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Question about 87's

Reply #15 –
Yeah, my 86 was factory console with a colum shift. I'm pretty sure its a gs, base cluster and only power windows and mirrors. manual seats and not much else. not even power door locks.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Question about 87's

Reply #16 –
This 87 Ranger I have now is an XLT, it has cruise and tilt, nearly unheard of options with a 4 cyl 5 speed!
Current: 1986 Thunderbird, 105k 3.8/C5, 2 tone  Midnight Wine/Medium Taupe, wing windows, wire wheel covers.


Former: 1985 Cougar GS 115k Oxford White/Regatta Blue, 5.0, full console, 14" 8 hole aluminum T-Bird rims, Edelbrock valve covers.

Question about 87's

Reply #17 –
Ahhhh, the AOD shuffle. Good times but very hard on the trans.
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Question about 87's

Reply #18 –
Quote from: MY83T;430769
87/88 Thunderbird Sport - Cougar XR-7  5.0 with AOD 4 speed floor shift.

87/88 Thunderbird and Cougar LS  5.0 option, always column shift

...

I think that covers all the floor shift Thunderbird/Cougars from 83-88

Quote from: Haystack;430772
Interesting. I didn't think floor shifts were only 87-88 sport/xr7's.

Its rare to see a console in non floor shift cars, so I assumed the console was generally paired with a floor shift cars


My 88 LS 5.0 is floor shift.

My 87 LS 3.8 and 85 sage green GS 3.8 were full console cars.
"lol.. because not too many people care for that style of car"
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Question about 87's

Reply #19 –
Quote from: MY83T;430789
86 Cougar was a Consolette unless you had a 5 speed or floor shift Auto Turbo Cougar XR-7  Odds are if you have a 5.0 with a console it was added after the fact.

I have to disagree here.  Both of the 86 Cougars (both GSs) I have had came with the full console with column shifters.  My current one was a 5.0 car.  The other one was a 3.8 that my father in law bought back in 1988 and I'm positive that is how it came from the factory.
1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

Question about 87's

Reply #20 –
Quote from: Loaded87IROC;430832
I have to disagree here.  Both of the 86 Cougars (both GSs) I have had came with the full console with column shifters.  My current one was a 5.0 car.  The other one was a 3.8 that my father in law bought back in 1988 and I'm positive that is how it came from the factory.


Yes, this was a possibility. For 1985 & 86, the GS Cougar could be ordered with either the consolette or individual buckets (non-sport) with a full console (column shift).
The LS for '85/'86 however was only available with the consolette.

As far as I know the individual non-sport bucket seats with full console was a no-cost option during those two years. Again only available on GS only.
1985 Mercury Cougar XR-7 - 5-speed 
One of 1,246 built

Question about 87's

Reply #21 –
The console was optional, 1985-88, on all non-turbo/non-XR7/non-Sport models, except 1985-86 LS as BCA describes above.
It was actually part of the seating package which determined if the console was needed. If one ordered individual buckets, the console was added automatically.

The automatic floor shifter was also an option for 1987-88 non-TC/non-XR7/non-Sport models.

Any car without a floor shifter but with the console got a tray at the front of the console. Some cars' tray had a center divider, some were completely flat.

Question about 87's

Reply #22 –
Quote from: Haystack;430785
My 86 has a console and no floor shifter. they only had gave and ls those years with a 5.0. How do you tell which? The title only says cougar and it doesn't say ls anywhere on the car.


If the full console was factory installed, it would have to be a GS.

Three easy LS exterior identifiers over a GS ('85/'86)

Illuminated cat on the c-pillar
Bright rocker trim
Bright accents on the b-pillar trim
1985 Mercury Cougar XR-7 - 5-speed 
One of 1,246 built

Question about 87's

Reply #23 –
From what I can tell from the 88 Thunderbird order guide I've got it was possible to order a base Thunderbird with the console and floor shift (like a Sport/Turbo Coupe) but not a console and column shift. The 88 LX had to have a consolette and no floor shift as a "split bench" was standard with no other seating option available.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Question about 87's

Reply #24 –
IMO, that console-ette was the stupidest/most worthless thing on these cars! Ford really should have done a 60/40 or 50/50 split bench instead, of course, you wouldn't have been able to get power mirrors, windows or seats then, only power locks.
Current: 1986 Thunderbird, 105k 3.8/C5, 2 tone  Midnight Wine/Medium Taupe, wing windows, wire wheel covers.


Former: 1985 Cougar GS 115k Oxford White/Regatta Blue, 5.0, full console, 14" 8 hole aluminum T-Bird rims, Edelbrock valve covers.

Question about 87's

Reply #25 –
Quote from: thunderjet302;430847
From what I can tell from the 88 Thunderbird order guide I've got it was possible to order a base Thunderbird with the console and floor shift (like a Sport/Turbo Coupe) but not a console and column shift. The 88 LX had to have a consolette and no floor shift as a "split bench" was standard with no other seating option available.


Interesting. The 88 Thunderbird order guide that I have doesn't allow for a full console in the base car or the LX.
For reference, mine is dated 2-29-88 (leap day! ;)).
1985 Mercury Cougar XR-7 - 5-speed 
One of 1,246 built

Question about 87's

Reply #26 –
Cougar experts, thanks for the correction, i was unaware of the GS/LS option.  More of a Tbird detail guy, i thought the options were the same for both lines.








1983 FORD THUNDERBIRD HERITAGE 5.0
2008 SAAB 9-7X AERO 6.0 (LS2) 1 0f 554 Made
2011 FORD FLEX SEL Family Hauler

Question about 87's

Reply #27 –
My 87 LX has the floor shift and Turbo seats..With this package was the suspension ant different? My car has almost every option minus pwr moon roof.
Quote from: thunderjet302;430791
Just to add more confusion:

My Thunderbird has a full length console removed from an 87 Cougar LS at the wreaking yard. The Cougar was a V6 AOD car which only had power windows, lock and mirrors. It had a column shifter with a full length console and the little tray in place of the shifter. It came from the factory like that. So it was apparently possible in 87 to order a Cougar with a full length console and a column shifter. Also in 87 the Thunderbird Sport didn't have the Turbo Coupe style sport seats but instead the base Thunderbird seats. In 87 the only way to get the Turbo Coupe style sport seats outside of a Turbo Coupe was to order them on a LX Thunderbird. That also got you a floor shift. However in 88 that option disappeared from the LX Thunderbird.
87 Tbird LX w/Factory floor shifter:D   3G upgrade. Tinted Windows...85 Mustang GT steering wheel(non-cruise) 17'' Saleen SC style wheels,Front/Rear TC sway bars/poly bushings & Mustang GT steering rack...'05 Mustang V6 springs...93 Cobra MC & booster, MM adjustable C/C plates,  Work  In  Progress.......  ( On The Shelf---HO computer, 19lb injectors, HO cam, BBK headers, Explorer Intake, Cold Air Intake ,Phantom Gauges, Stinger stainless exhaust pipes )
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Question about 87's

Reply #28 –
The TB '88 dealer album I have claims the buckets & console were only avail on TC & Sport, not listed as a option on base or LX... Of course packages change, also doesn't mean it wasn't a printing error...
 

Question about 87's

Reply #29 –
Quote from: BCA;430854
Interesting. The 88 Thunderbird order guide that I have doesn't allow for a full console in the base car or the LX.
For reference, mine is dated 2-29-88 (leap day! ;)).

I double checked mine and it's the same as yours. I read it wrong :hick:.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.