Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Been on the forums for a while but this is my first post. Bought an '88 Bird from the original owner this past summer when looking for a car to replace my truck, paid $1700 for it and drove it home. Fox body T-bird's and Cougars are as rare as rocking horse poo around here. I only see 1 other on the road, a very clean '87 - '88 Turbocoupe.

 A little history. I grew up around Tbirds, when I was little my fathers car was an '86 Tbird, then an '84, then a '93 after that one. I bought myself a beat up '90 SC 35th edition when I was 17, I didn't get a chance to get it street legal before I was forced to sell it, it was too rusty anyway. And now, I have my '88. VERY little rust. There is a small spot on the passenger fender and rear quarter. Other than that this thing is very solid. All original panels, has been repainted but I can't find filler anywhere on the body.



When I bought the car it still had the steelies and wire hubcaps on it, I swapped them for a set of ten holes and just ran the car for the summer, putting on about 30,000 km and just enjoying it.

I started getting water on the passenger side floor in the fall, seam sealer had dried up around the windshield corners. I sealed it temporarily, pulled the carpet to prevent any further rusting.

The car is currently in storage for the winter and I am collecting parts to rebuild the car. Just bought a GT40 intake and have a low mileage short block I need to put together.

 I was given a set of 1.25" lowering springs for the front of a Fox Mustang, will these work on the T Bird?

I will be posting updates on the car once I really dig into it.

Nice bird, love the color combo! These cars are rare EVERYWHERE.

Welcome aboard!  That black with red interior combo is hot.

Thanks, it's not in too bad of shape, It sat outside a lot in the sun, so the seats and rear decklid are faded pretty badly, and the dashpad is pretty much disintegrated. Other than that the interior is clean. But needs the typical window channel rubbers

Car is loaded I think. Power everything, both power seats, premium audio, electronic climate control, full digital guage package, cornering lights etc..

Nice looking Bird. As far as the Stang lowering springs they may drop it too much. Most guys are running SN95 springs from newer GTs. Do a search and you will find plenty of info on it. Keep us posted with updates and pics.....Welcome .

Will post some better pictures tomorrow.

Do the h.o. upgrade. Its fairly cheap and greatly increases power.

Welcome to the group

Nice car and welcome to the group.  Winter storage a very good thing.

Welcome. Being in the North I store my Thunderbird for the winter as well. Keeps the rust monster away.

Welcome to the forum. Nice bird!
Ron

Welcome!

Here are some betterish pictures, was dark out and she is dirty. As for engine upgrades, I have a non roller .030" over short block with rods and mains turned -.010". Short block has around 40,000 km on it, but cylinder walls and pistons look very good, going to re-ring it and new bearings, install better cam and upgrade springs, 1.7 rockers, currently looking for a deal on some heads, GT40 intake, headers and mustang H-pipe setup, and swap to MAF if I can find parts. Also plan to swap to 5 lug down the road, and a T5 swap someday.

  As far as cosmetic mods I would like to lower it an inch or two, and swap to a 4 eye front clip, but they are near impossible to find. In the meantime I may sink a set of sealed beam headlights into the pockets for the original headlights and build some bezels.

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n563/ShaneNP123/DSC_0334_zps2c787576.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/ShaneNP123/media/DSC_0334_zps2c787576.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n563/ShaneNP123/DSC_0335_zps9826f3ed.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/ShaneNP123/media/DSC_0335_zps9826f3ed.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n563/ShaneNP123/DSC_0336_zps7b849988.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/ShaneNP123/media/DSC_0336_zps7b849988.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n563/ShaneNP123/DSC_0337_zpscf3467fe.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/ShaneNP123/media/DSC_0337_zpscf3467fe.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n563/ShaneNP123/DSC_0342_zps4dfcc03e.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/ShaneNP123/media/DSC_0342_zps4dfcc03e.jpg.html)

Full console or does it have the consolette?

The one that is attached to the driver's seat is the consolette right? That is what it has

If you have a non-roller block I would use a roller cam with link bar lifters. Getting flat tappet cams broken in correctly with modern oils is a  shoot.

Yep, they suck, but what are you gonna do?  Sorry I couldn't see on my phone, now that I'm on my laptop, I can see you have the consolette.

I've heard that too.

Yeah, i don't really care for it, the switch positioning feels awkward when driving, if I ever complete the T5 swap I would build a center console.

As for breaking in a flat tappet cam, is it that bad? I run shell rotella diesel oil in all of my older rigs because of it's higher zinc levels. Broke in the 300/6 in my F150 with no problems. Could I expect any problems breaking in a new cam and lifters with this oil, a zinc additive and a good assembly lube?

As far as springs go, you can run Fox mustang front springs.  It would be better to find some springs out of sn95 or new edge Mustang though.  I run Steeda Fox Mustang springs in the front and cut down turbo coupe springs in the rear.  I do NOT recommend using fox Mustang springs in the rear, they will sag.

I would leave the aero front end on the car as opposed to swapping it out with a 4-eye front end. The 4-eye front won't match up with the fender lines of the aero nose car. Plus your headlamps appear to be in good condition.

The headlights aren't much, I cut the lenses from the housing, attempted rechroming them with that shiny tape used for ductwork and polished it, polished the lenses, and upgraded bulbs. Still, they are mediocre at best. Chances are I won't be able to locate a 4-eye front anyway, so I plan to install sealed beams in place and fab some bezels. I set some into the holes and I liked to look, plus I'll have the benefit of being able to use any of the aftermarket housings to replace the sealed beams. I think i'll be able to make them so they are removeable and I'll be able to swap back to the original lights if need be. I will do a write up on it when I get at it.

Picked up a set of GT40 heads, BBK shorty headers and H-pipe. Just waiting for that snow to melt...

Are you going to go to mass air? What cam are you thinking about, or maybe already have?

Cool car...they're a lot of fun, as you no doubt know. ;)

I would like to go MAF, guy I got the heads from also had an A9M ecm but was unsure if he wanted to sell, so I'm keeping my eyes open. No plans for a cam as of yet. I have a low mileage .030 over 1990 block but it came from a truck so it has the flat tappet cam. I am going to convert it over to roller and build on that.

I'm assuming gt40 heads, gt40 intake and headers would be too much for the original speed density ecm?

Those heads and intake should be fine with the Speed Density H.O ECM., if you use an H.O cam. You may like the H.O cam. It's actually a really good cam, especially with good heads and intake and a nice exhaust.

Yup...I wouldn't make the swap to mass air unless you were going to run aftermarket heads or cam...as with stock cam and heads, or even GT40's and mass air, you'll notice a little less on off the line full throttle starts.

If you do want to go to mass air...I have an A9T (same as A9P) that we could do business with. It came out of my '89 Mustang convertible that I parted last fall and winter. I drove the car around for a few weeks, it needed a top, and I was fine with that, but one day I was looking into why the driver's door sagged really bad and found a lot of 1/4 rust up under the fender(s)...so apart she came.

I've got a couple of HO cams, one from that convertible's engine which I replaced with an aftermarket, and another from another HO Mustang engine.

Not trying to turn your thread into a FS thread, but if you're interested..let me know. Both cams are good, have pics of the one from the '89 engine, the other is from an '87 block, and it's IN the engine, just needs pulled out. I only left it in the block to keep it from getting banged up or dirty...block is sitting on it's butt-end and wrapped in plastic.

:)

I'm interested in the ECM. My bird is bone stock, so since I need to swap the ECM I may as well swap to an MAF one and have room for future mods. If you could get a shipping quote and your price PM me and let me know.

PM sent, Shane. :)

This car looks exactly like mine..  I have TC wheels though..

Going to stay speed density for now, picked up 2 DA1 ECC's today. All that's  left is cam, injectors and fuel pump

Nice car.  I used to own one just like it in early 90's.  Do you have any more interior pictures?  Mine was white, tan leather, dual 8-way power seats, full digital dash, 5.0L engine, auto climate control, EQ.  I am wondering how many of the LX's had all these options.

No interior pics and car is buried in the back of the shop right now waiting for the snow to melt.

 Mine has all those options except for leather. Mine has the red interior, I love it.

May be going MAF haha, I found a guy local to me selling an A9M ecc, MAF sensor, injectors, throttle body and BBK cold air intake for $350