Getting her ready for the road.

Topic: Getting her ready for the road. (Read 1097 times) previous topic - next topic

Getting her ready for the road.

April 04, 2011, 11:39:23 AM

I finally got a title for my 87 bird I've had for a while. I also recently sold my 94 cougar cause I want a full size I-6 5spd ford pickup. So I'm getting the 87 3.8l ready for DD duty for the time. I got her a new battery and she cranked right over and started up. I also changed the oil. My son and I took her out for a short trip to get gas and she died as we were pulling in. We gave her a quick push and after a moment she started back up and we pulled up got gas. No probs on the trip home did notice the oil light flicker while sitting at an idle. It also did that before the oil change I recall. I haven't dug into this but she shows full of oil and she sounds smooth and clean not like low oil pressure. Gonna check the sensor to see if it might be leaking. I also noticed while stopped at a light there seemed to be some shaking. If I let off the brake or took it out of gear it disappeared. I also put new front brake pads on it turned the rotors also repacked the bearings and replaced the seals. Getting a new windshield tomorrow and ordering a quarter glass from Hcor on here. It feels so nice to be back in a Fox bird DD. Here are some old shots of it but still the same could use a wash now.

Here is the whole photobucket folder if you wanna look at more pics. http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s188/ipsd1/FreeBird/

Stuckman

Getting her ready for the road.

Reply #1 – April 04, 2011, 12:13:10 PM

The shakes could be a vac leak, might explain the stall as well. Since it hasn't been on the road in a while I would probably start there. Looks like its got an older engine in it. Is it really an 87? Your sig shows a 4-eye (86 and earlier) and the engine is a CFI (86 and earlier). 87 on up should be a Multi-port. Doesn't really matter on the diagnosis. Are there any codes?

Getting her ready for the road.

Reply #2 – April 04, 2011, 01:48:56 PM

Thanks for the Idea, guess I need to get out the can of carb cleaner and see what that turns up. Yup I'm sure its and 87 well so says the title any how. My sig shows an 84 4-eye cause that's my baby and she is not a DD car. Totally different car from the from the 87 that I'm working on making the DD. I'm not the almanac of theses cars but I do believe that the Real EFI 3.8 didn't start until 88, 83-87 have the good ole py carb fuel injection. I haven't run the codes as I get no check engine light, not that it would hurt I do have a scanner.

Thanks
Stuckman

Getting her ready for the road.

Reply #3 – April 04, 2011, 02:28:58 PM

Quote from: 88CougarGT;357162

The shakes could be a vac leak, might explain the stall as well. Since it hasn't been on the road in a while I would probably start there. Looks like its got an older engine in it. Is it really an 87? Your sig shows a 4-eye (86 and earlier) and the engine is a CFI (86 and earlier). 87 on up should be a Multi-port. Doesn't really matter on the diagnosis. Are there any codes?

The '87 3.8 was still cfi, they didn't go Multi till '88, and those had a balance shaft to help some of the vibration issues which are inherent to a 90* V6. I'd say some vibration is always going to be there. Both of my '88 V6 Tbirds and even both of the '89 3.8 cars I had to deal with had some amount of vibration...mostly due to bad plug wires and broken engine mounts. Both being repaired/replaced solved a lot of those issues.

Got her all legal Today.

Reply #4 – April 07, 2011, 12:12:00 AM

She passed inspection yesterday, after she got some New/Used tires for the front, and the new windshield installed. Made it up to the DMV and got her all in my name and tagged for the next 2 yrs!It feels O so nice.

I didn't invest to much work wanted to get her all in my name and legal before I put out to much labor. It is always hard to tell with a car that is given to us with an out of state title from the givers brother. I do believe he appreciated the help I gave him when it was his only car.
1. Now that I've put a few more miles on her I noticed that the oil light doesn't start to flicker until its warmed up and if I hit a bump that effects the oil light to. Also if I rev it up a bit the light goes of. I put in Valvoline 10-30 high mileage with a Motorcraft filter.I don't find any oil leaking but did find the PS pump pressure line leaking where is screws in thinking just a new O-ring for that. Haven't crawled under her and looked but I couldn't find the oil pressure switch from the top and the Chilton is even less help. I'm thinking its down there on the oil filter pump housing.
2. The Shakes/Vibration, only happens when I stop and it is in gear with the brakes on. The whole car kinda vibrates the passenger side inside door handle sure makes a nice alarm clock ringing type sound.

I can also here the inner rods shaking inside the door. I sprayed around with some carb cleaner today but didn't find any spots that seemed to raise the idle. I also looked over the bulk of the vac lines and most all of them seem in great shape. I know that says nothing about them. The air filter looks New. I'm gonna pull the cap and rotor tomorrow morning and pull the plugs and see what they are like.

Thanks for looking
Stuckman

Getting her ready for the road.

Reply #5 – April 07, 2011, 12:43:53 PM

Your idle might just be low enough to make it shake. Try raising it a hair to see if it goes away any.

Oil sensor is right above or infront of the oil filter. Can't remember which. On the v-8 its a pink or red wire. Should only be one wire.

Tighten the handle. Its either 1/4" or 8mm. 2 second thing.

Run codes, and see what pops up.