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Topic: Work In Progress. '88 TC (Read 12264 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #75
You will hate the urethane bushings in those control arms. Get the Moog bushing kit and a ball joint to rebuild your stock control arms.

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


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #76
I've had the front spoiler waiting over a year to go on the car and earlier this Spring found the rear spoiler.  Thanks to Clayton for the idea and telling me it was a Camaro rear spoiler.





I have been feeling guilty about not following Aerocoupe's advice on the front control arms.  I had already ordered the front arms by the time he had posted and so far I really like them.  When the urethane unhinges I will rebuild the originals as Aerocoupe advised. 

The front suspension has been rebuilt with new springs, struts (KYB G2), and the control arms.  Also added the MM Caster/Camber plates that have been sitting on the shelf waiting.  Rear shocks were replaced too with KYB G2.

Improvements in driving are definitely noticeable although the ride is stiffer than the worn out OEM shocks/struts.  Handles like it is on rails (to my feeble driving prowess) even though it sits high.  New England roads are horrible so not being lowered is wanted for me not to bottom the car out.
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: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #77
@Aerocoupe

What do you mean by "unhinge"?
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #78
Car is looking good Mike.
Heading back towards Florida this Sunday!!!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1988 T/C body with a 5.0 transplant. Motor has a Vortech V-2 supercharger, Edlebrock Performer RPM II intake, heads, FRPP F-303 cam, Comp Cams roller rockers, Power Pipe, LMAF, full Mac exhaust, lowered, Koni's, 5 lug conversion, Cobra wheels, 13" Cobra brakes, etc.
SOLD September 2020. Will miss this car after 19 years of building/driving/showing it off. Time for a new chapter in my life.
Dynoed 446 horse/409 torque at the wheels.
2003 Tenth Anniversary Cobra Convertible. 1 of 369 Torch Red made.
2021 Chevrolet 3500 dually, crew cab Duramax.

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #79
More cosmetics.  Windows tinted 30% with headlights and corner lights polished.

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: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #80
@ Chuck

I have no idea.  Most likely my iPhone auto correcting me again so I edited it to "bushings".

I ran urethane bushings in my 85 TC and they came out the next weekend.  To me they made the ride harsh and made the rear suspension twitchy.   I had replaced the springs and dampers at the same time but I just could not deal with it as it was.  Installed all new rubber OEM type bushings in the front LCA's, rear LCA's, and in the rear UCA mounts on the rear end.  Problem was gone and the car rode and handled as expected.

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


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #81
Oops


Earlier this Summer I have been chasing a misfire only at RPM's under 2k.  You can find the story here:  Misfire 88 TC

While I was diagnosing the the misfire I put the adjustable FPR that I had rebuilt back on the car.  I will adjust the FPR again once the car is running with the wideband for reference.

A good friend of mine recently bought a new garage condo for his business.  Front and loft areas are for his business and garage is for his toys.  He had the floor epoxied and an used lift that he installed.  I have been painting sections of the lift as time allows and now the clear coat on the floor is lifting so the business that epoxied it is coming back.

In the mean time he invited me over with my car to replace the head gasket and we are installing the new turbo and fmic kit off my shelf from the past couple years waiting.  A lift, lights, and air conditioning.......I think I have died and gone to heaven.

I used an engine lift to remove and place the head on the car.  It worked awesome and my back isn't angry trying to place that 80 lbs of iron.


Gnari FMIC is going in with a bit of grinding here and there is needed for the brackets (extra weld on radiator support).  Happy with the kit so far.  Thursday some extra intercooler tubes should be here for some rerouting that I would prefer.  I will take some pictures when done hopefully this weekend.
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: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #82
Turbo and exhaust manifold, and exhaust is on the car.  Need to finish plumbing the intercooler.

There's no power steering cooler just a metal line in front of the condenser so project creep of adding a cooler.  PS Fluid smelt horrible almost burnt smell like an automatic transmission.  Guessing that may be biting me next.
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: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #83
You could do a quick drain/fill on the PS stuff. It wouldn't hurt. Remove what you can from the reservoir by sucking it out or draining it out the bottom (return fitting) and refill with fresh. A couple times of that and running it a bit can clean it up.

If you wanted to refresh it all., it's not too terrible to do, especially if you already have the return hose off.

Remove the drain hose from the reservoir and put it into a catch container (cap the nipple on the reservoir when you remove the hose). Disconnect the coil wire and cycle the engine with the starter a couple of times. Top off the fluid. Repeat until you see clean fluid going into your catch container.
The fluid pumps out pretty quickly, so no need to crank it too much. You don't want to run the pump dry and draw in air.

Just an idea.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #84
Thanks Chuck!  I was thinking the same of just bleeding some off from time to time until it shows clean.  The PS fluid looked like new engine oil instead of clear or red if someone put atf in there.  With the smell of a burnt up automatic transmission fluid.  Yuck.
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