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Topic: Carb breathing 86 bird (Read 4298 times) previous topic - next topic

Carb breathing 86 bird

Have a 86 ford thunderbird base model that cam with that good ole 3.8 v6

Swapped in a 73' sbf 302 motor. ( i like the old school stuff ;)  )

302 has been modified but am now working on a 331 stroked short block.

Goin old school is kinda a pain in the ass sometimes but i gotta say it sure does turn some heads when everyones expectin a 5.0 then they see the air cleaner sticken through the hood on top of a holley. Gotta love the sound too lol

If anybody is thinkin of doing the same thing, go for it. Everything pretty much fits right in. Except i had clearance issues with the steering shaft even with using fox body shorty headers?.......
1986 Ford Thunderbird
!!COMPLETED!! 427 ci ROUSH engine swap<<!NEW! Fed by a Holley Terminator EFI setup/ custom COP setup ignition
 8.8 rear. with 4:10 gears, Eaton Trutrac diff, 31 spline axles and external breather system. Had it cleaned, sandblasted, and powder coated.
Holley Terminator EFI with custom made CNP ignition system

"Its kind of like driving the red headed step child of the mustangs" :hick:

Carb breathing 86 bird

Reply #1
Seems most shorty headershiznit in the  steering shaft area, long tubes fit much better around that area. i also offer throttle cable kits for carb swaps
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1974 maverick lsx powered turbo car SOLD
1973 maverick Tijuana Taxi Tribute
1957 chevy LSX Turbo project (race car)
Owner of Joe Dirt Fabrication

Carb breathing 86 bird

Reply #2
Yup, kickin myself in the a$$ for not geting long tubes. But i actually do need a whole new cable setup, wutcha got?
1986 Ford Thunderbird
!!COMPLETED!! 427 ci ROUSH engine swap<<!NEW! Fed by a Holley Terminator EFI setup/ custom COP setup ignition
 8.8 rear. with 4:10 gears, Eaton Trutrac diff, 31 spline axles and external breather system. Had it cleaned, sandblasted, and powder coated.
Holley Terminator EFI with custom made CNP ignition system

"Its kind of like driving the red headed step child of the mustangs" :hick:

Carb breathing 86 bird

Reply #3
I'm thinking about doing that with my 88 Bird myself but going 351w and tubular K member and long tubes.

Carb breathing 86 bird

Reply #4
Just a FYI: if you have a 302/5.0 the FRPP stainless shorties clear the steering shaft fine.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Carb breathing 86 bird

Reply #5


tube k-member, carbed 302, and longtubes all works really nice together

Carb breathing 86 bird

Reply #6
Quote from: cougarbird86;380358
Have a 86 ford thunderbird base model that cam with that good ole 3.8 v6

Swapped in a 73' sbf 302 motor. ( i like the old school stuff ;)  )

302 has been modified but am now working on a 331 stroked short block.

Goin old school is kinda a pain in the ass sometimes but i gotta say it sure does turn some heads when everyones expectin a 5.0 then they see the air cleaner sticken through the hood on top of a holley. Gotta love the sound too lol

If anybody is thinkin of doing the same thing, go for it. Everything pretty much fits right in. Except i had clearance issues with the steering shaft even with using fox body shorty headers?.......

aaah, someone else who prefers a carb.. my old sport and my black TC were both carb'd 306's.. really cleans up the bay :)
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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

Carb breathing 86 bird

Reply #7
How did you do your fuel system? In-tank pick-up, or sumped tank/fuel cell?

Carb breathing 86 bird

Reply #8
I went "old school" also.......................keep it simple !!!
Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.
:birdsmily: :birdsmily: :birdsmily::birdsmily: 
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:birdsmily: :birdsmily: :birdsmily::birdsmily:
1983 base model,1969 302 (originally a v6),upraded c5,currently 30,441 original miles.

Carb breathing 86 bird

Reply #9
Look at all these carb breathers....Im lovin it!!!!

Quote
aaah, someone else who prefers a carb.. my old sport and my black TC were both carb'd 306's.. really cleans up the bay
Quote
I went "old school" also.......................keep it simple !!!

It really does doesnt it?! Clean and simple......until the carb needs adjustment ; )

Quote
How did you do your fuel system? In-tank pick-up, or sumped tank/fuel cell?

Right now i just have the stock tank and pump going to a Mallory 3 port regulator that can withstand the high fuel presure and tune it down to only 6 psi for the carb. When i do upgrade it, i will probably run a fuel cell with an external pump or something like that.
1986 Ford Thunderbird
!!COMPLETED!! 427 ci ROUSH engine swap<<!NEW! Fed by a Holley Terminator EFI setup/ custom COP setup ignition
 8.8 rear. with 4:10 gears, Eaton Trutrac diff, 31 spline axles and external breather system. Had it cleaned, sandblasted, and powder coated.
Holley Terminator EFI with custom made CNP ignition system

"Its kind of like driving the red headed step child of the mustangs" :hick:

Carb breathing 86 bird

Reply #10
Nice!!!