New member checking in.... January 02, 2007, 01:22:18 PM Hi Everyone!New member checking in to what looks like an excellent forum! I have always loved Tbirds and just sold my '97 Sport (MN12 chassis). As luck would have it, I found a 1988 Tbird Sport for $300. She's a roller (no motor or tranny), although I did get a 302 shortblock in the deal. Based on the current condition of the car, there is a fair amount of work that needs to be done to get her back on the road. Most of my previous builds have been Mustangs, so this one will be interesting since my searches here and through the "typical" vendors shows a serious lack of stock and aftermarket products. However, I will still follow my typical build process, which is interior, then exterior, then drivetrain.With that being said, I have a few questions if you guys don't mind.1) Dash pads - Does anyone make replacement dashboards/pads or am I going junkyard shopping?2) Speedo/tach/gauge cluster - I found a few posts about the elusive 140 mph Motorsport speedo/cluster, as well as some posts about converting my 80 mph unit. Unfortunately, I am not clear on exactly what needs to be done. Does anyone or any company recalibrate these two units to bring the speedo up to 140 mph and the tach to 7,000 (preferrably with a "pick it yourself" redline)?3) Passenger seat - My car only has a power driver's seat. Is the wiring harness already there to convert my passenger seat to power? Also, from my searches it appears I will need to get a new console plate with the appropriate holes for the new seat controls. Does Ford still make this or do I need to junkyard one and buy the decal from AM?4) Autolamp conversion - I have to pull the dash to replace the heater core and work out some wiring issues, so is it possible to convert a "regular" headlight system to autolamps? 5) Interior kits - 5.0Resto makes all kinds of interior kits for Mustangs (carpet, door panels, replacement screw kits, etc). Does anyone make any of these parts for our TBirds? I am mainly interested in replacement screw and carpet kits.6) K-Member - I know it isn't really interior related, but the previous owner tried to install a Mustang k-member because he said the motor mounts for Tbirds are over $100 each. Needless to say, it is now a mess. Since this car is a V8 car and an HO motor is no different physically from a non-HO motor, why would you need to swap k-members? Does anyone make a k-member (stock or otherwise) that doesn't push the front wheels forward?Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I can already see a lot of enjoyment in this project and look forward to partiting in this board and maybe a few events here and there. I snapped a couple of pics of how she is now. Ignore the wheels, as these will change to something else soon. Hopefully, the "after" pics will be amazing compared to these! Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #1 – January 02, 2007, 02:16:23 PM Nice lookin' car!One nice thing about these cars having Fox underpinnings is that a lot of mustang stuff WILL work, just not everything.To answer some of your questions-1) no idea.2) There are some ways to convert a canadian speedometer into a 120 mph unit, otherwise I don't really know of anyone doing any other sort of conversions.3) The harness should be there since dual power seats were available on other models.4) Dunno, I always heard the auto-dimming lights didn't work that great anyway.5). Nope. You can probably get the carpet from somewhere. As for screws, your best bet would be to get some kinda screw kit with an assortment of pan/countersunk head screws. I have one like that with a few different sizes and the majority of them work great.6.Thunderbirds used different K-members, different motor mounts, and different front control arms from Mustangs. Why, I have no idea. Why is it "a mess" because of him trying to swap? I always thought the Mustang k-members bolted right in, you just had to use Mustang control arms with them. Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #2 – January 02, 2007, 02:27:39 PM Quote from: bcbickers;1212621) Dash pads - Does anyone make replacement dashboards/pads or am I going junkyard shopping?http://www.coolcats.net/stockmod/modified/dashtop.htmlQuote6) K-Member - I know it isn't really interior related, but the previous owner tried to install a Mustang k-member because he said the motor mounts for Tbirds are over $100 each. Needless to say, it is now a mess. Since this car is a V8 car and an HO motor is no different physically from a non-HO motor, why would you need to swap k-members? Does anyone make a k-member (stock or otherwise) that doesn't push the front wheels forward?First off, kindly punch the previous owner in the taint. Motor mounts run <$20/each.I haven't any idea what he did to make it "a mess". If you don't like it, just swap a stock K-member back in there. A search of the board will tell you everything you need to know regarding T-bird/Cougar specific K-members. Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #3 – January 02, 2007, 02:34:33 PM Welcome to the Forum, and you have a nice loooking bird :D Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #4 – January 02, 2007, 02:54:17 PM nice it look pretty clean in the pics. and welcome Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #5 – January 02, 2007, 03:04:16 PM diggin the colors, except the white ponysGray interior.. mustang steeringwheellookin good.Welcome to the Board Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #6 – January 02, 2007, 03:29:05 PM fornicatein awsome car man. Ponys need to be chrome but I'll adjust. Welcome to out little corner of hell... I mean the net' Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #7 – January 02, 2007, 03:37:39 PM Welcome Aboard!Nice looking Bird. I kind of like the white ponys Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #8 – January 02, 2007, 04:48:26 PM welcome! i'm diggin the bird. great deal for 300 bucks. Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #9 – January 02, 2007, 05:52:20 PM Welcome, very clean. Good luck with it. Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #10 – January 02, 2007, 05:56:45 PM By the way, are you anyways near Pearland, Texas. Thats my hometown. Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #11 – January 02, 2007, 07:15:07 PM WOW!! Thanks for all of the posts and comments. I really feel like I got my money's worth with her. As it turns out, the car already has a 5-lug swap (SN95 front spindles and brakes, rear 5-lug axles from an Aerostar van) and an 8.8" swap with the quad shock brackets already there! No idea on the ring gear though. I'll have to spin the wheels to get an idea.I didn't notice it before, but the trunk lid is shaved too. Kinda cool, I think. I am also slowly adjusting to the paint job and may leave it. The pinstriping is actually painted on and has a Tbird emblem in it just under the rear tip of the quarter windows. Pretty cool. :)As far as the wheels go, they are from a early-90s Supra. LOL!! It's all the guy had to put on the car, so we could load it on the trailer. They'll be history soon. With the 5-lug swap already done, I am thinking about getting the stock "split" 5-stars from a '96-'98 Mustang. I have always liked those wheels. Maybe some satin Cobra R's, if the price is right.I did get more info on the k-member swap/issue. It is out of a '92 Mustang. He had to "wallow" out the rear holes a little bit to get the k-member to fit. Which brings up another question. Does a Fox Mustang k-member change the position of the engine (up/down, left/right, front/rear) in any way? If not, I'll just keep it. No sense changing something that doesn't need to be changed. I'll work out header, exhaust, sterring, or any other clearance issues if they arise.Anyways, thanks again for your comments. The car does look good and appears to be an excellent find. I'm sure I'll have to work issues here and there, but that's half the fun of owning these cars isn't it? :D Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #12 – January 02, 2007, 07:17:37 PM Quote from: 84 Fila;121315By the way, are you anyways near Pearland, Texas. Thats my hometown.I'm out in Katy (far west side of Houston). Pearland is a little ways away on the southeast side but not too far. Where are you now? Was it the military, work, family, etc that forced a move? Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #13 – January 02, 2007, 07:25:49 PM Turning 18 in 3 days bro. I was a kid there. I guess you can call it forced move for dads job. I lived there 11-12 years. I still visit in the spring/summer if I can Quote Selected
New member checking in.... Reply #14 – January 02, 2007, 07:31:21 PM Hello! and welcome aboard!!!:dunce: 1) Dash pads - Does anyone make replacement dashboards/pads or am I going junkyard shopping?I found a couple of time a new dash pads on ebay, and some used too, for a reasonable price...4) Autolamp conversion - I have to pull the dash to replace the heater core and work out some wiring issues, so is it possible to convert a "regular" headlight system to autolamps? I made this conversion last year on My 1985 Bird, its virtually a "plug and play" to do this...DONOR CAR!.1st, found a 85-87 Tbird/Cougar equipped with this, take the complete switch assy, and the bezel for it as well...2nd, remove the harness from the switches (especially the one connect to the two rotary control), unplug the harness near the firewall (large rectangular connector), remove this harness with these 2 or 3 relays (located at the right of the steering column under the dash).3rd, remove the light sensor on the windshield mirror (also remove the mirror too to have the bracket for the sensor), remove the ENTIRELY 3 wire cable from the car, If is tough to remove from the door pillar, cut it and remove, You will reconnect the cutted wires when You reinstall, that's all for the removing...ON YOUR CAR!.1st, remove the headlight switch kit from Your dash and unplug as well.2nd, install the harness from the donor car with the relays, ect, ect, install the 3wire cable and mirror sensor.3rd, locate a dummy plug under the dash at the rear of the fuse box, this is exactly the same rectangular plug You removed in the donor car, remove the dummy plug from Your car (this dummy have 2 cables on it for bypass when You don't have the option), connect the rectangular plug from Your "new" harness to it.4th, plug the harness to the switch assy, and replug all wires on the headlight switch, and that's all !!!...The only difficulty I was have to made this, is to pass the wire from the light sensor into the front door pillar, the rest is just a plug and play type...For My conversion I used a autolamp, and dim lamp assy of a 1987 or 1988 Cougar LS, and will work good on My 1985 Bird...Hope this help... Quote Selected
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