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Topic: '84 T-Bird added to the family (Read 3415 times) previous topic - next topic

'84 T-Bird added to the family

I will have pics up soon(I know, I know) I just couldn't keep the secret to myself. A buddy has an '84 T-Bird, white in color with a 3.8L and auto tranny. I don't remember if it is floor or column shift. He claims he cracked a head and so he bought a Grand Am. I just so happen to have my 18" wheels and spare parts from the Grand Am I totalled 18 months ago. We negotiated a trade. I should be picking it up Tuesday night hopefully. Not sure really where I'm gonna store it haha, but I'm excited!!! Two '84 foxes. Plans are a 2.3T swap, 5-speed swap, 5 lug conversion to start. I have an 8.8" for it. So pumped to have a Bird!!!!!
"Real cars dont power the front wheels, they lift them"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1984 Mercury Cougar GS 5.0:cougarsmily: BBK Equal Length Shorties, BBK O/R X-Pipe, Magnaflow Magnapacks, Mustang GT Stainless Tailpipes, 18" Magnaflow Rolled Edge Tips. Turbo Coupe Hood, Mach 1 Chin Spoiler. 17"x9" Cobra R's, Falken Ziex 255/50s, and 245/45s.
1984 Ford Thunderbird 3.8L "Drag Queen"
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Lone Star Edition 5.7L Hemi 400hp, lex DOD14M Magnaflow retro-fit ler kit

'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #1
It most likely only has a blown head gasket, although the carbed 3.8 do crack.
88 Cougar LS 5.0 .030 over, ported E7s with GT40 valves & trickflow springs, Proform roller rockers, HO cam, removed air silencer, K&N filter, smog pump delete, 2.25" dual flowmasters, Pacestter H-pipe & headers, HO computer, 65mm TB, Explorer intake, 19# injecters, 3.45s, rebuilt posi, and TCI shift kit.

'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #2
Agreed, likely a blown head gasket but could also be a cracked head or two. BTDT several times.
Good news is that, should you need them, the heads are really cheap to buy new:

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=ford%203.8%20cylinder%20head&_dmpt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282&Model%2520Year=1987

Unless you're removing the 3.8 right away, in which case, have fun. :)

'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #3
I won't be swapping engines anytime soon. I'm still trying to get my Cougar to run right, it runs really rich. I just have plans for the Bird. If it is the head and I can fix it easy I'll drive it daily to work. I need to stop driving my Jeep so much. I'm so pumped for tomorrow, I should be picking it up!!
"Real cars dont power the front wheels, they lift them"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1984 Mercury Cougar GS 5.0:cougarsmily: BBK Equal Length Shorties, BBK O/R X-Pipe, Magnaflow Magnapacks, Mustang GT Stainless Tailpipes, 18" Magnaflow Rolled Edge Tips. Turbo Coupe Hood, Mach 1 Chin Spoiler. 17"x9" Cobra R's, Falken Ziex 255/50s, and 245/45s.
1984 Ford Thunderbird 3.8L "Drag Queen"
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Lone Star Edition 5.7L Hemi 400hp, lex DOD14M Magnaflow retro-fit ler kit


'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #5
I'll text you pics Graham haha.

UPDATE: Pics tomorrow, and I found out it's a possible cracked head/head gasket, and a for sure that two freeze plugs are blown out.
"Real cars dont power the front wheels, they lift them"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1984 Mercury Cougar GS 5.0:cougarsmily: BBK Equal Length Shorties, BBK O/R X-Pipe, Magnaflow Magnapacks, Mustang GT Stainless Tailpipes, 18" Magnaflow Rolled Edge Tips. Turbo Coupe Hood, Mach 1 Chin Spoiler. 17"x9" Cobra R's, Falken Ziex 255/50s, and 245/45s.
1984 Ford Thunderbird 3.8L "Drag Queen"
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Lone Star Edition 5.7L Hemi 400hp, lex DOD14M Magnaflow retro-fit ler kit

'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #6
Quote from: cougrrr302;364884
I'll text you pics Graham haha.

UPDATE: Pics tomorrow, and I found out it's a possible cracked head/head gasket, and a for sure that two freeze plugs are blown out.

 
Engine swap time ;).
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #7
Quote from: cougrrr302;364884
for sure that two freeze plugs are blown out.

yeah, that sucks. been there.

I don't think you'll be able to put off engine swapping lol. Even I, being one of the extremely few minority consisting of fans of the 3.8L, I will tell you that the 84 v6 is SOOOOOOOOO SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW that you won't be able to stand it:giggle:

Anyway, cool grab. Have fun with it:cool:
--Steve
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L
2011 Mustang 3.7L

'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #8
Quote from: cougrrr302;364884
UPDATE: Pics tomorrow...

Liar!  It's well after "tomorrow".  Where's the pics?
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #9
Pics are from my cellphone. He just got the title in the mail, I pick it up Thursday. I've been working, playing with my kids and fixing the Cougar. I completely spaced posting pics.






So far plans are to swap in a 2.3T and 5-speed. Put my 8.8" in, convert to 5 lug. I want to gut the car and have a near full interior with a cage, kinda like Chuck's Bird. I would like to build the motor to push 400+hp. I want a street/strip car.
"Real cars dont power the front wheels, they lift them"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1984 Mercury Cougar GS 5.0:cougarsmily: BBK Equal Length Shorties, BBK O/R X-Pipe, Magnaflow Magnapacks, Mustang GT Stainless Tailpipes, 18" Magnaflow Rolled Edge Tips. Turbo Coupe Hood, Mach 1 Chin Spoiler. 17"x9" Cobra R's, Falken Ziex 255/50s, and 245/45s.
1984 Ford Thunderbird 3.8L "Drag Queen"
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Lone Star Edition 5.7L Hemi 400hp, lex DOD14M Magnaflow retro-fit ler kit

'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #10
It look nice!
--Steve
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L
2011 Mustang 3.7L

'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #11
Finally got her home! Has some issues for sure, and compared to my near perfect Cougar this thing is rough. It's in great shape, but to me is rough. Half of the side moldings are screwed on, ghetto spoiler, cut up stereo trim.














Plans for this week are to sand all rust spots and spot prime them, power wash the engine bay what I can and clean up the interior. I'm gonna figure out a gauge mount plate for where the stereo used to be, since I won't be needing a stereo and it's already hacked apart I'll take advantage of it.


I'm debating on keeping the trim and headlight buckets as is, or painting the trim satin, and the buckets either white or satin. What should I do with the grill? When it's all said and done, it will have dark windows, and anthrocite wheels.
"Real cars dont power the front wheels, they lift them"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1984 Mercury Cougar GS 5.0:cougarsmily: BBK Equal Length Shorties, BBK O/R X-Pipe, Magnaflow Magnapacks, Mustang GT Stainless Tailpipes, 18" Magnaflow Rolled Edge Tips. Turbo Coupe Hood, Mach 1 Chin Spoiler. 17"x9" Cobra R's, Falken Ziex 255/50s, and 245/45s.
1984 Ford Thunderbird 3.8L "Drag Queen"
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Lone Star Edition 5.7L Hemi 400hp, lex DOD14M Magnaflow retro-fit ler kit

'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #12
Quote from: cougrrr302;366588
Half of the side moldings are screwed on

sounds like a good chance to take them off ;)
--Steve
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L
2011 Mustang 3.7L

'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #13
I don't know what to do with the ones on the fenders and quarters though. They're screwed in and even the bumper moldings are faded and scratched.
"Real cars dont power the front wheels, they lift them"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1984 Mercury Cougar GS 5.0:cougarsmily: BBK Equal Length Shorties, BBK O/R X-Pipe, Magnaflow Magnapacks, Mustang GT Stainless Tailpipes, 18" Magnaflow Rolled Edge Tips. Turbo Coupe Hood, Mach 1 Chin Spoiler. 17"x9" Cobra R's, Falken Ziex 255/50s, and 245/45s.
1984 Ford Thunderbird 3.8L "Drag Queen"
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Lone Star Edition 5.7L Hemi 400hp, lex DOD14M Magnaflow retro-fit ler kit

'84 T-Bird added to the family

Reply #14
Perhaps you could patch the moldings and repaint them?

BTW does the car run?
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.