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Interchange Questions

Went to the junkyard today to remove a center console and stumbled across another car with parts I might like. It looks to be a 86 Cougar. 1st ?, will the dash work in my 87 bird? It physically looks the same and it is correct color and zero cracks. 2nd? How hard is it to pull the dash on one of these? 3rd ?, other than the hole in the header panel for the cougar emblem will the header panel swap with a 83 bird? It almost looks different to me but figured I could get a better answer here. I have a lead on one but this one I could get without shipping 1/2 way across the country. Thanks Dan:birdsmily:

Interchange Questions

Reply #1 –
The dash will swap out.It's not too hard to pull if you're at the salvage yard,just pull the screws and fasteners and cut the wires where you need to.Make a quick job of it.The '83 and '88 Birds have different body lines.
'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..

Interchange Questions

Reply #2 –
Check your heater core while you're in there. . . . . I have mine in the shop having a 351w installed, they got 'er all buttoned back up, took it for a test drive.... and the core was out.  6 hours of labor and a core later.....  I had no idea one had to remove the dash to change that darn thing... I guess that's what 10 years of storage will get you....

Oh well.  The weather is nice, and I should have it back early next week!!!  SSWWWEEEET.


Quote from: Dansbirds;214761
Went to the junkyard today to remove a center console and stumbled across another car with parts I might like. It looks to be a 86 Cougar. 1st ?, will the dash work in my 87 bird? It physically looks the same and it is correct color and zero cracks. 2nd? How hard is it to pull the dash on one of these? 3rd ?, other than the hole in the header panel for the cougar emblem will the header panel swap with a 83 bird? It almost looks different to me but figured I could get a better answer here. I have a lead on one but this one I could get without shipping 1/2 way across the country. Thanks Dan:birdsmily:
===85BIRD===
:birdsmily:

Interchange Questions

Reply #3 –
Birds an Cougars header panels are totally different too. grill, headlight buckets dont swap over.

look here
http://www.coolcats.net/tech/reference/parts.html
1986 Cougar LS

Interchange Questions

Reply #4 –
Thanks guys, I figured the header panel wouldnt work on the 83, it just looked a bit different but figured it was a good shot to try. definitly going to get the dash though

Interchange Questions

Reply #5 –
6 hours of labor for the heater core.Man,that's a scam.After talking to Eric in 2006 about that,I had mine changed in the driveway in about half an hour.No lie.Just a few fasteners,pull the dash back,swap the core,BAM,done.
'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..

Interchange Questions

Reply #6 –
that header panel will bolt onto the bird but like they said you would have to use all the bird parts on the header. I test drove a 85 cougar with a t-bird header panel. Not to bad but I new it wasn't right anyhow.
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Interchange Questions

Reply #7 –
WHAT!  They looked it up in their computer software and it reccomended 6 hours labor and to pull the dash!  I have not paid yet, so I will look into this!  One thing I do know is that these guys will treat me right.  I have not seen the bill yet..... but I will for sure question it!!!

Thanks.


Quote from: vinnietbird;214801
6 hours of labor for the heater core.Man,that's a scam.After talking to Eric in 2006 about that,I had mine changed in the driveway in about half an hour.No lie.Just a few fasteners,pull the dash back,swap the core,BAM,done.
===85BIRD===
:birdsmily:

Interchange Questions

Reply #8 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;214801
6 hours of labor for the heater core.Man,that's a scam.


Thats what the mitchell labor guide calls for...I wouldnt go as far as calling it a scam think about it from the other end when you take a responsability for anything that may get broken.

We all know it isnt that bad of a job for a DIY'r :D
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1974 maverick lsx powered turbo car SOLD
1973 maverick Tijuana Taxi Tribute
1957 chevy LSX Turbo project (race car)
Owner of Joe Dirt Fabrication

Interchange Questions

Reply #9 –
Quote
WHAT!  They looked it up in their computer software and it reccomended 6 hours labor and to pull the dash!

I have not seen the bill yet..... but I will for sure question it!!!
Chances are they just followed the official Ford instructions as found in any online or paper manual, which includes removing the entire dash. Anyone here would have assumed the same thing if Eric didn't have This Page for us to point to.

Quote
Thats what the mitchell labor guide calls for...
Can't believe everything you read. Last week, Mitchell also said I had to dismantle the center console and remove the entire shifting cable and neutral switch to swap in a new transaxle on a FWD Monte Carlo. Unsnapping it from the trans and holding it out of the way with a bungie cord worked just fine.
Death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth.

1988 5.0 Bird, mostly stock, partly not, now gone to T-Bird heaven.
1990 Volvo 740GL. 114 tire-shredding horsies, baby!

Interchange Questions

Reply #10 –
dash and header panel will swap.

time to pull dash for a heater core,, its up to you but a half hour is some david copperfield stuff.

Interchange Questions

Reply #11 –
1/2 hour isn't David Copperfield  stuff if you're familiar with your car,and have pulled the dash before (even the wrong way).It's like the intake.It can be done super fast,but for some,it takes a couple of hours.Practice and you to will be master of the dash.LOL.
'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..

Interchange Questions

Reply #12 –
I can see doing it in a half hour or so. My kid and I pulled this dash in a hour and that was unplugging and removing the whole harness. I know the guy that has this j/y and he always treats me right and as I said to my kid if I snip the harness somehow someway I will need that very same piece as that is just the luck I have.

Interchange Questions

Reply #13 –
I talked to the shop today and I'm having him check the timesheet for the mechanic that did the work.  I told him about your experiences, and he assured me he would bill the actual amount of time and that he will not just go by the computer.  I trust these guys..... so we will see.

Oh, and Dansbirds, sorry to have led this post in a totally different direction off topic.  Twas not my intention...
===85BIRD===
:birdsmily: