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Topic: Review on a 1988 Turbo Coupe by ThatDudeInBlue (Read 3159 times) previous topic - next topic

Review on a 1988 Turbo Coupe by ThatDudeInBlue

The summer of 2013, I had the privilege to meet and hang out with David Patterson, a car enthusiast and reviewer.  He is well known on YouTube as "ThatDudeInBlue", and he is very popular in the coyote Mustang culture.  Although he is young (like myself), I think hit pretty much hit at home about how we feel about Turbo Coupes or Fox Thunderbirds/Cougars in general.  Check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oncx20RWL_A
'88 Thunderbird LX
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Engine:  FR B303 cam, GT40P heads w/ Trickflow valve springs, Explorer upper/lower intake, SR cold air intake w/ MAF
Exhaust:  shorty headers, BBK O-R X-pipe, glasspacks w/ turn downs
Misc:  8.8 rear, Saleen SC replicas 17x8/17x10, Mach 1 front springs/SN95 rear springs
&
'74 F100 Custom 351W

Review on a 1988 Turbo Coupe by ThatDudeInBlue

Reply #1 –
Nice review and nice car.  Is that a members car?

Go Fast the first time.  The tickets the same.
86 Thunderbird 5.0.  All original good weather driver. Tbird Reg #53035
86 Thunderbird TC.  All original good weather driver.  Tbird Reg # 58555
87 Thunderbird TC.  All original good weather daily driver.  Tbird Reg # 64647

Review on a 1988 Turbo Coupe by ThatDudeInBlue

Reply #2 –
Only one issue with it and it was a great video. The 2.3T does not have 100% forged internals. Only the pistons. But other than that it was a great video. Also i do not think to many have turbo Coupes on this site. I did a build on Bruiser and posted it's outcome and only a couple of guys responded or were interisted. Could be wrong but what the heck i gave it the old college try. have a great weekend guys.
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Review on a 1988 Turbo Coupe by ThatDudeInBlue

Reply #3 –
Just watched that yesterday!  Wondered if it was a forum member's car or not.  I did make a comment that the review was good but that the 5.0 cars weren't "gas hogs".  I am subscribed to his channel...the kid does great camera/photo work and pretty decent reviews as well.

It was cracking me up that he kept referring to these cars as "grandma cars".  Is that really the perception by other car guys?  I always thought these cars were a lot less "grandma" looking that what GM had to offer at the time (Buick Regal, Monte Carlo, etc).
'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

Review on a 1988 Turbo Coupe by ThatDudeInBlue

Reply #4 –
Nope your cars are considered granny cars. But i do not think thr TC ever was. By the way the stock 2.3 only made 240FTLBS of torque not 300
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Review on a 1988 Turbo Coupe by ThatDudeInBlue

Reply #5 –
It's hard to reconcile "granny car" and stick shift.  I know TCs also had the auto, but it was one of the few RWD cars of the era that offered standard shift.

I'm on my second TC, and many car guys like them.  But, it seems there are a lot that confuse them with the more typical 2 door/RWD offerings (V6 or de-tuned V8 with auto) from Ford/Merc/Lincoln or BOPC of the era.

Review on a 1988 Turbo Coupe by ThatDudeInBlue

Reply #6 –
Quote from: My10-80;437316
Nice review and nice car.  Is that a members car?


He isn't on the forum, but I've been talking to him on Instagram a lot lately.  I invited him to join.
'88 Thunderbird LX
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Engine:  FR B303 cam, GT40P heads w/ Trickflow valve springs, Explorer upper/lower intake, SR cold air intake w/ MAF
Exhaust:  shorty headers, BBK O-R X-pipe, glasspacks w/ turn downs
Misc:  8.8 rear, Saleen SC replicas 17x8/17x10, Mach 1 front springs/SN95 rear springs
&
'74 F100 Custom 351W

Review on a 1988 Turbo Coupe by ThatDudeInBlue

Reply #7 –
Quote from: 50tbrd88;437325
Just watched that yesterday!  Wondered if it was a forum member's car or not.  I did make a comment that the review was good but that the 5.0 cars weren't "gas hogs".  I am subscribed to his channel...the kid does great camera/photo work and pretty decent reviews as well.

It was cracking me up that he kept referring to these cars as "grandma cars".  Is that really the perception by other car guys?  I always thought these cars were a lot less "grandma" looking that what GM had to offer at the time (Buick Regal, Monte Carlo, etc).

The whole 5.0 gas hog thing wasn't too accurate.  If I'm not mistaken, weren't the TCs rated worse gas mileage than the 5.0s?
'88 Thunderbird LX
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Engine:  FR B303 cam, GT40P heads w/ Trickflow valve springs, Explorer upper/lower intake, SR cold air intake w/ MAF
Exhaust:  shorty headers, BBK O-R X-pipe, glasspacks w/ turn downs
Misc:  8.8 rear, Saleen SC replicas 17x8/17x10, Mach 1 front springs/SN95 rear springs
&
'74 F100 Custom 351W

Review on a 1988 Turbo Coupe by ThatDudeInBlue

Reply #8 –
The 5.0L auto was rated the same as the TC stick.  The TC auto was rated lower than any of the other engine combos, including the V6.  The V6/auto was rated the highest.

Federal fuel estimates

However, many regularly get better mileage than the ratings, regardless of combo.  It just depends of driving style, fuel used, and state of tune.  My 88 TC with 5 speed gets 27-29mpg mixed, with around ~18 city and 30-33 highway.  This from the tripminder, verified with calculator.  My in-laws just put 1300 miles of travel on my car (DC stop and go + PA and WV "go") and got 27.0mpg.  This from a 180K car with stock rebuild at 155K.

It seems the engines were actually fairly efficient for the era, and not too far off from more modern engine combos.

Review on a 1988 Turbo Coupe by ThatDudeInBlue

Reply #9 –
It was a pretty fun watch...

Travis