Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on January 01, 2016, 09:05:59 AM
Post by: vincejeep on January 01, 2016, 09:05:59 AM
my first 1988 5.0L t-bird back in 2005, i think the car no longer exist and i did nothing interesting with it as i had not enough knowledge at that time and when some guy offered me a lincoln mark 7 for 500$ i knew that daddy wouldn't help me do the swap and i was not experienced enough to do it by myself and i had no place to do it, still regret it....
my new ride ten years later, with less rust, less options, less mileage, less owners and i now have my house, garage, experience, knowledge and i'm just missing some parts to achieve something and time :burnout:
it's still an '88 5.0L and junk research just began as i read posts and tech info on coolcats :D
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vinnietbird on January 01, 2016, 11:04:03 AM
Post by: vinnietbird on January 01, 2016, 11:04:03 AM
Welcome to the forum and Happy New Year. You're at the right place for these cars. Between the members here on the forum, there's not much that can't be answered for you. Looks like you're starting with a solid foundation for a great car. WAY better than what I started with. LOL.
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on January 01, 2016, 12:07:42 PM
Post by: vincejeep on January 01, 2016, 12:07:42 PM
the best part with this car is that i saved the bird from being parted out. The 80 year old man who sold it to me told me that a guy offered him 750$ as parts car and he agreed, but that guy was divorcing letting him without any cash for getting the car within a month, i met the old man 2-3 days after and he said if you take it now its yours for 750$. i'm broke and i'm in school but a man do what he gotta do. so the bird came to my house and i found money for the ridiculously low price and the old man was happy that someone like me saved the car. his girl was remembering his dad picking her up at high school back in the day and she learned to drive with this (ugly to her ) car in the end of the 90's. i'm happy to know that the car was real well kept and loved by someone who cared and i think it's a great fixer upper with so minor damage
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: ISTLCRUZ on January 01, 2016, 12:33:13 PM
Post by: ISTLCRUZ on January 01, 2016, 12:33:13 PM
Welcome to the forum. Lots of info to be had here from some great people. These cars have a lot of potential and are some what addicting!. What are your plans for the ol' Bird? Just drive her or do you have some mods in mind? Like Vinnie said , it looks as though you have a very solid car.... And $750? You gotta deal!....Ray.
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: Haystack on January 01, 2016, 05:33:33 PM
Post by: Haystack on January 01, 2016, 05:33:33 PM
Welcome. Don't be afraid to ask any tech questions, were all here to help.
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on January 01, 2016, 06:26:58 PM
Post by: vincejeep on January 01, 2016, 06:26:58 PM
thanks for the good comments. and yes, for the price it's a steal! my plans for this summer is to repair power windows (i think the regulator is broken or run channels) and rolling all summer long and keeping it up. i'm planning on picking some parts in pick'n pull yards like gt40 heads and intake as well as proper fuel pump and injectors, front spindle from sn95 and look for 8.8 axle but mustang gt and such are hard to find in these places, exhaust and suspension will be in order and maybe t5 swap with sn95 parts. tell me if i'm wrong but 1986-1996 f-150 302 flywheel is the same diameter and teeth count as 3.8 flywheel and will help me do a cheap swap with 3.8 sn95 parts(i did the conversion on my 1992 cherokee 4.0L and as a 13 years mechanic i see no big deal here but some work :)
so, in some years i hope to achieve full HO swap with maf and some minor mods,5spd, 3.55 or 3.73 8.8 lsd rear end, 5 lug conversion, suspension work not defined yet but will be looking for cobra and bullit used parts, bucket seat and console, tinted windows, maybe new color and windshield but there's lot of little work before, and also stuff my 10'' type s woofer along with my type s speakers and pioneer headunit(sitting for years!)
it will be long term work but my goal is almost clear in my head because of my first one in 2005. i remember each deception over the years as informations and how to's came to my ears, experience and junkyard find along with talking to ford guys ripped my heart for years as i failed to achieve something with the grey bird ten years ago:punchballs:
so, in some years i hope to achieve full HO swap with maf and some minor mods,5spd, 3.55 or 3.73 8.8 lsd rear end, 5 lug conversion, suspension work not defined yet but will be looking for cobra and bullit used parts, bucket seat and console, tinted windows, maybe new color and windshield but there's lot of little work before, and also stuff my 10'' type s woofer along with my type s speakers and pioneer headunit(sitting for years!)
it will be long term work but my goal is almost clear in my head because of my first one in 2005. i remember each deception over the years as informations and how to's came to my ears, experience and junkyard find along with talking to ford guys ripped my heart for years as i failed to achieve something with the grey bird ten years ago:punchballs:
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: 83TB on January 01, 2016, 06:49:31 PM
Post by: 83TB on January 01, 2016, 06:49:31 PM
Welcome!!
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: My10-80 on January 01, 2016, 08:31:57 PM
Post by: My10-80 on January 01, 2016, 08:31:57 PM
Quote from: ISTLCRUZ;453171
These cars have a lot of potential and are some what addicting!.
Congrats on the purchase. Very nice car. ISTLCRUZ is correct, as you can see below, they are addicting. My cars are as loved now and probably treated better than my new car is. Look forward to seeing your progress as the days go by. Keep them warm and dry in the winter. Don't want the rust monster getting a hold of them.
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: Haystack on January 01, 2016, 10:46:13 PM
Post by: Haystack on January 01, 2016, 10:46:13 PM
Quote from: vincejeep;453186
thanks for the good comments. and yes, for the price it's a steal! my plans for this summer is to repair power windows (i think the regulator is broken or run channels) and rolling all summer long and keeping it up. i'm planning on picking some parts in pick'n pull yards like gt40 heads and intake as well as proper fuel pump and injectors, front spindle from sn95 and look for 8.8 axle but mustang gt and such are hard to find in these places, exhaust and suspension will be in order and maybe t5 swap with sn95 parts. tell me if i'm wrong but 1986-1996 f-150 302 flywheel is the same diameter and teeth count as 3.8 flywheel and will help me do a cheap swap with 3.8 sn95 parts(i did the conversion on my 1992 cherokee 4.0L and as a 13 years mechanic i see no big deal here but some work :)
so, in some years i hope to achieve full HO swap with maf and some minor mods,5spd, 3.55 or 3.73 8.8 lsd rear end, 5 lug conversion, suspension work not defined yet but will be looking for cobra and bullit used parts, bucket seat and console, tinted windows, maybe new color and windshield but there's lot of little work before, and also stuff my 10'' type s woofer along with my type s speakers and pioneer headunit(sitting for years!)
it will be long term work but my goal is almost clear in my head because of my first one in 2005. i remember each deception over the years as informations and how to's came to my ears, experience and junkyard find along with talking to ford guys ripped my heart for years as i failed to achieve something with the grey bird ten years ago:punchballs:
I did exactly as you said and used a 3.8 trans with a f-150 clutch and flywheel. You need a manual pgrm starter from a 92-97 f-150 or f-250 with a manual trans, which is the only "hard" part to find. The m5od used in trucks uses a comparable clutch and pressure plate as well as throw out bearing and pilot bearing. Use the small wire from the truck for the solenoid trigger and swap your existing starter cable to the always hot side of the solenoid. Easy, easy swap and bolts right in. The 94-98 trans uses a similar speed cable, sometime in 98.5 they swapped to a oss magnetic sensor. If it's the later style it will read 4x actual speed. The later trans also can reuse the stock aod cross member.
You will also want to buy chuckw motor mounts or "upgrade" yours. I ate three sets of drivers side motor mounts in about 80k miles, but I am really hard on stuff.
Start a new thread when you start to modify.
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on January 02, 2016, 09:39:37 AM
Post by: vincejeep on January 02, 2016, 09:39:37 AM
thanks for the info haystack, i did some research and sometimes the info gets confused, the parts mentionned will be on my summer checklist of junk treasure:hick:
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on January 02, 2016, 11:44:10 AM
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on January 02, 2016, 11:44:10 AM
What is difference in the manual trans PMGR starter???
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: thunderjet302 on January 02, 2016, 01:55:55 PM
Post by: thunderjet302 on January 02, 2016, 01:55:55 PM
Welcome and nice Thunderbird.
The color combo on your first Thunderbird looks familiar. ;)
The color combo on your first Thunderbird looks familiar. ;)
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on January 02, 2016, 05:21:42 PM
Post by: vincejeep on January 02, 2016, 05:21:42 PM
thunderjet, the grey combo is the best looking in my opinion :D
turbocoupe, the ring gear on a manual flywheel is not at the same place and the bendix gear on the starter will always be on the ring gear with an automatic starter because the gear is 3/8'' out, i saw a picture of this on the net and i think its only a truck issue, but if you use truck flywheel you get the truck issue with the starter not being the same lenght and size as the auto one
turbocoupe, the ring gear on a manual flywheel is not at the same place and the bendix gear on the starter will always be on the ring gear with an automatic starter because the gear is 3/8'' out, i saw a picture of this on the net and i think its only a truck issue, but if you use truck flywheel you get the truck issue with the starter not being the same lenght and size as the auto one
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: Haystack on January 02, 2016, 10:09:02 PM
Post by: Haystack on January 02, 2016, 10:09:02 PM
Yup, there are two offsets to starters. 3/4" and 3/8". Most cars use 3/8's and most trucks and some older cars used 3/4" offset on the ring gear. The 3/8" offset won't disengage from a 3/4" offset flywheel.
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: Haystack on January 02, 2016, 10:11:26 PM
Post by: Haystack on January 02, 2016, 10:11:26 PM
Here's my t-5 swap thread if you find it useful from my 87 tbird. I used a 2001 v-6 trans and f-150 flywheel/clutch.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?35400-sn-95-v-6-t-5-behind-a-5-0
Have a few good pictures of the differences between auto and manual parts.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?35400-sn-95-v-6-t-5-behind-a-5-0
Have a few good pictures of the differences between auto and manual parts.
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on January 02, 2016, 10:58:01 PM
Post by: vincejeep on January 02, 2016, 10:58:01 PM
thanks haystack, you did a pretty good job :bowdown:
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vinnietbird on January 03, 2016, 01:13:39 PM
Post by: vinnietbird on January 03, 2016, 01:13:39 PM
I used the same starter when I swapped from the AOD to my T-5. Same crossmember, same aluminum driveshaft.....
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: Haystack on January 04, 2016, 04:23:44 AM
Post by: Haystack on January 04, 2016, 04:23:44 AM
Yup, the f-150 flywheel and sn-95 trans require a bit more legwork then a fox setup. In retrospect, it would be way easier to just start out with a fox t-5, but they are always beat to death and expensive. I figure my whole swap cost less then $400 if I were to do it again. Used fox t-5's usually go for $300-500 by themselves and usually need work. I still say sn95 t-5 is the way to go. If my aod ever goes out in the cougar, i figure I could have the swap done in 3-4 hours now.
Eric the car guy just did an excellent tear down video on a sn-95 t-5. It actually really doesn't look like rebuilding a t-5 would be all that hard.
https://youtu.be/XREsRG9Y1mU
Eric the car guy just did an excellent tear down video on a sn-95 t-5. It actually really doesn't look like rebuilding a t-5 would be all that hard.
https://youtu.be/XREsRG9Y1mU
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on January 04, 2016, 06:30:28 AM
Post by: vincejeep on January 04, 2016, 06:30:28 AM
yesterday i added the cost of a 130$ tranny, 200$ 8.8, sn95 5 stud conversion and all the junk goodies i want and with 100$ add-on's i'm at 1500$ total worth of wish list. a functionnal 5.0 sn95 starts at 2500$ here and rolling shell without engine or trans is 1000$, i think i will try to get a 1500$ parts car 5.0 HO sn95 it will be better for me because of the possibility of selling body parts i don't need and having ALL i need at home including mas conversion, HO engine, exhaust etc...
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on January 04, 2016, 08:46:08 AM
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on January 04, 2016, 08:46:08 AM
Quote from: Haystack;453210
Eric the car guy just did an excellent tear down video on a sn-95 t-5. It actually really doesn't look like rebuilding a t-5 would be all that hard.
https://youtu.be/XREsRG9Y1mU
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on December 01, 2016, 09:37:40 AM
Post by: vincejeep on December 01, 2016, 09:37:40 AM
it's been awhile since my last post or reply cause i've been buisy, but i managed to get some parts to begin with. It's far from my original goal but at least it's going forward. In my list i got a 3.73 7.5 posi from a ranger, e7te heads, HO intake, HO camshaft, SD HO computer, mac headers, 16'' pony wheels, aluminum HO valve covers, fuel pump and i'm missing time to get 19 lbs injectors from these 2 f-150 at the junkyard. And also scored a fifth avenue dual exhaust with dynomax turbo lers for 55$ at the pick and pull, just missing some cuts and welds to be t-bird duals.
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on December 01, 2016, 09:43:27 AM
Post by: vincejeep on December 01, 2016, 09:43:27 AM
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on December 01, 2016, 09:44:43 AM
Post by: vincejeep on December 01, 2016, 09:44:43 AM
also got a 21mm mustang rear sway bar to help the 225/55zr16's
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on December 01, 2016, 11:19:39 AM
Post by: vincejeep on December 01, 2016, 11:19:39 AM
I was also wondering if there is a cam out there that i could use with speed density and no eec tune, all the ones i checked were in my opinion too aggressive for such a thing and the stock HO stick is already a good one. need advice on that and maybe custom porting if there is minimal things a simple mechanic can do to his heads whitout hurting anything :)
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: thunderjet302 on December 01, 2016, 01:02:02 PM
Post by: thunderjet302 on December 01, 2016, 01:02:02 PM
With speed density the HO cam is best. I tried one of the cams that is said to work with SD (Comp 35-308-8) and it worked ok but would stall on start/deceleration on occasion. Stick with the stock HO cam. It'll have better driveability plus won't require a valve spring change like any other cam would. Plus with E7 heads and the stock HO intake any other cam than the stock HO cam will gain you virtually no power.
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: Moonmount on December 14, 2016, 10:01:13 PM
Post by: Moonmount on December 14, 2016, 10:01:13 PM
is that rose quartz metallic/ cinnabar metallic? what interior color? i was honestly starting to think that my 88 cougar was the only surviving car with that color
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on December 15, 2016, 05:16:24 PM
Post by: vincejeep on December 15, 2016, 05:16:24 PM
brown interior with consolette and column shift, my aunt used to have that rose quartz on her cougar 1987 back in the days
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on January 12, 2017, 05:05:37 PM
Post by: vincejeep on January 12, 2017, 05:05:37 PM
the transformation has just begun!
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on January 15, 2017, 12:04:05 PM
Post by: vincejeep on January 15, 2017, 12:04:05 PM
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on January 15, 2017, 12:05:02 PM
Post by: vincejeep on January 15, 2017, 12:05:02 PM
do someone have any recommandations for engine mounts, as you can see mine are trashed
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: Haystack on January 15, 2017, 06:01:45 PM
Post by: Haystack on January 15, 2017, 06:01:45 PM
Nobody makes any anymore. I bought a set of universal engine mounts off speedway that worked with some spacers for $20.
Stock replacements can be ordered at parts stores, but these all seem to be garbage.
Stock replacements can be ordered at parts stores, but these all seem to be garbage.
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: Haystack on January 15, 2017, 06:02:03 PM
Post by: Haystack on January 15, 2017, 06:02:03 PM
Nobody makes any anymore. I bought a set of universal engine mounts off speedway that worked with some spacers for $20.
Stock replacements can be ordered at parts stores, but these all seem to be garbage.
Stock replacements can be ordered at parts stores, but these all seem to be garbage.
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: vincejeep on January 15, 2017, 06:45:56 PM
Post by: vincejeep on January 15, 2017, 06:45:56 PM
Quote from: Haystack;458910
Nobody makes any anymore. I bought a set of universal engine mounts off speedway that worked with some spacers for $20.
Stock replacements can be ordered at parts stores, but these all seem to be garbage.
do you have any info on that i might be interested if it's not too expensive in Québec, stock replacement are 25$cdn each so for 225hp at the crank it will probably do the trick but if i can get better and be done for awhile with that its better
Title: my 2 birds
Post by: Haystack on January 15, 2017, 09:44:11 PM
Post by: Haystack on January 15, 2017, 09:44:11 PM
Heres an ebay listing.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/131500360477?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F711-117182-37290-0%252F2%253Fmtid%253D1588%2526kwid%253D1%2526crlp%253D166216719574_324272%2526itemid%253D131500360477%2526targetid%253D277381283012%2526rpc%253D0.18%2526rpc_upld_id%253D98404%2526device%253Dm%2526mpre%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.com%25252Fulk%25252Fitm%25252Flike%25252F131500360477%25253Flpid%25253D82%252526chn%25253Dps%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D9029733%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D718825409%2526adgroupid%253D35705498617%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-277381283012%2526gclid%253DCjwKEAiA2OzDBRCdqIyIqYaaqQoSJABeJZdiXisMFmgZtprV0Y4016iIolOELgyDGWmW56Q_AZEraRoCUsrw_wcB%2526srcrot%253D711-117182-37290-0%2526rvr_id%253D1154160960001&ul_noapp=true
I drilled a big hole, wanna say 1/2 through the bottom of the stock mount bracket, I dont think I had to open up the top one much. Then I got longer bolts to go into the block with some aluminum spacers to make up the height difference. Use removeable lock tight on the motor side.
Later I plan to make my own motor mount brackets with some cheap angle, if I don't actually go through with a motor plate.
I dumped the clutch whenever I got the chance after my t-5 swap and kept breaking the bolts and mounts, but I am pretty hard on my stuff.
A bit of common sense and going easy on it, the stock mounts might last okay. I went through 3 sets in about a year. Then I broke all the bolts off in the block and gave up on the car.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/131500360477?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F711-117182-37290-0%252F2%253Fmtid%253D1588%2526kwid%253D1%2526crlp%253D166216719574_324272%2526itemid%253D131500360477%2526targetid%253D277381283012%2526rpc%253D0.18%2526rpc_upld_id%253D98404%2526device%253Dm%2526mpre%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.com%25252Fulk%25252Fitm%25252Flike%25252F131500360477%25253Flpid%25253D82%252526chn%25253Dps%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D9029733%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D718825409%2526adgroupid%253D35705498617%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-277381283012%2526gclid%253DCjwKEAiA2OzDBRCdqIyIqYaaqQoSJABeJZdiXisMFmgZtprV0Y4016iIolOELgyDGWmW56Q_AZEraRoCUsrw_wcB%2526srcrot%253D711-117182-37290-0%2526rvr_id%253D1154160960001&ul_noapp=true
I drilled a big hole, wanna say 1/2 through the bottom of the stock mount bracket, I dont think I had to open up the top one much. Then I got longer bolts to go into the block with some aluminum spacers to make up the height difference. Use removeable lock tight on the motor side.
Later I plan to make my own motor mount brackets with some cheap angle, if I don't actually go through with a motor plate.
I dumped the clutch whenever I got the chance after my t-5 swap and kept breaking the bolts and mounts, but I am pretty hard on my stuff.
A bit of common sense and going easy on it, the stock mounts might last okay. I went through 3 sets in about a year. Then I broke all the bolts off in the block and gave up on the car.