Well, for those of you who haven't noticed, I'm only 15. On March 7th I'll be 16, but I'll be in Colorado so I wont get my DL until about the 15th. So anyway....check out my first car:...
By the way, before you start hatin'--I've been saving for my car since I was 10 years old, I've had a job since I turned 15, and I paid for this car WITH MY OWN MONEY. Not a cent has gone into it from my parents, I'm NOT a moocher. I will also be paying for insurance. Now that thats out of the way...heres what I've done (starting with a bone stock '87 TC):
--K&N Filter Charger
--Gillis Boost Valve
--Pulled dash and painted it
--Installed Plastic Dash Cover
--New Headlight Lenses
--Painted Calipers
--17x8.5 2000 Cobra R 4-Lug Wheels
--BF Goodrich g-Force KDWS tires (245/45Z-17)
That's pretty much it for now, although I have already purchased a 351 with everything I need for the swap...I just need a T-5 and then I'll be set. Feedback is encouraged...
nice job kid....at least your willing too research and tastefully mod the car...yourself. unless you painted the dash light blue, white bright yellow or something...then your gonna need a kick in the jock.
OMG...I have socks older than you. :D
J/k, looks KILLER dude, you've done a great job! We need more young people like yourself in this world, that's for dang sure.
Well, we'll just see about that...
sweet man...keep it up, have fun with it but be safe, have a little common sense and enjoy that car...i totally agree with eric man...too many kids out their doing the wannabe tuner/rice thing...you guys are from the same area...know each other?
thats kinda what i did 5 years ago... way to make me feel old :p i worked my ass off to get my first turbo coupe, just dont do what i did and wreck it lol
btw, nice car post some track times when ya get the chance
Great job man! I wish my 18 year old brother had the same taste in cars as you. Keep up the good work.
she looks sweet. you certainly have a better car than when i was 16... which was nothing, lol.
you know...it just dawned on me that i have never driven a car that is older than me....
Nice job:D That is a pretty Turbo coupe. I bought my Thunderbird (the one in my sig) when I was 16 with my own money as well. It's my first car and I worked and payed for it myself. Hang on to it. I'm 20 and will be 21 in July and I nevr plan on getting rid of my Thunderbird. If you are able to at some point buy a beater and use the Bird for a fun car. That's what I ended up doing.
BTW I want those wheels on my Bird now:D
Why are you putting a 351 in it? And give some rear shots with that wing. Nice work so far, be proud and don't wreck it!!
Hey... your copying my swap idea with a 351 and a T-5! Really though, the more the merrier. Are you going carbed, or sticking with EFI?
nice car and happy b-day soon
If I can find a shorter air filter, I'll be going with a carbureutor. A 650 Holley, I think... I also have to get the motor rebuilt. This won't be materializing until next summer anyway, once I have some driving experience.
Um...why not? There's no replacement for displacement :).
The spoiler is from a '94-'98 Mustang...I'm at school so I'll post up some pics tonight.
Yes there is, it's called boost:evilgrin: Naw, do what you want. I've been trying to shoehorn a 390 AMC in one of these for years. But with a turbo, so it will still be a TC.:flame:
Wow, nice score there on the TC. Good job saving that money. I'm trying to get my kids to do that but they're more interested in video games and the latest fashons. You should be proud of your accomplishment. Hell, I haven't been able to save up for some rims like that yet and I'm 40... heheh.
I would say a torquey 351 would be great in a TC. However, I wouldn't start taking it apart until I had ALL the parts. That includes conversion throttle cables, plugs, headers, engine accessories, hoses, brackets, etc... everything. Otherwise you could end up with a nice car rotting away for years in a garage or under a tarp. Cars deteriorate fast when they sit for long periods of time. A 351/T5 swap could cost 6 or 7K or more when the total is finally added up. So definetly keep driving your car while you're accumulating parts. You'll end up with a nicer car in the end.
Now lets see a picture of that wing!
Actually I took the engine from a junkyard-bound '88 TC that already had the swap, so I have everything I need EXCEPT the tranny is a C4, so I need that T-5 and the pedal assembly from a Mustang. I have thought about building up this 2.3T, Michael, but I just love the sound of a V8. I'm still considering hooking up the turbo to my 5.8:tg:...
Great work. You have plenty of years to look forward to as you modify cars.
I bought my '86 Cougar when I was 16. I'm almost 24 and I still love these cars.
Welcome to the forums.
Thanks for the welcome.... Although I have been here since March '05, I didn't start posting much until I got my bird in November. I never plan on selling this car. I'm looking for something to put my 2.3T in for my winter car/daily driver.
Hell ya man! I bought my first cougar when I was 15. Im 19 now and on my second cougar. I just love these cars soo much. Looks like you got one hell of a bird, she looks real good. GL on the 351. And yes, nothing beats the sound of a v8.
I always thought an older Ranger with a 2.3T would be a pretty cool ride to have.
[qutoe]looking for something to put my 2.3T in for my winter car/daily driver.[/quote]
I think an older (before '93) would be a cool ride with a 2.3T under the hood.
I think an older (before '93) Ranger would be fun to drive with a 2.3T under the hood.
Sweet car. I got mine when I was 16 and I'm 21 now. Wow, seems like I just got it yesterday... Good lord I'm getting old fast :(
The only thing I have to say is clean and repaint your inner fender wells. They should be black, not dirt.:giggle:
It's a pet peeve of mine and I'll be doing the ones on my car once the weather gets a bit warmer.
Well you don't have to paint the front inner fender wells. They're a rubber liner so all you really have to do is clean them and rub some tire shine on them and presto nice shiny black front fender wells. The back wells will have to be painted though.
Yea, mine are disgusting...I couldn't even get masking tape to stick to them when I painted my calipers. That will probably be on the agenda for spring cleaning :).
, nice car. I'd like to see some spoiler shots myself. Lol kida depressing when a kid 4 years younger than I am has pretty much already saved up enough to buy his car and start the project portion of it. Lol I think I'm at the point to start my saving again though. Welcome to the boards man.
Here's some pics of the spoiler, like I said it's from a SN95.
Oh! And one of my py engine bay...
You better be coming to Cat Jam this year!
I've been thinking about coming to Cat Jam for a while now...My brother Jason went 2 years ago I think (he has an '87 XR-7 with a 5.0 HO, T-5...it was the Maroon one in the old banner) so we'll probably make the trip together this year. I don't just like T-Birds, I love Foxes in general.
i would no put a t5 behind a 351...t5's handle 330ft lbs of torque the 302 HO's put down 300 so you might wanna take the time and put in a decent trans while ur doing the motor or you will have to after u break the t5 lol.
very nice looking car and good luck.
that wing looks really nice.
happy b-day.
I would maybe lower it an inch, she looks like she is standing really tall with those 17s
nice bird. do the 351 swap. i did it well worth it. i like the rims. i will go with the same.have fun pulling out the dash? i hade to do that to my old bird, big job! this is my first time here but keep an eye out for mine. i think you will like it. bye for now
I was thinking about lowering it a little bit, but I think I'll wait to see how the 351 brings it down. Ha yea the dash was *interesting...ugh the most wires I've ever seen in my life. It was well worth it, though.
nice car
im 16, turning 17 on april 13th, im still driving my first car, a 93 grand prix SE with 220XXX miles, beat to hell and still takes more... best car ever for a first timer such as myself...
but i also have an 88 mercury cougar XR7 that im working on fixing up, but not nearly done yet, hopeing to drive her this spring tho...
Just wanted to sorta say that therse someone else sorta around your age on here...
Rock on, bro:headbang:
RUN FOR THE HILLS OLD TIMERS!!! the youngin's are invading... they are taking our youth from us.. that is how they stay so engergized!!!
(oh wait.. i'm not really that old yet.. so.. um.. maybe i like stand towards the bottom of the hill?)
heheh
Why not keep it efi. A carb motor in '87-88 t/c's just looks wrong and like a back yard redneck swap IMO.
+1
yeah bro im in the same boat as you...... Ill be 16 december 23....
nice car man.... i wish i had the money to make mine that nice right now im trying to keep it as nice as it is......lol which is becoming increasingly harder by every little thing i do....
keep up the good work man
I dunno about him, but I can tell you why I'll be going with a carb in my '88 when I do the 351 swap (after I get the roller 351 from my brother when he finally junks his van):
Regardless of the induction I'd have to get the fox-swap stuff (Headers, oil pan). Also regardless of induction I'd need to rebuild the bottom end (the 351 has got over 300,000 miles on it). An overbore, turned crank, and some 10:1 forged slugs would be in order.
To stick with EFI I'd require a 351-specific lower intake, aftermarket upper, at least 24lb injectors, probably a 65MM throttle body, mass air computer, larger MAF calibrated for the 24lb injectors, 190lph fuel pump, etc. I'd be into the engine for thousands and still be stuck with stock E7 heads, cam, etc.
Instead I could simply buy a nice Performer dual plane intake, 650-700CFM carb, agressive but streetable cam, and a set of Trick Flow heads (which would save me a few bucks from not having to rebuild the stock E7's) and still spend less than buying all that EFI stuff. The Performer intake and carb would more likely fit under my TC hood than an EFI setup would. And probably make more power, too. And it would certainly weigh less - that big wad of EFI wiring, the emissions hardware (smog pump & plumbing) and those big intakes probably weigh a hundred pounds, plus I'd shed about 70 pounds with the TFS heads. Sure, I'd sacrifice some cold weather drivability, but the car isn't driven in winter so that's not an issue. And emissions testing isn't a problem, so I see no reason to keep EFI.
I would bet a 351 with performer intake, Twisted Wedge heads, a 650-700CFM carb, agressive but streetable cam, 10:1 compression forged pistons, 1-5/8 shorties, and a 2.5" off road H-pipe and dual exhaust backed by a T5 and a 3.55 8.8" TC rear would easily propel my T-Bird into the 12's on pump gas. I know a T5 would be on thin ice behind a built 351, but since I don't drag race and would never use slicks I think it would last long enough to save up for a stronger tranny, and if I blew it up it would give me the excuse for a T56 :D.
And I can guarantee that after cleaning up the engine compartment and losing all the emissions plumbing and EFI wiring it would look very clean, and certainly much less "back yard redneck" than most stock Fox cars. I am very, very fussy about wiring and plumbing.
About the only drawback I can see is that my tripminder would no longer work, and even then if I wanted to find a "fuel flow sensor" from an earlier carbureted Ford I'm sure I could make that work too.
Yeah, Im 17 rolling on 18. I didnt buy mine, but it sucks how i got it oddly enough. My Uncle was killed defending my car. When I turned 16 my Mom gave it to me. I wish I woulda known in advance, being moneyless and now having trouble with money to bring it back to life after 14 years of sitting. NICE car, keep up the good work, just wish I had the notion to save and build it like it should be.
^Agreed.^ It will look way cleaner, plus I already have a 4-bbl intake manifold.
Nice job. I was in the same "startup" situation as you were, my parents didnt give me a dime and everything has been under my name from day one. It is better that way in my opinion, no matter how much more expensive.
Looks like you have a nice car on your hands, good luck!
I bought my 85 5.0 AOD when I was 15 with money from slinging papers for 2 years. I didn't know alot about them back then and sold it after owning it for almost a year to buy a 93 Mustang LX. Now that I've had a few Mustangs, I'm trying to get back to my roots. Keep that car forever if you can, you will regret ever selling it.
I can just see carmen out on a cold canadian day trying to start the Tbird.
Thanks for the support everyone, hope to see you at Cat Jam!
Betcha it gets colder in Ohio than it does in Nova Scotia ;) In fact, it probably gets colder in most of the USA than it does here. Those really bad cold snaps where it gets down to like -40*F are usually watered down to about 10*F when they hit that Atlantic... The coldest it's been here this year is about 0*F (-18c)
That aside, two things: One, we Canadians had carbs for decades with cold weather and still managed to get around (most of my cars have been carbureted, including my '85 Bird - we Canucks actually received EFI several years after USA did on many models), and two, the T-Bird will never see winter driving again. Even if that stupid Volvo blows up again I'll hopefully have a turbocharged, 5-speed, 4WD Ranger put together by next winter (gotta do SOMETHING with that TC engine I've got :D)
Heh sounds like a wicked use for that engine... i wanted to do something like that with a Daytona Turbo engine in a jeep once.
Ranger, huh?... THERE'S something I can do with my 2.3T. Some guy around here dropped a 351W into an older Ranger and was trying to sell it cheap. I should've c00ched it up.
Actually carm, about two weeks ago it got down too 6 degrees outside and thats been it. Glad to hear your keeping it off the road atleast!
The only thing that stands in your way of the turbo ranger is the turbo position. gota get a bobs ranger log.
I've read that the stock manifold will work but it requires notching of the heater box, but if that doesn't work Bob will be getting a call...
Any one interested in doing a Ranger turbo should check this forum out....its got a lot of info.
http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=51
A while back I had the grand idea of putting my 2.3T into a MG Migdet. That thing would move.
Chuck W had one a while back, sure he'd give ya some advice. ^Thats a good site by the way^
I stumbled upon RPS when i was looking at buying an 85 Ranger long box with the 2.8. But when i found the cougar i made the decision to wait till i could afford a newer Ranger Splash.
...And haven't we just hijacked the hell out of this thread... It started as somebody showing his car, evolved into a discussion about carburetted 351's, then branched off about the weather a bit, then to turbo Rangers :D
I stumbled upon RPS when i was looking at buying an 85 Ranger long box with the 2.8. But when i found the cougar i made the decision to wait till i could afford a newer Ranger Splash.
well at least it went back to turbo related items lol
Welcome to kewlbird08's miscellaneous thread! Feel free to hijack, shoot down, exploit, add to, and change any subject you do or don't see in this thread! Let's keep this thing goin' on a hijack-only basis. How 'bout 'dem Bears?
nice bird wish i could say thast mines gonna be bought with my own money but my dads giving me it, but its ok all mods are 100% gonna be done by me so. but thats a long ways off. right now im building a 200cc 5 speed semi auto golf cart gonna be one fast well good luck with the bird. and anyone around rhode island if u got a golf cart i can buy for like 100-200 let me know thast the last part i need.
I'm sorry, but something about that just struck me as funny. "I'm building a golf cart. All I need is a GOLF CART." :giggle:
at that point, if you have the engine, the trans, the tires, blah blah blah, can't you just mount that to just about anything? maybe like a barbie jeep. that would rock!!!
Would probably have to look into some non-plastic tires. But those Barbie decals would add even more power.
Keep the plastic tires....Plastic burnouts! :D Or are you worried about them supporting the weight?
Well i ass-u-me that he has better than standard golf cart tires and wheels. there should be a way to mount those bad boys to that pink plastic jeep! bet my nieces would love that barbie jeep.
Heh nothin like all the mad hp gains from decals yo!
lol i actually did something like that but it was a 5 hp motor in a power wheels vw beattle lol that thing was so ****ing hard to drive it would power slide with those tires on it lol, i didn't bother with rubber lol, it was just the body on a metal custom frame though but i wreaked it bad so i trashed it and yes i coudl do something else, but when i do i also have a 350cc honda motor cycel motor that im gonna be using for a big project lol but the golf cart is for buzzing around town on lol i know im stupid but thast what i want and i might get a cart this week end free so ha. o well im doing that then a built up of the 2.3 that is goign in the bird to replace the tired old 2.3
i was in the same place you wereI was 15 when bought my 86 ls and it was with my own money and i pay for everything too i just havent made it as far as you have.
lmao.......you guys keep making me feel younger than what i am...... Im STILL in that position...until january....when i actually get my license......lol oh well....
Congrats on the car, The only vehicle I bought at that age was and 86 Celebrity wagon.... that was fun. Yeah, I have bought all my vehicles and mods/replacement parts though my parents still pay for the insurence.
By the way, V8's sound awesome. I still wanna put one in my ranger. lol
Dan
Sorry, I've got no love the the 351 swap in a Turbocoupe, maybe I'm a bit of a purist lately. I think in the end you'll spend way more money on the 351W. Have you seen the full potential of the 2.3? I used to be all about V8s, but the TC grew on me, and after rebuilding it myself and driving it for the first time at a measly 9 psi, uncorked exhaust, cam, ported head, I was just left with my jaw dropped to the floor. And that feels slow to me now LOL!
Either way, I'll be waiting for you with over 20 psi pumping into the intake.
I know some have tested the limits of the 2.3 and at some point it's cheaper to go to a V8 as you increase power, but unless you're shooting for over 450 WHP, I don't think it's any better of a choice. And you'll be ruining the uniqueness of the Turbocoupe.
im with him, tc's are becoming rarer by the minute. theres plenty of non-tc's to swap v8's into.
Basically, I think if you're all about going fast you wouldn't have a Turbocoupe in the first place, nor any Thunderbird, because you're at a weight disadvantage. The 2.3 will make serious power and still pull mid to high twenties mileage. I'm not saying I know for certain what's right for you, but I think the 2.3T will overall be more fun to drive if you give it a chance.
V8s just don't trip my trigger anymore, turbo V8s maybe, but a tractor idle that turns into an unsettling barking screaming turbo assault under boost, that trips my trigger for sure.