Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Topic: Thinking unthinkable thoughts... (Read 2340 times) previous topic - next topic

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

July 24, 2010, 07:42:16 PM

Yes, my friends, I have been thinking unthinkable thoughts. I think the time has come for me and the T-Bird to parts ways. I've actually been thinking about it for some time, but my recent RCMP news has reinforced my thinking.

The reasons are these:

First and foremost, the RCMP thing has put my life in an unstable situation for the next year or so. I could be sent to Regina for training at any time, and after I finish the training I could be posted anywhere. The T-Bird would be just too hard to include with a move (and indeed, if I were to be posted to Ontario or BC, where they have emissions testing, it would be impossible). The uncertainty in my life has also made me decide to sell my house (I had been strongly considering this before the RCMP news too, because my two hour daily commute is not tolerable), and this means I may be living in an apartment for a while until things are settled down. Most apartments do not allow multiple vehicle parking, much less do they allow people to work on cars.

Now I know that many of you are at this point saying "But couldn't you store it somewhere, or take it with you", or other comments to that effect. That brings me to the other reason for coming to this decision: I don't love it anymore. And it's not me, it's it. If I were to be honest with myself, I don't think I'd ever loved it. We had our good times, sure, but my heart was somewhere else. Don't get me wrong, I still love and will always love my fox Thundercats, but this particular car, not so much. The car just sits in the driveway or garage taking up room and I don't look for excuses to drive it anymore. I think the main reason for my feeling this way is that as I'd mentioned before, the car was not what I was looking for to begin with. I was looking for a four-eye Bird, 87-88 Cougar or 88-92 Mark VII LSC, or even an 87-88 Turbo Coupe. I settled on this 5.0 88 Bird because it was in really good shape and had really low mileage, but at the end of the day it wasn't what I wanted. Even after all the work I'd done to it (the 5-speed swap, the TC hood/header/interior/rear end, paint job, etc), it still isn't. From the day I've owned it I've seen other cars for sale and thought to myself "If I could sell my T-Bird right now I'd own that".

I just have never "bonded" with the car, no matter how much I tried. I've done all that work to it but have entirely lost interest in it.

So the time has come for me to put it up for sale and let somebody else who might appreciate it more than I do enjoy it. Don't worry, I won't be selling it at a fire sale price, and I won't sell it to some kid who will kill it. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either.

Never fear, my foxy friends. I will always be a part of the Fox community. If the car sells I will stick around (as will this forum - I may own the domain and host, but this forum belongs to all of us). Hell, back when I joined the EZBoard hosted FTBCMB I didn't even own a Fox. And when my life stabilizes again I WILL get myself another Fox. Only this time it will be a four-eye Bird (with vent windows), 87-88 Cougar or 88-92 Mark VII LSC. Some of you may remember a quote of mine: Fox Thundercats are like herpes. You can make individual outbreaks disappear but you'll never get them out of your system entirely. Sooner or later they'll be back.

I think I'll stay away from the 87-88 Birds this time around though...

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #1 – July 24, 2010, 07:56:59 PM

Holy ,I just left a PM for you...come over here and see this. Personally,I understand your "unthinkable thinking",and can't blame you.once you get everything stable,you can easily start again. Hopefully you;'ll have time to stop by and grace us with your presence. As far as selling the car,I hope you find it a good home,and as far as parts...anything really cool you have,contact me before anyone else.LOL.I wish you all the luck in the world on the new job and hope it's all you hope it will be.

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #2 – July 24, 2010, 08:08:15 PM

Like I said, I will remain an active part of this forum. Most people won't notice a difference if and when the car sells. And yes, I will start again. And I will build a new Thundercat *or Mark* having learned from building this one. Lesson one: Screw the poly bushings. Never again will I take the luxury out of a Thundercat for the sake of handling...

I guess it really hit home how apathetic I am toward this car when during a trip to the store the other day a car traveling in the opposite direction kicked up a stone that hit my windshield and put a baseball-sized circular crack in it, and I didn't even get mad (except over having to fork over the deductible for a new one). In fact my first thought was "at least it wasn't the 300". When you start caring more about your DD than you do for your toy, it's time for a new toy. The fact that this happened mid-week and I haven't even looked into getting it fixed is another sign...

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #3 – July 24, 2010, 09:44:08 PM

It's never the same when you don't have the car of your dreams.... You'll get the one you want next time around... maybe even a vert.
Who knows, maybe you'll end up living closer to the rest of us when things settle down. I wish you the best of luck in your career move

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #4 – July 24, 2010, 10:13:08 PM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;329411

I WILL get myself another Fox. Only this time it will be a four-eye Bird (with vent windows), 87-88 Cougar or 88-92 Mark VII LSC.

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #5 – July 24, 2010, 11:20:05 PM

Hey I understand! Maybe you can pass it off to someone that it will be their dream car. And you will always be welcomed here and of course we will be looking forward to what you find in the future!

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #6 – July 24, 2010, 11:52:37 PM

The important thing is you have to be happy, and if you're not then it's time to do something about it. It's not like you're giving up on the fox all together just this one. I'm sure the next one will be just what you want. Good luck with the new life you're making for yourself. I hope it all works out for you!

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #7 – July 25, 2010, 12:40:48 AM

All I know is you're movin' ahead with something great, that'll provide you with more financial resources to do what ya wanna do when you DO find the one you want. Congrats on getting into that by the way. Kick some ass!!! :D

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #8 – July 25, 2010, 04:35:22 AM

Here is a tally of all the fox cars I have owned.

2 87 5.0 birds
2 87 3.8 cougars
2 86 5.0 cougars
1 85 3.8 cougar, with the wrong title that was quickly refunded
1 89ish 4 banger convertible mustang, no title, held onto the car for about 2 months before I got my money back.

The first 86 car I had I loved to death. I took very good care of it overall, and it never let me down. It was bought at a police impound, with alot of dents and body damage. Put almost 70,000 miles at it. When it was taken away, it had 297,000 miles on it, with the original engine. When I did my first tune up on it, I pulled off the spark plug wires that said ford motocraft 1986. I would give anything in the world to have that car back, but my money says it was crushed years ago. This car had no options. No rear window defrost, no passenger side mirror, no power anything on the consolette. Had a v-8 and the digi dash, and basically nothing else.

Second 86, was technically my fathers, he drove it off an on. When we bought it, it had a sticking starter and less then 110k on it. Very nice car with a good body, decent engine. Only real problem we had with it was the power steering line blowing on us, and we had the vac tree break on us a couple of times. It was towed at about 135,000 miles. Probably re-sold at an auction. I would very much like to have this car back, even with all the power stuff it had.

Third car was my first 87 cat, 3.8. I bought this car for my 18th birthday. Was a good looking car overall. I had the water pump go out on my after 1 week of owning the car. Through inexperience, I broke the timing chain cover on it. Never really tried to fix it. I couldn't seem to get rid of the thing, and never really cared to fix it. Funny, because this was the most expensive car I have bought. Damiac has the trunk on his car, my current 87 bird has the front end. I put no money into this car, and got rid of it before my first 86 went.

Second 87 3.8 cat. When my first 86 car was gone, I bought this for $300 with a new motor and a very large dent in the drivers side quarter. Looked like a giant pole fell onto it, popping out the corner window. They wouldn't pass it on safety with out a window, So I ended up duct taping a picture frame over the window. I can't believe how stupid some people are that do the safety tests. Can had an awesome heater, lots of power options and a cd player. Had alot of power for a 3.8. Could easily spin the tires. Tranny went out after about 2 months and I junked it.

First 87 5.0, I bought this car shortly before I got married. Paid more then I should have, and it had problems. Had a bad knock and a slipping tranny. After doing the tranny fluid, stopped slipping till the engine got very bad. I put a temp tag on it and drove it twice before the engine went. I swapped in a new motor, got it running real nice. Went to take it for emissions and the tranny went. Priced out a new one, and they wanted $450 for a new tranny with a 3 day warranty/exchange. I pulled alot of parts out of it and sold it for $100. It supposedly has a BBC in it now.

Current 87 5.0 bird, I bought for less then a 3-day tranny from a chevy guy that was selling to buy a v-6 camaro. Has alot of power options, heavy, and much slower then any 5.0 car, and some v-6's I have owned. When I bought it it had 135k or so. First year I owned it, car didn't even have anti-freeze in it. I beat the out of it, wanting to make a new home for the motor I have from the last car. I was working less then 2 miles away, and only drove the car to and from work. When I lost that job, I ended up using it for pizza delivery. I put a ton of money into it, just trying to get it drivable. After the pizza job, I ended up working a ways away. At one point in time I was putting over 150 miles a day on the car, 6 days a week. Never really had any problems out of it. Had the water pump go, TPS sensor go, Timing chain cover leak, and a u-joint snap. In about a year, I am now at 175k. Car needs a new suspension. And I really do not want to put any money into it.

Although my 87 bird has done me very well, I hate the car. I would take either of my old 3.8's over it any day of the week. I only touch the car when something breaks. I have also put a ton of money into it to keep it running, alot of small things that don't matter like hoses and tires and things like that. I just really hate this car. After my wreck, I really wanted to get another one instead of fixing this one up, but couldn't find a decent enough car, and I am not very picky.

I really liked every 83-86 car I have ever driven compared to the 87-88's. I don't know why either. There is just something that bothers me about the new body style, and I just cannot like these cars. I would kill for an 86 5.0, bird or cat. And when the time comes for me to get one, I will not be getting rid of it.

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #9 – July 25, 2010, 12:49:28 PM

life stuff always gets in the way of our toys to the point that money and responsibility deteriorates our love and relentless passion we had when we spent every single spare dime on a car thingy.

I hit this point way before I joined here but one thing held it all together. When I have a seat behind the wheel, I know that I will be an unidentified odd looking car in the minds of atleast 50% of the car buffs out there.

As for poping the hood and doing things... I enjoy the fact that I dont touch things until I see they are breaking or are broke. I look at all the time the car has driven well and the reward is not touching things. Its dependability drives my enjoyment as well. As complicated as my 20th is by comparrison to the 87LS, I would say they run neck and neck.

Your thoughts are valid though becaue you didnt get the correct car in the first place. There are people like me looking for a bird but the 2.3 scares me too much to buy one. Im not sure I have what it takes to keep up with the rareity of parts or its differnces in years. However, a 2.3 body wth a 5.0 is what I seek.

I think the 87/88 birds are just as cool as the 4eyes as each has its own attributes. If you like the 4eyes, your in good parts availability shape for now because the span of years they were made vs the 87/88 model.

Im glad your stewing over this and working it out. The car you want will turn up but you also have to remember that the clock is ticking right now as we all speak. Same goes for me,,and it sucks. I spend so much time not doing fun stuff that I skirt the edge of beng the person I never wanted to become. I was suppose to work hard and make decent money to do the things i wanted, instead work and responsibility has taken me down another road. I get my relief when i sit in either of my two remaining fox's knowing that these represent me and my youth. I worked for them and now I have them,,,and the memorys of hauling diaper fillers in thier car seats as well.

It recently hit me another reward i get and i am sure you understand or have experienced it. Everyday the car is operational marks a new begining and the fantasy of wondering "just how long will you be operational and still running?". Will they be with me when im too old to finagle getting in and out of the seat or will they both be gone next year. I always end up at the same result, I will probably have these cars running for a very long time.

on a side note,, my white car below has sat since 2005. no operational motor to speak of as a result of my stupidity of coarse. either way, life got into the way and its gonna be there when Im ready to jump back on it. Its sat so long it has moss / mold growing on the north side of it. Its like im punishing it when it has served me so well and the guilt is fueling my ambition this year, however, again life stuff gets in the way.

I guess what it all comes down to is that you thunderchicken have reached the climax of knowledge on these cars and you gotta get hungry again before you get a new taste for these cars. For me,, it took a very long time for this to happen for the 87LS and hopefully my white coug will be rewarded.

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #10 – July 31, 2010, 11:30:40 AM

Very well spoken jcassity. I think we all go through these types of thoughts and feelings even with the cars we love. You will forever be feeding the car time and money to keep it going as with any other thing you do, it just has to be worth it to you and fit into your lifestyle. I think you would have to pry my bird out of my cold dead hands before I let go of the car but things change in life.

I certainly apprecaite everything you have done.

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #11 – July 31, 2010, 09:57:55 PM

Look at it this way: how easy would it be for you to find another fox in the condition your car is in five years from now? You may want to hang on to it if you sit back and think........

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #12 – July 31, 2010, 11:27:31 PM

I loved my '86 Cougar, when I had it (running). I went every where I could with that car. It was kind of like that girl you're seeing, that you do everything for, but in the end you still don't get to second base with.

It all started with an '86 Escort GT. I used to beat the piss out out of that car. Road trips everywhere with that car. 120,000 miles when Dad gave it to me, 166,000 miles when it spun a bearing.

So, off I went to find another Ford. (isn't it funny how you get raised to have certain brand cars?)

I almost had a '69 Torino GT Fastback ...$2500 with a fresh 390 and transmission in it. Man, I wanted that car. It got sold two days before I walked in with the cash. So, I went car hunting, again. I found my '86 Cougar GS for $2,500 at a local lot and bought it.

So, on went our relationship. Everyone thought we were heading down lovers' easy street.

The first thing I remember doing was adding a Cherrybomb glasspack and that was about it.

Then I wrecked i..I restored it to having the correct red fender for the 19th Anniversary models. Then I spent some money on it when the tensioner pulley went bad. (two belts and the pulley).

Then I dropped major money into the head gaskets and then it nickle and dimed me some more.

As much as I think I loved that Cougar, I think it was more a case of, "she was right for the time, but time has a way of moving on."

When I found Penny (the 'underbird), I was smiling, again. As you guys saw, I had no clear direction I wanted to go with the car. It took seeing another owner's girl that I knew what I wanted mine to be like.

Now, I know I have the right one. She loves me, and I love her. It's gonna have the rocky roads, sometimes, but that's to be expected anywhere, eh?

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #13 – August 01, 2010, 07:09:54 AM

Like I said, there are plenty of reasons to justify keeping it, but there's one big one that cancels out those justifications: It's just not what I wanted. Because it's so hard to find a decent shape Fox around here, I settled on the first one I could find. I thought I could make myself love it, but it just never happened. Sure, I like the car and am proud when people make comments on it and stuff, and I enjoy watching people's heads turn as I drive by, but I've never bonded with the car. What makes it even stranger is that I really liked my '87 Sport, but for some reason I've never felt that same love for this car, even though it's in far better shape and I've turned it into more of a "sport" than that Sport ever was. It's kind of like an arranged marriage - the mechanicals are all there but the spirit isn't.

Before I came to this conclusion I thought my apathy may have been due to getting back into the mechanic trade. You know, I work 9 hours a day on cars, I don't feel like it when I get home. That's been my excuse for still having that pile of HO parts sitting in the corner of my garage instead of being bolted to my engine. Then it dawned on me that the working on cars all day thing hadn't prevented me from doing a lot of work to my Jeep. Compared to what I've done to the Jeep in the past month (replaced both axles, installed power windows/locks/mirrors, installed air conditioning) an HO upgrade on the 'Bird would've been a cakewalk. It's just that the Jeep serves a purpose for me right now, the T-Bird doesn't. The 300 does anything the T-Bird does, only smoother, quieter, and generally better (though the T-Bird, even with its lo-po 5.0, will still outrun it on the bottom end). The Cherokee does things the T-Bird and the 300 can't, such as driving off road and hauling stuff. The T-Bird, on the other hand, does not do anything the other two can't, which leaves irrational love as the only reason for keeping it around. And as I said, that love isn't there.

...and again, I'm not bowing out of the Fox scene. I WILL have another, in fact, were it not for the RCMP thing and the uncertainty it brings, I'd be looking for another right now. I will find the "right" Fox next time, though, even if it means traveling south to get one in good shape.

Thinking unthinkable thoughts...

Reply #14 – August 05, 2010, 09:35:22 PM

I really understand loosing the magic. I have the opposite problem. I can't get rid of mine, and I have a dozen reasons to do just that.

btw...

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-1985-Ford-Thunderbird-base-Coupe-2-door-W0QQAdIdZ211758717#

:hick: