Trading cars.

Topic: Trading cars. (Read 3759 times) previous topic - next topic

Reply #30 – October 10, 2010, 08:28:29 AM

I think you might as well gut it and make a race car out of it. There won't be any comfort at all, with a top loader (expensive),they have no overdrive,so gas mileage will be , and I still maintain, that it'll cost more to do what you're doing that build it up with the options it was mostly born with. With that list, it's also one of those lists that generally end up being the end of the car. Once a lot of projects like that get started, the true cost, real effort, and overall end of the build end up being disappointing and then the car gets parted out and in the end,wasted time and cash. I hope it works out better for you, and I hope it doesn't end up costing you a small fortune. No offense to you or your plan at all, but I had to learn that our plans,and the reality of those kinds of plans can often be two different things entirely. You really have to have a good sense of budget (very important), parts accessibility, time, Again,I wish you luck with it and hope it does work out for you and you end up with a good running, good looking car you can be proud of.

Trading cars.

Reply #31 – October 10, 2010, 02:11:19 PM

Quote

Delete A/C, run an A/C core where the heater core goes.
Downgrade to manual heater

listed those twice :p

Trading cars.

Reply #32 – October 10, 2010, 02:46:33 PM

I can say from experience the most important thing to any project car is to start with a car you like. If you start with a compromise it'll always be a compromise. I wanted a four-eye Bird, Mark VII or 87-88 Cougar and settled on an 88 Bird because I couldn't find any of the cars I really wanted. I did lots of stuff to make that 88 Bird better (and a few things to make it worse, I'll never go with poly bushings again) but I never made myself happy with it...

Trading cars.

Reply #33 – October 10, 2010, 04:10:51 PM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;338885

I can say from experience the most important thing to any project car is to start with a car you like. If you start with a compromise it'll always be a compromise. I wanted a four-eye Bird, Mark VII or 87-88 Cougar and settled on an 88 Bird because I couldn't find any of the cars I really wanted. I did lots of stuff to make that 88 Bird better (and a few things to make it worse, I'll never go with poly bushings again) but I never made myself happy with it...

This is really something to sit and think about for a while. I really want an 86 bird or cat, quite a bit more then I want to fix up this car.

I found an 83 or 84 thunderbird at the junkyard yesterday. All leather, no power anything and vent windows. I seriously considered pulling the doors, but they stuck the forks for a forklift right through one of the doors. It was a shame too. The mileage they had listed was 82000k and the body looked perfect except where they picked it up with the forklift. Engine looked brand new. I actually sat in the car for about 20 minutes wishing it wasn't at a junkyard.

As far as the top loader comment goes, even acidentally leave your car in drive instead of OD? I have done it for a week or two, just seeing how liveable it would be with no OD. I lost about 2mpg freeway, but compare that to a t-5 with 3.73 gears, and and it would drive just about the same.

I think I may have to put this off for a while, and look for a 4-eye. I like everything about them better.

Trading cars.

Reply #34 – October 10, 2010, 08:08:10 PM

In the end,you have to build for yourself,and nobody else. For me,the '88 is IT.Last of the breed. My Sport filled the void quite well,and she's part of the family.

Trading cars.

Reply #35 – October 10, 2010, 09:48:05 PM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;338885

I can say from experience the most important thing to any project car is to start with a car you like. If you start with a compromise it'll always be a compromise. I wanted a four-eye Bird, Mark VII or 87-88 Cougar and settled on an 88 Bird because I couldn't find any of the cars I really wanted. I did lots of stuff to make that 88 Bird better (and a few things to make it worse, I'll never go with poly bushings again) but I never made myself happy with it...

i'm the complete opposite.. i'd rather have an 87-88 bird than anything else.. i was never fond of the cougar rear window design, still not but they're 'ok' to me now.. as for 4 eyed birds/cougars, my first mod would be an 87-88 non-TC header panel and lights.. only 4 eyed foxes i really care for are capris and the stangs with with plastic grill

Trading cars.

Reply #36 – October 10, 2010, 09:55:33 PM

Quote from: vinnietbird;338929

For me,the '88 is IT.Last of the breed..

same reason i bought my first car, my 88 bird.. it was fords last. true to the definition, muscle car. MN-12's are a luxury sports car in my opinion, because of the IRS and all that ..

Trading cars.

Reply #37 – October 10, 2010, 10:17:15 PM

It's all about personal taste. Some of us prefer Birds,some like the cats,some like both.Either way,it's cool. That's what this forum is about. "Muscle Car" is reaching. The '88's are nice cars,but are a far reach to be a muscle car (at least in factory form).150 hp was a little on the "comfy,but not impressive" side. Still,they are very easy to mod, Easy to maintain,and wicked hard to find parts for.LOL.