My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Topic: My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years. (Read 8143 times) previous topic - next topic

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

July 05, 2013, 12:12:42 AM

I am new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself and show everyone my car.
This is my 86 Bird and I am the second owner of it. I purchased it in 1988. It was the first car my wife and I bought as a married couple. This car was our daily driver for a few years then a baby came and it kind of got pushed aside for the mini van thing. I still drove it, but not much. I tried to trade it in once or twice, but just didn't seem to get the money that I thought it was worth at the time. You all know how that goes. Anyway, it kind of became a summer car because of cirspoogestances at the time that seemed appropriate. Then as time went on it got driven less and less. Finally in 1996 it became a garage dweller most of the time with just a few drives each year. Finally in 1999 or so it wasn't driven at all anymore. I bought a cover for it and with the exception of a few times out of the garage to keep the motor and such running it has been garage bound since 1999. Being the first car we bought as a couple it kind of became a sentimental item to us so I took great care of it while stored. I moved it a few times from one garage to another but we're talking less than 200 miles in 15 years. So here it is 2013 and I finally have some extra money, if you can call it that, and my son and I saw it setting in the shed one day and he asked when it would be time to bring it out again. I thought about it and decided it was time. Time to bring her out again and introduce her to the world once again. Being covered, it didn't take anything but a hose and some cleaner to clean her all up. The engine started once again and continued to work fine. My efforts to avoid mice paid off well. No damage that I have found yet from them. I put a fresh battery in it and now have driven it over 200 miles just this year alone. My son used it as a prop for his senior pictures and prom this year. He simply loves the car. Wants me to sell it to him. Not today my son. Maybe he'll get it someday, but not now. I've owned it 25 years and for our 25th anniversay, it seemed an appropriate time to bring the car out.
So, a few minor repairs later I am once again enjoying the car as it should be. I had forgotten what it was really like but didn't take long to get re aquainted with her. What a great riding car. Even after this long in the garage, at 80 miles an hour the other day on the interstate, not a shake or shimmy one. Cruise even still works. Overall, I must say that I am like a kid with a new toy. I can't wait to get it back from the shop so that I can drive it some more. I am getting the AC reworked. I have a dry rot issue with the tires right now but that is to be expected.
I have been cruising the forums quite heavily looking at others cars and what they have done. I don't think I'm going to go crazy, but a few touches here and there maybe, but she'll stay mostly stock for now. Some good sound from the exhaust, tinted windows maybe those new rims I've always dreamed of. Not for sure but for now i am one happy Tbird owner once again.

So anyway, thanks for reading this.

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #1 – July 05, 2013, 12:30:05 AM

Nice car and great story - welcome to the forum! These really are terrific cars, both stock and modified.

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #2 – July 05, 2013, 12:42:57 AM

Nice bird! welcome to the forum, does it have a 3.8 or 5.0?

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #3 – July 05, 2013, 05:38:17 AM

welcome to the family.......great story!!

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #4 – July 05, 2013, 08:20:20 AM

Wow, nice. That thing is a time capsule.

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #5 – July 05, 2013, 08:49:05 AM

welcome, come stay a while

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #6 – July 05, 2013, 08:59:45 AM

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the story about you and your Tbird.
Ron

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #7 – July 05, 2013, 10:59:58 AM

Great story and a real nice looking Bird !!!.......keep us updated on any changes to the car.

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #8 – July 05, 2013, 09:06:01 PM

What a Beautiful time capsule. Welcome to the forum :D

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #9 – July 05, 2013, 10:43:50 PM

[ATTACH=CONFIG]32472[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]32473[/ATTACH]

Quote from: 88turbo;418000

Nice bird! welcome to the forum, does it have a 3.8 or 5.0?

It is the 5.0. Nice engine. Thought I had a pretty tough car for the day, but honestly now after driving my mustang these past few years it doesn't have what I thought I remembered it had in it. That's ok though. for as old as it is that will be just fine. With only 90k on the clock I am hoping its good for many more.

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #10 – July 05, 2013, 10:54:02 PM

Thank you all for the great comments. I truly believe it to be a great car and wouldn't sell it right now for anything. I do have some ideas for some very modest yet reversable changes. I will surely post pics as I go.

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #11 – July 06, 2013, 12:27:01 AM

Here's what I've done with my 5.0, there are some easy ways to make more power.

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #12 – July 06, 2013, 02:27:14 AM

Sweet you have the 86 SO setup...you can do lots....only money and time will delay you...

Personally.... Different tires and wheels...the 14" are to small.

Travis

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #13 – July 06, 2013, 10:54:53 AM

Engine bay looks mint. I believe from the factory these cars ran 17s in the 1/4 mile. So yeah, not a rocket ship by today's standards. Luckily we share a chassis with the fox mustang, so the sky is the limit.

My Bird, out of the nest finally after 15 years.

Reply #14 – July 06, 2013, 02:10:24 PM

Quote from: turbotrav;418096

Sweet you have the 86 SO setup...you can do lots....only money and time will delay you...

Personally.... Different tires and wheels...the 14" are to small.

Travis

Not sure I'm familiar with the "86 SO" setup. What does that mean? Pardon the newbie question. And yes, different tires. Already have a set of Cobra R's picked out. thought I'd go with the 16's.