Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => Lounge => Topic started by: slowbird on January 11, 2012, 05:29:22 PM

Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: slowbird on January 11, 2012, 05:29:22 PM
well last week i traded my 88 thunderbird(turn key) for an 87 mustang roller :punchballs: just did'nt have it in me to cut up such a clean tbird. kinda sucks cause i regret it but guess ill be on the prowl for another bird come spring hopefully.. sorry had to rant

pic of the bird
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm290/olds377/tbird46464.jpg)

pic of the stang, i am use it as a grudge car n for some street action
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm290/olds377/2012-01-07_15-53-36_661.jpg)
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: shame302 on January 11, 2012, 05:41:02 PM
That's a mighty fine roller. How complete/modded is it?
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 11, 2012, 05:44:12 PM
xx
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: slowbird on January 11, 2012, 06:01:45 PM
notch came with 6 point cage,coil overs, all the suspension is done tubular k member, th400 rebuilt with a 5k stall convertor,gauges,5 point harness, electric(sp) fuel pump 2 fuel cells,headers an full exhaust... oh ya its set up for sbc:burnout: came with the draglites an still got alot of life on the 28X10.5 tires
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Haystack on January 11, 2012, 06:03:04 PM
So you traded a driving car in decent shape for a good looking empty car? Do you at least have a motor for it or anything?
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: slowbird on January 11, 2012, 06:30:17 PM
Quote from: Haystack;377481
So you traded a driving car in decent shape for a good looking empty car? Do you at least have a motor for it or anything?


i been hearing this alot lmao an what do you mean by empty? everything is hooked up the motor is goin in saturday than its good to go.. motor is a sbc 400. just didnt wanna tear the bird apart an buy all the parts to do the same thing to
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: shame302 on January 11, 2012, 06:55:09 PM
I think it's a good trade. Shame about the engine choice fail  :toilet:
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: slowbird on January 11, 2012, 07:29:25 PM
gotta use what i have laying around just so happens it sittin on the engine stand.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: slowbird on January 11, 2012, 07:31:50 PM
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm290/olds377/2012-01-05_16-37-28_786.jpg)
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 11, 2012, 07:47:50 PM
Is
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: slowbird on January 11, 2012, 08:24:38 PM
tom everything is done, i got the motor professionaly built(Henry Jackson Racing Engines) lets just say the #'s def impressed me :)
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Shadow on January 11, 2012, 08:38:13 PM
i hope the bird doesn't meet the same demise the notch did :(

but that car looks familiar.. i think i may have seen it at atco or etown before?
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: slowbird on January 11, 2012, 09:06:46 PM
shadow, the car has been at atco sevral times he texted me pics of it there, also he wanted a street car he could cruise around n have fun. he texted me like a day after saying he was converting it to carb n puttin a plate on it..
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 11, 2012, 09:08:26 PM
Th
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Shadow on January 11, 2012, 09:24:57 PM
Quote from: slowbird;377493
shadow, the car has been at atco sevral times he texted me pics of it there, also he wanted a street car he could cruise around n have fun. he texted me like a day after saying he was converting it to carb n puttin a plate on it..


maaaaaan.. converting to carb is 1 thing.. but a plate can only mean 1 thing (because we all know he's not talking about a restrictor plate!).. that's almost as bad as putting a sbc in it :(


Quote from: TOM Renzo;377495
Thats what i thought. I figured you had a motor if you bought a Ford outfitted for a chevy. Well those engine can really pound out some power. Built many in the day.

i'd love to get my hands on a 400 for my dad's cutlass when he hands over the keys.. problem is, they're hard to come by these days ;(
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Haystack on January 11, 2012, 10:22:18 PM
If you already had the motor, I guess that changes some things. Sbc ain't a bad way to go, but not the way I would.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: jangus on January 12, 2012, 12:10:56 AM
Quote from: Shadow;377498
maaaaaan.. converting to carb is 1 thing.. but a plate can only mean 1 thing (because we all know he's not talking about a restrictor plate!).. that's almost as bad as putting a sbc in it :(



 
i'd love to get my hands on a 400 for my dad's cutlass when he hands over the keys.. problem is, they're hard to come by these days ;(

 
You should be looking for an Oldsmobile 400 (1965-1967 is the only one to use, if going 400) for that Cutlass, not a Chivy 400. Not that they're any easier to come by.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Shadow on January 12, 2012, 12:16:43 AM
it's a 79.. it already has chevy drivetrain under it.. it's a 1st year g-body, or else i'd be looking for a 350 or 455 rocket
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: jangus on January 12, 2012, 01:31:44 AM
455 is way over rated.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Shadow on January 12, 2012, 03:43:43 AM
i like em, but i wouldn't go crazy throwing performance parts at it either.. my 71 supreme had the 'red' motor in it.. i never got to drive it, as i only owned it a very short time, but with it just sitting there, idling, you could tell it meant business.. wish i never sold that car :mad:
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Bruce M on January 12, 2012, 04:28:32 PM
455s are torque monsters. They're the only engine I've seen where the torque raises with the horse power, usually the horsepower will pass the torque but not with a 455. A freind of mine races a 68 442 (named RamRod II) with a 650 hp and 670ish foot pound 455 with a stock block and stock ported C-heads. So saying 455s are over rated is rediculous. And he runs high 9.80s low 9.90s 1.60 60 foot.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: jpc647 on January 12, 2012, 05:13:29 PM
Quote from: Bruce M;377547
455s are torque monsters. They're the only engine I've seen where the torque raises with the horse power, usually the horsepower will pass the torque but not with a 455. A freind of mine races a 68 442 (named RamRod II) with a 650 hp and 670ish foot pound 455 with a stock block and stock ported C-heads. So saying 455s are over rated is rediculous. And he runs high 9.80s low 9.90s 1.60 60 foot.

Agreed. My 72 Cutlass has a high output version of the rocket 350 and that car runs like a raped ape.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: jangus on January 12, 2012, 05:49:57 PM
Having personally run the Olds 455 and the 425, I can say it's over rated. Most people aren't even aware of the 425's existence. True, it "gives up" 30 cubes to it's bigger brother. But if I were to dump money into another Olds, I'd go find a 425 to build up. I simply like it better. I'm not saying you can't make a 455 run. I've run them, and I like them, I simply saying they're not my first choice. I like the larger diameter lifters, the long rods (7" forged) and the forged crank (something only a VERY FEW 455's ever came with). Unfortunately, be prepared to pay for a 425. Right now, I'd have to pay 5 times what I sold the last two for to replace them.
I've also ran the 330, 350, and the 403. I know they're power monsters. I'm just saying most people go gaga for the 455. It's not the only Olds big block, and in mine opinion, not the best, nor is it the worst (that title is  held by the 68-69 400). At even at that, the worst one is still a killer street engine.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Shadow on January 12, 2012, 05:59:08 PM
i love the 455, simply because i've already owned 1.. if i ever had another early 70's cutlass, that's exactly what i'd put in it, because i missed the chance to build the 1st 1.. i sold it only 3 weeks after buying it, so i could dump money into my old F150.. at the time, that was my number 1 priority, literally.. that truck came before work, sleep and sometimes cigarettes (which i turn into a major, grumpy a**hole without).. i know olds made other great motors, but the 350 rocket and 455 are my 2 favorites
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on January 19, 2012, 09:07:16 AM
Nice looking Mustang but I hate the idea of another Ford with a chevy in it.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on January 19, 2012, 09:35:14 AM
Done right a 455 Olds is bad... A friend had one in a '70 Cutlass with a little head work, cam, headers, 3.90 gear, 3500 stall in the TH 400... Would run low 11s in that 4000Lb beast, plus had good street manors... Grandma could drive it down to the Piggly Wiggly to do her grocery shopping...

As far as the Chevy in the Stang, no big deal...
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Shadow on January 19, 2012, 10:20:12 AM
Quote from: TurboCoupe50;378088
As far as the Chevy in the Stang, no big deal...

mustangs are expendable, anyway lol
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 19, 2012, 01:23:17 PM
Bi
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Beau on January 19, 2012, 02:54:34 PM
My neighbor's dog has more fleas than your neighbor's dog does...
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Shadow on January 19, 2012, 03:02:53 PM
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;378107
My neighbor's dog has more fleas than your neighbor's dog does...

 
nah uh! :flip:
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Haystack on January 19, 2012, 04:06:44 PM
Persnally, I would have just slotted the motor mounts, kept the existing transmission, and swapped the sbc in the thunderbird. Whel someone finally makes the sbc head intake for the sbf I wouldn't have any issues with building one.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Shadow on January 19, 2012, 07:18:23 PM
Quote from: Haystack;378117
Persnally, I would have just slotted the motor mounts, kept the existing transmission, and swapped the sbc in the thunderbird. Whel someone finally makes the sbc head intake for the sbf I wouldn't have any issues with building one.

you talking about LS heads on a ford block? designing and intake for that setup is a goal i'd like to reach by summer
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 19, 2012, 07:50:18 PM
[ur
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Haystack on January 19, 2012, 08:38:58 PM
Quote from: Shadow;378134
you talking about LS heads on a ford block? designing and intake for that setup is a goal i'd like to reach by summer


Exactly.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Shadow on January 19, 2012, 08:51:41 PM
i plan on accomplishing that feat sometime before summer, if time allows.. i'd like to run 1 of my 306's as the test motor for the combo, to see if it's really worth the effort.. should be with those massive flow #'s

EDIT: also, headers will be a bit of an issue, as i see it.. because of the ford block design VS the GM block design.. LS headers may create a bit of an issue, because the #1 cyl is on the driver side, which is the reason the intake isn't useable.. not nearly as much as a fab headache, but definitely something that can't be brushed off, as it's likely to cause clearance issues without modification
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 19, 2012, 09:29:11 PM
xx
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 19, 2012, 09:34:07 PM
more.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 19, 2012, 09:38:44 PM
[url]
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Haystack on January 19, 2012, 09:47:47 PM
I would use a sbf because I have a block sitting at home with 14 miles on a rebuild. If I had $1k for a set of heads, I would just go aftermarket ford, and it wouldn't be an issue. The only problem with the 302 is the 2 bolt mains, but the block will split before the mains give out. As long as your under 500hp n\a, I don't see why you would need to use a sbc, especially considering you can have the same thing with a 351.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Shadow on January 19, 2012, 10:07:34 PM
why put a sbc in a ford and completely contradict the reason i built the sbf S10? plus, i don't care for the LS motors.. this is where you blab about how 'amazing' they are, but i don't give a rats A-double snakes.. it's the innovation and experimentation of the swap that intrigues me.. if the heads perform as well as statistics say, they should make a SBF quite the powerplant..

and did you get that quote from a bbf tech site, tom? if so, i read it to the end a while ago.. the guy who was supposedly 'building' the motor disappeared into thin air.. which means he was just blowing smoke up everyone's 'you know what'
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Haystack on January 19, 2012, 11:46:58 PM
quoye

Max Chevy: We’d heard about World adapting LS1 heads on a Ford small-block. Is that true?

BM: Yeah, we did it. That’s our new Man O’ War 10-degree aluminum casting. It’s basically LS7 architecture. If you look real close at the Chevy and the Ford they are mirror images. They share almost the same bolt pattern except that the intakes and exhausts are positioned opposite of one another.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Shadow on January 20, 2012, 12:00:11 AM
bill mitchell is the man.. he charges an arm, a leg, a testicle and your right eye for a motor, though
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 20, 2012, 01:22:23 PM
Ye
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 20, 2012, 01:30:17 PM
xx
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Haystack on January 20, 2012, 02:46:25 PM
Because a sbc head would cost less then 1/4 of what an aftermarket sbf head costs. The sbf is done at 500 fwhp, and if it lives past that, its on borrowed time. That is no secret. The real problem is the intake. Supposedly the clevlend blocks deck height is close enough that you can adapt a ls1 intake. But I do not have a clevland block. I don't have a chevy block, and few if any people that would consider an ls swap would have one either.

My entire post was referring to how similar the motors are. Pretending you had a 351, which are generally good for up to 800hp, and you could get the chevy heads to bolt on, then why go through the effort of swapping out the motor? Even a sbf distributor drops right in a ls motor with a truck intake. You don't even have to swap computers, wires, sensors, anything really if you were to look at it. Even the bellhousings are identiical, minus one bolt hole.

Basically, imho, a 302/347 will do anything an ls motor will do for similar cost that an ls motor could, up to 500hp. Which is why there is no real reason to swap between the motors unless you want to make over 500hp.

Hope that helps.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 20, 2012, 06:10:08 PM
Eve
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 20, 2012, 06:13:53 PM
St
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Shadow on January 21, 2012, 08:49:23 PM
why not drop an LSx in, instead of dropping on the heads? i'll tell you why.. SBC POWERED FORDS MAKE ME PUKE ;) and i don't like the LSx because it was based off FORD'S small block design.. MEANING, GM ran out of options and took a look at what other manufacturers had to offer.. yes, they made changes.. who wouldn't? if ford offered a great flowing head like the LS head, this wouldn't be a conversation, at all.. but in my eyes, it's not fair to compare the 2, as they weren't on the assembly lines at the same time.. the LS came AFTER ford nixed the OHV 302 in the mustangs/birds and jumped head first onto 'perfecting' their mod motors.. if ford had continued the OHV 5.0 in their 'performance' cars, i'm sure it would have been right up there with the LSx head flow rate, etc etc..
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Haystack on January 21, 2012, 09:17:50 PM
Quote from: Shadow;378343
why not drop an LSx in, instead of dropping on the heads? i'll tell you why.. SBC POWERED FORDS MAKE ME PUKE ;) and i don't like the LSx because it was based off FORD'S small block design.. MEANING, GM ran out of options and took a look at what other manufacturers had to offer.. yes, they made changes.. who wouldn't? if ford offered a great flowing head like the LS head, this wouldn't be a conversation, at all.. but in my eyes, it's not fair to compare the 2, as they weren't on the assembly lines at the same time.. the LS came AFTER ford nixed the OHV 302 in the mustangs/birds and jumped head first onto 'perfecting' their mod motors.. if ford had continued the OHV 5.0 in their 'performance' cars, i'm sure it would have been right up there with the LSx head flow rate, etc etc..

So what your saying is gm gave up and copied an older "out dated" design because it was better then what they had been using for 50 years, and that's why they shoulodn't be compared? Andd akso the ls motors started when, 97 98? The ford 302 was in production until at least 2001 in the explorer and moutaineer. Its funny how the more like the sbf the sbc gets, the better it is.

And tom, I am not going to spoon feed you anymore. Your smart enough to find it on your own. I also never brought anything up timing wise, so ?
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 22, 2012, 01:58:04 PM
wx
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: shame302 on January 22, 2012, 02:09:56 PM
LMAO Tom. If your goal is to be the fastest out there then good for you. It'll never happen. IMHO, that's not what the hobby is about. There will always be somebody faster. Don't get yourself caught up in all that. "Speed has no bearing on your style".
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 22, 2012, 02:17:13 PM
Ix
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: shame302 on January 22, 2012, 10:45:30 PM
Quote from: TOM Renzo;378401
I know what you are saying but installing LS heads on a ford is dun for one reason only MORE HP!!! Thanks
The only reason to install GM LS heads on a Ford motor is poor planning.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Haystack on January 23, 2012, 12:34:30 AM
Tom, I don't think I could be more clear, as to why I would use the ls heads on a sbf, instead of throwing a sbc at it. But I will try one more time.

I persononally have a rebuilt motor. Nothin wrong with it, 17 miles, its a sbf. If I could spend $300 on a set of heads and another $2-$300 for adaptar plates or a intake to run them, instead of spending $1k+ on a set of aftermarket ford heads, I personally would do it. It would save me hundreds, if not thousands if I could just run the ls head, and a converision intake. Especially if I could run an ls1 intake on top of it. I would like to go faster then stock, I have no hp number in mind. I have no engine size or type in mind. I would just like to have fun driving my car. Its not to impress you, or to get attention at a show. I would actually never take a car to a show I don't think.

So to re-cap. I would run ls heads because they are dirt cheap, esentially bolt on, and are as good, maybe even better, then a set of aftermarket heads, and I have a new rebuilt sbf sitting here right now. The only thing stopping me is the lack of an intake, and the custom cam. If someone made an intake, I am sure I could swing the extra $30 for a custom cam, or run the intake through the exhaust if I am making my own intake anyways.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 23, 2012, 06:08:31 AM
xx
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: beast50 on January 23, 2012, 06:45:11 AM
Quote from: slowbird;377475
well last week i traded my 88 thunderbird(turn key) for an 87 mustang roller :punchballs: just did'nt have it in me to cut up such a clean tbird. kinda sucks cause i regret it but guess ill be on the prowl for another bird come spring hopefully.. sorry had to rant

pic of the bird
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm290/olds377/tbird46464.jpg)

pic of the stang, i am use it as a grudge car n for some street action
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm290/olds377/2012-01-07_15-53-36_661.jpg)

 
Just cant beat the old iron and oldschool engineering in the Olds and Pontiac big blocks

But anyway I really, really, really love the G-body Monte Carlo in the picture. Is it an LS with the 305?  There is your full framed building block!
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: Haystack on January 23, 2012, 10:07:41 AM
Quote from: TOM Renzo;378479
OK Stacks when you do this and i have my reservations because it wont be cheap.  Post photos  and lots of how do you accomplish the transplant. 30 dollars extra for a custom CAM!!!!!! WHERE????????????????


You need alot of custom stuff

Custom cam the valves are transposed between the engines . Fly cut pistons for the bigger valves in the ls heads
So your built engine will have to be taken apart for piston reliefs and a custom intake  so the ports line up right. And i would assume a bigger head bolt is a consideration so the block will have to be re-tapped Along with other mods . This will not be cheap.  It seems like you think i fell out of a tree when you post answers. That conversion is expensive and for someone to go through it, it must mean one thing HP increase.

Poor planning i don't think so. Then why are so many ford guys doing it. Or should i say trying to do it??????????????

Enough said i am refraining once again. I know this is a ford site but someone suggested the swap is a great one and i disagree the sbf cant handle the extra HP the LS heads can make. So just use the whole LS motor and be dun with it. Just My $.02  Thanks

Picked this engine up for 500 bucks complete. I reversed the exhaust manifolds to accommodate a turbo. This engine made tuns of HP and i never took it apart. It has 18K when i bought it 6 bolt mains and all.

(http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/tomrenzo/Kitties051.jpg)


http://guerragroup.com/camshaft_help.htm

Custome cam for $25 extra. Comp cams will even make a flat tappet custom for free, matched to your specs. You have to pay extra for them to spec you out one. However, I don't know if a blank is availiable, or if they would have to do something stupid like use areverse rotation marine cam. The internet will be a great tool for you, when you learn to use it. Google is your friend, and you mind is like a paracute, it only works when its open. Just because you don't completely agree with what I say, doesn't mean I am wrong in every way.

Fly cutting pistons, again, is not a big deal...

I also never said I was going to swap ls heads on, I just said that you could. Once again, reading comprhension is your freinds. When you learn to use it, it will be a great tool.

Why would you need a bigger headbolt thena 1/2 inch? A set of 351 heads bolt on with a 1/2 inch bolt, but thousands of people, if not all of them, are using a 7\16ths head bolt, like they were from the factory. I don't know anyone that would waste the money on stepping up a head bolt, for no reason, on a stock block.

I have also seen maybe 2 or 3 people that have started to swap on ls heads, not every tom dick and harry with a sbf, and they were all after hp on the cheap.

And guess what? If you could just swap on a set of $250 heads and make 400hp, it would be a good swap. Imagine being able to almost split a block n\a using only junk yard parts. Its called hot rodding. One day maybe you will hear about it.

If I was to do it, the only real problem would be the intake, once again. If I had the welding capabilities to do a set of headers, I don't see why you couldn't mate up either adaptar plates, or make your own intake using exhaust parts. If I was going to adapt an existing intake, I would probably start with a clevor intake, but I haven't mesured or done any math on anything to see what is closest. If you would like to throw a set of ls heads on a sbf and make some mesurements, go ahead.

Let me know if you have any more basic questions that can be answered with a google search. I know its hard to figure out the first couple times.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: shame302 on January 23, 2012, 11:24:44 AM
Quote
Poor planning i don't think so. Then why are so many ford guys doing it.
Yes, I 'm quite sure this is a quite common mod :crazy:

Quote
but someone suggested the swap is a great one and i disagree the sbf  cant handle the extra HP the LS heads can make. So just use the whole LS  motor and be dun with it. Just My $.02  Thanks
\

That I can agree with (swapping the motor as a whole) although I think it's blasphemous and unnecessary. To each his own.

Tom, what WOULD swapping a set of factory LS heads net on an otherwise stock sbf (302)? I can't agree with you here. The limit is the block and the Ford heads weather they be aftermarket or re-worked can make enough power to split the weak factory block.
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: slowbird on January 24, 2012, 09:31:25 PM
WOW 6 pages lmao
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: slowbird on January 24, 2012, 09:32:36 PM
Quote from: beast50;378480
Just cant beat the old iron and oldschool engineering in the Olds and Pontiac big blocks

But anyway I really, really, really love the G-body Monte Carlo in the picture. Is it an LS with the 305?  There is your full framed building block!

 
is an LS 6cylinder 50,000 miles on it its my younger bros car(his first car)
Title: bye bye thunderbird
Post by: slowbird on January 24, 2012, 09:35:45 PM
oh ya possible change of plans might be putting a friends BBC in it for couple months