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Topic: I broke down and did it. (Read 1917 times) previous topic - next topic

I broke down and did it.

Well with the gas prices and all I had to do it. I have a new daily drive a white 2.3L 5speed Tempo. I know what the first questions going to be do you still have the cougar. Yes. How much was it, this will make some sick. I traded my project engine for it. FE 390 with the big port heads, RV cam, and new pistons.

The cougar is going to sleep for a long time while she gets a make over.
Pics of the Tempo coming soon.

Now to search the junk yard for the rear axle and AWD trans.
 

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #1 –
Why oh why didn't I sell my other LSC before gas prices went insane.. heh.

Wish I could get my old Escort back.. that 32/39 rating would come in handy right about now.

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #2 –
I hope you get better gas mileage with your tempo than I do, mine won't do any better than 27 mpg running back and forth to school and work and junk...on long highway trips it'll do 36 mpg though :dunno: This car also has the mushiest suspension I've ever felt on a car, expect it to bottom out a lot.

BTW my tempo is white too. 2 door, '94, got it for $650 with 123K on it. Had to replace the water pump and starter in the first 3 months I was driving it :disappoin

And in case you're curious, 4-lug Fox body wheels will fit the car with some custom lug nuts from advance auto parts ($24 for a whole set).

Garrett H.
'94 F250 XLT- 4x4, 5 speed, 7.3 IDI Turbo Diesel, 4" intake, 4" exhaust, 5" turnout stacks, manual hubs, etc.
'87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
Engine, wheels, tires, etc!
Exhaust sound clip
Another clip

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #3 –
I traded my '90 Bronco a few months ago for a '97 Ford Ranger becuase I saw this coming... I miss the Bronco, but I certainly don't miss the gas mileage.

From 10 mpg to 23 mpg is a refreshing change!

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #4 –
I had a Tempo years ago, an '85 four-door 5-speed. I bought it for the 60-mile round trip commute to trade school but it got worse mileage than the '85 V6 T-Bird I had at the same time, so I ended up driving the T-Bird anyway! I put 70k miles on that T-Bird between September and June...
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 ♣

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #5 –
Tempo's aren't too bad. My mom bought one new in 1989.

Talk about a good move at the wrong time. She traded her 99 Mailibu in for an 05 Grand Cherokee this past June. I'm sure she misses the 33 mpg's with the Malibu compared to the 18's with the Cherokee. :giggle:
But the GC is sooooo nice. I drive it and use up her gas whenever I can! :D

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #6 –
Quote
And in case you're curious, 4-lug Fox body wheels will fit the car with some custom lug nuts from advance auto parts


I was looking into trying the TC rims on it just for kicks. I wonder what size 16 needs to go on it.


The tempo has to get better milage than the cougar. I get 18 right now witht the cougar.

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #7 –
I had a 93 tempo 2door that car kickwd ass as far as a good depnedable car. I deilivered pizza in the  car and  made lots of cash. I got about 28 mpg and I beat on the car all day everyday. I had a buddy with a 90 eclipse and he would always ask how com eyour tempo goes so much better that my car? I told him I guess ford know how to build a car right. LOL
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #8 –
I just got a line on an AWD tempo sitting next to a garage about 45min from my house. I was told it had been sitting there for several years now.

Might have to check it out for the trans and rear end.

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #9 –
Quote from: slamedcat
The tempo has to get better milage than the cougar. I get 18 right now witht the cougar.


Have you tried running some SeaFoam through it? I see/hear a lot of people swear by it. I use it, but haven't been using it long enough to notice a difference. Sprayed in through a vacuum line *and* dumped in the tank once in awhile. You should've seen the day I ran it through all three functioning cars.. the clouds were huge. :D

Anyway, that Lincoln board that pro-five-oh mods on has quite a few users who love SeaFoam and claim gas mileage increases after treatments. At $5-7 a can, you really don't have much to lose.. that's what, 2 gallons of gas?  :crazy:

EDIT: http://www.lincolnsonline.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=000985

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #10 –
Quote from: slamedcat
I was looking into trying the TC rims on it just for kicks. I wonder what size 16 needs to go on it.


SMALL. That's all I can tell you. I have 205/65's on my 10-holes (about the smallest size I dare trying to run on a 7" wide rim) and they rub pretty bad at full lock and when I go over big bumps. Just for kicks I test fit another set of 10-holes that I had with 225/60's on them, they hit against everything. You can't fit very big tires under a tempo apparently.

Also I wouldn't bother with the AWD tempo idea. I've heard nothing but bad things about them.

Garrett H.
'94 F250 XLT- 4x4, 5 speed, 7.3 IDI Turbo Diesel, 4" intake, 4" exhaust, 5" turnout stacks, manual hubs, etc.
'87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
Engine, wheels, tires, etc!
Exhaust sound clip
Another clip

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #12 –
Odds are if you love the look and feel of Tbirds and Cougars, you'll love the Tempos and Topazes.  I like the look of it with 10holes, for sure. If you do try seafoam (nectar of the Gods, neater than sliced bread) make sure to replace the plugs at the same time.  Whatever seafoam blows out of the intake winds up on the plugs or out the tailpipe.

The webmaster of http://www.tempotopaz.com has this little V6 powered beauty with Pony rims.  These suckers were fast too. http://www.mikuhl.net/glsnxr5/
pro-five-oh

88 Cougar XR-7...5.0HO, T-56, and much more                             
85 Thunderbird 30th...#2471, 29k, all original and might actually stay that way

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #13 –
Sweet I've heard alot about those AWD tempo's MAybe you should turbo the 2.3 and make it a sleeper ricer killer! I get about 26mpg in my 84 Turbo coupe right now. I'm even runnin 10psi boost and that is in town. That is haulin my big ole bird around and once again I'm not what you would call light footed.
     
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Re: I broke down and did it.

Reply #14 –
I thought about it but the problem is running the plumbing for the turbo because it doesn't have a cross flow head design.