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460 into an 88 TC questions

I aquired an 88 turbo coupe with a bad engine, trashed interior and a suprisingly decent body. I already have a front engine plate Canton pan and a set of headers for a Fox BBF swap, stuff I had for my Mustang that I never used. I have a 460 that was in my jet boat that makes about 500.
I assume this has been done before, I am wondering what is the spring to use up front and what if any diffrence there is in rear control arms from a T-bird and a Mustang. I had Southside lowers and my own adjustable uppers on my Mustang and like how it planted the tires so I will probably go that direction if they will work. Also if anyone knows can I use rotors off of an 86 Mark7 on the front and a Mark7 8.8 in the rear?
Thanks.

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #1
Springs not sure, control arms are different. This company makes Tbird specific arms... http://www.cheperformance.com/cartgenie/prodList.asp?scat=30.  Yes you can use the MK VII on the front, but some custom wheels will not clear the hubs. In the rear you would need the MK VII axle shafts, and all brake components brackets, calipers and rotors.
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #2
Can I swap the whole housing? I'll be running centerlines or weld wheels. Rear will get mini tubbed. Will a set of 90/10 mustang struts work up front? Anyone ever tried getting an E4OD in the tunnel of a Bird?
I was on Hot Rod Drag week a couple weeks ago as a passenger next year a partint (reason for doing this).

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #3
Yes the housing will fit, some say it is 3/4" wider on each side. If the front is lowered you can use '94 up struts, not sure if fox Mustang struts would work. Tranny, dunno.
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #4
Quote from: Minnesota_Duane;368648
Can I swap the whole housing? I'll be running centerlines or weld wheels. Rear will get mini tubbed. Will a set of 90/10 mustang struts work up front? Anyone ever tried getting an E4OD in the tunnel of a Bird?
I was on Hot Rod Drag week a couple weeks ago as a passenger next year a partint (reason for doing this).

what size tires are you planning on running? wheel wells are massive in the tbird, chances are what ever you want to run will fit.

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #5
you can just play with wheel backspacing to make up for the 3/4" difference
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #6
Quote from: shadow;368674
you can just play with wheel backspacing to make up for the 3/4" difference

x2
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #7
315 60 15 drag radials would be nice of I can get them to fit.

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #8
Quote from: cougarman;368645
In the rear you would need the MK VII axle shafts, and all brake components brackets, calipers and rotors.

 
I dont understand how the axles will work if the housing is wider. Swaping the stuff is no problem if it keeps the same width. But the axles will still need to hit the spider pinion in the center section and if they are wider by 3/4inch it's going to push the hardened race area of the axle out beyond the axle bearing.

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #9
I have done the 87-88 TC 460 swap.
Your factory TC 4 cyl. springs are the strongest. I still have the original 87 TC springs in mine. Work fine. The front TC struts work well also.

The 90/10 shock or struts you will need would be the ones to fit a 94-98 Mustang GT. They are the correct length for the TC.
As posted above, the Mustang rear LCA will move the rear forward  about one inch and look goofy on the T-Bird....been there done that. Hated the look and finially fixed it.

As to the rear tires, the pics below show the stock  width Turbo Coupe 8.8 (4 lug) with 15 x 10 wheels ( with 6.5 inch backspacing) and 325-50-15 tires. (28 inches tall)
They fit o.k., but the inside lip of the fender needs to be rolled  and the wheel tub on the inside needs a little massaging with a hammer to prevent rubbing on bumps.
  No mini-tubs required.

The 8.8 rearends have the same housing width from 1986-1998. The T-Bird just uses axles that are 3/4 inch longer than the 79-93 Mustangs.
The cheapest way I have seen to get a 5 lug setup under the rear of the 83-88 Birds is to put a 94-98 Mustang GT rearend in it. Same overall width as the TC.

Hope this helps.



Alan Mackin--Semi Professional Ford der
83 T-Bird 460
83 T-Bird Heritage 5.0
84 T-Bird 5.0
86 T-Bird Turbo Coupe NHRA Stocker & Super Stocker
87 T-Bird Turbo Coupe
88 Bronco II Drag truck 302
95 Mustang GT auto
2004 F-350 CC Dually V-10

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #10
Love that car!!
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #11
Quote from: Minnesota_Duane;368643
I aquired an 88 turbo coupe with a bad engine, trashed interior and a suprisingly decent body. I already have a front engine plate Canton pan and a set of headers for a Fox BBF swap, stuff I had for my Mustang that I never used. I have a 460 that was in my jet boat that makes about 500.
I assume this has been done before, I am wondering what is the spring to use up front and what if any diffrence there is in rear control arms from a T-bird and a Mustang. I had Southside lowers and my own adjustable uppers on my Mustang and like how it planted the tires so I will probably go that direction if they will work. Also if anyone knows can I use rotors off of an 86 Mark7 on the front and a Mark7 8.8 in the rear?
Thanks.

 
thought your going to use the markvii for the 460 build when you posted a month or so ago over at thelincolnmarkviiclub? oh well alot more has been done with the 460+tc combo than markvii. good luck either way.

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #12
Awesome car man . I'd drive out to Kentucky for a ride.

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #13
the mustang lowers will work but are like a 1/2" shorter. for the upper control arms you can use 68-72 gm a-body uppers. the mustang uppers are too short.
louie  :birdsmily:
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]       
My famous last words:
It seemed like a good idea at the time.        88TC R.I.P.      88 Sport build in progress

 

460 into an 88 TC questions

Reply #14
what size front wheels/tires on that car? i think i'm in love!