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Topic: So I guess it's the end of an era for me... (Read 1587 times) previous topic - next topic

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

My sport is officially not safe to drive. I'm running it until I have something else fixed and then I'm tearing out the drivetrain and sending it to the junkyard.

This is my first car I ever had as well as the car I learned how to do everything on. 9 years and almost 100k later and I seriously don't even know what's holding the front of it on anymore (like seriously have no idea). I had a ground go bad yesterday and putting it up on jackstands I just went wow...

As an idea I fixed the passenger side a year ago, it looked like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6SUv2HgE4Y

The drivers side is worse and pretty much shattered, there are shards of metal popping out of everywhere. I'll take some pics once I yank the motor out.

RIP 1987-2010

Louvered hood, frenched antenna, shaved door handles, T5 swap

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #1 –
Please tell us you are not sping that cool hood !!!
Fox-less at the moment

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #2 –
hi crystal
wouldnt you want to repair it?
u deem urself as  an extrodinary welder, you probably have the skills to repair it
Damin had cut in the frame and replaced some rotted spots with new material

What do you think about trying to save it


SEB

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #3 –
I'm sorry to hear about that Crystal.Your car was one of the first I saw when I came to this forum back in the 60's (Maybe a slight embellishment.LOL).Are you planning on replacing it with another Bird?After all of these years driving an '88 Bird,I just can't have anything else.

Go ahead and ship me the header panel,and part of your Sport will live on.
'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..

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #4 –
That you-tube video was ugly!!!  I think it would take extensive surgery to fix that front end.  But that only equals time, lot's of it, in the end.
1987 TC

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #5 –
Yeah a pure shame not to try to save it. There must be some donor car that good parts can be had and welded in place.

Well, I would hope u at least strip the car of all the good parts people always want before it goes to a crusher.

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #6 –
It would be the same repair That I did on mine. Took about a week to make everything, and a ton of cutting, welding and drilling. and making inner bolt sleeves. It's a ton of work to rebuild the frame and towers...... If I had to do it over, I would have sped my car too, but I just had to see If I still had the talent to rebuild it. I support your decision to s it. sometimes you have to draw a line where to stop the repairs
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #7 –
I never get tired of showing this pic:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg4/flstci71/Car%20Pics/TC-RIP.jpg

I am sure you know your car better than anyone else. You are correct, at some point you need to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em....
1987 Turbo Coupe - Son's car
1987 Super Coupe - Son's project car
1934 Ford - My project car

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #8 –
Even with as much sentimental value as it has to me, it's just not worth it. Honestly this would make a better donor car to a more solid base. My goal was to hit 300k in it (it's not far) but it's no longer a safe goal, I'd hit it in another year.

The entire front end would have to be fabbed and rebuilt (the video was of the pass. side and the drivers side is much worse) the radiator support is at least 50% rotted, doors are bad, drivers fender is cracked, quarters are both bad, deck lid is rotted, where the gas tank straps bolt up is rotted out and was hacked back together by someone. Basically there's not a solid part in the entire car. The "frame" is so out of shape that if my car isn't sitting on level ground the drivers side door no longer pops open when you hit the button.

While I love these cars this one is just seriously beyond reasonable repair. My tc which has a little rot in the pass strut tower is another story, that car is totally repairable. It's sad to see another hit the syard but between my lack of place to do the project, lack of tools to fab the parts right and lack of job to fund said project we're barely hitting the surface. If it was a car with available parts it may be a different story.

I also have a 2.5 month old baby and am a single mom so there goes time on top of it. I think I'm slapping the motor back in my ranchero to buy myself time to repair the tc. The drivetrain from the sport will be donated to build my 48 Prefect (which is the main goal to finish). The hood is definately not getting sped that'll move over to my tc and probably the fender with the antenna as well.

Oh and I have every intention of saving the VIN plate and making a necklace from it ;)

And I may have that picture beat, we shall see...

Vinnie, The header panel has damage under the drivers side headlights. When I pull them I'll send you a pic and you can let me know if you're still interested. It doesn't mess anything up structurally or visually when it's together but I figured I'd let you know.

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #9 –
Single mom? I thought you had a significant other. I did the single parent thing for 3 years. I learned a LOT about what one person can do when they have to. Good luck. As far as the header panel,If it doesn't harm the appearance or the function,I'm game.Pm me sometime and we can talk and maybe work out some kind of deal. .For now,two Twinkies and a glass of milk as I start chillaxin' on the couch.
'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..

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #10 –
Ah man.. at least you've got another one in the works to lessen the pain from losing it. :) I've actually had two birds. I had a s purchased blue V6 1987 bird ($50, and later junkyard material yet again once we were done with it). My current TC has some parts and pieces from it.

I worry so much about rust. :( I have a little bit of rust on the inside of my passenger door now I have to grind out and stop before it gets worse. It runs out under the door when its wet. Makes me sad to see it because I know the underside of mine is rusty too. I try not to think about the day I have to do what you are doing now. I'm at 205,400 miles right now.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
'86 Turbo Thundercat (Cougarbird)
'02 TrailBlazer LT 4x4
'08 Chevy Cobalt

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #11 –
Glad to hear you are going to let it live on in other vehicles :D
 And Kudos to you on doing the single parent job. I have been doing it for 6 years now and it is a full time job in itself .
Fox-less at the moment

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #12 –
Quote from: crystal;322152
And I may have that picture beat, we shall see...

Many have tried.... All have failed.... :D
1987 Turbo Coupe - Son's car
1987 Super Coupe - Son's project car
1934 Ford - My project car

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #13 –
Quote from: FLSTCI71;322166
Many have tried.... All have failed.... :D


LOL, I accept that challenge! :evilgrin:

Yeah, the single parent thing is definately a job in itself, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. She's going to the nostalgia drags with me May 30 (first drags, 3 months!). Mom's a big help too but I don't like leaving her with her too much, I'd rather save that for when it's needed (like to fix cars, lol). I did decide to play redneck the other day though and had her outside in a swing while I changed my oil in my slippers (I thought I had shoes on, lol) :hick:

This bird is the first of 5. Here it is with the other 2 tc's I had. The 85 blew its motor right before I moved and the 87 got hit hard by a truck which took out the quarter and at the time I knew nothing about bodywork. The 5th was an 88 5.0 parts car I got for $75.

So I guess it's the end of an era for me...

Reply #14 –
That is not redneck at all . I have my 11 yr old (Shelby) pump brake pedals when it comes bleeding time :D
Fox-less at the moment