Were the V8's available with console shift?
as in a 5 speed manual? No...... Auto floor shift only on 87-88 XR-7's
no, I mean the 4 speed AOD. What about Sports?
87/88 Thunderbird Sport - Cougar XR-7 5.0 with AOD 4 speed floor shift.
87/88 Thunderbird and Cougar LS 5.0 option, always column shift
83/88 Thunderbird T/C 5 speed manual all years (Standard)
84/88 Thunderbird T/C 4 Speed Auto Floor shift (option)
84/86 Cougar XR-7 5 Speed Manual (Standard)
84/86 Cougar XR-7 4 Speed Auto Floor Shift (option)
I think that covers all the floor shift Thunderbird/Cougars from 83-88
Thanks. The auto trans on 83-86 turbos was a 3 speed, 87-88 was the 4 speed.
Interesting. I didn't think floor shifts were only 87-88 sport/xr7's.
Its rare to see a console in non floor shift cars, so I assumed the console was generally paired with a floor shift cars
Anyone know why AOD's did not have 2nd on the shifter? Not just these, anything with an AOD lacked a 2nd gear.
That's just the way the valve body was set up. You can hold second by putting it in 1, accelerate, shift to D, when you are in second, pull the shifter back to 1, and it will hold second.
You can get the valve body changed so that it's OD-2-1 if you want.
My 86 has a console and no floor shifter. they only had gave and ls those years with a 5.0. How do you tell which? The title only says cougar and it doesn't say ls anywhere on the car.
86 Cougar was a Consolette unless you had a 5 speed or floor shift Auto Turbo Cougar XR-7 Odds are if you have a 5.0 with a console it was added after the fact.
my 85 was a Base, had the 5.0 and the full length console! No cruise, power locks or seats, but it had tilt, power mirrors and windows.
Just to add more confusion:
My Thunderbird has a full length console removed from an 87 Cougar LS at the wreaking yard. The Cougar was a V6 AOD car which only had power windows, lock and mirrors. It had a column shifter with a full length console and the little tray in place of the shifter. It came from the factory like that. So it was apparently possible in 87 to order a Cougar with a full length console and a column shifter. Also in 87 the Thunderbird Sport didn't have the Turbo Coupe style sport seats but instead the base Thunderbird seats. In 87 the only way to get the Turbo Coupe style sport seats outside of a Turbo Coupe was to order them on a LX Thunderbird. That also got you a floor shift. However in 88 that option disappeared from the LX Thunderbird.
that was one nice thing about MN-12's: they ALL had console shifter.
Yeah, my 86 was factory console with a colum shift. I'm pretty sure its a gs, base cluster and only power windows and mirrors. manual seats and not much else. not even power door locks.
This 87 Ranger I have now is an XLT, it has cruise and tilt, nearly unheard of options with a 4 cyl 5 speed!
Ahhhh, the AOD shuffle. Good times but very hard on the trans.
My 88 LS 5.0 is floor shift.
My 87 LS 3.8 and 85 sage green GS 3.8 were full console cars.
I have to disagree here. Both of the 86 Cougars (both GSs) I have had came with the full console with column shifters. My current one was a 5.0 car. The other one was a 3.8 that my father in law bought back in 1988 and I'm positive that is how it came from the factory.
Yes, this was a possibility. For 1985 & 86, the GS Cougar could be ordered with either the consolette or individual buckets (non-sport) with a full console (column shift).
The LS for '85/'86 however was only available with the consolette.
As far as I know the individual non-sport bucket seats with full console was a no-cost option during those two years. Again only available on GS only.
The console was optional, 1985-88, on all non-turbo/non-XR7/non-Sport models, except 1985-86 LS as BCA describes above.
It was actually part of the seating package which determined if the console was needed. If one ordered individual buckets, the console was added automatically.
The automatic floor shifter was also an option for 1987-88 non-TC/non-XR7/non-Sport models.
Any car without a floor shifter but with the console got a tray at the front of the console. Some cars' tray had a center divider, some were completely flat.
If the full console was factory installed, it would have to be a GS.
Three easy LS exterior identifiers over a GS ('85/'86)
Illuminated cat on the c-pillar
Bright rocker trim
Bright accents on the b-pillar trim
From what I can tell from the 88 Thunderbird order guide I've got it was possible to order a base Thunderbird with the console and floor shift (like a Sport/Turbo Coupe) but not a console and column shift. The 88 LX had to have a consolette and no floor shift as a "split bench" was standard with no other seating option available.
IMO, that console-ette was the stupidest/most worthless thing on these cars! Ford really should have done a 60/40 or 50/50 split bench instead, of course, you wouldn't have been able to get power mirrors, windows or seats then, only power locks.
Interesting. The 88 Thunderbird order guide that I have doesn't allow for a full console in the base car or the LX.
For reference, mine is dated 2-29-88 (leap day! ;)).
Cougar experts, thanks for the correction, i was unaware of the GS/LS option. More of a Tbird detail guy, i thought the options were the same for both lines.
My 87 LX has the floor shift and Turbo seats..With this package was the suspension ant different? My car has almost every option minus pwr moon roof.
The TB '88 dealer album I have claims the buckets & console were only avail on TC & Sport, not listed as a option on base or LX... Of course packages change, also doesn't mean it wasn't a printing error...
I double checked mine and it's the same as yours. I read it wrong :hick:.