Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Engine Tech => Topic started by: Blue88ho on July 09, 2018, 09:58:34 PM

Title: 1988 find
Post by: Blue88ho on July 09, 2018, 09:58:34 PM
Ok so this is my first post after 5 years being a member under a few names but long story short i can get a 88 3.8 tnird with 28000 miles on it for $5000 and i want to know do you all think this is a good buy I know about the head gasket problems that is why i am asking please HELP cuz it seems to be to good of a car to past up
Title: 1988 find
Post by: Moonmount on July 12, 2018, 04:19:49 AM
I wouldn't buy a 3.8 car, but with what I've seen on the current market value of mint cougars and tbirds that seems an appropriate price
Title: 1988 find
Post by: walkingbird on July 13, 2018, 09:02:34 PM
Mine came out of a barn last year with more problems than a math book but through Frustration, Aggravation, determination, and the help of the people on this Forum we succeeded in building a sweet car.
I have seen these cars priced over $10,000 I would not sell mine for less than $5000.
Title: 1988 find
Post by: jpc647 on July 26, 2018, 12:49:55 PM
If you turned around tomorrow and wanted to sell it, even to a Fox Body T-Bird enthusiast, you'd be hard pressed to get that kind of money. I've been on this forum for a decade (my first car was an 88 T-bird 3.8l), and what I've learned is, unless heavily modified, $5000 Fox body t-birds don't sell very quickly.

With that being said, the 3.8l motor is 88 is an absolute piece of garbage. If you drive that car, it will sooner rather than later need a head gasket. Most of us swapped in 5.0l motors out of other T-birds or mustangs. I wouldn't buy a 3.8l car with the intent of driving it long with the 3.8. You might get a year out of it, or two, or a day. It's really a roll of the dice.


Quote from: walkingbird;466409
Mine came out of a barn last year with more problems than a math book but through Frustration, Aggravation, determination, and the help of the people on this Forum we succeeded in building a sweet car.
I have seen these cars priced over $10,000 I would not sell mine for less than $5000.

Price and what the actually sell for, or the owner gives up and keeps it are vastly different things.
Title: 1988 find
Post by: Stealth on August 24, 2018, 10:51:12 AM
No Way should you pay that much for that car. I have had my very nice 88 Sport advertised on this forum for two years and no takers at $2500. I may send it to the crusher to get out of paying insurance twice a year. Search "hot rod kit" thread title if you want to see it.
Title: 1988 find
Post by: Haystack on August 24, 2018, 10:50:10 PM
Here's the way I see it. The 3.8 isn't a bad motor. From a performance potential it's pretty much a dead end. As a suck daily driver it's not bad. If you're looking to buy a car and actually own it for a long time low mileage is getting harder and harder to come by. Personally I'm not sure I paid 5 grand for a 3.8 but if I was going to buy one car to keep for 10 or 20 years. The thing is with that little mileage you need to worry about whether or not it's at the whole time it's been sitting everything's going to be rusty all the rubbers going to be dry rotted and it's going to need a lot of work. If it's a well-maintained not driven very often car then it might be worth the price.

I'd offer him $2,500 and see if they will talk you down to 3 Grand