84 bird hop ups

Topic: 84 bird hop ups (Read 5311 times) previous topic - next topic

84 bird hop ups

April 22, 2015, 11:53:04 PM

i have a bone stock 84 5.0 cfi bird. at 140 hp she isnt the best so sode anyone know what i can do to at least take her up to the mustang 170. any advice is helpful

84 bird hop ups

Reply #1 – April 23, 2015, 06:05:28 AM

First...WELCOME ..Im rather new to these cars as well but you may start with exhaust? Headers and less restrictive pipes. Others with more knowledge may chime in so far as actual performance mods( if any )... Good luck and post some pics of the Bird... We love pics here.

84 bird hop ups

Reply #2 – April 23, 2015, 09:38:58 AM

Go to http://www.coolcats.net/ and read all you can, then come back with questions.

84 bird hop ups

Reply #3 – April 23, 2015, 02:50:58 PM

To make any real power the car will need either a carburetor conversion or a conversion to SEFI. CFI is kind of a dud and there are no performance parts that will work well with that system.

84 bird hop ups

Reply #4 – April 23, 2015, 07:27:44 PM

My '83 had a 5.0 and CFI and I can tell you from experience the headers and full 2-1/4" dual exhaust helped that car immensely. If you have plans for a 302 over the 250 hp mark I would just bite the bullet and install a 2-1/2" exhaust and skip the 2-1/4". Do a search on here as this topic has been well dospoogeented. As for either SEFI or carb either would be a huge improvement over the CFI. My suggestion would be to find another motor and start from there and if you are willing to do this find an Explorer motor. Do a search on that as well as it too has been well dospoogeented.

Darren

84 bird hop ups

Reply #5 – April 23, 2015, 09:10:18 PM

thank yall very much i have a friend with a 87 cougar 5.0 that has motor wire harness and computer how hard will it be to do that swap also dose anyone know why the mustang same motor as my bird has more power

84 bird hop ups

Reply #6 – April 23, 2015, 10:29:32 PM

Although the 5.0 SEFI is lots better than the CFI 5.0 (I've had both) if I were going through the trouble of a swap I'd go with something more powerful than another SO 5.0. If that is the course you take though, it shouldn't be very difficult if you have everything from the other car.

The Mustang engine has better heads and cam, hence the higher power. You can read more about the differences here...http://www.coolcats.net/modifying/ho_transplant.html

84 bird hop ups

Reply #7 – April 24, 2015, 06:18:26 AM

An Explorer 5.0 with a HO (or better) cam swap is better still and not really any more expensive. Just be sure to get a mustang harness and computer (research speed density vs Mass AirFlow to decide which computer). If you do ANY HO/GT40 swap, you're going to need headers (either Mustang factory headers or better) and a full H-Pipe/X-pipe exhaust at 2 1/4" minimum.

84 bird hop ups

Reply #8 – April 24, 2015, 05:15:29 PM

I was going to ask if using an '87 Bird 5.0 harness would be of any benefit as the 83/84 cars body harness did not really intertwine with the EEC harness like the 87/88 stuff does. I would even go as far as to suggest a Painless harness as it is completely stand alone.

Darren

84 bird hop ups

Reply #9 – April 25, 2015, 06:44:56 PM

ok what all bolt on do yall recomend other than a sefi swap

84 bird hop ups

Reply #10 – April 25, 2015, 06:57:13 PM

Turbo coupe 7.5" rear axle. 3.45 gears. They're cheap.... I have 2 I can't give away.

If you wanna stay low budget a set of mustang gt 86-93 factory headers, an h pipe, and some decent lers will help.

As states above a 4bbl carb swap also. Or tear apart the cfi and remove the injector screens.

84 bird hop ups

Reply #11 – April 25, 2015, 09:05:40 PM

Quote from: kitt2008;447436

thank yall very much i have a friend with a 87 cougar 5.0 that has motor wire harness and computer how hard will it be to do that swap also dose anyone know why the mustang same motor as my bird has more power

Headers, dual exhaust, better heads & cam, larger throttle body, better upper intake, larger injectors... Or in other words they aren't really the same...

Quote from: Aerocoupe;447463

I was going to ask if using an '87 Bird 5.0 harness would be of any benefit as the 83/84 cars body harness did not really intertwine with the EEC harness like the 87/88 stuff does. I would even go as far as to suggest a Painless harness as it is completely stand alone.

Darren

The '86-'88 T-Bird/Coug 5.0 harness isn't intertwined with the body harness... I ran my '87 donor Bird on a power wire connected to engine/computer harness from battery, excepting for fuel pump harness everything else was unplugged... Now if one is talking '87-'88 Turbo Coupe, that's a totally different story...

84 bird hop ups

Reply #12 – April 26, 2015, 06:33:54 AM

I agree with JandD... Start with the exhaust and swapping the rear out with a TC unit. It may be the ''bang for the buck$$ you're looking for. ...Ray.

84 bird hop ups

Reply #13 – April 27, 2015, 10:07:16 AM

From all the talk on here about how the 87-88 cars were different I did not take a minute to realize that it was the 87-88 TC's that were the ones with the wiring issues when converting over to a injected 5.0. Thanks for pointing that out as I just assumed it was all 87-88 cars.

When I removed the CFI from my '83 I can tell you for sure that the EEC harness is in no way intertwined with the body harness, very basic. If I ever do anything different with the induction on it I will swap over to injection with a Painless harness as I have done a couple and they are just too easy. A little pricey but they are brand new and I don't have to worry about chasing broken wires.

Question to the OP is are you wanting to convert to five lug? If so then get a rear end out of a SN95 Mustang V8 car (94-98) which will net you posi, disc brakes, the larger 8.8 gears, and the correct width rear end that will bolt into the car. I prefer the 8.8's over the 7.5's as the aftermarket seems to be better for them and if you are building or will build something that is going to punish a rear end then the 7.5 is not something I would recommend. The gear ratios seem to be a little all over the place in the GT's with 2.73's, 3.08's, and some 3.27's. From what I understand the 3.27's were an option but if you can find a rear end with them in it they are a pretty decent all around gear. Do a search on here and you will find lots of information on this swap. The front swap to five lug is best done utilizing the SN95 spindles which has also been covered on here many a time. I say it is best done for the simple fact the rim selection is much better and the sealed bearing design is far superior not to mention brake jobs are way easier with the separate rotor hub assembly that the SN95 have versus the all in one design of the Fox cars.

If you are just chomping at the bit to do an upgrade now I would go with the exhaust and do headers back with a 2-1/2" system so that you have room to grow and don't spend money twice. From there plan out what you are wanting to do with the car which will dictate motor, trans, and suspension options.

Darren

84 bird hop ups

Reply #14 – April 30, 2015, 08:41:21 AM

My '84 Elan with a 302 had a short in the EEC harness for the TFI. I converted to carb and am actually only using the low pressure in-tank pump with no additional regulation to a 600 cfm Holley 4160. I did purchase the Lokar cable and have had to fiddle with TV pressures and have had a few issues with the aftermarket distributor I purchased (change the springs and a faulty vacuum advance) and had to play with the jetting in the carb, but my car is getting 18-19 mpg and doing so reliably now. This was done out of necessity, however.

I don't find our cars awfully anemic, they are adequate for a daily driver. (They are a world better than the 70's mid-size Fords hands down)

I would recommend switching out to the bigger (87-93 V8 Mustang or SN95 spindles depending on 4 or 5 lug) brakes and switching to the "Sport" power steering rack (see the "Cool Cats" web page) and putting on a later model mustang rear sway bar and a higher ratio rear end (either 8.8 or 7.5) before you attack the engine's lack of hp. Also look into swapping in the SN95 V8 springs for a little drop and stiffer rate.

I think a better handling and stopping car lets you have more fun with less horsepower and the car no longer feels like you are driving a 70's Luxo-barge turd!