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Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Not sure if this ever was posted here, so apologies if you have all seen this.

David



The Luxury Ponycar
1983-97 Thunderbird
If you ever wished your Fox-body Mustang had more legroom, plush leather, and dare we say, better handling, you might want an '83-97 Ford Thunderbird or Mercury Cougar. We've broadened this category to include the Fox-platform '83-88 cars, which are more affordable and offer an 8.8-inch solid-axle rear due to the fact that they shared platform architecture with the Fox-body Mustang. These early models are perfect for anyone who is a bit bored with Mustangs, but wants to apply nearly all of the parts that were developed for the Mustang. Lowering the car and applying a Turbo Coupe nose can create a car that looks hungry to eat up miles of road, while traditional 5.0L tricks can create a respectable performer.
The more adventurous will go for the later models, which had IRS ('89-97, MN12 chassis). The Super Coupe variant even included an intercooled, supercharged 3.8L V-6. This supercharged engine is old technology compared to Ford's EcoBoost engine, but it can easily propel a Super Coupe into the 12s and deliver very livable fuel economy. Most hot rodders will opt for the '91-93 models when the 5.0-liter was once again available, or the '94-98 versions with the two-valve 4.6L mod motor. Either can be built into a serious performance motors for a reasonable amount of money.

The real advantage of the 10th-generation Thunderbird is the chassis. With the IRS, a performance handling car is relatively easy to build. Also, unlike the Mustang of the same era, you can fit decent-sized tires under the 'Bird.

BY THE NUMBERS
Model years:   '83-97 Ford Thunderbird or Mercury Cougar
Most desirable:   '94-96 with 5.0L V-8
Engine you want:   either the 5.0L or 4.6L V-8
Why you want it:   All the good things about a Mustang
but with more room and luxury
Price range:   $4,000-$6,000


Read more: http://www.popularhotrodding.com/features/1101phr_classsics_of_tomorrow/viewall.html#ixzz1tZpWbqnC








1983 FORD THUNDERBIRD HERITAGE 5.0
2008 SAAB 9-7X AERO 6.0 (LS2) 1 0f 554 Made
2011 FORD FLEX SEL Family Hauler

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #1 –
Not even a mention of turbocoupes or xr7's?

Nice to see some reconigtion.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #2 –
:cheers:Nice!

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #3 –
Quote
Most desirable: '94-96 with 5.0L V-8

I didn't read the article but if they can't even get the years correct the 5.0 was offered, I wouldn't expect much... Of course the 5.0 was avail in the Fox years but not '89 or '90 for the MN12... was then was avail '91-'93, the 4.6 picked up in '94 till the end in '97...

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #4 –
Quote from: TurboCoupe50;388510
I didn't read the article but if they can't even get the years correct the 5.0 was offered, I wouldn't expect much... Of course the 5.0 was avail in the Fox years but not '89 or '90 for the MN12... was then was avail '91-'93, the 4.6 picked up in '94 till the end in '97...

They are referring to the fact that 94-96 have a FAR better interior and generally better looking exterior, which makes them far more desirable. In 97 a lot of interior stuff became not standard so they left it off. They got the years right they just got a little confused on that list.

Quote
Most hot rodders will opt for the '91-93 models when the 5.0-liter was once again available, or the '94-98 versions with the two-valve 4.6L mod motor.

I think the 98 there was them getting  little confused and including the Mark VIII's 98 year.
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Haystack;388504
Not even a mention of turbocoupes or xr7's?

 
Quote
Lowering the car and applying a Turbo Coupe nose can create a car that looks hungry to eat up miles of road
:p



Its funny, basically the article says everything about foxes that we've been saying for years...
Quote
If you ever wished your Fox-body Mustang had more legroom, plush leather, and dare we say, better handling, you might want an '83-97 Ford Thunderbird or Mercury Cougar.

Quote
Why you want it: All the good things about a Mustang
but with more room and luxury

 
;)
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #6 –
:DThey may have been confused, but the thoughts were nice.

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #7 –
Meh. Never saw a mn-12 I liked. But then again I'm not even really partial to the 87-88's. Everything was better in 86.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #8 –
Mn12's seem to feel "cheaper" made than a fox chassis to me. Rocker panels rot away along with the rear shock brackets on some of the ones I have seen along with the over complicated front end that is costly to rebuild.

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #9 –
I vaguely remember owning a '95 LX with 4.6... Sold it four years ago, haven't missed it yet...

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Haystack;388538
I'm not even really partial to the 87-88's. .


Hey man!

You know what they say about opinions.......:shakeass:
Mike

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #11 –
Well hopefully these cars do eventually start gaining in popularity.  I'd love to see more built up and car shows and in magazines.  If this happens, the aftermarket will eventually come around and start making resto parts like door moldings and interior parts!  I can't wait for the day I can order brand new side moldings for my car!
'88 'bird, 10.9:1 306 w/TFS top end, forged rods/pistons, T-5 swap & bunch of other stuff, 1-family owned, had it since ‘98, 5.0tbrd88 on Instagram and YouTube

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #12 –
Quote from: mcb82gt;388556
Hey man!

You know what they say about opinions.......:shakeass:

Yeah, it would look better as an 86 ;)

Al joking aside, I don't like all of the luxury things that became standard in 87. I am 100% against power windows, locks, mirrors seats auto headlampsydimmers, plastick head lights, and the complexities added in 87 for body and wiring. In 86 they just got it right. The cars gained a minimum of 200 pounds in 87, and in my opinion became slightly less practical. Even the carpets were thicker in the 87's and some ls 86's.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #13 –
When I think Thunderbird I think of a sporty personal luxury coupe.  So having power windows, etc are a necessity for me on a car like this.  Just personal preference.  It does suck as the cars age all the power stuff starts dying (I have a dead door lock actuator and power seat motor now).  But that just gives me something to tinker with.

I do like the 4 eye front end on the 83-86's but definately prefer the tail lights and rear end in general better on the 87-88's.
'88 'bird, 10.9:1 306 w/TFS top end, forged rods/pistons, T-5 swap & bunch of other stuff, 1-family owned, had it since ‘98, 5.0tbrd88 on Instagram and YouTube

Older Popular Hot Rodding article

Reply #14 –
Quote from: 50tbrd88;388558
Well hopefully these cars do eventually start gaining in popularity.  I'd love to see more built up and car shows and in magazines.  If this happens, the aftermarket will eventually come around and start making resto parts like door moldings and interior parts!  I can't wait for the day I can order brand new side moldings for my car!

 
I don't think we'll ever see repop parts for our cars. Even if they get popular a lot of them have been crushed, unlike Mustangs. It will just drive up the price of the good ones that are left. Then again these cars will never be popular in the way that Mustangs and Camaros are.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.