 Cougar
Take the 302 out replace with 460
beef up the frame for the 460
Do all available suspension upgrades
True duals

99 Cougar
replace 2.5 with turbocharged 13B-REW(RX-8 engine)
Rear wheel drive conversion
all available suspension upgrades
Rx8 True dual exhaust system

Buy a 2001 Cougar
Replace 2.5 with a 3.9 Yahama
Keep it FWD
All available suspension upgrades
True Duals

86 tbird or cougar, drop in a stock rebuilt 87-93 mustang block, gt-40 or trickflow heads, kenne bell super charger running about 6 psi, t-56 viper spec tranny, 4.11 gears with a rebuilt stock turbo coupe rear and 11" brake upgrade to the front. Leave the body beat up and looking like shiznit with stock sized tires, and if at all possible, the torquiest cam I could find, even if it was with a stock 5.0 so cam.

Then I'd go out and show all those honda boys what the diffrence is between a 250-400hp v-8 and the same numbers out of an inline 4.

Then i'd prolly buy a bunch of land and start a mustang/cat/bird junkyard.

I'd find a virgin, low millage '87-'88 TC to rape, and stick one of the Man-O-War 372cu in small blocks in it... With a built tranny, five lug conversion and a few mods here and there, it would be my perfect cruiser...

AND would hold a Lottery drawing on the board to raffle off my present TC... (Don't you guys hope I hit it big???)

My "wants" don't change.I want a 1970 Plymouth Superbird,fuel injected Hemi,6 speed tranny,power everything,sunroof,Lemon Twist color,and the pink slip.

I'd build a shop big enough to hold several cars.  I'd also build a big press to stamp out reproduction panels such as the tbirds quarter panels.

*Grovels at your feet* could you as well stamp out cougar reproduction parts kind sir.

First of all I would start making repro parts for these cars, because obviously its a must.

Finish my 84 Cougar, full Cobra IRS, Tubular K, Subframe connectors, built 347, 5 lug, make the TC hood functional for the 347, leave the interior completely stock except for the addition of a few gauges.

Buy a four eye bird, and make it just like Dogcharmers 86. But with a few more goodies, and personal modifications.

Then buy an Elan, or Fila, and leave it stock colors, full Griggs suspension, or new mustang drivetrain, 428 CJ, Functional Shaker hood. Full cage, tubbed rear, aftermarket, yet stock looking wheels, Quiet lers, and electric cutouts.

Over in my post I was making the whole car and I didn't get any thanks!

We'd completely rebuild the 84 from the ground up, fresh paint, new chrome, new interior, the works.... whatever Hunter would want done to it.

For the 97, a fresh paint job, refurbish the interior to original, new carpeting.

We'd also pay for the 20th Anniversary Cody arranged to buy, and restore anything that might need done to it, and how he wanted it done.

I'd then go on to buy 3 more Cougars, one for each of the girls and completely rebuild it in whatever way they desired.

I would also purchase a Bird for Hunter, as that is what he'd really like to have.

darkthunderv4.6t²

Engine|4.6DOHC TT (I like to think of it as two 2.3T DOHC engines) - :D
Exhaust|Side Exit through the Rocker Panel. (Similar to the GT-R)
Transmission|T-56
Suspension|MM Maximum Grip Box
Brakes|Unsure
Wheels|Custom Made 17x9/18x10.5DD Turbine Replicas
Exterior|Repaint Black, Custom Darkthunder Badge on Trunklid, HIDs, T-Tops
Interior|Delete
Security|Transform! Decepticon Barricade Beyotch!

Well, if money is not a concern...

 With a 1984 Cougar i`ll do:
 A fully dissasemble of the car, all the body would be sandblasted. Paint it black or Red with like 20 or more paint layers.

  I like the suspension in the 2004 mustang, so i have to put the cougar in the axles of the Stang. Fully  custom nitrous suspension.

Interior, maybe with leather seats fully electronic, super cold A/C. Dash would be modified to fit the screen of a PC. A decent audio system....

buttstuffog dash with tach and boost pressure, trying to look as good as if it were original.

534 F.I. engine with an Eaton Marine Supercharger, totally modified.

 Marine Lenco Transmision....

  Id like to have gullwing-type doors....or if not, a solid roof-convertible...

The two FPV F6 Typhoons and Tornados would be on the boat last week. ;)

The Tornado to make a new TC out of (pretty much make it a coupe and give it a fresh looking '87 inspired header panel and rear window) and the Typhoon to sacrifice its goodies for my own TC. The remaining pair would go in a huge barn full of cars, waiting for that 15 year mark.

http://www.fpv.com.au/cars/f6-tornado/overview/overview.aspx

http://www.fpv.com.au/cars/f6-typhoon/overview.aspx

(http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/2114-1.jpg)

(http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0601/fddbc4ac9d9ae8d05a5f.jpeg)

Well...money was no object when I got the convertible so guess that shoots that idea LOL.

I like Carm's AWD/retractable hardtop idea. Every day I keep wondering how I can get my Mountaineer's AWD setup under a Cat or Bird. :D

If money were no object...hmmm...probably (try to) find another 4-eyed Cat, keep it stock looking outside and inside, but do up the drivetrain so that, when I mash the gas pedal, the gates of hell open. I guess that would mean a rollcage too...dammit, those things just clutter up plans in the worst way. But everything is a tradeoff.

Maybe I'd get around to making a fiberglass hardtop for the convertible too. THAT will screw with people.

I've always wanted to do a pure show/trick car. Suicide doors are a must (no Lambo doors). The rear windows would slide back into the C-pillar, just like the '71 T-Birds, machine gun-window style. Maybe hydraulics too. Yeah boyeee. Flavor FLAV!!!!!

Guess I'm just not that creative anymore. I've pushed the convertible about as far as I want it to go. That was on my drawing board for 8 years BEFORE I bought it, so...it's been almost a 20-year odyssey with that car and my brain is fried LOL.

Body: Strip to bare metal.  Get rid of the rust.  Rhinoliner the trunk, engine bay, and underside.  Paint in stock color (Medium Red).  No emblems except the Birds.  Black low pro shaker hood.  Maybe delete side moulding and replace with black stipe with SPORT near the rear wheel (this I'm actually going to do). Custom five lug wheels, black chrome. Black out rear lights and headlights.  Tint windows.  All would be checked by Photoshop first to see if I approve.:)

Suspension/Chassis:  Subframe connectors, frame realinment, hidden roll cage.  Don't know about suspension much, but it will be a canyon carver, but decent on the drag.  Lower the front half inch, give it an agressive stance. Stops on a dime.

Drivetrain: T56, alumminum driveshaft, built 9 inch rear with 3.73. 

Engine:  Again, don't know specifics, but 351W, NA, little toruqe monster.  EFI.

Interior:  Restore, replace some pieces with black ones for a red/black sceme with the whole car.  Decent radio, Satilite probably.  140 speedo with cool backlight gauges. Racing seats and rear seat delete (not a DD for sure).

Then Project White Lightining (http://"http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=12685")

Garage and Playboy Bunnys to follow.

Oh yeah...now I remember what I would do.

Money is no object, right? Aight.

I take a complete summer off from work. Then I drive the convertible west, headed toward California. Take my time, do a Route 66 thing, visit some peeps from the board here. Then when I hit California...

I pay Mr. Chip Foose a visit. And I say unto him: "O Gifted One, take this car as a humble donation, my sacrifice to you. And remake it in aluminum. Take your time. And make any adjustments you deem necessary." :D

Seriously.

I can't think of any higher honor for these cars than to have Chip Foose work on one. It would be the only one like it in the world...probably like, forever. Since it would be an aluminum car, I'd insist on leaving it unpainted to show all the craftsmanship. But I'd have Charlie paint some subtle racing stripes somehow.

Then I would travel all over the country to put the car into elite and exclusive car shows. Regretfully it would have to be hauled in a matching, enclosed aluminum trailer. But that's the sacrifice I'd make. ;)

But before I start for home, I'd drive by Boyd Coddington's shop and do a big burnout in front of his building, with warm wishes from his former employees, Chip and Charlie.

Yeah. That's what I'd do.

Wait.. Foose worked for Boyd?

You have the same dream I do. Love Chip, and Charlie is my idol. Im in Body school and hope to one day be as successful as Mr. Hutton is today.

Yes Mikey, Foose worked for Boyd. So did Charlie Hutton, former painter, he quit to go work for Foose.

I knew Charlie did, but I didn't know foose did.

Foose?  No thanks.

Yea Foose & Charlie!! :D  Don't forget about Mike the computer parts designer that while working for Boyd was doing stuff for Foose on Boyd's time (hehehehehe)

John

What, no love for the two-tone king? :hick:

Off topic....You ever hear why his jaw is like that? He used to race Motorcycles and wrecked....

I wouldnt mind having Troy Trepanier work on my car.

This is "Beetle Bailey" you're talking about, right? He wrecked one of Boyd's cars out in the desert, taking it on a high-speed run. It was on one of the episodes of American Hot Rod. They showed the car all crumpled up...then he and Boyd went to look at the car and to the desert, and Mike was getting some kind of surgery that Boyd was helping pay for. Then Mike left Boyd. :D

I'd thought about Troy also. He's awesome. In the future, though, as people look back I think Chip has a much better shot of standing out as one of the all-time greatest. But hell, yeah, I wouldn't mind Troy turning a wrench for me either. :hick:

Bah! I'd do all my own work! Foose takes off too much trim and too many emblems. His "fade" paint is dated too.

Here's what I would do (after the giant shop and blah blah blah):

Layla:
Complete restoration. SFC's, bracing, but no cage. Complete MM tubular suspension setup, 04 Cobra brakes, 400HP 2.3T, T56, and a nice metallic red paint job. Red leather interior of course ;)

87 Cougar XR7:
302 build up, n/a, solid roller, still injected. Like 500HP. T56 and full-on Watt's Link tubular suspension. Sticky R compound rubber on 18" TT2's. Garnet with gold lower body and a cage. Dan Gurney look-alike Trans-Am graphics (ala 67 TA Cougar)

ex-Bob Glidden Pro Stock (87/88 TC):
1000HP 2.3T in it, go 7's on alky ;)

I would also buy one of each of the following, in low mileage 100% mint original form:

83 TC with TRX package
84 FILA with 5.0
85 30th Anny
86 TC in 2-tone color
87 TC Mach 1 with moonroof
88 Sport 5.0 with moonroof

83 LS 5.0
84 XR7 2.3T with TRX package
85 LS 5.0 Vert
86 XR7 2.3T in 2-tone
87 LS 20th Anny
88 XR7 5.0 with moonroof

I would do what I could to my dream cars, but I wouldn't be foolish enough to think that I could make the body modifications that I envisioned (IE retractable hard top) myself. I think I'd have to have my dream car sitting alongside Eric's in Foose's garage...

OK, I'd farm out a retractable hardtop. But I'd do my own paint and body. ;)

1988 Turbo Coupe

Engine:
4.6 DOHC out of a 2004 cobra
bullet proof motor top to bottom(diamond pistons the hole deal)
2.8 Kenne Bell and two t66 turbos( Doing it like the Manhattan Project Cobra and compounding the boost running about 55psi and making 1400 horsepower)
ridiculously lopey cams
fuel system with garden hoses for fuel lines and 180 pound injectors
A huge front mount
a most of all make it all emissions legal:flip:

Chasis and Suspension:
Make everything fit nicely
Full drag race chasis
Full drag suspension
redo every part of of the suspension basically so it can handle all those ponies
huge disc brakes and six piston calipers

Body:
Get a custom front bumper so the front mount can be in the open
Side exhaust coming through the body right behind the doors
 black cobra r rims 17x12 with 335 nitto radials so i can keep it street legal:D 
everything else stock besides the ducktail spoiler
competition orange paint

Interior and electronics:
Have all the interior redone  in black
The driver and passenger seats recaro racing seats done in black leather
All the gauges and controllers that go along with these HIPO motors
and no sound system so i can listen to the whine of that blower, the sucking from those turbos and finally that ridiculous blow off valve as i change gears and go sideways :burnout:

Oh boy. Here we go...

The 85 would be finished with a Twin turbo 302 and a T-56. It'd finally be done!

I'd tear the Checker down get a good custom frame on it and put a 383 in it with a strong TH350. Full air ride with some good looking shoes on it 18"-19".

Cars I'd buy:
1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator (Boss 302)
1986 Mercury Capri RS (04 SVT Cobra motor/T-56 swap)
1968 Ford Mustang GT390 (Highland green Steve McQueen car)
1981 Mazda RX-7 (93 5.0 t-5 swap)
1991 Ford Taurus SHO (Good memories)
1996 Ford Taurus SHO (It would have a MTX swap)
This list could go on, I'd be the next Jay Leno.......

Talk about back from the dead!

'87 TC
Forest Green, Red Pinstripe
Authentic Silver Cobra R's
Cobra Brakes
460SCJ (550 hp)
Bulletproof 6-speed
SN95 Dash/Center
Tan Leather
TARGA TOP!

1986 5.0 Thunderbird or Cougar

Dk grey exterior/black interior

408 stroker
full forged rotating assembly
Canfield heads
TFS Stage II Cam
Full roller valvetrain
BBK SSI intake

TKO 600 trans

8.8 axle with 3.73 gears and Eaton Posi

Cobra brake conversion

SFCs

MM suspension parts