I got a lead on a 2.3L turbo in a barn.
Thought I'd share with you what I found!
1983 TC, red/tan, lots of options. Leather interior, vent windows, cornering lights, premium sound, A/C, tilt wheel, TRX wheels, tinted glass, speed control, power drivers seat, and a few more goodies topping out at $15520.00.
Still had the original window sticker in the glove box.
Hoping it would be low mileage since it was last driven in 1994 then parked but it has 135,000 miles.
Body is straight and rust free and the rest is very original.
It was cool to be part of one of those 'car in the barn' stories!
Freaking awesome. If you bought it, you'd better get some new rims ASAP, considering the TRX tires can't be had for less than $200 a piece. In any case, awesome car, and I can't believe it doesn't have red interior. 135 is pretty high, but if you apply the average rule of 12k miles a year, 135 is about half of what it should have. Incredible find.
So....how much are they wanting for it?
Yep, got it. The first thing I noticed was the tan interior. I don't ever recall seeing red/tan. Like you said red/red is what I remember. I have 2 nice tires for the TRX rims so I guess I'll have to start posting wanted ads for good used tires so I can at least put the TRX wheels on once in awhile! I really like the look of the rims but hate the price of the tires!
I didn't really -need- another car but figured it would be at home with the 83 5.0L Heritage I bought new.
The mileage is average but I sure wish it was only 35,000!
Here's a picture of it getting some attention after all the years under a cover!
Chuck,
I got it for about $15000 below sticker!! ;)
but it's 'leftover'!! Can't pay sticker price! :D
Wow, even on jackstands it looks showroom new!
Great find! take care of that baby!
Great story... and a great find... Need to keep it original as it will be going up in value.
no .. man oh man. it looks brand new.. MORE PICS!! hehe.. what a great deal.
Well the pictures do make it look great but it has the flaws of a 22 year old car with 135,000 miles. I was pleased it was so straight and rust free (although there is a little rust showing up on the bottom of the doors) and original. The guy I bought it from did me a favor???? and recently replaced the original turbo, which he said was bad, with a turbo from a 87-88 TC w/ an innercooler. I'll be looking for an original elbow and parts to brng it back to stock.
The headliner is sagging and I think the carpet is too dirty to clean so I need to replace both. Of course the leather seats have 22yr old wear so I'll be looking to freshen them up too. Otherwise the interior just needs a good cleaning.
The paint looks decent and needs buffed to bring it back to life.
After sitting 11 years, it's not running real smooth so I'm sure it needs a tune up/clean up.
All in all I think it's a great candidate to keep stock as a reminder of where this whole TBird TC stuff got started!
I’ll post some more pictures and keep you updated.
I’m liking the red/tan combo the more I clean it up. Anyone else have or recall seeing this combo? I’ve followed these cars since new and don’t remember seeing the red with tan. (I found a metallic brown/tan car in the junkyard last year that was a beautiful combo and I just thought I had to bring it home!)
Yup, a buddy of mine in GA has that color combo. It's an 84 though I think.
Still, you got some interesting color combos on the 83-84TCs.
Any wiring damage due to rodents?
What is a TRX wheel and what is so special about it?
The tire size in not measured in inches but rather milimeters Ex.220/55 390. This is a very rare tire and therefore very expensive.
Now why would Ford go and make a dumb move like that?
It was supposed to catch on and become a std wheel/tire combo...
I suspect Goodyear had something to do with it's demise, when they introduced the Gatorbacks in the early '80s
Sweet find! As for cleaning the carpeting. . . do you have like a T/A Travel Center/ Truck Stop around you? They are usually along major highways. They sell this stuff called EZ Big Rig cleaner for carpeting and uphostry(sp?) as well as degreaser. Good stuff. My dad spilled coffee all over my moms tan interior and even after it sitting a couple days, the stuff managed to take it out along with various other ground in stains. Ganted the stains in your carpet have been there longer, but it may be worth a shot.
I have found a really good carpet cleaner, its called blue max its a napa brand but it works really good cleaned grease out of my blue carpet. give it a try
Thanks for the tips, if I think the carpet will clean up I'll give them a try. No signs of damage due to rodents. There was a Jeep and Chevy near by so maybe they make better homes! There wasn't any grain in the barn so I don't think it had a big rodent problem. Ususlly they are a problem when cars are parked outside for a while.
Behind the car is the place it called 'home' for many years.
I like the TRX wheels but at $200+ for a tire I think I'll try something else.
You can also see it here (with more pictures in the future).
http://www.tbirdregistry.com/viewdatasheet.asp?RegistryNumber=27373
The tbirdregisrty and lovefords are two great sites for Tbird and Ford fans!
I've never seen another car besides mine that had those style TRX wheels. Awesome find.
(http://users.zoominternet.net/~nitroracer17/Zephyr/zephyr0001-sm.JPG)
Project update:
Major clean up from inside out in progress. Why didn't Ford paint the bumpers before installing the bumper covers? Do you know how much they rust?? :mad:
Awaiting new carpet and headliner as well as new timing belt and idler, and getting ready to pull the heater core.
All interior pieces are detailed and ready to re-install except for DS seat,too worn to clean up. Any ideas where to look for a replacement leather seat cover?
I could use some parts like Marchal lenses, DS kick panel, seatbelt covers, etc so watch the Wanted Section for some of my needs. ;)
Well our Cougars, Thunderbirds and Mustangs are the only v8 cars with a 4 bolt pattern. They tried to start a trend that was never meant to stay obviously. Hey I cant complain no one around here has a car like mine. What can I say.
Correction Matt....it's MY car now :hick:
My 84 XR-7 had those wheels on them stock. Too bad the TRX stuff is utter garbage for anything other than rolling around on a smooth dry parade grounds :yuck: Those ed things almost killed me in the wet MANY times.
Matt- I don't think those particular ones were on option in '80, I think someone added them...I could be wrong though...don''t see them listed anywhere as an option until 83 though.
The Tbird is looking good though. I know what you mean about the bumpers....I Rust Encapsulated mine when I had the car painted...it was covered in a nice scale of rust.
Well since those seats are the same thing as the Sport seats in the Mustangs you might try some place like Late Model Restoration or the like....
How long has it been since it was driven, normaly if they sit for a long time the seals can crack and leak.
Great find.
True...while it's down, you should take the time to replace the valve stem seals, and toss the Ford v.c gasket on there while you have it off.
Nice car...you're doing great work on it!!!
BTW, the TRX wheel was not a Ford design, it was a Michelin design. It was hot shiznit in the late 1970s, any performance car HAD to have the TRX wheel for its suspension package. If Ferrari had TRXs, Ford should too. I didn't know you could even find new TRXs???
The last time it was inspected was 1994 but I was told it was started and run from time to time (which could explain a couple pieces of wheat in the A/C condenser fins! :) ). Believe it or not it doesn't smoke on start up like my 84 SVO, however I will be going over –everything- before I put it on the road.
The nose is off now and cleaned up, the A/C system is coming off next along with the cooling system. Can you believe it still has the original lower hose!! I guess I should replace it! :)
Any thoughts on whether or not the A/C condenser could still be OK after all these years? I’ll replace the dryer, evaporator, orifice tube, and convert to 134A but do condensers go bad? I still have the original condenser on my ’83 Heritage.
I need an A/C clutch and/or compressor w/clutch if anyone has one they can part with.
Thanks for the advice and complements…. I sometimes wonder how all of this work is better then picking up a new ’05 Mustang or Tbird!
The condensor on my '87 has a leak, if that tells you anything. If you replace all those parts, charge it up, and it doesn't hold a charge then you can always replace the condensor as well.