Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => Lounge => Topic started by: White85GS on September 21, 2013, 03:15:09 AM

Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on September 21, 2013, 03:15:09 AM
Not quite sure how member on here feel about them, if they general consensus doesn't like them, I apologize. I've had a 90 LS, mom had a 93 XR7 around the same time, and a friend also had a loaded 90 LX. All 3 were 3.8's, kind of a "duh" that both the 90's were, lol.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: T-BirdX3 on September 21, 2013, 07:33:44 AM
I've always wanted the SC version but those things are impossible to find locally.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: mcb82gt on September 21, 2013, 10:52:43 AM
Ive tried and tried to like that style........ I just cant.  Not sure what it is either.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on September 21, 2013, 10:57:43 AM
Oh yeah!!! Those things made insane torque! I wouldn't. I d one but they were so complicated.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on September 21, 2013, 11:13:51 AM
Quote from: T-BirdX3;422009
I've always wanted the SC version but those things are impossible to find locally.

Oh, yeah, Hp was nothing special from those but they made TONS of torque, even more with the 94-95's.

Quote from: mcb82gt;422011
Ive tried and tried to like that style........ I just cant.  Not sure what it is either.

There were things I liked and things I hated about them. I thought the IRS was cool, I loved how all 89-90 LS's got the full digital cluster. (By far, the best layout ever in a T-Bird or Cougar IMO), hated the electric shoulder belts and heavy doors that would drop as they got older.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on September 21, 2013, 01:00:30 PM
Mom's had 105K when she got it 9/01. It was Cayman Green with the Opal Grey cloth/leather combo, had the lumbar seats too, but the tube for the driver's seat was cut :\ she didn't even have it a month when the HG's blew, she was PISSED! Mine was a Blue Max with blue full leather seats, had 160K when I got it and was in VERY rough shape. Buddy's had 210K when he got it, and was in fair to good condition, much better than mine was. It was Currant Red in and out, also with full leather, believe his had every option you could get on a LX that year except for the moonroof.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: Dougy_Fresh on September 21, 2013, 01:12:08 PM
I was just telling a friend of mine yesterday that I wouldn't mine having an MN12 as long as it was a 5.0 or SC. I simply cannot stand modular engines and the N/A 3.8 is a gutless turd.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on September 21, 2013, 01:19:01 PM
Quote from: Dougy_Fresh;422030
I was just telling a friend of mine yesterday that I wouldn't mine having an MN12 as long as it was a 5.0 or SC. I simply cannot stand modular engines and the N/A 3.8 is a gutless turd.
Yeah, a few ppl told me that a cfi 5.0 wouldn't really "move" what ever it's in, then I said, a MN-12 with a N/A 3.8 is much worse! Actually, I think a 3.8 in a Taurus or Sable, especially a wagon, would be much welcomed.

IDK, maybe it's me, but seems like 91-93 V8's are the hardest to find, meaning Fox 5.0's and 94+ 4.6's are much more plentiful.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: Dougy_Fresh on September 21, 2013, 02:38:18 PM
did they not make a 5.0 t-bird from 89-90?
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on September 21, 2013, 03:05:39 PM
Quote from: Dougy_Fresh;422035
did they not make a 5.0 t-bird from 89-90?
No T-Bird or Cougar got the 5.0 V8 for 89 & 90, reason being, it didn't fit.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: teal9550 on September 22, 2013, 12:02:13 AM
I just bought a 92 lx 5.0 good car there a bit wider that the fox cars and are comfortable
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e167/teal9550/92tbird_zps83973800.jpg) (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/teal9550/media/92tbird_zps83973800.jpg.html)
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on September 22, 2013, 12:42:33 AM
Quote from: teal9550;422084
I just bought a 92 lx 5.0 good car there a bit wider that the fox cars and are comfortable
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e167/teal9550/92tbird_zps83973800.jpg) (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/teal9550/media/92tbird_zps83973800.jpg.html)


Corner lamps and keyless entry, must be pretty well equipped, any interior shots?
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: beast50 on September 22, 2013, 10:19:35 AM
I like the option of a 5 speed with the SC models.  The IRS and the wider track did make these cars handle pretty good but they just feel cheaper made to me more than a foxbody.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: Scott D on September 22, 2013, 02:47:52 PM
I've got a '97 Thunderbird.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: beast50 on September 22, 2013, 11:47:27 PM
1997 was a good year for the 4.6.  They improved the valve seals so they would'nt smoke so bad.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: teal9550 on September 23, 2013, 12:05:23 AM
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e167/teal9550/20130921_180934_zps0a31f3f2.jpg) (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/teal9550/media/20130921_180934_zps0a31f3f2.jpg.html)
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e167/teal9550/20130921_180913_zps6e05d791.jpg) (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/teal9550/media/20130921_180913_zps6e05d791.jpg.html)
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e167/teal9550/20130921_181020_zps8bdc8cad.jpg) (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/teal9550/media/20130921_181020_zps8bdc8cad.jpg.html)
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e167/teal9550/20130921_181059_zps98aef6ad.jpg) (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/teal9550/media/20130921_181059_zps98aef6ad.jpg.html) the damage
this car runs great and I only paid 500 for it a couple of seat covers, a corner light and a fender and she's good to go
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on September 23, 2013, 12:12:32 AM
It always looks weird to me seeing the T-Birds with little to no fake wood, the Cougars had it ALL over the  place, lol. Hell of a deal, the 5.0 alone is worth that. Wow, that thing is loaded! No CD, full leather thought. No digital dash either, but from 91-93 that was an extremely rare option.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on September 23, 2013, 12:28:41 AM
Quote from: beast50;422172
1997 was a good year for the 4.6.  They improved the valve seals so they wouldn't smoke so bad.
I thought they had bad intake gaskets? One nice thing about them, they did get about the same gas mileage as a 3.8.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: teal9550 on September 23, 2013, 01:00:45 AM
Quote from: White85GS;422174
It always looks weird to me seeing the T-Birds with little to no fake wood, the Cougars had it ALL over the  place, lol. Hell of a deal, the 5.0 alone is worth that. Wow, that thing is loaded! No CD, full leather thought. [COLOR="#000080"]No digital dash either[/COLOR], but from 91-93 that was an extremely rare option.
I'm glad it didn't have the digital dash I've got it in my 87 and I like this better
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on September 23, 2013, 01:05:08 AM
Base or full? The 89-93 digital dash was very well laid out, I never cared for the 85-88 full digital, seems like they didn't have much  room, and just crammed it together.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: EFFalcon on September 23, 2013, 02:04:53 AM
i'd love to get one, i'd do crazy stuff to it over here :P
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: beast50 on September 23, 2013, 02:05:12 AM
Quote from: White85GS;422176
I thought they had bad intake gaskets? One nice thing about them, they did get about the same gas mileage as a 3.8.


The intake manifold itself (plastic) was redesigned, maybe by recall to have an aluminum crossover for the thermostat housing/cooling passage molded into the plastic manifold.  The old manifolds would crack at the thermostat housing area due to heat.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: Scott D on September 25, 2013, 12:17:19 PM
Quote from: White85GS;422176
I thought they had bad intake gaskets? One nice thing about them, they did get about the same gas mileage as a 3.8.


The Ford 3.8's from '92-'02 or '03 had flawed designed head gaskets in them. They were covered under a recall to have correctly designed headgaskets installed (if the car was under a certain mileage or newer than a certain year).

Mine fell just outside of the years that were eligible, so I've had it at another member's shop getting a small block V-8 put in it :-)
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on September 25, 2013, 02:16:33 PM
I thought it was basically all 88+ ones, but I've heard the carb'ed & CFI ones had the problem too. I'm also hearing more and more instances where one or both heads crack as well.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: teal9550 on September 30, 2013, 03:09:38 PM
anyone know the weight difference between the 2 cars an 87 & 92 lx 5.0s
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on September 30, 2013, 04:03:47 PM
The 92 weighs about 500 lbs. more.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: teal9550 on October 01, 2013, 12:13:33 AM
It felt heavy my buddy was asking me which one I thought was quicker and I said they felt about the same the 92 has 50hp but 500 more lbs
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on October 01, 2013, 12:28:06 AM
Yeah the added weight cancels out the extra power. Plus, torque only went up 5 ft. lbs. which is practically nothing.

I may be alone here, but having 2 MN-12's, then driving a friend's 88 LS years ago, and now this 85, the MN-12's drove/rode much more sportier, Foxes seems to have a really floaty ride feel, almost like a 1st Gen Town Car.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: White85GS on October 02, 2013, 11:34:54 PM
I think I have ever only seen 3 of these: http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4032525178.html also, why I hate early style ABS systems.
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: turbotrav on October 07, 2013, 11:40:16 PM
I've had 3 MN12 cars....89SC auto back in 1995.... new and pretty nice car....beat the  out of it....cost me an AOD....

93SC auto tripleblack in 2002....still pretty new was aa lot nicer to that car...heavy... Nice ride.

89XR7 manual in 2006...kinda tired... Had some exhaust and I added a CAI from eBay... Fun ride until my buddy wrecked it.

I like these cars for DD....just too  heavy to really go to town with, IMHO...doesn't have the aftermarket mustang stuff the fox cars get.  The Supercharged cars run pretty good.  They have a decent following on http://www.sccoa.com.  But like any older car....a well maintained car is all ways a bonus.  I would never buy a problem child....its a lot cheaper to buy a clean one...considering the values on the 83-97 bird/cat...

Travis
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on October 08, 2013, 07:16:09 AM
If you like MN-12:  http://forums.tccoa.com/index.php
Title: Any 89-93/94-97 owners on here?
Post by: teal9550 on October 12, 2013, 12:58:35 AM
I was lucky with mine it's a 2 owner and all of the records from day 1 were included oil changes done every 3k at the dealer