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Topic: Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird (Read 3333 times) previous topic - next topic

Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Semi sorta new here.. Joined in 2011 but never posted till now.

1988 Tbird 3.8 auto. It was purchased by the mother of the woman I got it from. The mother drove it until 08 and let her daughter have it who drove it until 2013 and it was parked outside. Was parked due to needing exhaust.... Anyway I stumbled on it by chance looking for parts for my 86 turbo coupe bird. They were going to haul it to the sper...  Purchased the car for a whopping $425. Put gas in it and drove it home Friday. Started the cleanup on the paint yesterday.

Before I did anything to it.


After 3M and buffing. Before waxing.




Can really see the difference

before


after buffing

Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #1
Nice man.

if you need a cat back, i did mine by ordering parts from autozone for $80. Beats the $680 quote i got.from master ler.
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

Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #2
Sweet !!!

Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #3
Thanks.  We will probably do it ourselves. Have a friend with everything needed.

Here's a couple pics after waxing/polishing.






And now on too the interior...

Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #4
Found these in the glove box.

How cool is this!? Original window sticker!


Original purchase agreement


Warranty card


And all the books. Including the owners manual(forgot to take a pic of it)

Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #5
$425?!  That's awesome!  I should never have let the one I saw a few years ago slip away.  Light blue 88 5.0.  Ran and drove.  Passed inspection  $600.  Went back 2 days later.  Gone.
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #6
Wow.  Impressive car but equally impressed by the document collection.  Have you checked for the build sheet under the front passenger seat?

Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #7
Quote from: Kafer79;432648
Wow.  Impressive car but equally impressed by the document collection.  Have you checked for the build sheet under the front passenger seat?

Thanks. Funny you should mention the build sheet. lol  I decided to pull the interior just to give it all a good cleaning and there it was,or what's left of it is more like it..



How on earth do you get this much stuff under a seat?? Driver side was the same way but I had already picked it all up... And yes,the grinder disc was under the seat.. lol


Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #8
Nice find Jeff and Thanks for posting your pics friend. :headbang:


Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #10
Nice score!

Now where's my $425 rust free Thunderbird?
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #11
They are out there... not as common as they once were though.
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

Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #12
I cannot believe someone was going to s that. Awesome score.
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane

Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #13
I would not have blinked about paying 425 for that, good save dude.

I'd like to find a clean rust free shell like yours, but only to swap all my V8, T5 and TC rear into. Mine's a moonroof car and has been wrecked before I owned it...nothing in the front lines up at all, bolt holes, whatnot. Frustrating. I've decided to keep all my goods and put the shell of the car out to pasture on blocks.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Saved from the sper.. 88 Tbird

Reply #14
Thanks everyone!  I was really shocked when they said they were going to s if it didn't sell real quick. And when they said they would take s price for it I just couldn't let that happen! I haven't found any rust at all and only a very few minor dings. Motor sounds great and trans shifts out smooth. Only thing I have found it needs is exhaust and the A/C needs to be gassed up and that's it. It even has a new battery in it and tires are about 50%. 

I'll take pics of the floor pans when I get the carpet out to clean it.

Thanks again guys!