Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => General Fox T-Bird/Cougar Discussion => Topic started by: nathan moonen on February 17, 2010, 12:22:53 PM

Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: nathan moonen on February 17, 2010, 12:22:53 PM
Allow myself to introduce.... myself...

My real name is my screen name... but I am mostly known around the internet as Mighty Mouse.

A friend of mine has a pretty cool 87 Cougar and another friend has a pretty fast Turbo Coupe T-Bird.

My current ride is an 86 Mustang GT Convertible. (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/moonenn3186/103109007.jpg)

With a Turbo V8 (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/moonenn3186/DSCN2221.jpg)

The car is a convertible and I think I have overreached on the potential/saftey of that chassis.  I see it going back to a street cruiser and building something different for a strip (and some street) car.

Led me here...

How heavy are these fox chassis cars?

Any drag Cougars/Birds on here?

Just looking for some examples and insight on this future project.

The Combo will probably be:

BOSS block
Forged internals in the 347 cubic inch range
TFS TW 205cnc Heads.
Super Vic and 4150 blow-thru
76mm blowdryer.
Auto trans.

:burnout:
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: Loaded87IROC on February 17, 2010, 12:28:31 PM
Welcome!  Nice car, that is one clean engine bay!
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: FLSTCI71 on February 17, 2010, 01:02:38 PM
Welcome!!  Cool car!!  Where in IA are you?  That pic doesn't look like the track at Cedar Falls.
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: nathan moonen on February 17, 2010, 02:18:16 PM
I am from the Dubuque area but am currently moving to the Decorah area.

The pic is from Cordova Dragway near the Quad Cities on the Illinois side of the river.
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: daminc on February 17, 2010, 04:57:57 PM
Nice vert.... Welcome aboard
got any more pics? top down maybe?
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: nathan moonen on February 17, 2010, 05:37:36 PM
I have a ton of photos.  But I dont think I have any with the top down since adding the roll bar.

(http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/moonenn3186/DSCN2242.jpg)

(http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/moonenn3186/indexa.jpg)

(http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/moonenn3186/100_0926.jpg)
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: FLSTCI71 on February 17, 2010, 06:05:51 PM
Cool!! My daughter is going to school in Decorah. She won't have her car there until spring though. So, if you're running around town, say "Hi" if you see a green SN95 ragtop with MY96KIX plates on it.
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: 86XR7project on February 17, 2010, 06:16:14 PM
Yeah you won't be far from me either I'm about 45 min south of Decorah.
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: Thunderhawk on February 17, 2010, 06:24:06 PM
Welcome to the 'bird' forum Mighty Mouse.
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: nathan moonen on February 17, 2010, 06:46:19 PM
Quote from: Thunderhawk;310571
Welcome to the 'bird' forum Mighty Mouse.


Thanks for the welcome...
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: 28HopUp on February 17, 2010, 06:59:01 PM
So what does your blown vert run at the track?
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: nathan moonen on February 17, 2010, 08:17:58 PM
I never got the old combo sorted out... we are making some changes this year.

Best it did was 98.xx mph in the 8th at 3 psi.
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: 1 BADBIRD on February 18, 2010, 04:12:12 PM
Nice stang , Welcome :cheers:
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: thundr306 on February 18, 2010, 04:44:20 PM
Nice ride.
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: 86T-bird on February 18, 2010, 04:48:10 PM
Nate,

Welcome to the site.  I've seen your car in the "under construction" section on sbftech.  Great project!

Though I post infrequently at either site, both offer a weath of information.  Here; on the unique characteristics of the 83-88 T-Birds & Cougars and on sbftech; how to build the drive train right!

I have an 87 Mustang and the 86 T-Bird, both are great cars though each are built for a different purpose.

Glad to see you over here.

Mark
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: 50tbrd88 on February 18, 2010, 04:49:02 PM
Nice fox 'stang.  Welcome aboard.
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: nathan moonen on February 18, 2010, 05:19:26 PM
Quote from: 86T-bird;310636
Nate,

Welcome to the site.  I've seen your car in the "under construction" section on sbftech.  Great project!

Though I post infrequently at either site, both offer a weath of information.  Here; on the unique characteristics of the 83-88 T-Birds & Cougars and on sbftech; how to build the drive train right!

I have an 87 Mustang and the 86 T-Bird, both are great cars though each are built for a different purpose.

Glad to see you over here.

Mark


After a look around here I see quite a few E cam users...

You are in the "know" - help these guys out!!:beatyoass:

Looks like a great site.  When I end up with my T-bird or Cougar (or maybe LSC???) I am sure the guys here can lend some advice...
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: 86T-bird on February 18, 2010, 08:32:43 PM
"After a look around here I see quite a few E cam users..."

LOL!  That is all too true!  I've been on the stump many times regarding OTS and alphabet cams.  My position on custom cams is known.  There are a few converts, but many fall into the "Grass Roots" group and the "budget" card is often played.  It just takes a few clicks and ten posts to put the Old School myths and rumors to bed, but sometimes it's a hard sell...

You may bring some fresh breath to it!

Mark
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: Haystack on February 18, 2010, 10:27:09 PM
Nice to see you here. These cars are fairly cheap and very similar to stangs in weight. You'll want a 86-88 5.0 to make the swaps easy. The 86's are four eyes like the stangs and marginally lighter. The 87-88's also commonly have alot more options which adds weight. Stay away from the EATC heaters.
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: HAVI on February 18, 2010, 11:14:02 PM
Welcome!  These cars are only 3-4" longer wheelbase, too.  Just the overhang on the nose and rear make the car look longer.  Some people like them for the better stability on the track.  I'm seemingly forever away from finding that out myself, lol.
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: nathan moonen on February 19, 2010, 08:54:22 AM
What is an EATC heater?
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 19, 2010, 10:15:10 AM
Hello and welcome to the site! Sweet Stang!!
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: nathan moonen on February 19, 2010, 02:54:52 PM
Quote from: Haystack;310672
Nice to see you here. These cars are fairly cheap and very similar to stangs in weight. You'll want a 86-88 5.0 to make the swaps easy. The 86's are four eyes like the stangs and marginally lighter. The 87-88's also commonly have alot more options which adds weight. Stay away from the EATC heaters.


Can you expand on the information above?

Why are the 86-88 cars the best?
Why are the V8 cars better for easy swapping?
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: 86T-bird on February 19, 2010, 03:11:17 PM
Nate,

If you are interested in a F/I set up the 86 to 88 models are best as they have S/O EFI set up.  The earlier models are a bit lighter than the 87/88's.

The 87/88 Turbo Coupe models have 11" Mustang brakes (all others have 10" front discs) an upgraded suspension (electric adjustable ride control, some poly bushing and sway bars comparable to V8 Mustangs) and an 8.8 rear with disc brakes (there are a few 88 XR7's which have a drum brake 8.8).  Gearing is 3.55's in the manual trans cars and 3.73 in the automatics.  ABS may also be on these models (not sure if it was standard of an option).

As you can see the 87/88 Turbo Coupes can make great V8 swap candidates as many upgrades are already in place.  Of course there are hurdles moving from 4 Cyl to V8, but there is plenty of help to sort that out.

Turbo Coupes and Sports have upgraded interiors (buckets, consoles and buttstuffog gauges).

Check out Eric's Coolcats.net site for a lot of good general information on these cars.

Mark
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: Beau on February 20, 2010, 12:26:17 PM
The EATC is the electronic climate control, some people have had a lot of problems, others have never had an issue.

The only issue I can think of about engine swapping would be the 86.5 through '88 cars with the 5.0 had plates that bolted between the mounts and the block..these plates are made of a rare substance called unobtanium. There's 2 options to overcome this. One is to swap in a pre-86 (or Mustang, or tube, also) K-member, the second, and easier option is to email a man named Chuck...look in the vendor's section, I can personally vouch (as can a lot of others here) that his products are equal to anything you can from summit, jegs, etc. And that his mounts are ONLY available from him.

BTW, welcome to the best Thunderbird/Cougar forum you will ever find!:bowdown:
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: nathan moonen on February 20, 2010, 02:12:49 PM
The car I have plans on building will see very little (if any) street time.

It will be in the neighborhood of 1k horsey's at the wheels.

I just want to be different at the track and at cruise ins... there are simply too many fox body Mustang drag cars for anyone to stand out...

Thank you for the insight though...
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: xjeffs on February 20, 2010, 05:28:40 PM
Welcome, nice car.  I'm in Cedar Falls.  My Cougar is getting a new heart.  One of the best sites for any car is the one for fox Cougars at the site below.

http://www.coolcats.net/
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: nathan moonen on February 22, 2010, 10:05:15 AM
Quote from: xjeffs;310869
Welcome, nice car.  I'm in Cedar Falls.  My Cougar is getting a new heart.  One of the best sites for any car is the one for fox Cougars at the site below.

http://www.coolcats.net/


Good to see some local boys on this board.

I will beg to differ with you on the "one of the best sites for any car" statement though...  Might be good for Cougars, but there are a lot of backwards thinkers doing a lot of posting over there.
Title: New Guy - 1st Post
Post by: 83-88T-Bird Guy on February 22, 2010, 10:11:15 AM
Welcome to the board!

Your car looks cool.