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Topic: I'm a fool (87 TC thread) (Read 5194 times) previous topic - next topic

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

I got a little bit of money from replacing an AC compressor on my wife's coworker's Acura RSX Type S and instead of using that money to buy parts for my 11 year Cougar project, I bought another car. 

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't do Craigslist and Ebay searches for Cougar and Thunderbird stuff and of course that always leads to trouble.  This time I found an 87 TC with 254k showing on the odometer listed as a parts car.  It was even only a few miles from my house.  My initial thought was "Hey, I can use these parts to finish up the Cougar!" because the parts car I used for the Cougar was stolen before I got to swap over the rear end, exhaust and wheels.  So, I go to look at it and the guy explains to me that he was using it as his daily driver up until a few weeks ago when the brakes failed and only listed it as a parts car because of that.  I took it for a short test drive, came back and made the deal.  The guy even gave me another ABS/power brake assembly that he had just purchased but just didnt have the time to install, a nice set of tail lights, and extra ABS and ride control computers. On the way home I realized I wasn't going to be able to part this car out because I liked it too much.

It does have a few problems:
No power brakes at the moment
AC not functioning
Bad IRCM (I assume because fans are wired to ignition)
No radio
Cheap paint job missing most of the clear coat
Fog lights and cruise control don't work

So here it is, my first TurboCoupe!











1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #1
Nice !!! Great foundation for a cool car. Are those wheels polished? Brought back memories of my blue LX that I installed a set of snow flakes on that I had polished. Great score.I am going to look at an '87/'88 Cougar later.We'll see what happens.I don't even know if it's for sale or not. I'm glad for you. Hopefully the problems will, for the most part,be an easy fix.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #2
Looks like a cool score to me  :D
Fox-less at the moment

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #3
Awesome steal, sir!

My wife would kill me if another 'bird landed in the driveway :rollin:
If worms had daggers, birds wouldn't f**k with 'em

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #4
You need to edit your topic lol...

You'd have been a fool for NOT getting it. :D

Looks like a nice, rust-free (far as can be seen) TC needing a little TLC...the stuff needing fixed isn't major.  good score.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #5
Looks nice! The interior looks to be in pretty good shape for the mileage.
-'88 Tbird 3.8
-2012 Altima 2.5 BASE. 
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Future: Budget 5.0 300 HP.


I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #7
Quote from: Loaded87IROC;332427





There's one in every car, you'll see.
__________________
Twin '85 TCs
White/ Grey 2-tone
#1 (left): undergoing top-to-bottom rebuild     
#2 (right): DD, power everything (sorta)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #8
It's intact, A little labor can be nice.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #9
Dude u are not a fool... This is a definite great find!

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #10
Looks like a good score to me.  Congrats!
Mike

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #11
I stole the cone filter from the Cougar and replaced the airbox on the TC with it.  Wow, what a difference.  You couldn't even tell it was a turbo car before, now you can't miss it.  I also bypassed the BCS and its making a pretty consistent 15psi.  The car is alot more fun to drive now.  Even my wife likes driving it.  I also refinished one of the tripminders and installed it last night.  The extra wires were already there so i just had to pin the harness I made accordingly.  I didn't have to tap into anything.



Tripminder before:



Tripminder after:

1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #12
Looks like an amazing little side project.  Have fun.
1986 Thunderbird:  5.0L (157,000km) /AOD/ 7.5  Accel Cap/Rotor/8mm wires.
Wanted:
-10 Hole rims or turbines
-Stock K-member or cheap aftermarket
-Cheap  8.8 posi  Rear. 

R.I.P 
'84 Cougar  3.8L 4BBL / AOD/ 8.8 posi  "Runns"
'93 Mustang 2.3L /T-5/ 7.5
'85 Cougar 3.8L /AOD/7.5  "Jolly Green"
'87 Mustang 2.3L / T-5/ 7.5
:burnout:

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #13
Quote from: t3skidoo;332488
There's one in every car, you'll see.
heck yea the almigty pine tree air freashiner:mullet::shakeass:
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

I'm a fool (87 TC thread)

Reply #14
whats a bcm and how do u bypass it..........o wait boost control module?
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]