1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Topic: 1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD (Read 15985 times) previous topic - next topic

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #15 – March 19, 2013, 10:36:16 AM

Welcome to the board! Where in Iowa are you located?

If 250 horsepower is all you need, why bother swapping engines? The 2.3 will easily (and reliably) make that, probably with just more boost and exhaust. What transmission in currently in the car? It is true that there aren't 100 companies making parts for the 2.3 like the Windsor, but performance parts are readily available from places like Stinger Performance, Boport, Esslinger, etc. I encourage you to read up at Turboford.org before making the swap. Once you up the boost, you just might get hooked on it.

Whichever path you choose with your car, there are plenty of people here to help you get the job done.

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #16 – March 19, 2013, 12:41:23 PM

I d

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #17 – March 19, 2013, 01:44:13 PM

I know I could get 250hp from the TC but I'd like the torque grunt and power of a v8. I plan to keep this for a long time and will keep upgrading the engine as I get the money. And I'm pretty stubborn about this v8 idea trust me.. And I'm not saying 250 like my target I want that bare minimum.

What are some good ways to get the gunk and oil off the old v8?

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #18 – March 19, 2013, 03:16:58 PM

Some years back when MM&FF was testing different aftermarket heads, they got 245 Hp from the stock E7 headed 5.0HO with the only mods being a little timing advance and dyno headers...

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #19 – March 19, 2013, 04:40:28 PM

I would look into the aftermarket cams and see what they have for non-roller. They have some pretty peppy stuff for them. Other than cam and electrical, everything else is bolt-on.

And yes, 5.0 is the cheaper way to get HP. Not to mention, you can also get better sounding exhaust with them.

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #20 – March 19, 2013, 07:03:06 PM

True

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #21 – March 19, 2013, 07:32:12 PM

TOM Renzo how much money did you have to spend to get 260 at the back wheels?

Right now my TC has the stock A4LD (automatic) in it right now and it leaking and it slips like crazy after not being drive for a few month... So getting it out from where it's stored, when the snow melts, is gonna be fun.

Can anyone suggest a good step-by-step guide for rebuilding?

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #22 – March 19, 2013, 08:41:12 PM

Quote from: TOM Renzo;411472

True but the stop light events are very satisfying when a 5.0 guys gets smoked by a 4 banger. By the way the 2,3 makes plenty of torque when modified. just saying it is your car and do whatever you think is best. Personally i would not build a flat tappet motor. With a 5.0 bare minimum would be a roller setup and once the magic 400Hp mark is met the engine will become 2 four cylinders anyway!!

Bah plenty of stock 5.0 blocks live at 400Hp and where were we talking that much HP anyway?????

High RPM is what kills them, keep it under 6500 and 400Hp is doable of course to have 400Hp at lower speeds is gonna probably require a SC or turbo......

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #23 – March 19, 2013, 09:19:33 PM

A few random 87 TC question..

My "fog" lights have never come on ever, and the previous owner said that. common problem? fixes?
Secondary radiator fan never come on for what I know.
How to turn the PSI up to 15ish from 10 Factory stock?
When installing the AOD with the same length as the A4LD will any of the linkage have to change?
Best way to clean up the Factory "snow flake" wheels? their oxidized, or something IDK.

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #24 – March 19, 2013, 11:34:49 PM

Quote from: Gekell;411477

A few random 87 TC question..

My "fog" lights have never come on ever, and the previous owner said that. common problem? fixes? [COLOR="red"]Could be fuse, switch, bulbs as a start...[/COLOR]

Secondary radiator fan never come on for what I know. [COLOR="red"]It won't unless temp exceeds 225*F[/COLOR]

How to turn the PSI up to 15ish from 10 Factory stock?[COLOR="red"]Adjustable Boost controller often refered to as Gillis Valve or can join the two ports on front of turbo that connect to the factory boost controller and get about 13psi(probably about all a stock A4LD can stand)... [/COLOR]

When installing the AOD with the same length as the A4LD will any of the linkage have to change?[COLOR="red"]There are no AOD the same length as a A4LD(you'll need a longer D/S) and A4LD shifter isn't adaptable to AOD[/COLOR]

Best way to clean up the Factory "snow flake" wheels? their oxidized, or something IDK[COLOR="red"]Beats me, I never let mine get dirty[/COLOR]....

....

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #25 – March 19, 2013, 11:41:02 PM

Thanks for the help!
Ill check my fuses and bulbs when the bird comes home.
My TC stalled from over heating at one point las summer soo idk if it kicked on..
Also the person doig my transmission work is going to put a different length yoke on for me!

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #26 – March 20, 2013, 05:21:24 AM

[QUOTE
By the

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #27 – March 20, 2013, 05:33:29 AM

I kno

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #28 – March 20, 2013, 09:14:54 AM

Tom before you go... I do play to switch the motor over to a roller cam.
And lastly is their and Affordable way to put the turbo back on to the v8, I've always wondered that.

1987 ThunderBird Turbo Coupe to 5.0Li and AOD

Reply #29 – March 20, 2013, 10:14:20 AM

Quote from: TOM Renzo;411505

Even a supercharged motor built mildly for lets say 10K will only support 400-450 wheel hp before the front main is sitting in your front seat. Basically there is nothing wrong with building a 302, But to limit it to a flat tappet cam in my view is a handy cap to start with. In order to get as you say low RPM torque you will need a roller profile that is a fact. Other than that to get 450 RWH the 302 is living on borrowed time. Just me not trying to be a kill joy. Just posting some of my dealings with the 302 ford. As for the 2.3 it is not very hard to achieve 280 RWH with a head a turbo and some fancy tuning. With that carry on Guys!!

[COLOR="red"]Who said anything about 450 RWHP??? That's going to be about 550-570 at the crank...[/COLOR]

So if you are talking under 400Hp what is wrong with a 2.3 that can achieve 300Hp with very Basic building techniques. Just a thought!!

[COLOR="red"]With a performance exhaust they sound like about any other ricer with a fart can..[/COLOR].

By the way building HP in a 302 is not cheap. The engine does not breathe . Every ford guy knows this . Just saying

A good set of alu heads fixes that and they are cheap... By the time you mess around finding a good 2.3T head that isn't cracked, port it and install big valves, you'll have the price of a new set of 5.0 heads... Yeah you are going to DIYS but few of us have access to a machine shop...

PLUS you need a turbo that will support higher power levels, the wimpy little IHI isn't going to be of much use for over 240-250 CRANK HP... At that power level the puny 2.3 clutch is going to last what, 3-4K mi if you're lucky???

I yanked my 2.3T in '99 and have never missed it(sold it to a SVO guy), and usually kept the real TCs around just long enough to find them another home... Yeah 5-speed can be fun, but some of us want a automatic and the A4LD is far from a performance piece...

Basically by the time all the supporting pieces are bought, neither will be cheap if one is shooting for over 300HP...