Chuck's '83 TBird

Topic: Chuck's '83 TBird (Read 119299 times) previous topic - next topic

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #150 – January 19, 2015, 11:53:08 PM

Chuck, I've the TC 8.8 with the drums I had in my Sport...it's 5 lug, as well as having your 3.55 R&P ratio.

I'm a good little bit from Indy though, but if you were interested and felt up for a drive, we could meet halfway, or however..

Just a thought..

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #151 – January 20, 2015, 10:49:03 AM

Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;443169

Chuck, I've the TC 8.8 with the drums I had in my Sport...it's 5 lug, as well as having your 3.55 R&P ratio.

I'm a good little bit from Indy though, but if you were interested and felt up for a drive, we could meet halfway, or however..

Just a thought..

Hrmmm...

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #152 – January 20, 2015, 03:24:45 PM

Too bad a 300 I6 won't fit. A little heavy but man that would be cool and fun, if turbocharged.

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #153 – January 20, 2015, 05:13:07 PM

A 300 will fit. When I was in high school a friend had a '79 Mustang with a 300 swapped in. He used to say his six was only one cubic inch smaller than my V8 (1980 Firebird, 301 V8), therefore it was just as fast. Truthfully, both cars were embarrassingly slow. The engine was in there, though - it was a backyard swap job, looking like somebody just dumped it out of a front end loader and welded it wherever it landed, but it was in there. He lost that car when he was pulled over for a safety check. It was in really bad shape and was impounded, and he never went back for it.

One engine that has recently gotten my attention is the new 2.7 Ecoboost. That engine would be sweet in a Fox. Of course it's still way too new to be found in junkyards, but it'd be cool...

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #154 – January 20, 2015, 06:31:37 PM

The early fox Mustangs (79-83 IIRC) came with a factory 200 inch six cylinder in which the K-member was specific to that motor. If I remember correctly they got the K-member out of the Fairmonts or Granda but I am not 100% sure on that. Getting a 300 inch six in one and it look good would be a challenge as it is longer, taller, and has the weight of a 302.

Darren

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #155 – January 20, 2015, 09:48:55 PM

Yeah...no BB I6 is even on the table. The shortblock I have is a late (83-84) 200ci I6 with the low-mount starter. Basically the lower 2/3's of a SBF bellhousing pattern.

With the AL head, I don't think the weight is going to be more than the 2.3T, even with the extra 2 cylinders.

Looking into pistons/rods/cam stuff at the moment.

'79 Mustangs had the 2.8 V6. The I6 didn't come until '80.

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #156 – January 20, 2015, 10:55:17 PM

Many moons ago, there was a 300/six thread here (technically the EZ board) about what it would require to put a 300" into a Fox. Lots of speculation, I think one thing everyone could agree is that no way in hell a stock hood would cover it.

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #157 – January 20, 2015, 11:39:55 PM

Yay!

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #158 – January 25, 2015, 08:23:45 PM

OK, well I had some time to mess with things over the weekend. Not much, but at least something.

I got the engine drug out.
If only it was as easy as just dropping the head on...

Going to work on getting things torn down while I scope out internal options.

I also messed with test-fitting the panhard bar frame mount. Yeah....Going to have to completely rework the tailpipe. With the revised upper arm location, I should be able to keep a full 3" pipe on there, but it's going to take some work. Gotta remove the tailpipe and mod up the bracket and then go from there.

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #159 – December 27, 2018, 05:41:14 PM

THREAD NECRO!!!

I'm embarrassed to even note that it's been almost 4 years since I last posted in this thread.

No excuses, other than just "life". I've had some other sizable car and house projects to deal with this year, but I am happy to say that work is FINALLY getting done on this thing.

Started tearing down the 8.8 to get it cleaned up and ready to put under the car. Along with that will be the install of the 4-link and P-hard bar set-up. This will also require some fiddling with the exhaust after the ler. There is a SLIM chance that I might try and put coil-overs on the rear of this thing, just because it might be easier to deal with in regards to spring rates, etc for a non-stock set-up. Need to look into that, just to see if it's worth it or not.

I also have a headlight upgrade to get installed and I need to at least get the WBO2 installed in the car to finally dial in the tune a bit better on this 2.3T. Engine swaps for this will have to wait, as my project list on the other vehicles is kinda long, but most of those will have to wait for warmer weather, as this is the only car that gets a warm, dry place to sleep currently. Time is limited, but this thing is on the bench and in my way now. :hick:

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #160 – December 28, 2018, 10:54:32 PM

Quote from: gumby;443232

Yay!

again

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #161 – December 29, 2018, 08:40:40 AM

Quote from: gumby;468327

again

I know, right?

Been getting a parts list together for the rear refresh. Gonna stay with the Trac-Loc diff in there, but I know there are a couple tricks that can be done to it.

What are your thoughts on switching to coil-overs in the back of this thing?

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #162 – December 29, 2018, 04:47:49 PM

Quote from: Chuck W;468329

Gonna stay with the Trac-Loc diff in there, but I know there are a couple tricks that can be done to it.

I am a T/L fan. Use the modified stack arrangement and toss in the heavy S-spring. Shim the side gears to preference. I like ~70ftlbs of breakaway torque. Over 100 scrubs the inside tire on the street and feels like a locker at autoX, under 40 starts to spin up the inside tire. I haven't found a justification for the extra cost of CF frictions.

Quote from: Chuck W;468329

What are your thoughts on switching to coil-overs in the back of this thing?

If the lowers in your kit have perches, MM sells MANY different rates of stock location coils. Give them a call, let them know your current front rates, and they should be able to recommend a good spring for the back. Coil-overs are great tools for versatility, but again I find it difficult to justify the extra $$$ in most street applications.

https://www.maximummotorsports.com/Torque-Arm-Springs-C345.aspx

*edit: looked up the kit, stock lowers get re-used.

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #163 – December 29, 2018, 07:23:12 PM

Good info on the TL. Still getting everything apart and getting a list together of the parts to buy. Working on getting the housing stripped down so it's slightly easier to maneuver around under the car to get things laid out.

Quote from: gumby;468330

If the lowers in your kit have perches, MM sells MANY different rates of stock location coils. Give them a call, let them know your current front rates, and they should be able to recommend a good spring for the back. Coil-overs are great tools for versatility, but again I find it difficult to justify the extra $$$ in most street applications.

*edit: looked up the kit, stock lowers get re-used.

Yeah, I can reuse my existing lowers, if I want. I may build some new upper links, though. I don't really like what's in the kit (Which needs to be replaced or rehabbed anyway).

I may just wait on screwing with spring rates (and sway bars) until after the car is on the road again. My front suspension set-up isn't stock, and I may need softer out back anyway, when it's all said and done.
Another question I ask myself, is do I keep the old "TracKit" RLCA mount location on the rear axle, or put it back to the stock location? The TK, coupled with my front suspension geometry means I have very minimal dive under braking.

Spent some time in demo mode this afternoon on one side of the housing, getting rid of all of the extra .

Once I get the stuff cleaned off, I'm going to get it under the car and get the additional stuff in place, before getting everything cleaned up to coat.

Good thing I'm not going to need these...Just going to pop them out and toss them.

Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #164 – December 31, 2018, 08:11:43 AM

Awesome! All these updates make me giddy!