Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... August 29, 2005, 02:02:04 PM Just "traded" my 88 XR7 for my brother's 85 30th Anniv with less than 30,000 miles. Drove it from central TX to Houston and it was like a dream. It really is like driving a new car, except it doesn't suck! I wish you all could see/touch/smell it, its a time warp.Here's what I need to do to the car while its in my hands. Almost everything is original and I gotta keep it that way. 1. replace hoses? the small ones around the water pump and T-stat are looking real bad, they gotta go. 2. replace belts? they sure look ok though????3. replace T-stat? I think one of those fail-safe T-stats would be a good idea on a car as pristine as this. 4. replace battery cables: I put Autozone cables on it just to keep the car running, but I sure want Ford cables to keep it original.5. spark plugs? After 20 years and 30k, it probably deserves some new Motorcrafts. Whatever came on the car. I want the belts and hoses to retain their originality. So when I pull those radiator hoses, how can I tell if they are going bad? They are still soft/plyable/not cracked on the outside. Ditto the belts. I would prefer to keep them on there if they are doing their job. I'll check with the dealer, but any chance that Ford cables would be somewhat affordable to purchase? If not, I guess I'll deal with it, heck, I have an optima in there for now.Any advice on the belts/hoses would be appreciated. Sorry for the rambling, this car does that to ya. :) Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #1 – August 29, 2005, 03:10:57 PM Sounds like a really good car. IF you plan on driving it, get the auto zone ones. If you are gonna keep it a show car then go to the ford place. Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #2 – August 29, 2005, 03:34:56 PM Congratulations sounds like a great car....Possibly you could get a few items from one of the late model Mustang suppliers. Thats where I bought my negative battery cable... Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #3 – August 29, 2005, 03:44:21 PM Hey Jeeves! Sounds cool man, congrats!Well, spark plugs are easy enough to change. :)Belts and hoses *should* still be available from the Ford dealer. Price-wise they may be a little more expensive but have the correct date stamp, which is the key to keeping things original looking. If your current hoses are not bulging around the clamps, and don't feel real mushy, then you're okay.I agree with Tom on the negative cable...that would also be correct for your car, although make sure you order for the right year. I think they have a date stamp on them.I have heard good and bad things about the fail-safe thermostats. Two Guys Garage love them, but I read something recently about how they can cause lots of problems if they don't stick open (which they're supposed to do, but I guess they don't always). Personally I use heavy duty regular thermostats; they're much better constructed than the cheaper ones. Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #4 – August 29, 2005, 06:28:43 PM After reading the comments here and on Lincolnsonline I think I'll be replacing the belts and hoses. The hoses near the t-stat and water pump are the ones that will fail soon, and those are probably just unmarked pieces of rubber hose stock I can get anywhere. The rad hoses are soft, a little too soft I think. (good catch, Eric) Either Ford or goodyear will fix that.The belts will probably get replaced, maybe not right now. I might bust out with Goodyear gatorback belts, to match the Goodyear gatorback tires. That irony is just too delicious to pass up there. Rubber goes bad for street use, but I'll save the old stuff in a box in case I ever do plan on entering this car in a Ford show. For now the car is used for pleasure and commutes from one garage in TX to another. I'll probably just put a new Ford T-stat in it, thanks for the info Eric. Oh, and no need to congratulate me, I'm not keeping the car for too long. The Cougar is more suited to daily driving and its shiznitty paintjob is perfect for my needs. I "took" the Bird because it needs some attention and I really don't trust a mechanic to do the work. Hopefully I'll get it done with enough time to take more pics and show it to ya'll. :) Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #5 – August 29, 2005, 10:20:21 PM Quote from: EricCoolCatsBelts and hoses *should* still be available from the Ford dealer. Price-wise they may be a little more expensive but have the correct date stamp, which is the key to keeping things original looking. Wrong answer E man... NO replacement parts are going to have the correct date on them. Unless he finds NOS(new old stock)replacement parts(even Ford's) are going to have a current date on them(if they are dated at all, many parts original and new are not). Even Ford parts that are not dated, will likely have a different type or color stamping than the original part. And those my freind would loose you points at a concours judged event. Course this is likely a moot point as these cars arn't Stangs.pro-five-0 Be sure to keep ALL the original parts no matter how bad, they will likely add value if you ever decide to sell it. Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #6 – August 29, 2005, 10:42:47 PM From my personal experiance (with my own vehicals and customer's) RUN don't WALK the hell away from fail safe thermostates. They seem to fail open, fairly regularly, leaving you without heat, in the dead of winter.Your best bet is the origional motorcraft (ford) part. I believe they are avaliable in both 192* and 180* Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #7 – August 30, 2005, 09:11:19 AM Quote from: TurboCoupe50Wrong answer E man... NO replacement parts are going to have the correct date on them. Unless he finds NOS(new old stock)replacement parts(even Ford's) are going to have a current date on them(if they are dated at all, many parts original and new are not). Even Ford parts that are not dated, will likely have a different type or color stamping than the original part. And those my freind would loose you points at a concours judged event. Course this is likely a moot point as these cars arn't Stangs.I had to change the core in the convertible back in 2001 because it was leaking. Went to the Ford dealer, got the right block-to-core hoses, right part number (E6), and they are correct for the car and model year. If the engine bay were to get judged, those hoses would be the only "correct" pieces! By "date" I mean part number. I don't recall seeing an actual manufacturing date stamp on them like on the older Fords. Guys like Ric could verify if pre-1986 5.0's had dates stamped on the hoses. I know for 1986-88 5.0 cars, the dealer will have the correct hoses at least, possibly belts too. The ink on the newer parts is the right coloring, a bit stronger (not as transparent) but will wear away with time. I consider them perfect replacements--or at least as perfect as we'll get.But Jeeves, yeah, you should keep the old ones no matter what. Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #8 – August 30, 2005, 01:28:10 PM No doubt, I'm keeping them all. Need to grab a box from work to keep it all. The car does get driven a bit (not like we bought one with 5k, this ones just been babied for its 30k) so as long as its mostly Ford under the hood I will be happy. Will probably order the parts tonight, we shall see what is available from Ford! And I'll just get a Ford 195 T-stat. Not gonna mess with a fail safe unit after all the mixed feelings on it. Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #9 – August 31, 2005, 06:48:44 PM Well it doesn't really matter, Ford no longer stocks the upper. :( I'll be getting new goodyear hoses from Autozone or somewhere like that. Gonna get new hose clamps too, let all the original stuff sit in a box for now. Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #10 – August 31, 2005, 10:31:16 PM If you buy hose clamps from autozone dont let them sell you the small packages that have only two clamps in them. Ask for the white boxes they keep behind the counter and sell to commercial customers. Only cost a buck more and there are ten clamps instead of two. Plus they are alot stronger! Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #11 – August 31, 2005, 11:43:13 PM you gotta show me some pics.i wish i hadnt started cutting mine up.probably got 101,000 to 102,000 on mine.bought it with around 96,000 on it and garage kept from original owners son. Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #12 – September 01, 2005, 03:43:12 PM Thanks CougarSE...that is very good to know. 30th...my website has it all. Are you keeping yours stock looking? http://blizzard.he.net/~foxbody/my30thtbird.html Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #13 – September 02, 2005, 02:38:44 AM wow,thats your ride?the one on the registry.i'm on that registry.so far it looks stock.still original paint(faded roof,hood,grille,and headlight bezels),ten hole wheels,and interior(except for 88tc console and mustang shifter,and 88tc steering wheel).done the 5.0ho/maf swap with tci c4.getting ready to drop in 2000 explorer/mountaineer 5.0(not stock)and zt5 5 speed.still havent decided what rear gear ratio yet.gotta choice between mustang 8.8 w/2.73's or 88tc 8.8 w/3.73's.have a set of rodlights in there boxes just waitin on some money for rubber.would like to eventually get a cowl hood. Quote Selected
Re: Keepin the Tbird garage queen in shape... Reply #14 – September 02, 2005, 02:51:10 AM Wow, pro, I thought that was your car from the beginning. I got offered one of these about a week ago, but it has rust and it partially primered, plus I'm sure the guy wants more than it's worth. This car is very close to the top of my 'dream cars' list. Quote Selected
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