This was the easiest swap to do. Everything bolted into my Bird and all I had to do was buy a $4 brake line adapter for the proportioning valve when I swaped in the TC proprotioning valve. The rear brake line was the same as the TC line and in the same locaton too. Then I bled the system. The whole job took me 20 min. I did it at work with a tranny jack and the car on my lift. Impact tools help too. There must be something with the Sport Thunderbirds that the TC parts bolt in so nice.
Right now my aod is off to become bullit proof. Then she is off to the dyno to set up my 351w swap so it can idle and not eat fuel. LOL ok well not worried about fuel milage.
One of the first things i did to cougar was TC rear end swap.
Then 351 with Not so happy T5 for awile.
Keep at it.
LOL. Yes. I did the 351w swap first, then brakes, then diff and now trans rebuild.
When I swapped mine in, I also saw that the rear line was the same...there's a lot of info that says it's not. Mine is also an '88 Sport, wonder if things were different for our year..?
I was wondering that too thunder. I spent an hour taking out the old brake line from the donor car so I could put it in mine. When I had it on the lift i saw it was routed the same as the turbo couple one. Same ends also.I only had to get the adapter for the line from the master to go into the rear brake fitting on the porportioning valve. The rest of the lines all fit. I was so happy but also planed to spend the whole day working on the car. The only thing I don't like is that I have no park brakes but I am not worried.
The park brake isn't hard to fix. It should be hooked up and used,that's what keeps the brakes adjusted. Her's a link about using mark VII rear cables. I'm sure you probably seen it.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?13175-E-Brake-cable-questions-*SOLVED*-If-you-re-swapping-a-TC-rear-in-READ-THIS!
I have seen it. I was hoping to find out if schlongner or someone made park brake cables.
You got a part number or remember what/where you got them? I am thinking about swapping a TC valve on my car.
How did the brakes feel?
You guys are lucky, my 86 I had to bend new axle lines, congrats on the swap
Things are very different for 1983-86 cars for the TC rear axle swap. Lots of line re-routing for the axle. Then again, those cars have the easier master cylinder change (2 lines vs. 3 lines). Things even out LOL.
From the research that I've done, it appears that most (if not all) 1987-88 cars got the main brake lines re-routed to the driver's side underneath the car, whereas the earlier cars had them on the passenger side. Ford actually put a little thought into the mini-redesign in 1987! Plus, the 1987-88 TC's have the larger diameter brake line from the factory. I am not sure if the Sports got the same...probably not, since they have drums and don't need to move as much fluid. But it does make the TC rear end swap a lot easier with the brake lines on the same side.
The brake line (flexible) junction has always been on the passenger side of all the 1983-86 cars I've checked.
For my 1988 sport. Would like a 3.73, but anything would be better than the 2.73 that is currently installed.
Thanks for any help.
Check Craigslist or the junkyard, local message boards etc.
Bump for more info on this. Need part or details, .....PLEASE.
I swapped a '87TC rear in my '88 Sport coupe. Everything swapped fine and hooked up great. Also swapped over the TC proportioning valve. But I can't get the back brakes to work....I've bled and bled and still can't get them to work. It seems as though I'm not getting enough fluid to the back. Was planning on installing a manual prop valve and master cylinder swap. Any ideas? Thanks.
Are the rear calipers locked up??
No...everything is new. Did some more reading...going to gut the prop valve and put a manual one in line I think.
Post up which one you go with and how it works out. Im in the same boat with you.
BTW, nice looking bird.
*subscribing
I've got the TC rear, but I've got my line on the back plugged off...still need the 5 lug rear brakes, the fronts are done, just have the front brakes functional for moving it in and out of my shop...kinda gathering info on the master/booster/park brake cable areas still. GOnna do the rest of it all at once soon..