Thanks for the info and pictures. I am 6ft tall, but my wife is a little over 5ft and likes driving the car too. Really would like to keep the seats intact, don't mind using a shifter boot. Had a smoking deal on a T5 done by Hanlon Motorsports, with everything needed for $1200. but drug my feet. Another good deal for $900. is out there, just don't want to buy parts and then decide the interior issues are a deal breaker for me. Anyone have photos without a console, or maybe a measurement from the dash/radio area to shifter center? You can't find this info just anywhere.
I need to make a decision on a transmission for my Thunderbird. Currently AOD with Column Shift. Interior is original and in good shape, and as I read old threads about T5 installs, not fond of hunting up consoles, replacing or cutting up existing seats and consoles for T5 install. I had the chance to purchase 2 complete T5 systems for a good price, but was hesitant because of these reasons. Somewhere between 350-400 HP., and not a strictly drag race project. A friend of mine who is big into 5.0 Mustangs said possibly weld a different shift lever on the T5 to lean forward more if that would help the situation. I have the means to get a good AOD thru my Work, but really likes the idea of shifting gears. Any photos or ideas would be a great help.The current trans needs replacing, has stock torque converter,etc.
306 with gt40P heads, e-cam with 1.7 rockers, downs ford upper with truck lower, 38lb injectors with Pro M meter, bbk headers and h -pipe, 3.55 gears and a Powerdyne Supercharger. I new the trans and converter would need addressing. I have 2 other cars that have been high 9's and spent 25 years in the speed shop business, so I know speed costs. I honestly thought I was going to buck the system and throw left overs together for $2000. and have fun. It does idle well, seems to get decent gas mileage, and with the suspension upgrades handles well. Trans situation gets attention first.
I really enjoy driving this car around, but it has fought me since day one. Just wanted a nice ride without a rollcage that could run on pump gas, have overdrive and run at least a low 13 second pass with fuel injection. It's odd spending this much time on something that isn't that fast. All the budget shopping may have gotten the best of me. I'll do something with the trans in fall/winter. Think it's time to hop back in the Cougar before winter rolls in.
Took my son back out to the track today for a Ford event at Mason Dixon Dragway. Of course the alternator gave up 20 minutes away from the track. Showed up almost 2 hours late after getting a friend to pick up my boy and head to Napa for a replacement so I could replace it on the side of the road. Got to the track in time to miss time runs and went into eliminations. Nothing good to report. Trans seems like it is on its way out. Car was sluggish at best down low and smoked. Car ran 92 miles an hour on a scrubbed pass with a 3.20 60 ft after pushing thru the beams. I expected if everything worked properly the car should have ran 102-104 MPH. Back to formula.
Getting ready to go back to the track and wanted some thoughts. For the last 25 years all my cars have had manuel valve bodies. When my son raced this car stock I had him leave it in drive, being new to racing just went from A to B. This is a LX with column shift and trans has who knows how many miles. Fluid and filter were replaced. With added power it isn't anything to right home about. Over winter I will need to entertain a rebuild with torque converter or maybe a t5 swap. So some said don't leave it in drive at WOT, that it will do damage to the trans. What do's and don't would you suggest. ALso, cable adjustment recommendations? After changing the intake, T.B. and egr spacer delete, I don't know if this is a concern. Thanks.
Haven't made it to the track yet, but have been logging miles and working out some minor bugs. I don't think this aod is going to hang in there, just playing around on the street. My wife enjoys driving it too, and thinks I should leave it alone. She is smarter than I am.
Hoping to get back out in the next few weeks. Don't know what it will run, but it has to be a few seconds quicker than the 16 second passes my son made in the fall of 2015.
A friend of mine is welding up frame connectors and a few things on his lift for my '88 thunderbird. I asked him to check the bell crank set up for the colum shifter as the indicator is off. He sent me a photo of what he says is a broken gear shift selector. Is there a source for replacements or are we talking junkyard. Never played with a column shift, but I like the stock interior and really not looking to go to a floor shifter.
Steve is sending me a set of frame connectors for our Torino project now. I wish I had the time to wait for the T-bird set. I will report on the fit, etc. when we install them come spring.
Picked up a 2nd set of Weld Draglites, skinnies in the front and a set of rears to mount a New set of drag radials. Ordered Global West frame connectors which should be here in a few weeks. Car has been under a car cover for the last few months, but need to finish up these odds and ends by the end of March. Looking forward to spring.
