Another '88.....

Topic: Another '88..... (Read 1787 times) previous topic - next topic

Another '88.....

June 18, 2011, 10:02:33 PM

Might possibly be getting another '88 5.0 'Bird....I've gotta take some pics of a truck and email to the fella to see about a possible trade.

It's an LX, runs and drives, and the pics he has of it seems to indicate it's not in too bad shape.

We'll see....at this point, I need ANOTHER! Thunderbird like I need a second butthole, but hell, if it runs and drives...well, my HO and DA1 might find a quick home in it for awhile as a daily/kid hauler.

Beats having to take 2 trucks to town for a family dinner, right...:hick:

Another '88.....

Reply #1 – June 19, 2011, 01:56:08 AM

So, you think you need two um......."holes"? That could keep you busy.LOL. Keep us posted on the possible new car.

Another '88.....

Reply #2 – June 19, 2011, 02:09:12 PM

^ haha. I'm just going to laugh, lol.

Another '88.....

Reply #3 – June 19, 2011, 03:53:41 PM

Well, if I end up with it, it won't be a project car, it might get my HO and DA1, and probably my TC front brake setup.

I need a daily that has room for kids lol.

Another '88.....

Reply #4 – June 19, 2011, 06:20:37 PM

The guy emailed me back, the trade is on. In 7 days I should have Bird #5 on location.

As soon as I get it here I'll have pics!

'88 LX, silver/grey, 97k miles, AC doesn't work, small dent in pass. door, and trunk lid is primered.

Stay tuned..

Another '88.....

Reply #5 – June 19, 2011, 06:28:43 PM

So, why the stop on the other Sport?

Another '88.....

Reply #6 – June 19, 2011, 11:39:09 PM

Quote from: vinnietbird;361793

So, why the stop on the other Sport?

Not so much as a stop, just that money is tight, and it's hard to allocate much more than 50-100 bucks at a time..thankfully, there's really not much more than that I need to spend at any one time to finish what I've started....which brings me to the next headache:

I don't have a lot of time since Nicole and I both work pretty much full time. Between our jobs, and the kids, it's sometimes a struggle just to find time to mow my huge yard.
When I do have the time to do stuff there's so much farm work needing done, that I barely have room on my plate for the Sport. I'm gonna keep it though, it's not like I have pay for storage on it.

It's just that the stress of wanting a fun car that i can drive to work a few days a week is gnawing me against the reality of basically putting the whole car back together in a very very limited time before summer is over...I'm not gonna drive a peppy car when the roads are icy.

It'll get done...I think if I worked on 1st shift, or third, things would be better for me, with the kids and my free time. Nicole works at wal mart, and her hours are rather static, she has different times every day, and almost never has 2 days off in a row.

I really feel this LX Bird will kick me in the ass to get mine done...it's gotta be a good thing. Hell, who knows, I might just sell the Sport after all, and build up the daily. But one thing at a time!

First off will be the TC front brakes...sucks though, I STILL have not found those brake hoses.

Sorry for the long read....a lot of people think it's trite to be held up by having spend 60 bucks on inner and outter tie rods..but when you have to fill up 2 trucks every other week, well, 60 bucks can pretty well be used 3 times over for gas alone...

Things I need for the Sport:
inner/outer tie rod ends
5 lug Stang rear rotors/calipers/hardware OR 2 ranger axles and related drum brake parts
99 Stang front calipers/pads
oil/filter/ATF

things needing done:
put interior together
reinstall HO/T5 (unless the HO goes into the LX Bird...)
change over the other 2 tires from the snowflakes to the Mark 7 wheels
finish the rear 5 lug conversion
hang front fenders, header panel, bumper cover

I'm not bitching cause I have kids and they are the biggest part of my lack of free time...they're worth every second I have with them...when I turned 30 and was single and alone, I'd pretty well figured that I wasn't going to have youngsters of my own....

I'm lucky, I just need a little kick in the ass to get the ball rolling, and I think over this weekend, I've gotten it.

I AM gonna have the thing together by fall.

Another '88.....

Reply #7 – June 21, 2011, 04:52:53 PM

I may be able to get the '99 calipers and hardware for you. I'll let you know later. Like next Wednesday or Thursday. We can go from there with that......

As far as a kick in the A$$ to get you going, just get busy. I have kids, grandbaby (I'm STILL saying I'm too young !!!), over 40 hour a week job, and all the "life" stuff we all have, and I rarely, ever, get a hundred bucks to spend. I'm constantly having to juggle trading and selling to build my car, and as simple as it may seem, it drives me crazy and gives me a headache at times trying to sell this to get that. I just sold my headers that are still on the Sport to buy a brand new set to replace them (because they are new and chrome), and I also sold a Mustang wiper motor cover, which in the end, left my new headers costing me nothing.....brand new, in the box with hardware headers. Sweet. It took effort, but I got them.

I actually don't have to do any of that stuff, but if I want to mod the Sport or get stuff, I do have to. You gotta get really creative. You also have to manage your time. The more you think about the time you don't have, and how busy you are, you lose even more time. A lot of it is a matter of psyching yourself out. An hour here and there add up to a lot. I spent 3 years on the Sport so far....3 1/2. Still not done, and having to start bodywork all over again.

Just go out and turn some wrenches. Surely you get a couple of days off a week. Get out there for 3 of the 24 hours of each day. That leaves a lot of time for everything.

The Sport is patient and I know I can't have everything, right when I want it, but with some effort, it happens eventually. Work with what you have. If you don't have all the suspension parts, then work on the interior, trunk area, whatever until you have the pieces you need. If I can get the calipers, I'll work out something with you. I'm sure I can get them though.

Now, stand up straight, take a deep breath, get your A$$ in gear and go to work. No whining, no excuses, just work.

Thank you for your time.

Vinnie CEO Vinnietbird Enterprises

Another '88.....

Reply #8 – June 22, 2011, 01:34:43 AM

Thanks for the pep talk Vinnie, since the deal has fallen though with the '88 LX trade. I'm gonna go to the parts yard and try to locate 2 Ranger axles and the brake setup for the rear.
With that, and front calipers/pads, I should be ready to at least roll it around on 5 lug. If nothing else, I'll start on the interior Friday..I'm off that day.

Another '88.....

Reply #9 – June 22, 2011, 03:17:07 AM

Anyway, here is the car that I was going to trade for:
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/2453502405.html

Another '88.....

Reply #10 – June 22, 2011, 06:43:44 AM

Good luck. I am still waiting for me new radiator to get here (thanks for dropping it off at the wrong address FedEx), but I have a LOT I can do all the time. There's always something you can be doing.

Another '88.....

Reply #11 – June 25, 2011, 02:39:19 PM

Well, had some success at the yard yesterday, but not as much as I wanted. I did snag a fairly new steering rack with really clean and new looking tie rod ends on it, brake lines from a Mark 7 8.8, and a handful of smaller pieces I was needing, bolts, and such.

I was going to get the axles, brakes and hardware from the mark, but fought and fought the ed c clips, and couldn't get em.

Maybe next time...

I did come across an explorer with the complete 5.0 in it...almost pulled the intakes, but my buddy who was with me informed me he was going to buy an exploder, just for the block and heads, said he was gonna hook me up with the intake, so I decided to pass in the one in the yard. If anyone in the KC area wants it, it's on the explorer that's outside, next the building at U Pick It, on 12th street...

They had a shiznit ton of stangs at pick n pull, the steering rack I got came from a decent lx 5.0 'vert, looks like someone was building it up and then got rid of it.
The fox birds/cats were all nothing much to brag on, one was a 5.0, but not the console interior..and all were filthy etc.

Another '88.....

Reply #12 – June 25, 2011, 10:10:45 PM

Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;362192

Well, had some success at the yard yesterday, but not as much as I wanted. I did snag a fairly new steering rack with really clean and new looking tie rod ends on it, brake lines from a Mark 7 8.8, and a handful of smaller pieces I was needing, bolts, and such.

I was going to get the axles, brakes and hardware from the mark, but fought and fought the ed c clips, and couldn't get em.

Maybe next time...

I did come across an explorer with the complete 5.0 in it...almost pulled the intakes, but my buddy who was with me informed me he was going to buy an exploder, just for the block and heads, said he was gonna hook me up with the intake, so I decided to pass in the one in the yard. If anyone in the KC area wants it, it's on the explorer that's outside, next the building at U Pick It, on 12th street...

They had a shiznit ton of stangs at pick n pull, the steering rack I got came from a decent lx 5.0 'vert, looks like someone was building it up and then got rid of it.
The fox birds/cats were all nothing much to brag on, one was a 5.0, but not the console interior..and all were filthy etc.

Thanks for the heads up.

Another '88.....

Reply #13 – June 25, 2011, 10:23:23 PM

No prob..you gonna go after it? The same place, there was also an Explorer, but it just had the heads, the intakes were already gone..and, I made a boo-boo, the complete gt40 engine was in a mountaineer, not an exploder, sorry hoss...now, go git it! lol

Another '88.....

Reply #14 – June 25, 2011, 11:09:53 PM

My "P" engine came from a Mountaineer. Never know when you'll strike gold. Mine was a 15,xxx mile service replacement engine. I got it for $125.00 with every nut and bolt from intake to oil pan. Not a bad score. The Sport seems to have taken a shine to it as well. LOL.