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Topic: New guy/New car HELP (Read 1431 times) previous topic - next topic

New guy/New car HELP

OK, I just picked up an 88 T-bird with the 5.0.  Car runs great, almost no rust, I like it, very comfortable for me and my kids.  Anyway I am needing to know the difference between the 5.0 in my car and say a 5.0 in an 88 Mustang.  I was told from a mustang guy that the only real difference was that the camshaft in a mustang was a little more radical giving it the extra power and the mustangs had a better flow exhaust.  The guy gave me a throttle body spacer (1 inch) and said to throw that on, remove the air silencer horn inside my fender, get a K&N filter, and bump my timing to 14 degrees and he said there's 20 horse right there.  Anyone think this sounds right?.  what HP does my 5.0 have stock right now, I've heard 160-190.  I also threw on a set of stock mustang gt rims that have the 225 60 r 15 "H" rated tires on them.  WHAT a difference it made, it fattened out the entire stance of that car and the handling is way better!.  Anyway, ANY INFO would be awesome.  thanks.

New guy/New car HELP

Reply #1 –
Welcome to the board!

There are several differences between the Tbird's 5.0 SO (Standard Output) and the Mustang's 5.0 HO (High Output).  This link will tell you everything you need to know about how you can convert your engine to an HO (I, and many others here have done this).  The 88 SO puts out 155hp/265ftlb.  The 88 HO puts out 225hp/300ftlb.

http://www.coolcats.net/tech/advanced/ho_conversion.html

Also, here is the thread I had made for my HO conversion (it's rather long):  http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=12639

You need new cam, heads, intake, headers, true dual exhaust, computer etc.  The firing order is also different.  Your buddy was right, though; the cam is one of the major differences.  The cam, heads, and exhaust are the major weak points in the SO.  Me, my dad, and my uncle were able to complete the coversion in a weekend and you can buy the parts needed for it for dirt cheap off of ebay.

Hope this helps.  Got any pics of your car?

New guy/New car HELP

Reply #2 –
We're here for you.There's not much that we haven't done to our cars around here (collectively).Af you need help,all you have to do is ask,and the answer will pop up like Fox boby magic.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

sweet

Reply #3 –
155 hp kinda sucks, but my car feels like it has more than that.  Man, 155 compared to 225 is a big difference.  So I guess the H.0 swap is definetely a must!!!.  I'll have to wait untill I get another ride so that I can put my bird down for awhile if I'm gonna do all that work.  I couldn't do that H.O swap in a weekend I don't think.  Anyother tricks out there to make my T-bird faster.  I was told to swap in some 3.73's in the axle and that would make a world of difference.

New guy/New car HELP

Reply #4 –
Yeah, I know what you mean about the feeling.  I think it's because of the torque.  Most 155 hp engines ain't sending 260 ft/lb to the ground.

Things to make car faster:
HO or engine swap
Rear gears
5 speed swap
Lose weight (both you and the car :p)
1988 Thunderbird Sport (1st car)
351W in the works
"I'll get it one piece at a time...":D

Quote from: bhazard;300566
You got woman'd.

engine swap

Reply #5 –
Ok, so say I found a wrecked Mustang with a 5.0 H.O in it.  How hard is it to swap in the H.0 motor?.  I've swapped motors before but I don't know as far as new wiring, exhaust, and tranny issues that I might encounter.  The  basic implant of the new motor is relatively easy it's just all the new wiring that I might need and the smaller details that really make me question attempting a swap like this.  I can get a 5.0 H.O motor, what else will have to be done for the swap.  I KNOW there must be a FAQ or thread for this somehwere so I'll start looking.

New guy/New car HELP

Reply #6 –
Quote from: AKBirdy;149220
I've swapped motors before but I don't know as far as new wiring, exhaust, and tranny issues that I might encounter.


Welcome to our little corner of cyberspace!

You can re-use all of your wiring. The only changes there are you will need a 87-88 speed density EEC-IV if you want to do it the easy way. And you'll need to change your ignition firing order to the HO/351W firing order. So as far as wiring goes it's just "plug and play". You'll be suprised how simple it really is.

For exhaust you'll want to score some factory mustang headers and use any H-pipe for a Mustang. You'll have to have the cat back system done by a decent ler shop though as nobody makes a bolt-on cat-back dual system for a T-bird.

The only tranny issue you'll have is that the stock AOD sucks. I'd at least get a good shift kit but leave the convertor stock until you get 3.55 gears or better.

Follow this link for all the specifics on the HO swap:  http://www.coolcats.net/tech/advanced/ho_conversion.html

You can do it in stages though. For an easy power boost now you could install an HO throttle body and intake manifold and get your exhaust done. Then do the rest later unless you have a complete HO engine to swap then it would be easier to do it all at once with the exception of the exhaust... you could still knock that out 1st.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
86 5.0 Turbocoupe (Katrina), 87 5.0 Sport (Rita)

New guy/New car HELP

Reply #7 –
It takes less time to swap in the H.O engine,than to do an H..O. upgrade.As stated above,drop in the engine,the V-8 Harness in your car just plugs in to everything (the Mustang or Mark VII computer operate the injector firing order),and you're just about finished.If you use the Stang headers,you'll need to swap in the Stang H-Pipe,buy an H or X pipe,and finish the exhaust (you'll need to either lengthen your O2 sensor harness or buy extenders,I lengthened mine in about 10 minutes),or use the T-Bird exhaust....which I would vote against because you won't be taking advantage of the H.O.You don't need to do any wiring at all for the harness.Just remove your computer and install the Stang or Mark VII unit.If you don't have the buttstuffog gauges,you may need to swap your oil pressure sending unit with the one from your S.O. engine.Easy stuff really.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

New guy/New car HELP

Reply #8 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;149225
If you don't have the buttstuffog gauges,you may need to swap your oil pressure sending unit with the one from your S.O. engine.Easy stuff really.


Good catch on the oil pressure sending unit. I forgot all about that.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
86 5.0 Turbocoupe (Katrina), 87 5.0 Sport (Rita)

New guy/New car HELP

Reply #9 –
You can guess how I figured that out.LOL.That is one of the reason's why it's good that we all work together as well as we do.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..
 

New guy/New car HELP

Reply #10 –
Hey we want to see some pics of your new bird!