Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Topic: Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe (Read 8885 times) previous topic - next topic

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #30 – October 26, 2008, 12:33:18 AM

Hey everyone
I just bought an 88 turbo coupe and I am looking to rebuild the engine, and do a bit of body and interior work.
Any good links to where I can shop for some parts.
Thanks

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #31 – October 30, 2008, 01:53:46 AM

Quote from: Shevretti;237538

Thanks for the info! Wish it was that easy to get a spare set of ten hole or turbines here :D All I can get easily here with 4x108 bolt pattern are eg. Focus rims but I guess they have wrong offset?
What's the correct offset range for the T-bird? I think Focus 15'' rims have ET around 42-44.

They will need the hub bored out I believe. They will fit from what Ive heard. Think there might be something on CoolCats.

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #32 – November 30, 2008, 04:37:32 PM

It got colder here and we had first snow so I have more time to work on my cars :)
Turbo Coupe needs new brake pads, but here's what I saw when I lifted it up and looked underneath - looks sad :( Now I know why I could use parking brake only once.

BTW. How can I tell if I have large or small diameter caliper piston? What's the diameter or large one? Choosing correct brake pads is confusing.

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #33 – November 30, 2008, 04:45:27 PM

Wow. It's looking a little scary under there. Are you planning on doing a little rust removal while under there?

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #34 – November 30, 2008, 04:47:49 PM

My friend who is a Fox-Stang fan offered me this starter for my Turbo Coupe. Mine is shot, it spins but turns the flywheel only every 15-20 times and it's also busted by the previous owner who thought that hitting it with a pipe will fix worn brushes :hick: He said that it's out from a SVO Mustang, do you know it will fit my TC? The number on the front casting is E2BF-11131-AA
Here's also additional pic of rusted strut tower. Other side has a hole in it - .

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #35 – November 30, 2008, 05:15:04 PM

Quote from: daminc;245489

Wow. It's looking a little scary under there. Are you planning on doing a little rust removal while under there?

I'll give Gemplers Rust Converter a try to prevent it from rusting any further. I'll have to cut out those rusted parts anyway and weld in new pieces - that's the only way to make the parking brake work again. I'll wire brush it and see how bad it's overall. I also have to see how are the subframes near strut towers.
I also have good news - there's a TC without engine and tranny waiting for me 100 miles away. It has straight rust free undercarriage and all the TC stuff in good condition with only 70K miles (struts, brakes, rear end etc.) I'll haul it home in in December for sure. Than I'll have to decide what's easier for me as replacing the drivetrain will be plug and play. And I'll have a spare hood with scoops to put it in my 3.8 :D Think that Turbo Coupe project may take a longer than expected... not to mention I just wanted a parts car for the V6 :D

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #36 – November 30, 2008, 05:30:57 PM

Think I shouldn't be surprised with all that rust. My TC was imported to Poland in 1995 from Pennsylvania, than it was always stored outside with last 3 years in a field with left front tire flat, so it was almost touching the grass. If only storing car in garage could heal rust now :D

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #37 – December 03, 2008, 04:18:12 PM

This problem is typical for all Fords of these age I heard. I had to solve it too. The solution is to dry the electromagnet and seal the cap.

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #38 – December 03, 2008, 04:42:20 PM

Quote from: Trinom;245979

This problem is typical for all Fords of these age I heard. I had to solve it too. The solution is to dry the electromagnet and seal the cap.

Hello friend from the South! :)
Aren't you reffering to the starter solenoid mounted near the battery? I already replaced it and it's evidently starter motor problem.
Have you been on the American cars meeting in Brno this July? Hope I'll get there next year.

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #39 – December 03, 2008, 06:08:00 PM

Quote from: Shevretti;245493

I also have good news - there's a TC without engine and tranny waiting for me 100 miles away. It has straight rust free undercarriage and all the TC stuff in good condition with only 70K miles (struts, brakes, rear end etc.) I'll haul it home in in December for sure. Than I'll have to decide what's easier for me as replacing the drivetrain will be plug and play.

Save this one & kill the rusty TC... You'll be ahead in the long run...

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #40 – December 03, 2008, 07:00:03 PM

Quote from: TurboCoupe50;246000

Save this one & kill the rusty TC... You'll be ahead in the long run...

Although I may not be the right person to suggest doing this. TurboCoupe50 does have a good idea. It may save you a lot of problems if you rebuild the less rusted car.

Timing belt jumped a tooth?

Reply #41 – March 11, 2009, 05:15:21 PM

Hello!
It was long winter for me with no inspiration to work on my cars. It's finally getting warm here, but I have bad news - I took the Turbo Coupe for a ride and it was running really nice until 2-3 shift at around 4500rpm when something bad happened :(
It still runs but lost some power. First I thought it's a bad spark plug becouse it sounds like running on three cylinders now - much louder exhaust. I replaced all spark plugs, but the old ones were all looking good (not wet from fuel or covered with oil).
With new spark plugs I can hear it backfires, but it's not pinging. Do you think timing belt jumped a tooth?
Mariusz...

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #42 – March 13, 2009, 02:30:49 PM

Is it making boost still?
How long was it sitting without being started?
Possibly bad fuel or water in the system?

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #43 – March 13, 2009, 09:28:55 PM

If the belt was a little loose, It's fairly common to jump a tooth on the cam... Should be able to tell using a timing light... With the timing set to "0"(TDC), the pointer on the cam gear should be close to being at center(never seen one that was actually centered)... BUT usually if the belt is only a tooth off, it will be lazy at low speeds, and still make good power at 3000 RPM up... If timing is OK check compression, may have popped the head gasket, that would cause the exhaust to sound odd...

Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe

Reply #44 – March 16, 2009, 04:09:52 PM

I haven't checked the timing, but it was running well over 3000 rpm as you mentioned and turbo was OK too. I wonder if it may be a siezed valve, does it happen in these engines?

Anyway I decided to sell the TC and it was really fast deal. I sold it last friday and I have a good contact with new owner so I'll forward him your posts.

There were simply too many bugs to fix in the TC, it needed engine overhaul, was badly rusted, needed new paint etc. Anyway it has a good new home now and this guy is working on it all the time from the day he got it and he said he's going to completly restore it. I'd keep it, but I had to face the truth that I don't have time to fix it.

Here's a video I recorded when he was leaving my city and drove it 250 miles away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2W48pLQ2X4

The Turbo Coupe won't start now in his garage, it lost fuel pressure. Spark plugs got fouled with oil. It was first trip over 10 miles after almost 4 years of sitting. Teves II master cylinder died few miles from his home, but he made it!