As far as mod motors go the only ones worth a are the 4.6 4V or the 5.0 Coyote. I'll take a 5.0 Windsor over a 4.6 2V or 3V any day of the week. I know the 4.6 2V and 3V can make good power with a blower but I'm more of a N/A guy.
The 4.6 3V in my 2006 Mustang GT was a good runner, but I generally agree. The modular is enormous (Boss 429 like girth) and the $$/HP to modify them much higher than the Windsor platform. Ten years down the road, more and more hot rods will be LS powered as the Windsor blocks get harder to find.
No love for the post '88 years. I drove one for awhile (ex wife's '89 Bird), the engine and trans held up, it was the rest of the piece of shiznit that was junk. Doors wouldn't shut, then they wouldn't open. Glass came off tracks. Seats didn't work. Rust? Don't get me started on the rust. Pretty sure the paint was all that was left holding the quarters and rockers on (well, what ever was left of 'em).
God help me if I ever get another '88 car, I'll never get rid of it. IDGAF if it's even a V6. Junky shiznit can be swapped as long as the body and subframe and strut towers aren't cancerous.
I found a Sport locally about 6 months ago, but the old lady wouldn't come off of 1500...needed a trans and had engine issues, for me, would have gotten replaced with my 5.0 in the sig and a T5, and bye bye Mustang, but the fates said no, so...
Co worker has an '87 TC but wants 1500 for it. Needs an engine. (as in, needs 5.0 swapped)
I Found my 86 Bird on a Craigslist ad in Portland, Oregon. Bought it sight unseen for $1,700 and had it shipped across the country to NE Ohio. I've never seen such a rust free 30 year old car. No rust anywhere, not even underneath. For some reason, there were a lot of fox Birds and Cats in Oregon. Don't ask me why, but a good place to start a search.
I know they are not fox T Birds or Cats, but they are still Fords and Mercurys that you may like or have in your garage.
On August 19th, Pinto/Bobcat and Maverick/Comet owners meet at Chops restaurant on SR 534 in Geneva, Ohio at 10:00A and thereafter are given a police escort through Geneva-on-the-Lake to lakeside park. The cars line up at the park for a show and picnic with music and prizes. All proceeds go to the Wounded Warriors, so it is a great cause! I attended the first year with my Maverick and since then, attendance keeps growing (despite my being there).
If you live in the NE Ohio or Western PA areas, it is well worth the trip.
P.S.: I will be taking Wonderbird this year if it is ready. Another Bird or Cat might make this interesting, since the picnic started out as a Pinto only event.
The t5 isnt stock and was rebuilt with some upgrades like billet keys, carbon fiber rings and Im only using a King Cobra clutch kit so it slips a bit already which I think is a good thing for now
Do you still have the original hypereutectic pistons in the motor?
If I didnt drive this car 400miles a week Id swap a 3.73 in it and I know it would gain a lot. Im crossing the finish line at 5200 in 4th gear so the blower is only making 6-7psi instead of 10psi I see at 6000.
Are you running a stock T5? As you get that car into the 11's and you will, the temptation is going to be there to leave harder and shift harder. That will likely be lights out for the T5 in a heavy car like ours. I give you a lot of credit for keeping it alive behind the Vortech. Your car looks really nice on the vids, by the way:bowdown:
I have a T5 in my Maverick behind a 306 and I only have 360 FWHP. Knowing my much younger self is still buried in an older farts body, I myself would be too tempted to leave on the limiter and break the trans or 8" TL rear.:burnout: Nonetheless, don't think I haven't given thought to boosting that flyweight car instead of the Bird.
Thanks a lot. The only thing I thing I'm going to change is the passenger brake cable position. On the TC, it has a crossmember that the cable uses. On my car, with my exhaust, I plan on fabricating a new one that clears my exhaust. For now, that brake line is above the exhaust and under the drive shaft. No issues, but I don't want it that way. Hopefully tomorrow I can get my tires installed.
Can you upload a pic of your parking brake cable once you get it sorted out. I'm going to be facing the same issues shortly.
I'm going to have a similar combination with my 86, once I get the time to swap out the powertrain. I don't want to run my V2 Vortech with the stock AOD, so I plan to use my recently acquired 4R70W.
I hand ported a set of GT40 heads and am working on the lower Explorer intake as well. Currently installing my 3.73 8.8".
I just picked up a used 4R70W for $150 that was still bolted to the 2001 Mustang V6. I am going to use it to replace the early 86 AOD in my Bird. That is not to say there is anything wrong with the AOD, I just wanted to start out with a better, stronger foundation before I started spending $$$ building up a tranny. The v6 4R70W v6 transmissions are not that plentiful around here. Most are for 4.6's.
Like Haystack, I paid $400 for a complete T5 WC setup, but decided to put it in my Maverick.
