General => General Fox T-Bird/Cougar Discussion => Topic started by: marianadeeps on January 08, 2013, 11:26:47 PM
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: marianadeeps on January 08, 2013, 11:26:47 PM
Hi, Brand new to the site. I just purchased an 88 turbo coupe automatic for cheap but it is in pretty rough shape inside and out. I've also purchase a very nice stock 5.0 88 Tbird. My question to the experts is: If I use the turbo coupe as a parts car, what best mods to make on the 5.0? I've seen people talk about rear end swap and maybe the front spindles too so I can use the bigger rims and have rear disc brakes. Can I swap the instrument cluster (get rid of the digital for the turbo buttstuffogs)? The hood? anything else of value?
Thanks!
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: STANG8U on January 08, 2013, 11:34:59 PM
I would fix up the TC
And welcome
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: turbotrav on January 12, 2013, 01:12:01 PM
http://www.turbotbird.com is a really goodsite specifically to the TC.
If you are looking to fix up the fox 5.0 bird...you are already at the goodsite.
Travis
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: Beau on January 12, 2013, 01:55:41 PM
Pics? Rust can be overcame with some metal and time. :jerry:
If the strut towers on the TC are rusty though, and it's in pretty bad shape inside and out, well, as you mentioned, the rear and spindles/11" front brakes will swap over. You'll need an adapter for the driver's side brake line to rubber hose connection...you can get these at any decent parts outlet. Get stainless, NOT brass for that.
The rear, if you keep discs, you'll need to change a brake line connection possibly..some folks have reported it's a direct swap, others have had to change a fitting. Myself, I stayed with drums when i did the 5 lug on my TC 8.8, I used the car's original 10" drum backing plates, drums from an '88 Panther chassis car (crown vic/grand marquis) and axles from a 97 Mustang.
The cluster can swap over, but you'll need to repin a few of your cluster wires, and your tach will be off since it's from a 4 cylinder car, and will be going into a V8. You'll also need to run a wire to the tach from the positive terminal on the coil...my advice: find a Sport cluster and go with that, instaed of the TC. You won't have the boost gauge, and the tach will already be calibrated for the 5.0.
Good luck, and let's see some pics of them :D:D
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: Big B on January 12, 2013, 03:58:11 PM
Welcome to the site!
I'd use the TC for parts to bring the Sport up to TC status, then part out the remaining pieces of the TC to make some of your money back. Lots of people looking for parts right now.
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on January 14, 2013, 10:36:42 AM
Welcome to the site. There's a ton of knowledge here!
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: marianadeeps on January 23, 2013, 09:04:00 PM
Thanks fellas. Another couple of easy questions. Is the bolt pattern on the turbo coupe the same as on my 5.0 i.e. can I just slap those turbo coupe rims on it?
Also, the turbo coupe has the cool fog lights and solid grill. Can that be swapped onto my 5.0?
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: jcassity on January 23, 2013, 09:44:16 PM
yes to part A, if both cars are still stock 4lug configuration
perhaps to part b if you want to but the front bumper cover "with" fog lamp knock outs is best suited for this.
also, i do not believe the fog lamp harness is "completely" in place in a car that came without fog lamps. I have not examined which part of the harness is missing on a car without fog lamps but in my 20th, within the dash there is a connector waiting for me, just nothing up front.
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: daminc on January 23, 2013, 10:04:16 PM
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;406746
Pics? Rust can be overcame with some metal and time. :jerry:
If the strut towers on the TC are rusty though, and it's in pretty bad shape inside and out, well, as you mentioned, the rear and spindles/11" front brakes will swap over. You'll need an adapter for the driver's side brake line to rubber hose connection...you can get these at any decent parts outlet. Get stainless, NOT brass for that.
The rear, if you keep discs, you'll need to change a brake line connection possibly..some folks have reported it's a direct swap, others have had to change a fitting. Myself, I stayed with drums when i did the 5 lug on my TC 8.8, I used the car's original 10" drum backing plates, drums from an '88 Panther chassis car (crown vic/grand marquis) and axles from a 97 Mustang.
The cluster can swap over, but you'll need to repin a few of your cluster wires, and your tach will be off since it's from a 4 cylinder car, and will be going into a V8. You'll also need to run a wire to the tach from the positive terminal on the coil...my advice: find a Sport cluster and go with that, instaed of the TC. You won't have the boost gauge, and the tach will already be calibrated for the 5.0.
Good luck, and let's see some pics of them :D:D
that sounded like my cue...... lol anything is fixable if you ask me......
Welcome aboard.....
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on January 24, 2013, 06:24:22 AM
Again, take the rear, the spindles, the front brakes, take the center console, the hood, the front bumper and all the side trim. Also, the seats are much nicer in a TC, if the interior bits aren't the same color, get some vinyl/fabric dye spray and fix it.
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: marianadeeps on January 25, 2013, 09:17:07 PM
Awesome info. You guys are great.
Hey TheFoe, how do I take the center console? In my 5.0 LX, it's mounted and moves with driver seat, sort of floating. In the TC, it's mounted to the hump and the bottom is all one piece all the way to the dash (including the gear shift). It looks like I need to take off the center dash (where the radio goes) from the LX and replace that with the one from the TC so that it will mate with the center console. Does that sound right? Since the LX is a column shifter, I guess I'll have to cover the hole where the TC floor shifter went through.
Daminc,
I did a compression check on the TC 2.3 and got the following: 1 = 98 PSI, 2 = 70 PSI, 3= 55 PSI, 4 = 110 PSI. Still think it's worth fixing? (and it's an automatic) 125,000 miles.
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: CougrrrFiveO on January 25, 2013, 09:22:56 PM
Quote from: marianadeeps;408018
how do I take the center console? In my 5.0 LX, it's mounted and moves with driver seat, sort of floating. In the TC, it's mounted to the hump and the bottom is all one piece all the way to the dash (including the gear shift). It looks like I need to take off the center dash (where the radio goes) from the LX and replace that with the one from the TC so that it will mate with the center console. Does that sound right? Since the LX is a column shifter, I guess I'll have to cover the hole where the TC floor shifter went 00 miles.
You'll find a great guide to switching over the console here http://www.coolcats.net/modifying/console.html
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on January 25, 2013, 09:49:05 PM
Or you could take the TC seats, too, as I believe I advised. That way there's no problem at all.
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: FirstBird on January 25, 2013, 09:55:41 PM
The console on the 5.0 is welded to the seat, and you can't use the center cover from the 5.0 on the full center console tc.
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: 83-88T-Bird Guy on January 29, 2013, 07:47:24 AM
Welcome to the site. Lots of good help here.
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: marianadeeps on January 30, 2013, 06:41:22 PM
Thanks everyone. One more question (well probably not). My turbo coupe came with locking lug nuts and no key. Are the keys standard (can I order it from somewhere)? I've tried the socket thing and even trying to flatten the sides but they are really tight.
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: STANG8U on January 30, 2013, 06:46:01 PM
Check with one of the parts trucks they sell kits to remove those
They cost a lot though
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: TOM Renzo on January 30, 2013, 08:36:18 PM
What a shame !!! Sacrificing a Turbo Coupe. In my view a crime. They don't make them any more. Unless the TC is a complete basket case (heavily rotted). In my view for what it is worth. If the Coupe is able to be saved save it. Don't sacrifice it to build a 5.0 T BIRD. But they are your cars and who am i to criticize. Good luck.
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on January 30, 2013, 11:01:08 PM
When I get through with my 5.0 car, I'm going to go looking for a TC, and a 2002+ 2.3L Duratec Ranger. I'm going to chuck that cast iron dinosaur in the drink and swap the Duratec from the Ranger, along with the PCM and harness. I'll swap the head for a 2.3L Focus ST head because they've got bigger valves and ports (the Ranger has the focus 2.0L head). I'm going to get a T5 bell housing from these guys (http://"http://quad4rods.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=18&category_id=2&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=100041") and find a header for it with a T3 , remount the stock turbo (to start with) adjust the exhaust to fit where necessary and plumb the oil lines to the oil feeds on the back of the head and set up the ducting for a front air to air intercooler.
Title: Newbie Turbo coupe owner
Post by: 83-88T-Bird Guy on February 03, 2013, 03:07:36 PM
I bought a car once with the factory locking lug nuts on it. No key to be found.
I ended up disconnecting the battery and then welding some nuts onto the end of the lugs.
Crude, but it worked.
Now there are tools available to remove locks easily.