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Topic: My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again......... (Read 20197 times) previous topic - next topic

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #15
is there much to be had from the CFI system?
83 Thunderbird Heritage - Right Hand Drive
95 Falcon GLi

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #16
Quote from: MY83T;366672
So i was wondering what you guys think of a few light mods to the car as i really want to keep the originality as much as possible as its a true survivor car.
1.Dual Exhausts
2.Some internal engine mods (some port work, new cam , stronger valve springs.. maybe an aftermarket, stock appearing coil to boost the spark a little)
3. 5.0 fender call outs ( I always liked the looks of these)
Im curious what all of your thoughts are.....

I'm for all of them except the 5.0 badges on the fender , I dont like them even on Stangs  :)
Fox-less at the moment

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #17
Quote from: EFFalcon;366686
is there much to be had from the CFI system?

In the way of parts or performance?








1983 FORD THUNDERBIRD HERITAGE 5.0
2008 SAAB 9-7X AERO 6.0 (LS2) 1 0f 554 Made
2011 FORD FLEX SEL Family Hauler

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #18
Quote from: hypostang;366696
I'm for all of them except the 5.0 badges on the fender , I dont like them even on Stangs  :)

 
I agree, the only thing I regret doing to my Thunderbird. I do like them on Mustangs since it was stock on those however lol.
Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB SN-95 front struts and shocks, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #19
performance.
83 Thunderbird Heritage - Right Hand Drive
95 Falcon GLi

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #20
Quote from: MY83T;366373
I plan to keep the car as stock as possible as these are becoming more rare in original unmolested condition.  The only cosmetic non-stock item will be some 5.0 call outs on the fenders, i always liked them.  As for engine mods, when the block is rebuilt i will do some mild upgrades, but it will maintain its stock appearance.  The dash pad, headliner and carpet all need to be redone, the back seats are perfect, no cracks in the leather, and i have a mint pair of Leather front seats that i bought off ebay 5 years ago for 75 shipped to replace the cracking old ones on there now.  I am keeping the TRX wheels too even though the tires are a fortune to run. I like them alot and you just dont see them that much anymore.......


Good luck and keep us posted.  If you find anything interesting during the tear down as far as factory markings, etc. feel free to post it in the thread here:
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?25246-Original-cars-owners-documentation

When you pull the motor apart, I'd be curious to know if there are any 'nylon' gears behind the timing cover. I've been told they were used around that time.

Good to see another 83 Heritage coming back to life! :D
tbirdregistry.com
26480
27373

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #21
Quote from: rodsterh;366824
Good luck and keep us posted.  If you find anything interesting during the tear down as far as factory markings, etc. feel free to post it in the thread here:
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?25246-Original-cars-owners-documentation

When you pull the motor apart, I'd be curious to know if there are any 'nylon' gears behind the timing cover. I've been told they were used around that time.

Good to see another 83 Heritage coming back to life! :D

I will certainly document with loads of pics and report here in detail.  My car has the buck tag still and build sheet is safely entombed in the bottom of the passenger seat....








1983 FORD THUNDERBIRD HERITAGE 5.0
2008 SAAB 9-7X AERO 6.0 (LS2) 1 0f 554 Made
2011 FORD FLEX SEL Family Hauler

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #22
Awesome that you've had the car since 87 and now you get to revisit it. I gotta vote for no on the 5.0 badges. Looks much cleaner without. Just let the exhaust note tell people whats under the hood. There's no mistaking the sound of a 5.0 with flowmasters.
I actually just started driving mine again after 4 years in storage. It was pretty well kept, so no restoration needed. I've had mine for 11 years now and it still puts a huge smile on my face every time i drive it:D

turbo charged 94 Cobra engine/440cc injectors/megasquirt /5 speed swapped (T5)/maxbox upper intake/70mm PP throttle body/AJE coilovers/2003 Mustang control arms/S.T. sway bars/ES rear control arm bushings/11" brake conversion/manual rack conversion/8.8 TC rear with rear discs and a welded diff/3.73 gears/PLX wideband/199mph speedometer/Aeromotive FPR/CNC hydraulic hand brake/cobra R wheels/....ect.

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #23
Quote from: bryan163;366834
Awesome that you've had the car since 87 and now you get to revisit it. I gotta vote for no on the 5.0 badges. Looks much cleaner without. Just let the exhaust note tell people whats under the hood. There's no mistaking the sound of a 5.0 with flowmasters.
I actually just started driving mine again after 4 years in storage. It was pretty well kept, so no restoration needed. I've had mine for 11 years now and it still puts a huge smile on my face every time i drive it:D
Ok, ok....im convinced, no 5.0 call outs....lol  I am really excited to get her running and registered this week........








1983 FORD THUNDERBIRD HERITAGE 5.0
2008 SAAB 9-7X AERO 6.0 (LS2) 1 0f 554 Made
2011 FORD FLEX SEL Family Hauler

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #24
Maybe a newb question, but what are TRX rims and why are the tires expensive?

turbo charged 94 Cobra engine/440cc injectors/megasquirt /5 speed swapped (T5)/maxbox upper intake/70mm PP throttle body/AJE coilovers/2003 Mustang control arms/S.T. sway bars/ES rear control arm bushings/11" brake conversion/manual rack conversion/8.8 TC rear with rear discs and a welded diff/3.73 gears/PLX wideband/199mph speedometer/Aeromotive FPR/CNC hydraulic hand brake/cobra R wheels/....ect.

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #25
Quote from: bryan163;366839
Maybe a newb question, but what are TRX rims and why are the tires expensive?

Not a newb question at all, its how you learn..... the TRX wheel package was common to 4 eyed Fox body Mustangs and Capri cars from 1979-1983 and Was a pricey add on for Thunderbird for 83/84  They use Metric tires which are only available from pen 15er tire nowadays and cost like $300 per tire. Many people opt for the Ten hole or Turbine 4 lug wheels as the tire sizes are more standard and less costly.  If you look at the pics in the beginning of the thread you can see a shot of a TRX rim. Very unique and distinct....








1983 FORD THUNDERBIRD HERITAGE 5.0
2008 SAAB 9-7X AERO 6.0 (LS2) 1 0f 554 Made
2011 FORD FLEX SEL Family Hauler

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #26
I saw the wheels and I think I've seen them before. Never heard of metric tires before though. Learn something new every day.
So are you gonna pull the motor right away or does it still run and drive?

turbo charged 94 Cobra engine/440cc injectors/megasquirt /5 speed swapped (T5)/maxbox upper intake/70mm PP throttle body/AJE coilovers/2003 Mustang control arms/S.T. sway bars/ES rear control arm bushings/11" brake conversion/manual rack conversion/8.8 TC rear with rear discs and a welded diff/3.73 gears/PLX wideband/199mph speedometer/Aeromotive FPR/CNC hydraulic hand brake/cobra R wheels/....ect.

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #27
Quote from: bryan163;366841
I saw the wheels and I think I've seen them before. Never heard of metric tires before though. Learn something new every day.
So are you gonna pull the motor right away or does it still run and drive?

Going to find out this week, as i need to change some fluids, and get a new battery in her.....then well see.....either way a rebuild is in order. It ran fine when parked 4 years ago.








1983 FORD THUNDERBIRD HERITAGE 5.0
2008 SAAB 9-7X AERO 6.0 (LS2) 1 0f 554 Made
2011 FORD FLEX SEL Family Hauler

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #28
Went to the storage garage today.....topped off all the fluids, poured a little marvel mystery oil in.....car turned over in 3 cranks.  Not bad for a 38 year old car with over 100k on the clock and hasn't been started in almost 5 years.  I have to mount the new tires before i can drive it anywhere, as the current ones are dry rotted badly.








1983 FORD THUNDERBIRD HERITAGE 5.0
2008 SAAB 9-7X AERO 6.0 (LS2) 1 0f 554 Made
2011 FORD FLEX SEL Family Hauler

My bone stock 1983 Heritage lives again.........

Reply #29
Quote from: MY83T;367736
38 year old car .

 
When did you trade your '83 in for a '73 hahaha. Just messing with ya man. The only reason I know how old my Cougar is, because it is 4 years older than I am.
"Real cars dont power the front wheels, they lift them"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1984 Mercury Cougar GS 5.0:cougarsmily: BBK Equal Length Shorties, BBK O/R X-Pipe, Magnaflow Magnapacks, Mustang GT Stainless Tailpipes, 18" Magnaflow Rolled Edge Tips. Turbo Coupe Hood, Mach 1 Chin Spoiler. 17"x9" Cobra R's, Falken Ziex 255/50s, and 245/45s.
1984 Ford Thunderbird 3.8L "Drag Queen"
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Lone Star Edition 5.7L Hemi 400hp, lex DOD14M Magnaflow retro-fit ler kit