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Topics - Cornfed85

1
Engine Tech / 1985 3.8 starts, but immediately dies
I removed the tubing for the AIR injection system on my '85 Thunderbird back on the first week in May. I decided to put it up for sale shortly afterwards. Unfortunately, I haven't had any buyers (I still don't know why) and the car sat for about a month un-driven. I was going to go take it to the car wash yesterday afternoon, but when I went to start it, it started right up, and promptly died. It did this for about 5-6 attempts, then finally stayed running. This has continued today, each time I shut the car off, requiring at least 5-6 attempts to get running. I immediately checked the vacuum lines I plugged when removing the AIR system. Everything looked the same. I ran a bottle of fuel stabilizer through it, but it didn't help. This evening I tried about 15 attempts and it still wouldn't start, so I had to leave it at the grocery store and have it towed to a friend's shop.

It seems like it might be something electrical, since it has almost always eventually started. Is there a sensor or module I should look into?

Thanks!
2
T-Bird/Cougar Parts & Cars FOR SALE / 1985 Thunderbird - good driver
I'm selling my 1985 Thunderbird. It has a 3.8L V6 and automatic transmission. 87,000 original miles. Runs and drives. Body is clean and straight with very little rust. Interior is in good condition. Dash has no cracks! A/C and heat work great. Has power mirrors and windows. Window motors work, but the windows don't go down.
I've replaced the head gaskets, front/rear brakes, and water pump within the last 2000 miles. Tires have less than 3000 miles on them.
Asking $2500 but I need the space, so please make a reasonable offer. 
Please comment or PM me with questions.

Thanks!

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3
Suspension/Steering / Passenger side rear brake noise
The passenger side rear brake on my '85 T-Bird has made noise ever since I bought it 2 1/2 years ago. I've replaced everything (drum, shoes, hardware, and wheel cylinder) over the course of the time I've owned it and it still makes noise. It's always been kind of a grinding/chirping noise, sounding like the lining isn't even and it's only hitting the high spots. The problem is that it made that noise with the old components and it still does it with new ones. I replaced the drums and shoes last week, and when I took the old drum off, there was a lot of brake dust inside the drum. I took the driver's side drum off to compare, and there was no dust to speak of. It seems to me like there is something hanging up, but I don't know what it could be. The entire rear braking setup has less than 3000 miles on the hardware and wheel cylinders, and the drums and shoes have less than 100 miles on them. Any advice on tracking down a mystery noise would be greatly appreciated.
4
Body/Appearance/Interior / Safe aftermarket window tint removal
My '85 has window tint that was installed prior to my ownership. Some of the tint is bubbling up on the drivers window  and the rear window. What would be the safest way to remove the tint without scratching the glass or damaging the defroster grid?
5
T-Bird/Cougar Parts & Cars FOR SALE / 1985 Thunderbird for sale
I'm feeling like it's time to sell my 1985 Thunderbird. I just don't drive it as much as I used to. I've enjoyed owning it, and hope that someone else will enjoy and love it just as much as I have. I went through an automotive restoration program, and I've done all the work on it myself.

Here are the details:
Car has 86,000 original miles.
3.8 V6 - runs great! I replaced the head gaskets, intake gasket, and water pump this past January. I had the heads checked for warping and cracks. The exhaust needs a little attention. It's got a splice in it, and the AIR injection tube needs hooked back up (can hear air coming from injection tube while driving).

C5 auto transmission - shifts very smoothly. I've never had any problems with it.

I replaced the front brake rotors and pads and rear shoes in Spring 2015. New tires were put on in March 2015 - they have 3000 miles on them. I replaced the front struts and rear shocks in Fall 2014. New heater core (OEM replacement) in Fall 2014.

Interior is in very good condition with minimal wear and tear. Power window motors work, but windows don't go down (drivers side just recently quit going down, haven't had time to  look into it). Windows were tinted prior to my ownership, and some of the tint is bubbling up, but not too bad.

Has power mirrors - work great, has cold A/C and hot heat.

I'm thinking it's worth around $5000 considering the work I've done to it, and the condition it's in. Of course, I would consider listening to reasonable offers.

Please comment or PM me if you're interested. I'm located in central Iowa. I can send pictures via email or text message.
Thank you
6
Engine Tech / Best way to improve cooling system?
I would like to see if there's a way to improve the cooling system on my '85 T-Bird. It's all stock, with new head gaskets, thermostat, and water pump. It still seems to run a little warm on these hotter days (it's been in the 90s for the past several days). I'm using the T-Bird as my daily driver right now as my other car (a black 2005 Pontiac with inoperable air conditioning) isn't the most comfortable on hot days.
I was just wondering if anyone knew of an effective, yet fairly inexpensive way to reduce the engine temperature.

Thanks
7
Miscellaneous For Sale/Wanted / Vintage Ford dealership items
I have an old Ford dealership Video Disc player and TV screen. Comes with a container of video discs full of technical and sales information. I've watched some of them and they're pretty cool. Both the TV and player have a Ford emblem on them. TV works great, but the player needs a little attention.
I'm asking $40 OBO for the complete set.

I also have a set of hanging signs from 1979. These would have been hanging in the showroom. I have every model except for Mustang and LTD. They are in great shape, and a really neat thing for an avid Ford collector.
Asking $30 OBO for the complete set.

Buyer will need to pick up or arrange shipping.
Thanks!

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8
Engine Tech / I really, really thought I had it fixed. Need Help Please!!!
Hi,

It's been a little while since I've been on here (I've been busy with end of the school year stuff and graduation!). In my last engine related post I think I noted that my rough running/sputtering problems had been solved with the replacement of the fuel injectors. That helped tremendously for about a month and a half. I have put about 600 miles on my '85 since the new injectors and it has been running great! However, just two days ago I started it up for the first time in about a week and a half, and it was doing its same old things. It was coughing, sputtering, and surging while I was driving it around town. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions on what I could try next.

Thanks!
9
Suspension/Steering / Rear brake question???
Could a warped rear brake drum cause vibrations throughout the car at speeds above 65 MPH and while braking from highway speeds? My '85 T-Bird is having some vibration issues. It seems like the passenger side rear brake is grabbing intermittently when braking. I can hear a sing/squeaking noise when applying the brakes, plus I can feel the car jerking as it comes to a stop. If I apply the brakes fairly hard, the whole car shakes. It seems to happen more, and get a little worse the longer I drive the car.
I replaced the shoes and wheel cylinders on the rear in October of 2014.

Still in search of the vibration I replaced the front and rear struts/shocks, front brakes (rotors, pads), and front wheel bearings. The tires are 1 year old and are properly balanced.
 
If it is the rear drums, I can go get them turned/replaced, but I wanted to get you guys' input first.

Thanks!
10
T-Bird/Cougar Parts & Cars WANTED / Wanted: V6 exhaust Y-pipe
Hey all, I am looking for the Y-pipe that connects the manifolds to the main exhaust pipe for a 3.8 V6. It can have the 2 pre-catalytic converters or not, it doesn't matter. It does need to have the tube that connects to the AIR (smog) injection tube. I made the mistake of cutting that tube off when I had my exhaust off, and now the AIR pump just puts air into the engine compartment instead of going down into the exhaust system. Please let me know if you have one. Thanks.
11
Body/Appearance/Interior / Luggage racks
I was looking through the dealer brochure for my '85 Thunderbird at all the options you could get. I didn't see that a trunk-mounted luggage rack was on the list of options. However, my '85 has a luggage rack that looks like it was factory installed. Could it have been a dealer installed option? X
13
Engine Tech / 85 3.8L still misfiring, and now a high idle
I'm still having issues with my 85 Thunderbird. I recently put it on a diagnostic scope and it showed that the ignition system was working properly, yet I am getting a misfire and it seems to be hunting for the right idle speed. Since the scope showed the ignition system is working, I suspected that it was the fuel system. So I replaced the injectors. It ran pretty well last night and today, but then this evening it started misfiring again.
It also developed another problem after I replaced the fuel injectors last night. It seems that now the throttle isn't returning to the same position as before, plus it seems to idle faster than before. It also takes longer for the idle to come down after I rev it up. The engine can be fully warmed up, and I can put it in gear and it just takes off. It acts like the throttle is sticking, but I didn't really do anything to the throttle cable or mechanism. Any ideas?
14
Engine Tech / New issue: rough idle/misfire when cold. ???
So,
It turns out I don't have all the problems figured out after all.
 After replacing the head gaskets, I've tracked down and fixed all the vacuum leaks, I bought a code reader and found that the O2 sensors were bad, so I replaced them. Now, all the problems that I've bugging you guys with are fixed, except that now it developed a new one.
Now it runs rough, stumbles upon acceleration, and misfires, but only when the engine is cold. Once it warms up, everything is great. It drives like a new car. The code reader shows that everything is fine. I'm at a loss.
Any ideas?
Thank you
15
Engine Tech / Is there a mechanical distributor that fits the 3.8? Just curious???
I am just checking some options for my uncle. He's wanting to de-smog and remove the computer system. Will the EEC IV distributor work without the computer? If not, is there a distributor that will work on the engine? My uncle's '86 is missing part of the wiring harness.
Thanks