I will have pics up soon(I know, I know) I just couldn't keep the secret to myself. A buddy has an '84 T-Bird, white in color with a 3.8L and auto tranny. I don't remember if it is floor or column shift. He claims he cracked a head and so he bought a Grand Am. I just so happen to have my 18" wheels and spare parts from the Grand Am I totalled 18 months ago. We negotiated a trade. I should be picking it up Tuesday night hopefully. Not sure really where I'm gonna store it haha, but I'm excited!!! Two '84 foxes. Plans are a 2.3T swap, 5-speed swap, 5 lug conversion to start. I have an 8.8" for it. So pumped to have a Bird!!!!!
It most likely only has a blown head gasket, although the carbed 3.8 do crack.
Agreed, likely a blown head gasket but could also be a cracked head or two. BTDT several times.
Good news is that, should you need them, the heads are really cheap to buy new:
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=ford%203.8%20cylinder%20head&_dmpt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282&Model%2520Year=1987
Unless you're removing the 3.8 right away, in which case, have fun. :)
I won't be swapping engines anytime soon. I'm still trying to get my Cougar to run right, it runs really rich. I just have plans for the Bird. If it is the head and I can fix it easy I'll drive it daily to work. I need to stop driving my Jeep so much. I'm so pumped for tomorrow, I should be picking it up!!
make these guys wait for the pics :evilgrin: :flip:
I'll text you pics Graham haha.
UPDATE: Pics tomorrow, and I found out it's a possible cracked head/head gasket, and a for sure that two freeze plugs are blown out.
yeah, that sucks. been there.
I don't think you'll be able to put off engine swapping lol. Even I, being one of the extremely few minority consisting of fans of the 3.8L, I will tell you that the 84 v6 is SOOOOOOOOO SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW that you won't be able to stand it:giggle:
Anyway, cool grab. Have fun with it:cool:
Liar! It's well after "tomorrow". Where's the pics?
Pics are from my cellphone. He just got the title in the mail, I pick it up Thursday. I've been working, playing with my kids and fixing the Cougar. I completely spaced posting pics.
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Update%20pics/0811110944a.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Update%20pics/0811110944.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Update%20pics/0811110943a.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Update%20pics/0811110943.jpg)
So far plans are to swap in a 2.3T and 5-speed. Put my 8.8" in, convert to 5 lug. I want to gut the car and have a near full interior with a cage, kinda like Chuck's Bird. I would like to build the motor to push 400+hp. I want a street/strip car.
It look nice!
Finally got her home! Has some issues for sure, and compared to my near perfect Cougar this thing is rough. It's in great shape, but to me is rough. Half of the side moldings are screwed on, ghetto spoiler, cut up stereo trim.
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Tbird/DSCN0723.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Tbird/DSCN0722.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Tbird/DSCN0721.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Tbird/DSCN0720.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Tbird/DSCN0719.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Tbird/DSCN0718.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Tbird/DSCN0725.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Tbird/DSCN0716.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Tbird/DSCN0715.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/cougrrr302/Tbird/DSCN0714.jpg)
Plans for this week are to sand all rust spots and spot prime them, power wash the engine bay what I can and clean up the interior. I'm gonna figure out a gauge mount plate for where the stereo used to be, since I won't be needing a stereo and it's already hacked apart I'll take advantage of it.
I'm debating on keeping the trim and headlight buckets as is, or painting the trim satin, and the buckets either white or satin. What should I do with the grill? When it's all said and done, it will have dark windows, and anthrocite wheels.
sounds like a good chance to take them off ;)
I don't know what to do with the ones on the fenders and quarters though. They're screwed in and even the bumper moldings are faded and scratched.
Perhaps you could patch the moldings and repaint them?
BTW does the car run?
I think I'm gonna smooth them and paint them body color or satin black to match the trim/headlight buckets. I'm painting it white/satin black, no chrome. It does run but it has 2 blown freeze plugs, and I haven't yet tried to inspect to see if a head is cracked. I started cleaning the interior, and I sanded the quarters and poked a whole through one, so time for some bondo. It doesn't have to be perfect for along time. It'll have flared fenders and quarters when I'm done with it.
BY THE WAY: This is the original paint on this car. I have to sand the pinstripe off, and the quarters, doors and fenders are fairly rusty, but not too terrible. The one quarter was bad enough to poke a hole through.
I am planning some hefty body mods to this, including fender and quarter flares(real sheet metal flares), maybe some brake vents similar to Chuck's, some changes to the front end, custom hood, and maybe some tweeking to the decklid.
This may help you with your radio decision....here is a NOS uncut bezel.
Assuming you want to stay "stock" looking....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-1983-THUNDERBIRD-COUGAR-RADIO-FACE-BEZEL-BLACK-/350467911672?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item519983eff8#ht_843wt_882
I have an idea of what I'm gonna do to the already hacked bezel. I'm glad he didn't chop it completely apart. There is an accent line that frames the three spaces(HVAC, stereo, lighter panel) so I'm gonna trim out the frame, and replace it with a sheet of aluminum, that way it won't look out of place. I may paint it to match the dash which is darker. My Cougar has the brushed aluminum face.