I got a little bit of money from replacing an AC compressor on my wife's coworker's Acura RSX Type S and instead of using that money to buy parts for my 11 year Cougar project, I bought another car.
There isn't a day that goes by that I don't do Craigslist and Ebay searches for Cougar and Thunderbird stuff and of course that always leads to trouble. This time I found an 87 TC with 254k showing on the odometer listed as a parts car. It was even only a few miles from my house. My initial thought was "Hey, I can use these parts to finish up the Cougar!" because the parts car I used for the Cougar was stolen before I got to swap over the rear end, exhaust and wheels. So, I go to look at it and the guy explains to me that he was using it as his daily driver up until a few weeks ago when the brakes failed and only listed it as a parts car because of that. I took it for a short test drive, came back and made the deal. The guy even gave me another ABS/power brake assembly that he had just purchased but just didnt have the time to install, a nice set of tail lights, and extra ABS and ride control computers. On the way home I realized I wasn't going to be able to part this car out because I liked it too much.
It does have a few problems:
No power brakes at the moment
AC not functioning
Bad IRCM (I assume because fans are wired to ignition)
No radio
Cheap paint job missing most of the clear coat
Fog lights and cruise control don't work
So here it is, my first TurboCoupe!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/756cf72f.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/87%20Turbo%20Coupe/013.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/87%20Turbo%20Coupe/020.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/87%20Turbo%20Coupe/022.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/87%20Turbo%20Coupe/014.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/87%20Turbo%20Coupe/023.jpg)
Nice !!! Great foundation for a cool car. Are those wheels polished? Brought back memories of my blue LX that I installed a set of snow flakes on that I had polished. Great score.I am going to look at an '87/'88 Cougar later.We'll see what happens.I don't even know if it's for sale or not. I'm glad for you. Hopefully the problems will, for the most part,be an easy fix.
Looks like a cool score to me :D
Awesome steal, sir!
My wife would kill me if another 'bird landed in the driveway :rollin:
You need to edit your topic lol...
You'd have been a fool for NOT getting it. :D
Looks like a nice, rust-free (far as can be seen) TC needing a little TLC...the stuff needing fixed isn't major. good score.
Looks nice! The interior looks to be in pretty good shape for the mileage.
Nice ride Ed !!! :D
Dan & Paula ;)
There's one in every car, you'll see.
It's intact, A little labor can be nice.
Dude u are not a fool... This is a definite great find!
Looks like a good score to me. Congrats!
I stole the cone filter from the Cougar and replaced the airbox on the TC with it. Wow, what a difference. You couldn't even tell it was a turbo car before, now you can't miss it. I also bypassed the BCS and its making a pretty consistent 15psi. The car is alot more fun to drive now. Even my wife likes driving it. I also refinished one of the tripminders and installed it last night. The extra wires were already there so i just had to pin the harness I made accordingly. I didn't have to tap into anything.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/87%20Turbo%20Coupe/2010-10-07094517-1.jpg)
Tripminder before:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/87%20Turbo%20Coupe/2010-10-05124128.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/87%20Turbo%20Coupe/2010-10-05125054.jpg)
Tripminder after:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/87%20Turbo%20Coupe/2010-10-05163740.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/87%20Turbo%20Coupe/2010-10-07094419.jpg)
Looks like an amazing little side project. Have fun.
heck yea the almigty pine tree air freashiner:mullet::shakeass:
whats a bcm and how do u bypass it..........o wait boost control module?
Well, easy come easy go. Car started running funny a few weeks ago so I parked it. I just got done with a compression test and got 75, 95, 145, 150 so the HG is probably wasted. I think I may go with my original plan and take its parts for the Cougar. The TC is well worn at 255k miles and has lived a long and good life and will live in through the Cougar.
Head gaskets on 2.3s are soooo EZ. I've changed one on my ranger in under two hours (non-turbo).
I'm sure I wouldn't have a problem with the HG but I just can't justify spending money on this car when I could be spending it on the Cougar. I plan on using the hood, intercooler, LA2, big VAM, tranny and related parts, 8.8, wheels, and other assorted parts. I don't think that I could get all that stuff for the $450 I paid for the car and the wife becomes happier because we will have one less vehicle and one less vehicle to tag and insure. I just have to look at it as I bought the car as a parts car and that's what it will be. I just had to have some fun with it first.
If there's no rust, and I was closer, I'd be interested in the shell...when are you coming to Kansas again? lol
I understand and atleast you're keeping a cougar alive with it.
Yeah, trust me guys, the cougar needs the parts! Sorry to hear it's done, but I was pretty amazed that it was still running in the first place, so...
I'm still planning on heading down there around March if everything works out. I need to get the car in the shop for the transmission swap.
You know, if you do get those parts swapped over, you have to retag the Cougar for the street. :)
Yeah, it was pretty well beat, that's why I picked it up so cheap. The Cougar does need the parts pretty bad. The Cougar actually does have current tags and insurance but I rarely drive it. I didn't bother giving you a ride in it because its a real turd with the 2.73s. Hopefully I get the TC stuff swapped before the semester starts.
Did you get a chance to see anything cool while you were here?
I keep thinking that I would love another toy/fun/project car besides my 88 T-bird. The problem is when I think about it I would be dividing my time between two cars, which means that they would both sit more than being driven. I'd rather have one toy car and treat it right then half ass two cars. I can see where you're coming from with using the car as a parts car. Plus if you're in school you don't need another money drain. I'm going back to get my masters in two weeks. School isn't cheap :punchballs:.
Last pics of the TC before parting started. Today I took out the seats, radiator, fans, intercooler, and swapped the rear ends with the Cougar's.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/2011-01-07154356.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/2011-01-07154412.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/2011-01-07154421.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/2011-01-07154434.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/2011-01-07154451.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/2011-01-07154500.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/2011-01-07154522.jpg)
I'm interested in the door panels and the rear sail panels if they are in good shape. I notice they screwed the armrests up!
If the passenger side seat belt buckle and plastic housing are in good shape, I would definitely be interested.
The door panels are in great shape with the exception of the armrests. I can't believe some clown screwed them on like that. Sail panels also good.
The seats are gone. I gave them to a buddy to put in his Mustang. The seat belt buckles and plastic housings were in perfect shape. If they don't work out for his car I will get them back.
I will make a post in the For Sale section when I get the stuff I need out of it but feel free to PM me with any requests and I'll see what I can do.
A little more progress made on taking everything apart today.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/001-14.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/002-11.jpg)
Engine and tranny is out. Swapping front brakes and springs next weekend.
Parting out thread if interested in parts -----> http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?30476-Parting-out-87-TC
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/Parts%20for%20sale/001-15-1.jpg)
Today I got the steering column, dash, brake unit, and pedals pulled.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/Loaded87IROC/2011-01-19130853-1.jpg)