Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Craigslist T-Bird (Read 6222 times) previous topic - next topic

Craigslist T-Bird

Newbie here.  I'm close to Atlanta and I've found an '88 Turbo coupe, sans engine, good body (needs paint) and good interior.  Manual trans car, too.  How hard is a roller 5.0 swap including getting the A/C to work?

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #1 –
There have been quite a few TC 5.0 conversions here so the search function would be a good thing to hit up.  The biggest thing off the top of my head would be getting the correct ECC harness for the year of the car.  I am sure a few more will chime in that have done the conversion.

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #2 –
Thanks A/C.  It seems that this is a kind of re-organized forum so there isn't much to see in the engine swap section:  Or am I looking in the wrong place?  Also, was the '88 an EFI motor?

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #3 –
Are you having issues using the search function to find the conversions from a 4 cylinder turbo to a 5.0?

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #4 –
In the engine swap forum there are shown only two threads!! Ahh, but when, at  your suggestion, I searched, lots and lots!

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #5 –
When you get into the forum you want to be in look at the bottom left and there is a display option. The default is one month, open it up to one year and other threads will populate.

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #6 –
Check out coolcats.net for a basic sefi transplant. Nato used to have a few really good articles, as did turbocoupe50.

There are a few things specific to the 87-88 turbo coupes, from the abs and hydro boost brakes, the selectable ride control system, even the cruise control. The wiring harness is different for these cars, and some of the systems are wired into the actual body harness.

On most of the birds/cats, the engine and body harness are actually different and its almost as easy as unplugging the old, and plugging in the new. The wiring harnesses should also match years. Minor revisions in plugs, connections and wiring diagrams can complicate things here.
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

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #7 –
Quote from: rose62;447812
Thanks A/C.  It seems that this is a kind of re-organized forum so there isn't much to see in the engine swap section:  Or am I looking in the wrong place?  Also, was the '88 an EFI motor?

Every passenger car 5.0 from '86-up is SEFI(sequential fire), trucks are batch fire before '94... All the Turbo Coupes '83-'88 are EFI... The '87 & '88 have the Teves ABS plus ride control system that is partially intertwined with the engine harness...

There's good write up on 2.3 to 5.0 swap by member Dominater(all but impossible to locate, I used to have a link)... For Turbo Coupes it ain't simple, requires wiring changes, and several supporting parts for the 5.0... For instance a TC has a hydraulic clutch so you'll need 5.0 bell, cable, and pedals from a Mustang plus you need the 5.0 clutch assembly... Also all the front engine dress, throttle cable, H pipe, etc etc...

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #8 –
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?1218-turbocoupe-5-0-swap

Tada, found it. Took a minute though.
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

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #10 –
Didn't see it mentioned but I'll chime in.  You're gonna want a different transmission.  The Turbocoupe transmission is geared for a four cylinder engine and first gear is basically worthless with a 5.0L behind it.  Finding a good 5.0L t-5 is rough these days.  Parts are harder to come by so expect $300+ for a transmission if you can find one.

Also don't get a cheap clutch cable.  You will want a ford OEM cable because the other cables just rubberband.  Save yourself the trouble and get an OEM cable from the start.  They run almost $100 but it's the best thing you can do for the manual transmission cars.

The harness you would want is an 88-91 EEC harness.  This plus an A9L computer and runs about $150.  There is also another computer for the automatic transmission that will work I think it's an A9P.

And lastly the fuel pump.  You will need a 155lph fuel pump to power the 5.0L.  It will be modified to fit in the gas tank. 

Keep in mind the transmission though, you may be better off with an AOD from a junkyard instead of the 4 cylinder transmission.
84 TurboCoupe with 302 .010 over - 9.8 : 1 Forged Pistons - Edlebrock Goodies:  Aluminum Heads #6037, Intake #3821, 65mm TBI/EGR #3824/3827, Camshaft #3722 -  Interactive System & Technologies Mass Air with 24# Injectors - A9L - 3g Alternator - BBK shorties, Cat Converter H-pipe, Magniflow lers - World Class T5 1352-169 (1986, V8, WC, 3.15 3.35 1.93 1.29 1.00 0.68) OEM Clutch Cable - 7.5 Trac Lock with 3.08 and slapper bars from 82 Mustang.

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #11 –
Quote from: custompunk;447843


And lastly the fuel pump.  You will need a 155lph fuel pump to power the 5.0L.  It will be modified to fit in the gas tank. 
Nope '87 & '88 TC used the same pump as 5.0 Mustang, any pump that is same size fits into the Bird hanger without issue...

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #12 –
Piss on that AOD. If you are gonna go the auto route get a 4R70W. Do the research, they hold more power and are a dime a dozen in the salvage yards.

I am a manual trans guy so it pains me to say go auto but I do understand everyone has their way.

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #13 –
Id take a 4 banger t-5 over an aod any day of the week. You know, the transmission that is know for blowing up behind low mile 3.8's? Honestly though, as long as you make sure the tv cable is on it, it seems to do okay.

I personally liked the 3.8 t-5 i dropped in. I did the whole swap for less then $400. I got 80k miles or so out of it before the motor mounts let go and started tearing the rest of the car up. At first i had the clutch cable ran through the motor mount, which let go in about 5k miles and broke the clutch cable. Then I ran the new one under the motor mount, and kept working.

I don't know if it actually made the car faster, but it really transformed the way the car drove. With the aod, a wide open start resulted in a slight chirp, on gravel covered roads. With the t-5 i broke 4 motor mounts, and i could spin the tire through first gear and half of second.

Still have the $150 craigslist transmission. I was evicted while i had the motor pulled because the motor mount bolts all broke off inside of the block. It was funny seeing peoples reaction when i took off and the shifter slammed to the right though.
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

Craigslist T-Bird

Reply #14 –
Ford actually made a select few 1987/88 Turbo coupes with the 5.0 HO engine T5 combo. It was a special order only deal and came with no warranty, and when taking delievery you had to trailer it off the lot. I know as I was going to order one back in the day…the killer, was the price..27K. Also, Ford made some for Bob Bondurant's (sp) hi-performance driving school in Phoenix (1988) When I spoke to Bondo about the cars he made mention Ford took each one back in 1990 and destroyed them. Btw, Several magazine did features on these special 'Birds.