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Topic: My 85 TBird (Read 76175 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #240 –
Making some progress here and there. Have a bunch of new bolts on order, hopefully they start showing up so I can get some suspension parts attached.

Modified the secondary hood catch brace for more room around the inter cooler.



Making a black out for the instrument cluster





Relocated the rear brake line mount again, third time is the charm.



Painted the rear axle, fuel tank, and a bunch of brackets



Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #241 –
Not much post worthy stuff going on, mostly block sanding and re-priming. Everything I ordered to get the suspension bolted up is not being shipped until some back ordered bolts are available.

Some photos of reworking the spoiler mounts to match the deck lid and level it up. Used some 2” tape on the deck lid so the 3M 8115 would release, and a couple of washers to get the height matched to the other side.

















Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #242 –
Back to working on the bird some. Last week or so got the dash installed and the fuel gauge sender switched over to the correct ohm range for the 03 cluster. Painted up the rebars and a few things for under the hood.  Installed the fuel tank, rear axle, some of the front suspension, and enough other stuff that I was able to get it running again. If I can figure out how to post a vid here I will. Going to try to keep at it enough to get it on its wheels and drivable. Keep running into little things needed to keep forward progress going.

Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #243 –
I was worried it was going to be way too loud with the homemade o/r prochamber and the slp powerflo lers, its a bit louder than the vid lets on, but am pleasantly surprised it should be a manageable decibel level.


YouTube video:
Video Preview Image

Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #244 –
Nice!

It sounds good!
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #245 –
Beautiful work!

Sounds great! 

Must be very satisfying to hear it run?
1988 Thunderbird TC, 5spd
Stinger 3" single exhaust, Cone Filter, Adjustable Cam Pulley, Schneider roller cam, Walbro 255 lph, AEM Wideband O2
'93 Mustang Cobra replica wheels on 235/50R17

'21 F150 Powerboost
'17 Husqvarna TX300

Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #246 –
Thanks guys. I am pleased enough with the sound, hopefully its quietish in the cabin at cruising speeds.  So very satisfying to hear it run again, haven't fired that motor since Feb of 2013, and never thru the current exhaust. The car has not moved under its own power since the fall of 1998, hoping to change that here in the next week or so.  Got a few more things done today, mounted the front sway bar and got the end link situation figured out, put the drive shaft in, did some plumbing on the intercooler, rerouted the clutch cable and started to make a bracket to hold it out of the way. Also ordered some Linear sanding blocks today for final block sanding, should be here end of next week.

Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #248 –
That thing is going to be killer when it's done. Looks really good man, and congrats on it moving, big milestone.
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

Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #249 –
Quote
That thing is going to be killer when it's done. Looks really good man, and congrats on it moving, big milestone.

Thanks. Still have a long way to go, but it’s so nice that it moves under its own power again.  Before I left the shop last night I moved it to another bay, just because I could.

Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #251 –
What’s the tank behind the bumper support?
Final body color to be that red? Looks like the red of my ‘03 Terminator: Torch Red.
 I miss my 88 “Super Coupe”
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1988 T/C body with a 5.0 transplant. Motor has a Vortech V-2 supercharger, Edlebrock Performer RPM II intake, heads, FRPP F-303 cam, Comp Cams roller rockers, Power Pipe, LMAF, full Mac exhaust, lowered, Koni's, 5 lug conversion, Cobra wheels, 13" Cobra brakes, etc.
SOLD September 2020. Will miss this car after 19 years of building/driving/showing it off. Time for a new chapter in my life.
Dynoed 446 horse/409 torque at the wheels.
2003 Tenth Anniversary Cobra Convertible. 1 of 369 Torch Red made.
2021 Chevrolet 3500 dually, crew cab Duramax.

Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #252 –
The tank is to increase the capacity of the intercooler system a bit.  The color is ford code PQ, race red.

Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #253 –
Been in body work mode the last week. The Linear sanding blocks and sand paper showed up a couple days late but was worth the wait. For block sanding large flat surfaces I think they would be hard to beat.

Got the doors primed tonight so everything is in primer surfacer except the spoiler. Hood, deck lid, and right fender are ready to sand for paint, as is the chassis. Everything else will need blocked and reprimed a time or two depending how they sand out.




Re: My 85 TBird

Reply #254 –
Took advantage of the 40 degree day yesterday and sprayed the hood, roof, and deck lid. I’ll be sanding and buffing clear coat the next couple of days. Still have a little bit of bodywork to do on the header, spoiler, and bumper covers. Going to try to get those caught up before painting any more.