My 83 Heritage...Finally I do something with it ! A new re-birth

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My 83 Heritage...Finally I do something with it ! A new re-birth

August 18, 2009, 04:23:07 PM

This thread is about my very first T-Bird.

There have been over 25 Fox T-Birds since, but this is the car that started it all for me .

I bought it from the original owner family with 110,000 miles in May 1992.

The woman I bought it from got it from her dad and he had ordered it new. (The car was built in July 1983)

After his stroke, she drove it until 1990 or so and then gave it to her 16 year old son whom promptly burned off the right rear tire and thrashed the lowly 165 h.p. 5.0L.

It ran but was ticking. I put a new RHO 5.0 H.O. Mustang engine in it in 92. I didn't have much money so I re-installed all of the original fuel injection stuff as well as the factory cats.

I built it primarily to drive from KY to Raleigh-Duram N.C. due to my job.

I put 55,000 miles on it and when I got married in 1997 we used it as a family car until 1999 before we bought our first "real" family car. ( a 92 Taurus Wagon)

Since 1999 this car has been in and out of various storage units until now.

This thread is about it's "new" life as my drive anywhere-bracket race anywhere car with Air Conditioning and a nice stereo.

The pics show me taking all of the factory EFI stuff off and converting it to a 1983 Mustang 5.0 H.O. carb. and intake setup complete with shorties, h-pipe and 2.5 inch duals.

I will update pics as I progress. :D

I am so happy to finally do something useful with this car.

First 3 Pics as I pulled it out of storage:

My 83 Heritage...Finally I do something with it ! A new re-birth

Reply #1 – August 18, 2009, 04:26:59 PM

The interior pics show where I have removed the efi computer.

The black rear seat belts were added for the baby car seat. Those will be removed.

My 83 Heritage...Finally I do something with it ! A new re-birth

Reply #2 – August 18, 2009, 04:30:02 PM

Pics of removing the efi stuff.
The car was converted to a Mustang 5.0 vacumm brake booster and a Crown Vic master cylinder when I put a 88 Turbo Coupe rear under it. Stock small front brakes remain....for now.

My 83 Heritage...Finally I do something with it ! A new re-birth

Reply #3 – August 18, 2009, 05:17:15 PM

Thanks for sharing. With a little elbow grease it will be looking great in no time.

Are you going to use a dual snorkel setup for the intake?

LOL, it looks like a spaghetti monster under the hood.

My 83 Heritage...Finally I do something with it ! A new re-birth

Reply #4 – August 19, 2009, 07:16:01 AM

Quote from: mcb82gt;287112

Thanks for sharing. With a little elbow grease it will be looking great in no time.

Are you going to use a dual snorkel setup for the intake?

LOL, it looks like a spaghetti monster under the hood.

LOL....yes, all those vacumm lines and wires really covered the engine up.
I will try to use the dual snorkel A/C and run fresh air hoses on each side.

Working on this car brings back alot of memories of a time when I only owned 2 cars. (instead of 9) :D

My 83 Heritage...Finally I do something with it ! A new re-birth

Reply #5 – August 19, 2009, 11:31:47 AM

Love the leather seat style with the birds on the Heritage models!

It also appears to have the best armrest design out of the whole 83-88 lot...

My 83 Heritage...Finally I do something with it ! A new re-birth

Reply #6 – August 21, 2009, 10:52:08 AM

I got the TV cable hooked up and the exhaust system installed.

Should get to fire it real soon.