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Topic: The age old question (Read 3907 times) previous topic - next topic

The age old question

Reply #15 –
yes. boost was limited and it had a different turbo. everything else is the same.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

The age old question

Reply #16 –
Quote from: TheFoeYouKnow;422545
Quick check for 5.0 guys:  Raise your hand if you've got a "stock" 5.0 still.

You can't see it, but I am NOT raising my hand.
'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..
 

The age old question

Reply #17 –
Bone stock 5.0 in my 87......for now!

The age old question

Reply #18 –
:popcorn:

The age old question

Reply #19 –
what if we added a 2k budget to modify the car, then what?

The age old question

Reply #20 –
$2000? Hmmmm.....

8.8 with good gears
 GT-40 heads
H.O cam (since you have flat top pistons)
Explorer intake
65mm throttle body
headers, new dual exhaust
Speed Density computer
19# injectors
1.6 roller rockers
new fuel pump
associated gaskets

And if you're lucky, you'll still have enough left for gas. Then, it'll feel like a crazy bada$$ car for you.
'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..

The age old question

Reply #21 –
My experience, from racing a TC against a 5.0, both of which I owned:

When I bought my parts '87 TC, I was driving it home to strip it, and my buddy was driving my '88 5.0. Both cars were bog-stock except the 88 had 2-1/4" duals with no cats and the TC had a Magnaflow catback, and we played with each other the whole 30 minute trip (should have been more than an hour, but there you go). I can honestly say that neither car was faster than the other. I could not catch the '88, nor could it lose me. This was driving a rural road with a fair bit of twists & turns mixed among some nice straightaways. The TC definitely outhandled the '88 though. Any time we approached a bend I would be right on his bumper, but then at passing lanes I'd get beside him but couldn't get by him. Again, neither could he gain on me. Even on a mile long straight stretch both cars were evenly matched (the TC's speedo was showing around 200km/hr, or 120MPH toward the end of this straight stretch). Mind, the 88 was a low mileage car (47k) and in pristine operating condition, while the TC had about 130k on it (the odometer was around 220,000 km) and was on its final journey, so that might have played a role, but even with 130k the TC seemed to work fine. Also, while the '88 was a 5.0 car it was a very basic one: Power windows, locks, mirrors and A/C were its only "features". The TC was fairly loaded. I know it's not scientific, but that was my experience. And what an experience it is, by the way, racing against your own car :hick:

And that being said, from those experiences, I would also guess that the '88, once it had the T-5 and 3.55 TC rear in it (the original rear had 2.73's), would have handily outrun the TC that the rear end came out of - bottom end, anyway (or probably anything under 100 MPH). Higher end, the lack of revs would have killed it. And with the poly front LCA bushings, CHE rear arms, Bullitt springs, subframe connectors, brand new Monroe sens-a-trac struts & shocks on all four corners, and TC sway bars & brakes it would have outhandled the stock TC too. In fact, that '88 became the best handling car I'd ever driven after those mods. That car was absolutely FLAT in turns, and it just plain went where you pointed it.

Unfortunately, although it handled exceptionally well, it also transmitted every single road imperfection through to the occupants. You could run over a squirrel and tell what it had for dinner. This ruined the car for me :punchballs:. I should've listened to Chuck, when he warned me against the poly bushings...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

The age old question

Reply #22 –
Quote from: TheFoeYouKnow;422545
Quick check for 5.0 guys:  Raise your hand if you've got a "stock" 5.0 still.


I still have one
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

The age old question

Reply #23 –
Quote from: teal9550;422582
what if we added a 2k budget to modify the car, then what?


then you can have a 5.0 like in my 87
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

The age old question

Reply #24 –
Quote from: daminc;422598
I still have one

You have one for now........
'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..

The age old question

Reply #25 –
its still going to end up being stock... just SEFI instead of CFI... :hick:
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

The age old question

Reply #26 –
Quote from: teal9550;422582
what if we added a 2k budget to modify the car, then what?
On the TC end a 2K budget for a car that already handle great could be:
bigger injectors
quarterhorse
bigger turbo
wideband (for adjusting tuning)
walbro 255hp
full 3" exhaust
K&N cone filter
Kirban adjustable

That in it self would definatley boost a TC's power. And if you dont go new on everything, but hit up ebay and places like turboford. Alot more could be done.

The age old question

Reply #27 –
I look at it this way:

If you've got a 5.0 keep it and mod it. You can get a bunch of power out of it and it's cost effective as it's already in your car.

If you've got a 2.3T keep it and mod it. You can get a bunch of power out of it and it's cost effective as it's already in your car.

If you've got a 3.8 do what ever you want. Just get that thing out of there if you want to go fast.......
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

The age old question

Reply #28 –
H/C/I on a 5.0 a set of 4.10s a shift kit, 125 shot of nos and 28x10.50x15 slicks ebay parts and your at 2k or less and I'd bet you'd have a high 12 sec bird

The age old question

Reply #29 –
I had a 90 and a 93 with the 3.8, so I know how much they suck!
Current: 1986 Thunderbird, 105k 3.8/C5, 2 tone  Midnight Wine/Medium Taupe, wing windows, wire wheel covers.


Former: 1985 Cougar GS 115k Oxford White/Regatta Blue, 5.0, full console, 14" 8 hole aluminum T-Bird rims, Edelbrock valve covers.