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Topic: A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous... (Read 2510 times) previous topic - next topic

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

It all started out innocently enough - I was bored today and decided to fix the headlights to dad's 4-wheeler. Ten minutes later I was done (modified the housings to accept common H3 bulbs instead of the proprietary Yamaha  that were in it). I then decided to vacuum out the T-Bird, and that's where things got out of hand. While vacuuming out the standard, non-Sport seats I decided I would swap the TC seats in. Problem is, they're blue. I had a porno red interior. So I decided to swap all of the plastic panels and door panels. What started as an innocent interior vacuum ended up a full-on interior swap. I've got everything swapped except the carpet, headliner, dash and door panels (I actually started to swap the door panels but discovered, much to my chagrin, that the TC panels do not share the same mounting holes as the base panels, and the hardware to mount the TC panels was still attached to the TC doors, over at the cottage). I will need a new (or recovered) headliner because the one in the TC had a sunroof hole cut in it, and I'll also need new carpet because the TC's carpet was . The TC's dash is cracked, too, but it had a complete uncracked blue dash in the back seat when I bought it, so at least I've got that covered. It'd sure be nice to find a junkyard T-Bird with blue interior to get that headliner and carpet out of, though...


I did discover (and decide) a few things during the swap:

1) A decision: Power seats are out of the question. I could not BELIEVE the weight of those power seat tracks! I would bet that two power seat tracks weigh close to 100 pounds. I swapped the manual tracks from the base seats onto the TC seats. This swap led to:

2) A discovery: The power seat tracks have a different bolt spacing than the manual tracks. Luckily Ford left blank holes in the seat frame, so a bit of work with the tap set cured that problem

3) A decision: I like the blue interior. I was gonna dye everything black, but now it's in the car I like it. I'll re-dye the seats to get rid of fade, but it's staying blue.

4) A discovery: The 87 A-piller covers are different than the '88. Not a big difference, just a few fewer screw holes in the 87 piece, but different. After mounting the 87 panels I can see why Ford made the change - they don't stay on as nice as the 88 panels

5) A discovery: TC/Uplevel door panels are a PITA. Holy  those things are complicated! All those individual parts, eleven billion screws, trying to make sure everything is there (when I bought the car the door panels had been removed/disassembled so the seller could remove her speakers - she knew I was junking the car so she didn't bother reinstalling them)... I am almost tempted to find a set of base blue panels and call it done. Nahhh..

6) A revelation: TC seats are light years ahead of base seats. I can't believe the difference in comfort between the TC seats and those lawn chairs Ford passed off as base seats. I shoulda done this years ago, and to every 'Bird/Coug I've ever owned!

All in all, I'm very pleased with the Bird's new look. It was also very nice to be able to do some work to it, even if I do still have a whole pile of chassis/suspension parts in the corner of the garage waiting to go in...
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 ♣

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #1 –
See what happens when you try to do one thing:D . That's how my engine got detailed. I decided I'd paint the upper and lower intakes, which then lead to painting the engine driven accesories, which than lead to painting the headers, which lead to painting the heads, which then lead to painting the engine bay. I can't just leave things alone.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #2 –
:ttiwwp:

nuff said

We wanna see!

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #3 –
Quote
TC/Uplevel door panels are a PITA. Holy  those things are complicated! All those individual parts, eleven billion screws, trying to make sure everything is there (when I bought the car the door panels had been removed/disassembled so the seller could remove her speakers - she knew I was junking the car so she didn't bother reinstalling them)... I am almost tempted to find a set of base blue panels and call it done. Nahhh..

LOL! I dread messing with those door panels. Well, as you found out, changing out the speaker is very easy. Also, if you remove the speaker then you get reach in and connect/disconnect the power window motor if you need to, without removing the whole panel. And from an aesthetic and customizing point of view, they are the best looking and most flexible door panel to own. However, I find myself collecting those plastic door pull strap covers like there's no tomorrow. There were so many things about those panels that were just horribly designed. But I still like the looks and have found ways to fix just about everything that's been broken. Nothing a drill and some clips can't solve. ;)

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #4 –
I agree with the door panels. Both my '86 and '88 had the base panels on them, and I knew them inside and out.
This '86 was my first experience with the Turbo door panels, and I absolutely hate them. They look cool, sure. I'm amazed at how complicated they are to install. They seem to be VERY fragile, too.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #5 –
Quote from: 87thunderbirdBlackJack
:ttiwwp:

nuff said

We wanna see!

You want pics? We got pics!
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 ♣

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #6 –
More
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 ♣

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #7 –
Wow...red, white and blue...if I didn't know any better I'd swear you're turning American. :flip:

So if the stock interior is Porno Red...then what coloUr is the overhead console? Virgin Red? ;)

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #8 –
As I said, I've still gotta get some parts out of the TC - the door panel hardware for one, but also the seat belts (I coulda swore I had brought them home).

Ya know, call me crazy (and I'm sure most of you will), but I'm kinda digging the two-tone look. Almost reminds me of some of the GTO's interior packages. It'll look even better once the door panels are in, of course, but I just may not hurry changing the dash, headliner and carpet. I will eventually (cracked red dash has gotta go) but I think it has just shifted down on the priority list...

Quote from: EricCoolCats
So if the stock interior is Porno Red...then what coloUr is the overhead console? Virgin Red? ;)

Believe it or not, to look at it with the eye that red is almost a perfect match to the interior. The camera seems to brighten it up for some reason. Still, if I had to call it a color, I dunno... maybe "Whouse Red"? :hick:

I'm surprised you didn't mention my sunvisors :D I um... modified them during a temper tantrum when driving into the sun after the console was installed and I realized they would no longer flip up and down properly. I've been casually looking for some Mustang visors with vanity lights ever since...
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 ♣

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #9 –
Hey Thunder Chicken, Looks good.

I have a set of blue base door panels in the shed that came off the old cougar I parted. If you want them they are yours. Only thing is you'll have to reglue the carpet to the bottom and find something to cover up the holes from the window cranks. :)

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #10 –
It looks really nice.


A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #11 –
It looks awsome so far. Good luck with the rest of it

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #12 –
Is that the rare and ever so desireable dr. jekyl and mr. hyde interior package? :p
1980 birds X 3, 1982 bird, 1984 XR7, 1988 TC

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #13 –
Quote from: thundergrowl
Hey Thunder Chicken, Looks good.
 
I have a set of blue base door panels in the shed that came off the old cougar I parted. If you want them they are yours. Only thing is you'll have to reglue the carpet to the bottom and find something to cover up the holes from the window cranks. :)

Thanks, Thundergrowl - I'll keep that in mind if I lose patience with the TC ones and stuff 'em into the woodstove :flame:
 
Do you have the complete panels (arm rests, little plastic plugs over the pull strap screw holes, etc)?
 
BTW, I haven't forgotten about that blue console I promised you,  it's just that I... um... forgot :hick:  It's still yours, though - I'll end up painting the one in the car because I prefer the full length one. The one I promised you is a "shortie"
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 ♣

A little boredom + anti-inflammatories can be dangerous...

Reply #14 –
I'm pretty sure I do. It's all in the shed in a box.