So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Topic: So I test drove a 95 bird today... (Read 1459 times) previous topic - next topic

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

March 14, 2006, 12:40:05 PM

And I've never been more unimpressed. Are the 4.6's supposed to be that doggish? It only has 88K on the odometer, but the engine just seems really tired out. It was right on par w/ my new 3.8. Yeah, mine's bored 30 over and has a couple of minor mods, but shouldn't a 4.6 v8 be much faster? I dunno, I was considering a trade, they are going to give me what I paid for it two years ago. I'm just wondering if there are any mn12 guys on here that know a thing or two about the 4.6.

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #1 – March 14, 2006, 01:09:06 PM

The '95 cars still have the older intake setup with the "violin box." There can also be a lot of factors that can kill the performance. One of the more common issues is dirty MAF wires.
The '96-'97 4.6 cars can run a 15.8 bone stock. With the mods I've done I'm somewhere in the low 15s.
Keep in mind that the power band is practically opposite of your engine. The modular engine really comes alive after 3,000 RPMs or so.

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #2 – March 14, 2006, 02:40:11 PM

It's looking like I can get the car, including trade, for just under 4K. Good deal or not?

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #3 – March 14, 2006, 02:44:20 PM

It depends.
The mileage is good, but what are the other options?
Is the rear-end an 8.8"? Traction-lok? Look for the axle code in the door jamb and you can decode it on tccoa.com.
While the MN12s can be more refined, they can also be MUCH harder to work on than the Fox cars. I know this from my own personal experience.
I'll put it this way:
I love my '96, but I may switch back to a Fox in the next few months.

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #4 – March 14, 2006, 03:19:54 PM

I wouldn't do it. For that much I would just look for a 1996-97 car (hell, even a Mark VIII for that price, but then you're looking at a whole new set of problems). There are a few problems that the older cars are pr0ne to than the newer ones.

intake manifold sucks as Zach pointed out (God forbid you EVER have to change that EGR valve). It's not a prize piece on the 96-97's either, but at least it flows better and you can actually access the EGR valve. The coolant crossover is a problem, but by this time (since Ford finally settled) they should have all been replaced by now.

the 4R70W's sucked until 1996

the converters are more pr0ne to going bad also (they lose all their friction material and frag the tranny cooling system)

The casting on the F4 heads also sucked, they were revised for 1996 (F5 casting)

The older cars are also EEC IV. The 1996-1997's are EEC V giving you better flexability if you ever decided to get it tuned.

The valve stems go bad and cause the engine to burn oil and smoke

The 1994-95 cars were also heavier.

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #5 – March 14, 2006, 03:46:56 PM

Hmm... looks like I'll be sticking my old fox for awhile. I can put the 4 grand to use on my current car and make it a lot nicer, eh?

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #6 – March 14, 2006, 04:01:57 PM

Quote from: Mercoug302

the converters are more pr0ne to going bad also (they lose all their friction material and frag the tranny cooling system)

What friction material...you won't find any in a torque convertor.

I would stay with your current car. For 4k you can get a nice rebuilt HO and a rebuilt tranny...hell, you might even be able to locate a nice 8.8 'Stang rear that already has gears in it. Of course, that's assuming you do all the work yourself.

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #7 – March 14, 2006, 04:11:25 PM

Quote from: Sick88Tbird

What friction material...you won't find any in a torque convertor. . .

And y'all wonder why I hardly post anymore . . .

You are looking at the clutch of a stock 12" 4R70W converter/

MN-12's (or all vehicles with the 4R70W) have a LOCK/UNLOCK torque converter. It's 12" in diameter in T-birds/cougs/CV's ETC and 11.25 in mustangs, marks and marauders. Rather than having the lockup for 3rd and 4th being shaft driven like an AOD, the 4R actually has a clutch and lockup solenoid that engage/disengage when the EEC commands it to. The point of this so that you can get additional torque in 3rd and OD (for inclines and what not) without actually having to downshift. With earlier MN-12's the material that was used wasn't the greatest. An early sign of wear is the infamous TC "shudder" which ultimately leads to the material slowly grinding away whenever the converter locks.

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #8 – March 14, 2006, 06:15:15 PM

Yeah the 4.6 SOHC isn't a low rpm torquer like the 5.0 is. Where the 5.0 runs out of breath (3500-4000 rpms) the 4.6 comes on. MN-12s are much heavier than fox Birds though. My 88 5.0 with stang shorties, 2.25 duals, HO upper and TB, and a 3.73 traction lock walked a 96 4.6 bird from a stop to about 65 mph. I even had 5 feet or so of wheel spin. After 65 mph it started to pull harder hence the 4.6's better upper rpm power. If you want a low rpm punch I'd take that $4,000 and get a 5.0 HO for your current Bird. It would feel much quicker if you like that low rpm punch.

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #9 – March 15, 2006, 10:57:45 AM

My freinds sister has a 94 cougar, and I was pretty impressed with it. Maybe that is just me. It seemed quite a bit faster then my cougar, but we raced them, and I pulled on her from 40mph to about 100mph, but from a dead stop she killed me. I started out 1 or two car lengths ahead of me and then she just took off.

If it dosent feel fast, then something is wrong. You can notice alot from cleaning the MAF though.

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #10 – March 15, 2006, 12:50:26 PM

My daughter's '82 Chevy Citation had a solenoid controlled converter lock. When the solenoid went bad it would not unlock. It lugged the engine down and stalled it when you stopped.

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #11 – March 15, 2006, 03:09:57 PM

Geez for that price I'd pick up a Mark VIII on eBay from a southern state (they are everywhere here)...way faster and good ones go for $3000-5000 all day long.

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #12 – March 15, 2006, 04:11:51 PM

Yeah, looked up the book value on it and they want way too much for it. For some reason they thing "40th anniversary edition" means it's worth an extra 3 grand...

So I test drove a 95 bird today...

Reply #13 – March 15, 2006, 04:24:19 PM

Quote from: cougarcragar

I love my '96, but I may switch back to a Fox in the next few months.

ORLY??

I recall a conversation you and I had before you bought the '96...how did it go?? Ah well I can't remember. hehehe