Glossary

Reply #15 – January 18, 2009, 07:50:42 PM

I'd actually spent a bit of time on a glossary for these cars and was going to put it on my website, but never got around to it. Here's the work I'd done so far. If people want it, I'll make it into its own thread and sticky it into the tech section:

Note: All references to “these cars” and references to model years that a component was used refer to 1983-1988 Thunderbirds and Cougars for the purpose of this list. For example, although this glossary mentions that these cars never came with HO engines, I am aware that 1991-1993 MN12 T-Birds and Cougars could be had with 5.0 HO engines. “These cars” means 1983-1988 T-Bird and Cougars ONLY.

20th Anniversary Cat, or 20th, or “Anny”: A special edition 1987 Cougar built to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the model. Based on the LS model, but with unique paint, interior and equipment. Approximately 5000 were built.
2.3t or 2.3 turbo: A turbocharged 2.3 liter SOHC 4-cylinder engine. Available only in Turbo coupe and 84-86 XR7. Featured an intercooler on 87-88 models.
35th Anniversary Thunderbird: A special edition 1985 Thunderbird built to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the T-Bird. Approximately 5000 were built. Featured unique paint and interior, as well as some unique features
3.8 V6: The base engine in 83-88 Thunderbirds and Cougars. A 90-degree OHV cast iron design with aluminum heads. 1983 US models and 1983-1986 Canadian models featured a 2-bbl carburetor. 1984-1987 US models and 1987 Canadian models featured a CFI fuel injection system. 1988 featured port fuel injection.
4-eye: A car with four headlights. When talking about these cars it means 83-86 models.
5.0 V8: An optional engine in 1983-1988 Thunderbirds and Cougars. Featured CFI fuel injection until 1986, when it was replaced with port fuel injection (EFI). The 5.0 V8 installed in these cars was the non-HO, or “SO” version of the engine, not to be confused with the HO version installed in Mustangs.
7.5” rear axle: The rear end housing installed in all 83-86 T-Birds and Cougars, as well as most V6 and V8 optioned 87-88 models (except 1988 XR7 and some 1988 Sports). Usually featured open differential, but some models (TC, Sport and XR7) featured traction lock. T/L was optional in other models. The 7.5” refers to the diameter of the ring gear.
8.8” rear axle: A larger, stronger rear axle. Standard equipment in 1987-88 Turbo Coupe and 1988 XR7. There have been cases of this rear axle being featured in 1988 Sports as well. Featured traction lock in all Thunderbird/Cougar installations. Was equipped with disc brakes on TC, drum brakes on all others.
A4LD: a light duty automatic transmission available in 1987-1988 Turbo Coupe. 4-speed design, fourth gear is overdrive.
ABS: Antilock Brakes. Was standard equipment on 87-88 Turbo Coupe
ACT: Air Charge Temperature sensor. This is a sensor in the intake manifold that measures the temperature of the air in the intake.
AOD: a medium duty 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission. Was standard equipment on 83-88 5.0 models, optional on early V6 models, standard on later ones.
Batch Fire or Bank Fire: A type of multi port fuel injection. Unlike SEFI, which fires each individual injector in sequence, batch fire fires a bunch (or batch) at once, usually in banks. This is a simpler EFI setup, with only two injector circuits from the engine computer, instead of a circuit for each injector – in fact, it is electrically similar to CFI. 1988 3.8 V6 cars are batch fire, as are many Ford trucks.
Box Fox: A 1980-1982 T-Bird or Cougar. Based on the Fox platform, just like the 83-88, but much more boxy. Box Fox Cougars were even available as four-doors and station wagons.
BCS: Boost control solenoid. Used in turbo models, it’s basically a boost “dump” controller which opens up when boost gets too high. It opens the wastegate on the turbo. Often replaced by an aftermarket, adjustable boost control valve such as a “Gillis valve”
C3: a light duty 3-speed automatic transmission available in 1983-86 Turbo Coupe and 1984-86 XR7
C4: A medium duty Ford automatic transmission, was never factory installed in 83-88 cars. Was a three-speed
C5: An improved version of the C4 transmission, was standard equipment on 83-86 V6 models. Was a three speed.
CAI: Cold Air Intake: An aftermarket intake duct. True CAI takes the air from outside the engine compartment (hence “cold air”), but some cheap kits have a conical filter mounted inside the engine compartment
CFI: Central Fuel Injection. Featured two fuel injectors mounted on a central throttle body. Similar in appearance to a carburetor, but fuel is metered electronically.
E6 or E6SE: The heads found on 1986-1988 SO 5.0 engines. Generally considered undesirable due to poor flow
E7 or E7TE: The cylinder heads found on 1987-1995 HO V8 engines. Feature better breathing than the heads found on these cars, which lets the HO make more power.
EATC: Electronic Automatic Temperature Control. The title pretty much sums it up: An automatic climate control system. Optional in all models, all model years.
ECTS: Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor. The engine computer uses this sensor to determine the engine temperature, and uses the information to determine fuel mixture (a cooler engine requires more fuel). Not to be confused with the temperature sender, which only sends information to the temperature gauge in the dash.
EEC, or EEC-IV, or EEC-V: Electronic Engine Control. The IV or V denotes the generation. All 1984-1988 T-Birds and Cougars (except Canadian V6 models) use EEC-IV. 1983 used EEC-III. 1983-1986 Canadian V6 models used carburetors and did not have electronic engine control. EEC-V is a newer, OBD-II compliant system.
EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection. Technically, CFI is a form of electronic fuel injection, but Ford reserves the term EFI for later multi-port designs.
Elan: A trim level on Thunderbird. The most luxurious trim level but considered to slot below Turbo Coupe. Discontinued in 1986, replaced with LX.
Fila: A trim level on Thunderbird. Considered to be a special edition, it was a cross-marketing thing between Ford and Fila. Discontinued in 1986
Fox: The basic platform these cars are built on. Some other cars that share the Fox platform are 79-93 Mustang, Fairmont, Zephyr, Capri, Continental, and Mark VII
GS: A trim level on the Cougar, typically the “base” model
Heritage: A trim level on Thunderbird. Discontinued in 1984.
HO or High Output: The 5.0 engine found in 1987-93 Mustang GT and 1988-92 Lincoln Mark VII, but not factory installed in T-Birds and Cougars. Makes approximately 50% more horsepower than the SO version of the 5.0 V8 (225 for HO VS ~150 for SO) and is a common upgrade for these cars. Features forged pistons, better flowing heads and intake, more aggressive camshaft, larger throttle body, and 19 pound fuel injectors. The SO 5.0 can be upgraded to HO specs using HO spec top end parts and camshaft, but because of its flat-top cast pistons it is limited in further modifications.
IAC: Idle Air Control valve. A small motor or solenoid on the throttle body that allows air into the engine while idling
IHI: The turbocharger installed on 1987-1988 Turbo Coupe engines
IRCM: Integrated Relay Control Module. A subsystem of the 1987-88 Turbo Coupe’s electrical system. Contains several relays controlling several different circuits.
LCA: Lower Control Arm, when talking about these cars, usually in reference to the rear suspension
LS: A trim level on the Cougar, typically the “midlevel” model
LX: A trim level on Thunderbirds. The most luxurious trim level, but considered “below” Turbo Coupe. Replaced “Elan”
MAP or BAP: Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor. On Speed Density cars the MAP helps the engine computer determine how hard the engine is working (and subsequently, how much fuel it needs). When converting to a MAF system the vacuum line is removed from the MAP sensor, turning it into a BAP sensor (Barometric Absolute Pressure), which is only active before the engine is started and acts as a type of altitude sensor.
Mass Airflow Sensor, or MAF: a system of measuring engine air intake so that fuel can be metered accordingly. Because it measures the air the engine is using it adapts easily to modifications. Was never installed in 83-88 T-Birds and Cougars but is a popular upgrade. Non-turbo T-Birds and Cougars used a Speed Density system, while turbocharged models used a VAM system
MN12: The 1989-1997 Thunderbird/Cougar platform. Completely different than the Fox, with very little if any parts interchange ability.
Multi-port fuel injection, or MPFI, or Port Fuel Injection, or EFI: A type of fuel injection that uses a fuel injector for each cylinder. 1988 3.8, 1986-88 5.0 and 1983-1988 2.3t engines all featured this type of injection.
NATO: No, not that NATO. On this forum NATO means another forum dedicated to Turbo Coupes.
New Edge: The name for 1999 and newer FWD Mercury Cougars
O2 or Oxygen sensor: A sensor mounted in the exhaust stream that measures the oxygen content of the exhaust gasses. The engine computer uses this reading to fine-tune fuel mixture. This is a reactionary setup – the sensor sends info to the computer, which looks at the reading and decides whether to add or subtract fuel, which it then does and then monitors the O2 sensor to see what effect the change had. This check/change/recheck procedure is called “Closed Loop Operation”. The O2 sensor must be hot to function, so the computer will not go into closed loop mode on a cold engine. On V-type engines (V6, V8) there are two sensors, one for each bank. EFI versions of these cars use a four-wire “heated” O2 sensor to help get into closed loop mode faster.
Posi or Positraction: A generic General Motors term for limited slip rear end, often mistakenly used to describe Ford rears. The proper term for it is “Traction Lock”.
PRC: Programmed Ride Control. An electronic suspension system exclusive to 87-88 Turbo Coupe.
Quad Shocks: A second, horizontal set of shocks on the rear axle designed to reduce axle hop during hard launches. Standard equipment on Turbo Coupe, Sport, and XR7. May be found on other models as well.
SEFI: Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection. A type of multi port fuel injection in which each fuel injector is activated just before the intake valve opens. The injectors open in sequence according to the firing order, hence “SEFI”. 1986 and newer 5.0 engines and all 2.3t engines used SEFI.
SFC or Subframe Connector: A brace between the rear and front subframes, which greatly strengthens these cars by tying the two ends of the car together. Usually welded in, though some are bolted in.
SN95: The 1994 to 2004 Mustang. This chassis is a popular donor for suspension components into Fox cars such as ours. 2005 and newer Mustangs are built on the S197 chassis.
SO or Standard Output: The low-performance 5.0 V8 installed in 83-88 T-Birds and Cougars. Horsepower ratings ranged from 130-155.
Speed Density: The fuel metering system used on non-turbo T-Birds and Cougars. Unlike a MAF setup, this system does not actually measure the air entering the engine. It uses readings from the TPS, MAP, ECTS, and other sensors, then uses a mathematical table to determine how much fuel the engine needs. This is considered to be a good setup on a stock engine, but because it does not measure incoming air it cannot compensate for engine modifications that increase airflow (and almost all engine modifications increase airflow). Because it does not work well with modifications it’s often swapped for a mass airflow system using Mustang components.
Sport: A trim level on the 87-88 Thunderbird. Slotted between the LX and Turbo Coupe, it featured a 5.0 SO engine, stiffer springs, traction lok rear end, quad shocks, and a floor shifted automatic transmission. 1987 Sports featured a full digital dash and base style seats, 1988 Sports featured a full buttstuffogue dash and Turbo Coupe style seats.
Star Wars Dash: The optional, fully digital instrument cluster available in 1985-1988 models. Features digital tachometer, built in fuel computer and multi-gauge (oil, volt, water temp)
T3: The turbocharger installed on 1983-1986 TC and XR7 models
T4: A larger turbo. A common aftermarket upgrade
T3/T4 Hybrid: Just like it sounds, a turbocharger that shares features with T3 and T4 turbochargers
T5: The Borg-Warner 5-speed manual transmission available in 1983-88 Turbo Coupe and 1984-1986 XR7
TFI: Thin Film Ignition. This is the electronic ignition system used in Fords with EEC-IV. The TFI module is mounted close to the engine and is pr0ne to heat related failure
TPS: Throttle Position Sensor
Traction Lok, or Traction Lock, or Trac Loc: A limited slip rear differential. Was standard equipment on Sport, Turbo Coupe and XR7. Was optional on all others.
Turbo Coupe or TC: A trim level on Thunderbird. Featured 2.3 turbocharged four cylinder engines. 1983-1986 were similar to other Thunderbirds with upgraded trim, suspension and interior. 1987-1988 differed significantly from other models, featuring unique hood, header panel, and wheels, plus several high tech features not available on “lesser” Thunderbirds, such as PRC and ABS (see elsewhere in glossary for definitions).
TV or Throttle Valve or Throttle Value cable: A cable that connects from the transmission to the throttle lever, it works with the governor in the automatic transmission to determine shift points and feel. MUST be properly connected and functioning, or it can cause transmission failure very quickly. The plastic bushing on the cable where it attaches to the throttle lever is pr0ne to failure.
VAM: Vane Air Meter – this is similar to the MAF system in that it measures airflow into the engine, but unlike a MAF system (which heats a thin wire, then measures how the air cools it) this setup has a spring loaded flapper door attached to a variable resistor. The more air enters the engine, the more the door is pushed open. A MAF system only measures part of the airflow, VAM measures all of it. Because it requires the air to push a door open it creates a restriction in the air intake system. This is the metering system used on 2.3t models.
XR7 or XR-7: A trim level on the Cougar. 1984-1986 featured the turbo 2.3 four-cylinder and was the Mercury sibling to the Turbo Coupe. 1987-1988 featured the SO 5.0 and were basically the Mercury equivalent to the Thunderbird Sport.

Glossary

Reply #16 – January 18, 2009, 07:56:48 PM

Nice

Glossary

Reply #17 – February 17, 2009, 10:55:33 PM

oh im so glad i found this, took me a while ,but im fullfilled now.great info

Glossary

Reply #18 – February 18, 2009, 05:14:52 AM

H/C/I: referring to an engine that has Heads, Camshaft, and Intake manifold modifications.

There's also the World Class T5 trannies, usually abbreviated WCT5, which were featured in the '87-'88 TC's, as well as 5.0 Mustangs after a certain year, I forget the nitty gritty details of all that though.

Maybe someone could combine all the pertinent info and make a thread, sticky and all..?

Glossary

Reply #19 – March 01, 2009, 06:14:13 PM

LS=Limited Slip for us old school folk. :D

Glossary

Reply #20 – March 17, 2009, 06:22:20 AM

Great job and many thanks Thunder Chicken on the detailed list, now I don't need my secret decoder ring! Seriously, because as a new owner of a Cougar and being somewhat new to the garage/tool area..I'll admit I don't know diddly and am sometimes embarassed to ask 'what does that mean?'

The following is my personal contribution as I've used it quite frequently.

AS: Aww SH*T. A technical term often used by newer members quickly followed by the deep sigh and shaking of the head from side to side as they realize the complexity of the situation they're about to undertake. In some cases, its used after realizing they've removed a vital part unnecessarily and need to reinstall it hoping no one noticed.

Glossary

Reply #21 – March 07, 2010, 11:31:04 PM

awesome list thunderchicken. You guys left out ECU/ECM - Electronic Control Unit/Module A.K.A. EEC which was up there