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Topic: 4R70W in a 1988 Thunderbird. Shifter install.  (Read 1714 times) previous topic - next topic

4R70W in a 1988 Thunderbird. Shifter install.

So I wanted to make sure that i could keep the car stock looking on the interior and exterior. So know I am tackling the shifter. I tried to keep the stock shifter in the car but it was not working out well. My plan was to install a 99-04 Mustang shifter and make it sit well with the console and cover. Sounds easy but it takes some work. The 88 shifter mounts to a flat plate on the trans tunnel. A 2002 shifter mounts to the curvature of the Mustang floor. So since that was not working, off to the junk yard with a sawzall I went. I cut a big part of the floor out of a 2002 Mustang and started my modifications.

The Thunderbird shifter plate on the floor was screwed in and seam sealed to the trans tunnel. After getting that part out, I cleaned up the area and started to make the 2002 part fit onto a 1988 part. With a lot of tpuppies, fitting screwing around and modifying the console, I was able to get it all to fit and play nice. 
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Re: 4R70W in a 1988 Thunderbird. Shifter install.

Reply #1
I have more pics but it keeps coming up with errors every time I post. Maybe admin knows why?
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Re: 4R70W in a 1988 Thunderbird. Shifter install.

Reply #2
Here are some more
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Re: 4R70W in a 1988 Thunderbird. Shifter install.

Reply #3
I seem to not be able to add photos one after another. So I do stupid posts like this one.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Re: 4R70W in a 1988 Thunderbird. Shifter install.

Reply #4
And this is the completed look before it is all secured into place. I just need to figure out where I am going to run the harness for the quick 4 controller.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Re: 4R70W in a 1988 Thunderbird. Shifter install.

Reply #5
Looks like it belongs there.  Very nice.
1988 Thunderbird TC, 5spd
Stinger 3" single exhaust, Cone Filter, Adjustable Cam Pulley, Schneider roller cam, Walbro 255 lph, AEM Wideband O2
'93 Mustang Cobra replica wheels on 235/50R17

'21 F150 Powerboost
'17 Husqvarna TX300

Re: 4R70W in a 1988 Thunderbird. Shifter install.

Reply #6
Looks like it belongs there.  Very nice.

That is what I wanted to go for. Nothing worse then someone seeing that it is not quite right. Tried to make it look as stock as possible.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Re: 4R70W in a 1988 Thunderbird. Shifter install.

Reply #7
Looks pretty good. Looking forward to seeing how it works out.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.