Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe September 11, 2008, 03:39:41 AM Hello!I was very happy to see an ad about '87 T-bird for sale, about 60 miles from me. The guy wanted $1200 for it but lowered to $1000 now and said it needs some work (mostly suspension, front brakes and starter). It's in running condition but doesn't look too good. What are the bad things that may happen to 2.3? If the timing belt breaks, do I end up with valves in pistons and total mess?Does it have hydraulic clutch control?What should I look for that may lower the price? I guess it should accelerate at least twice faster than the 3.8 if it's OK, right?I'd like to use it on classic cars track days (always wanted to paint the hood in flat black :D)... or as parts car for my first T-bird. Let me know what you think?Mariusz... Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #1 – September 11, 2008, 08:19:14 AM The 2.3 is not a interference engine, no prob if the belt breaks...Yes they have a hydraulic clutch... Can be changed over to cable using Mustang 4cyl/'86 earlier TC components(I believe bell housing must be swapped)...The 5 speed should boost to around 14-15 psi and will be a real fireball compared to the 3.8... At 90/100K mi, it's common for the fuel pumps to be weak causing bogging at more than a few psi boost(had this prob with several of the ones I've owned)... Changing a pump isn't a big deal, stock pump is same as 5.0 Mustang...If oil hasn't been changed regularly, the cam will wear and be noisy, not a big deal to swap... Bottom ends are tough, just about can't hurt one unless it's run out of oil, or revved to 7500 rpm plus(not too likely since the EEC cuts fuel at 6250)...Also check that the ABS system lights are operating(just above the premium fuel & ride control switches)... When ign sw is first turned on the red "brake" should go out in a few seconds followed by the amber ABS lamp... Also check while driving, a bad wheel sensor will turn on the amber light... If the red stays on it can be a park brake, low fluid prob OR the electric pump in the master cylinder assembly may not be operating... If the pump is down, it will have almost no brakes...Looks fairly decent under the hood... Inner marker lamps are unique to the TC, the headlamps and outers are same as other '87-'88 Birds... Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #2 – September 12, 2008, 05:37:57 PM You can call me a total NUT now... I finally got it for $800 today.It runs really nice, clearcoat is peeling off badly but only from the front, and brakes are very, very weak.The ABS lamp is permanently lit up, but I don't remember how the red "brake" lamp was acting (haven't noticed it with engine runing). I'll check the pump motor in master cylinder tomorrow, hoping it's just a relay or wire problem.What's the correct tire size for these rims? Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #3 – September 13, 2008, 12:34:37 AM Hey, congrats! It looks pretty nice, just dirty. The stock snowflakes are 16". People on this board have whatever you need to fix it up, if you can afford the shipping. LOL. Good luck with your new purchase!! Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #4 – September 13, 2008, 06:48:14 AM Congrats, TCs are fun cars....Original tires are 225/60/16... The upper alternator bracket appears to be missing....For the brake problem it may be a relay... The front one of the pair on the fire wall, beside the clutch slave cylinder is the one that controls operation... Fairly common for them to fail... If the red "Brake" lamp isn't operating someone could have removed the bulb... As I stated prior, it should be on when switch is first turned on as it is monitoring system pressure... You should be able to hear the pump run(hum).... Normally they run approx 30 seconds and shut off when system pressure is up... A couple pumps of the brakes will bring it on again for 5-10 seconds...NATO has a very good FAQ section that should answer about any question you have...http://www.turbotbird.com/FAQpage/FAQpage.htmhttp://natomessageboard.com/ultimatebb.php Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #5 – September 13, 2008, 09:40:18 AM Good deal,especially for over in europe.I'm sure birds are rare over there as it is let alone TC's. Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #6 – September 13, 2008, 10:27:18 AM Nice buy.Good luck with it.Keep us posted on your progress and keep those pics coming. Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #7 – September 13, 2008, 02:39:19 PM It's alive, it's alive! :)I printed Teves II troubleshooting article from "NATO" website this morning and drove the 3.8 to the place where I keep my cars. After pumping up the tires I started the TC to see if some miracle happened to the brake pump... I wasn't that lucky. So I started from the relay, removed the plug and shorted two contacts described in the article and... I heard the pump! :) So I thought to take the relay apart, but beeing a little lazy working on some little plastic parts I thought that tapping with screw driver may help and... my TC is has brakes again! :hick:So I took it for a first faster ride to see if turbocharger works. Drove it for a mile or two and when I was going back, temp gauge was about to reach red line... thankfully I was almost back at my place in a minute and it haven't boiled - found another problem - fan won't engage. I opened the A/C fan relay and shorted it manually with piece of folded paper. I couldn't find any switch in the radiator, what turns on the fan?After a few minutes, I restarted the engine with fan runing and I saw a big cloud of smoke. It was smoking for a minute or two and the smoke was gone, so I took it for another ride and everything was OK - no smoke at all. So I parked it to eat dinner... another start and another cloud of smoke. Do you think it's a prolem with valve stem seals? It smokes until I revv it up to 2000 for a few seconds and the smoke is gone and doesn't show up until I stop the engine and restart it after few minutes. Any ideas?Thanks in advance for help! Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #8 – September 13, 2008, 05:21:08 PM The IRCM operates the fans... Integrated Relay Control Module... The EEC operates the IRCM relays(there are two), but must have a good EEC temp sensor(between the injectors #2 & #3)...Instructions to check it out on NATO... BUT I remember grounding pin #17(pink wire), turns on aux fan as does operating the AC(system must be charged, it's triggered from the low pressure switch)..I've yet to see a 2.3T with bad valve seals... Smoke may be due to the turbo, check it for end & lateral play... Should be info on NATO... Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #9 – September 13, 2008, 07:45:31 PM agreed,you need a hew temp sensor. Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #10 – September 13, 2008, 08:19:33 PM Great car to have a little fun with.Nice find... Now you own all the birds in Poland. Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #11 – September 14, 2008, 12:20:49 AM looks like a great start the TC are really hard to blow up when u blow a timing belt. AS I like to say its probley the closest motor package of anyAmerican cars that is as close to a bulit proff motor yell get form of the show room. Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #12 – September 14, 2008, 05:26:34 PM Quote from: daminc;236081Great car to have a little fun with.Nice find... Now you own all the birds in Poland.Almost all... there's at least one more 1987/88 T-bird (TC). I also saw a 1986 V6 for sale last Spring - $6800 Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #13 – September 14, 2008, 05:44:32 PM Wanted to take some "family" photos of the twins today, but it was a little too dark. TC evidently had a hard life.I changed oil in TC today, not to mess up the engine driving on oil that was there for a few years. I noticed that it's not smoking after cold startup, only on hot engine, so it's rather turbo problem. But with new oil I get a lot less smoke, and it doesn't smoke for so long. I wanted to show you that cloud on the pic, but it didn't smoke this time :DBTW. Do I have to remove a part of intake to get to that temp sensor you mentioned? Quote Selected
Considering buying '87 Turbo Coupe Reply #14 – September 14, 2008, 05:48:05 PM Quote from: 88TurboCoupeman01;236095looks like a great start the TC are really hard to blow up when u blow a timing belt. AS I like to say its probley the closest motor package of anyAmerican cars that is as close to a bulit proff motor yell get form of the show room.I always thought 302 is the thing? Quote Selected
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