'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... August 04, 2007, 10:41:01 PM You know the drill. You've won eleventy-billion dollars in a Nigerian lottery and are free to do whatever you want to your car without having to worry about cost (or significant other nagging). The only rule: You must do it to a fox Bird or Cat, preferably the car you have now. No Ferrarris, no Lamborghinis, no Ford GT's - strictly 1980-1988 T-Birds or Cougars.I'd have to do more than one.For the 1988 'Bird I'd build it this way: The complete body would be grafted onto a custom tube chassis that would also anchor an AWD system from a Navigator and powered by a Ford GT engine modded to belt out about 800 horses. Front and rear suspension would be full independent, and of course custom made to make sure that the AWD system all fit under the car nicely.With the body sitting on a nice, stiff tube chassis I'd then be free to have the roof cut off and a custom folding retractable hard top installed in its place. A complete custom leather interior would be made up, and an instrument panel featuring all of the latest goodies (GPS navigation, etc) would be made up as well. I'd try to keep the IP looking as stock as possible, though - I'd have all of the electronic goodies housed in the radio/HVAC center stack. Custom gauges would reside in place of the stock ones, of course.That would be my "fun" car. My daily driver would take on a completely different persona:I'd start out with a four-eye Bird with vent windows (a MUST). The body would be completely stock appearing with a Turbo Coupe bumper cover. The interior would be treated to the same goodies as the "fun" car. The rear suspension would be Cobra IRS, the front would feature a custom tubular K-member and coil-overs. The drivetrain, however, would be something completely different:I would try to find a wrecked 2WD, manual-transmission'd Jeep Liberty CRD and swap the entire Mercedes Bluetec turbo diesel V6 engine and 6-speed manual tranny into the car, doing whatever it takes to make the engine/tranny fit, and more importantly, look like it should be in there. Before you all whine about installing a Mercedes engine into a 4-eye, remember that Ford installed BMW diesels into Mark VII's in the mid 80's. If Ford can look to Germany for a decent diesel, so can I. The reason I would go with Mercedes is that the engine is compact, light, and very powerful (mid 200's for horsepower, high 300's for torque). It is the state of the art in automotive diesels.So, why diesel, when with that eleventy-billion dollars I could afford plenty of gas? Because, that's why. I'd just love to have a diesel Fox, and have often thought about finding a diesel Mark and swapping the drivetrain into a 'Bird or Coug. With unlimited funds I wouldn't have to settle for that ol' BMW oil burner. Plus, with all that money I could set up shop to make my own biofuel, thus reducing my money going to support terrorism (as I type this I'm watching breaking news on CNN that a carload of towelheads was busted in SC with a bunch of explosives).In keeping with that theme I would also build a big-ass house, but I would make it a showcase of green technology. Wind turbines, solar panels, Li-Ion batteries to store it, solar and geothermal heat, natural gas cooking and clothes dryer, the whole enchilada. I would build the system robust enough that I was actually selling power back to the power company via net metering. But the house is a different fantasy altogether.So, let's hear your ideas... Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #1 – August 04, 2007, 11:29:56 PM Fila from hell would be mine. Full coil over front04 Cobra IRS rearNice mean and low stanceGFX kit like Kyle'sBuilt 347 ( AFR's, Lopy ass cam, bullet proof bottom end, Demon carb...)Simple yet effective body mods17" Light Charcoal bullets with stickie tired ( 255-50 front, 295-45 rear)New paint and make it look stock Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #2 – August 04, 2007, 11:39:49 PM I would find a good rust-free 87-88 T-Bird, no sunroof, and strip it down to the body. Cut away all the structure forward of the firewall, and cut out the floors and trunk just leaving the hull of the body. Then I would get a 105" Nascar Busch chassis and set the body down on it. I would remove a few interior bars of the cage so I could fit a passenger seat and remove the door bars but modify them so I could bolt them back in. Then I would fit a full stock gray interior, but without the full console. Roadracing seats re-covered to look factory. Then I would build a slightly de-tuned 700hp version of a drysump Nextel Cup motor and shift it through a Richmond Roadrace 5 speed and floater 9" rear with aluminum 3.50 differential and Detroit Locker. 18"x12" wheels. Car and wheels black. Maybe delete sidemolding. I would have two sets of doors with the hinges modified to lift and remove the entire door to swap them. One set of hollow doors to clear the door bars for track days, and one stock set with power windows for those days I want to drive on the street.Wait, that's what I'm doing....Just without the $$$$$.....Dave Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #3 – August 04, 2007, 11:46:06 PM I think I would also need a second Bird.It would be...project Stealth Bomber.It would start life as an 87-88 TC.- EVERYTHING would be blacked out, including the front lights.- Interior? Black, of course. Most likely leather to avoid fading, but not necessarily if the windows are tinted.- I'd install an infrared HUD a'la Cadillac's.- It would see custom independent suspension in the rear and custom in the front so I could run at a minimum 255's all around.- Tint to the maximum legal level on all windows that are legally tintable.- QUIET dual exhaust. ....stealth....- Four-point driver's side harness.- Speedo HUD lifted from a GM model.- Sonar front and rear, the front possibly tied into the cruise control so I could keep constant distance rather than constant speed. I write software for a living so this might be doable for me.- Tires? Z-rated, run-flat, monitored for pressure with a warning indicator.- Dual alternators. No screwing around with power issues.- HEAVY duty radiator.- 13" discs (ABS) on all wheels, dual-piston calipers. 17" rims to fit over them.- Armored glass and driver's side door. No droopy-pants Philly/Chester/Camden carjacker is taking this baby.- Pepper-spray dispenser around the driver's side window. I play dirty when it comes to carjackers.- Armable explosive bolt on the doors so people can get out in a hurry if for some reason the car lands in water (obviously the circuit must not be armed normally and must not get shorted out when underwater).Give me some time. I'm sure I can think of other things... Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #4 – August 05, 2007, 12:03:57 AM As another little qirk to bend the rules, I want a 80 Fairmont 2 door that I wana make a street DD. 302street/strip C48.8 w/ 3.55'sBuckets and console with a B&M shifterBlack on black vinalThinking 10 holes with normal rubber( 225-60-15's) Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #5 – August 05, 2007, 12:09:48 AM I think I would find the most horrible looking Thunderbird I could find. Rust, dents, and just plain ripped to shreds. Then do a complete custom resto on it just because I got nothin else to do for then next 50- 60 years of my life. Just to have fun. Of course, huge engine, built transmission, rear end, yadda yadda, you know the drill. Then give it to someone less fortunate on the board, and start all over again. Of course, mine would have to be the first off the assembly line but, i don't think anyone would care......yeah. Thats what I would do. Probly buy Canada too..... :birdsmily: Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #6 – August 05, 2007, 12:49:36 AM Did you have to ask! You already know Finish Da bird! I would be doing it with style and class. I would pay for it! I would be fully involved in the process unlike so many rich people. First the whole car would be stripped to bare. Then it would be off to the sand blasters! You know one of those big professional places where the put your car on a rotisseries so they can do the whole thing. The suspension: Even though I just put the bushing kit in 3 years ago everything would be ripped out and replaced. The K-member GONE, A-arms Gone. Then Tubular goes in. replace the rack, the sterring shaft with a flaming river unit. Then I would add the whole Kenny brown Chassis setup. Have Kenny's people put it on and tune it for me. The engine. Yep still gonna be 2.3 TURBO POWER!!!! But nothing like the stock unit. First off head over to Enslinger and have them hook me up with a fully built motor with there Aluminum Head!!! Then it would be over to Turbonetics to get the Turbo. I'd most likely put on a Stinger log header with fully 3" straight back and out in front of the passenger side tire. I know half to move the inline pump. Then I would need a Killer set of Chuck W motor mounts to hook it up to the new K member. Can't for get that we are losing the factory TOP mount inter cooler and putting a very large front mount. Add in and electronic boost controller and wide band air/fuel gauge for good measure. Don't for get we have to have a tuner so I would go with a Shift master EEC tuner. Yeah BABY makin the POWER NOW! Driveline: The 5spd is nice but that would have to go. Then In goes a t-56. I have the parts custom made and then sell a kit for the 2.3t guys! Then the factory driveshaft gone and in goes a Motorsports Aluminum unit. Then the 7.5 trac loc is gone. Then in goes the 8.8 with rear disc and a air locker!Exterior: Then car has been blasted so cut out any rust and fix everything perfect. I'm not talking a hack job pulling full panels and replacing them .I would put the regular hood back on. Paint the car with a show stopping Dark Charcoal Metallic paint job. Smoother than a babies ass in December. Then need to top it off with some 17" Gray 5 star with some Pirelli Pzero tires. I would need new glass with tint all the way around. Black out the window trim with powder coat. Interior: I would recover the factory seats not in the partial leather vinyl. I would have full ostrich leather front and rear. The colors would be Gray and black. THe doors would get reshaped so mold into the dash as much as possible with the 84 dash. Then cover the doors in the same leather. The center and rear arm rest would be covered too. Have the nice tall black carpet. Audio system and extras: I would replace the 13year old pioneer cd player changer setup with something alot more modern. It must HD setup so no more cd's and it can jack into the laptop. Better yet Wireless to the home system to add music hell even download tunes at Sonic and Micky D's. I'm not so mch into video in cars but since we have the money right! Monitors in the visors and some in the back of the front seats. Might as well put in a game system for the kids. THen form there it would be just adding the custom touches here and there. You know adding that real nice leather shift to match the seats. Bunches and bunches of little things here and there.Since I'm so rich I would also be remaking the hard to find parts for these car so people like us could find what they needed and get nice new stuff on the cheap!!Might as well just start making T-bird's and selling them!:hick: What did you want in a T-bird I can give it to you only NEW! Come one come all! Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #7 – August 05, 2007, 03:03:21 AM I would buy every fox TBird and Cougar left on the planet.:hick:It's going to take me a day or two to even imagine what I would do... Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #8 – August 05, 2007, 03:26:01 AM I would buy a time machine and go back and buy my 83 when it was new, then I would stop off in 88 and pick up my Special Edition and TC when they were new. Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #9 – August 05, 2007, 03:35:28 AM 87 CougarTake the 302 out replace with 460 beef up the frame for the 460Do all available suspension upgradesTrue duals99 Cougarreplace 2.5 with turbocharged 13B-REW(RX-8 engine)Rear wheel drive conversionall available suspension upgradesRx8 True dual exhaust systemBuy a 2001 CougarReplace 2.5 with a 3.9 Yahama Keep it FWDAll available suspension upgradesTrue Duals Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #10 – August 05, 2007, 04:28:29 AM 86 tbird or cougar, drop in a stock rebuilt 87-93 mustang block, gt-40 or trickflow heads, kenne bell super charger running about 6 psi, t-56 viper spec tranny, 4.11 gears with a rebuilt stock turbo coupe rear and 11" brake upgrade to the front. Leave the body beat up and looking like shiznit with stock sized tires, and if at all possible, the torquiest cam I could find, even if it was with a stock 5.0 so cam.Then I'd go out and show all those honda boys what the diffrence is between a 250-400hp v-8 and the same numbers out of an inline 4.Then i'd prolly buy a bunch of land and start a mustang/cat/bird junkyard. Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #11 – August 05, 2007, 05:22:30 AM I'd find a virgin, low millage '87-'88 TC to rape, and stick one of the Man-O-War 372cu in small blocks in it... With a built tranny, five lug conversion and a few mods here and there, it would be my perfect cruiser...AND would hold a Lottery drawing on the board to raffle off my present TC... (Don't you guys hope I hit it big???) Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #12 – August 05, 2007, 09:33:40 AM My "wants" don't change.I want a 1970 Plymouth Superbird,fuel injected Hemi,6 speed tranny,power everything,sunroof,Lemon Twist color,and the pink slip. Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #13 – August 05, 2007, 10:49:04 AM I'd build a shop big enough to hold several cars. I'd also build a big press to stamp out reproduction panels such as the tbirds quarter panels. Quote Selected
'Bout time for another of those "Money is no object" threads... Reply #14 – August 05, 2007, 10:59:38 AM Quote from: HAVI;166162I'd build a shop big enough to hold several cars. I'd also build a big press to stamp out reproduction panels such as the tbirds quarter panels.*Grovels at your feet* could you as well stamp out cougar reproduction parts kind sir. Quote Selected
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