'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Topic: '88 T Bird - LX or Sport?? (Read 1737 times) previous topic - next topic

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

December 18, 2006, 02:14:22 AM

Well, picked up an '88 Bird today, stole it for $300, drove it home, and it drives quite well, and the body is quite presentable as well. It's got a lot of miles, but was pretty well maintained. Everything works, even the a/c, and it's quite loaded. But I'm trying to figure out exactly what it is...

Other than the Thunderbird emblems on it, there are no markings on it. No LX, no Sport, nothing. The car has the following..

5.0 V8
4 speed automatic, on the floor with console
full buttstuffog instrumentation
Bucket seats with power driver side, look like sport seats
Tilt, cruise, a/c, pw, pm, power sunroof

I'm thinking this is one of the "Sport" models by the way it's optioned, but I can't find any definitive way to tell.

I'm sure I'll have lots more questions of this board as the car progresses, but thought I'd better know what it is first. Does anyone have any pictures of a stock '88 TBird Sport?

Thanks for this board!!

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #1 – December 18, 2006, 06:47:55 AM

It sounds like a Sport model to me! It also sounds like it has some cool options.
Welcome!

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #2 – December 18, 2006, 10:34:27 AM

Just a heads up.....

Everyone loves photos here!

Ive got a Sport too, and it's stock except for wheels.
Welcome!

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #3 – December 18, 2006, 11:18:20 AM

Easiest way to tell for sure is the VIN number

If it is a sport it should begin with 1FABP61
Here is a link to a VIN decoder:
https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/vin_tools/default.asp

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #4 – December 18, 2006, 04:52:30 PM

I just picked up a Sport a few weeks ago for $350.00.Needs a few trhings,but eventually,it'll all come together.Does yours have a locker and/or quad shocks?Mine does,and was curious if most Sports did.

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #5 – December 18, 2006, 05:02:40 PM

I think all sports did.

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #6 – December 18, 2006, 05:16:25 PM

Well,I have heard both ways.I wonder if they are kind of a fluke.

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #7 – December 18, 2006, 05:22:40 PM

Mine did, then my grandpa broke it, so i dont have it.

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #8 – December 18, 2006, 05:27:58 PM

Mine has a Tack-lok and it sure as hell isn't *susposed* to have it. All you can do it is ask someone else that has one.

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #9 – December 18, 2006, 08:36:52 PM

Well, we may want to clarify that none of these cars came with a "Locker". What they may or may not have come with from the factory is a Traction Lok limited slip.

88 Sportcoupe - yup, my vin deciphers as a Sport

vinnietbird - no mine doesn't have quad shocks. The rear end code is "M", does anyone know what this is? It looks like an 8.8, but I thought only the Turbo coupe got the 8.8?

I'll work on posting some pics, I'm trying to buff the paint out where the previous owner had a bra on it...for 10 years....so there is 10 years worth of crud caked on the nose of this car. But drove the car all over town for errands today. It's just nice, perfect for the daily commute and a lot cheaper than my V10 Superduty! Sure, another 50 or so hp would be great, but I'm not complaining:)

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #10 – December 19, 2006, 09:17:18 AM

-"M" is a locking axle with a 2.73 ratio. the way to verify for 8.8 or 7.5 (other than visual) is by the metal tag located on a bolt of the inspection plate cover....

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #11 – December 19, 2006, 11:35:25 AM

You may have already looked at it but check out this link if you havent.

http://www.coolcats.net/tech/general/axleinfo.html

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #12 – December 19, 2006, 01:18:05 PM

Okay, excellent info and links there guys, thanks. I better go out and crawl around some more, the pictures are worth a 1000 words, I probably have the 7.5 which is okay really for what the car is now. The limited slip is a big plus, expecially in wonderfully warm Idaho (hit 11 degrees last night). 2.73's though...with an overdrive? No wonder this thing gets good mileage!

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #13 – December 19, 2006, 01:21:52 PM

If I'm not mistaken, Sports had the buttstuffog dash while the LX cars had the digital dash.

Welcome to the Sports club! My car has a posi 7.5in 2.73 rear end as well, but I have a set of 3.27s ready to go in with my HO conversion. But cruisin at 70mph at ~1500rpm is pretty awesome

'88 T Bird - LX or Sport??

Reply #14 – December 19, 2006, 01:40:18 PM

Thanks for the welcome, are you planning on stepping up to an 8.8? Oh and yes, I do have the buttstuffog gauges. Wonder if you can still get the 140 mph motorsport speedometer for these?

You know, I have been reading a lot of threads on the HO conversion and I wonder...wouldn't it be just as easy to pull a 5.0 from an '88 Mustang or Lincoln LSC. I mean the entire motor and computer? Or am I missing something here?