Skip to main content
Topic: OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place. (Read 2921 times) previous topic - next topic

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #15
Quote from: CougarSE;103313
Spoken by a man of experiance! 

Now if I could just get to to Dayton......

But then again franks car doesn't run... its something electrical and I know I could fix it with little time involved but......but....


The last I read it runs ok once warm, or at least that's how I understood it....so it's probably an ECT.  It is an EEC3 car though, and it harder to pull codes, but you can.  I used to do in on the 83 WAY back when the 5.0 was still in it.  I'm got the procedure in one of my books.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon-  '81 Granada GL 2dr

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #16
Quote from: 5.0willgo;103310
I'm telling you Claude, get yourself another car to drive daily. It is near impossible to fix a car up (making it better) when you depend on it daily. It always stays the same and doesn't get better unless you have a lot of money to throw at it at once and can lose it for a few days to get the work done.

Truer words were never spoken. When I was driving the 'Bird daily all I could do was make plans on what to do to it, without actually being able to do anything to it. Now that I don't depend on it I can lay it up in the garage for weeks if need be. I also was feeling guilty about the mileage I was putting on it - it had 47k when I bought it in March '03, now it has about 65k. Thankfully the mileage will stop being added so quickly (though if I remember correctly mileage won't be an issue with your car, Claude)...

BTW, that chattering clutch is likely from oil soak (leaking rear main, intake or oil pan). It's amazing how hard an oil soaked clutch can grab - you'd think it would slip instead, but for some reason the oil acts like glue.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #17
255k and counting...

And the clutch has chattered ever since I put it in there.  I used the "used" one from the donar car.. I was po.
One 88

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #18
You're beter off getting something else to drive daily. These cars are getting to the age that they are no longer a reliable daily driver. Age is catching up to them and they need little things done to them to keep them in good condition. As a fun car that's fine because you can deal with it being down for a week or more at a time but it's hard to do repair work to a car when you have to drive it on Monday to work. Get something newer and more reliable for a daily driver and put the Cougar on the side for when you have time to work on it.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #19
and all this over a v-6.... nah j/k.

Its good that you care about your car. If you have a place to park/store it, then you should do that. It isnt worth much to some people, but prolly the world to you. Being the first known fox cougar v-6 with a swapped in stick, you will always be remembered for that. I am sure you have had great times in that car and will continue to do so.

Get a beater honda civic. They you will have lots of wants to get the old cougar going.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #20
Dilemma not delimma.  Ditto on the daily driver thing...  I wish I could take mine out of service and fix it all up, but there are too many repairs and not enough weekends.  Not one of them is major enough to keep me off the road, but are really annoying otherwise.
1987 Thunderbird 3.8. Sold :(

1982 Thunderbird - Goodbye 255, Hello 302!

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #21
I've been pondering over the past couple of days.
 
Looks like I can.....
 
Fix my origbuttstuff rear end with parts from the one in my car now..
 
new driveshaft should be like 20 bucks from pick n pull..
 
Poly front bushings are about 35 bucks
 
 
Then I'm dealing with the overheating issue.. but the way it acts Its got to be something stupid that I've been too unmotivated to work on.
 
Oil? Dont need no stinking oil...
 
But I still think I'm going 4 eyed though...
One 88

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #22
Like i said... i got a chain and a 302.  We can tow it if we can't fix it on site.  Muha ha ha
84 TC 302 -5.0L/t5/7.5 locking rear and a 3.45 gear, Edelbrock Intake, Aluminum Heads, Edlebrock 65mm Throttlebody, Edlebrock Cam, 24lb injectors & MAS Air Sensor calibrated via chip,  BBK headers, Catback H pipe, Magnaflow lers :evilgrin:
:pics-stfu:

 Project Thread with pics

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #23
shiznit, I'd like an offer like that.

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #24
Quote from: 84 Fila;103515
shiznit, I'd like an offer like that.

Thats how the 88 made the 20 mile trip home the first time.  She has only ever been towed once.  From the junkyard to my house.
One 88

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #25
Lucky SOB. My '88 has been towed at least 15 times...:pbb:

Oh almost forgot, not only was there the terrorist attack 5 years ago, but this date 5 years ago was my first full day with my '88.

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #26
Mine was towed with a chain and a Bronco about 2 miles to my house to get her here.

 

OK,..... I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Reply #27
When I first got my turbo coupe I had to tow it 250mi to my house.  That is the only time I've had to get it towed.  But I've had my fair share of problems. This is the 2nd motor in it and that doesn't count the 5 other heads that I went through to find a good one.
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird