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Topic: 84 Tbird project (Read 11988 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #15
My understanding is that the resistance wire is the ground wire from the in tank pump.  The link below may give you some options for brake upgrades. My personal results were posted in post #138.

https://forums.corral.net/threads/actual-stopping-distance-reduction-with-73mm-front-caliper-upgrade.712809/page-7
84 COUGAR/90 HO, 1.7RRs, performer RPM,700DP, equal length shorties, stainless EXH ,T-5,Hurst pro-billet, KC clutch, 8.8/ 4.10s, line-lok, bla ,bla, bla.
71 COMET/289,351w heads, 12.5 TRWs, 750DP, Liberty TL, 9"/6.00s, 11.9x @112 , bla,bla,bla.

Never shoot your mouth off, unless your brain is loaded! ....I may get older, but I'll never grow up!....If you're not laughing, you're not living!  :laughing:

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #16
Little more progress today. We got the brakes shoes back together and bled, and I did some more searching for the fuel pump resistor wire. I unwrapped the fuel pump wires in the trunk and didn't see anything like a resistor wire. So I grabbed a voltmeter to check and see the voltage going to the fuel pump. I checked it in the trunk and under the car, and I had 13 volts on both not running, but with a battery charger hooked up so I'm thinking this car has no resistor wire for the fuel pump.





Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB 87-88 Turbo Coupe shocks and struts, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #17
So on the 73mm piston front brake calipers...my personal opinion and experience is to run away from this "upgrade".  This was done on the SVO Mustangs as well as the Lincoln Mark VII's.  You will need a different MC in that these calipers require a 1-1/8" bore MC and will also require some kind of manual proportioning valve to tune the brake bias.  For all of the cost, effort, and time it is simply not worth the minimal gain over the 60mm stock 87-93 5.0 caliper.  You can buy really good brake pads and gain more braking for the $$$ that way than going the 73mm swap.

Save your $$$ and when you can afford it switch to 5 lug via a 94-98 V6/GT swap utilizing 99-2004 V6/GT front calipers.  The gains here are as follows:
Rear disc brakes
Larger front rotors and twin 44mm piston front calipers
The 94-98 V6 and GT rear axles are the exact same axles and will fit your existing 8.8 housing.
Rotor, caliper, and brake pad selection is excellent vs. the Fox garbage
Wheel selection is light years ahead of the Fox vintage stuff
The front wheel bearing hub assembly allow you to swap rotors and not have to mess with the bearings.
If you are willing you can swap the ABS from the Mustang over to your car.  I did it on my '93 Coupe and what a difference letting the ABS modulate the brakes in a panic stop versus "I can out brake and ABS system with my foot"...bullshiznit.

There are several write ups on the SN95 brake swap on here so do a little research.  You can have decent brakes with the 11" Fox front rotors and drum brakes out back but if you swap over to the SN95 gear you will notice a HUGE braking improvement.  There is physically no way to make a Fox brake system out perform the SN95 brakes, period.

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


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #18
Nearly got the motor pulled yesterday!





Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB 87-88 Turbo Coupe shocks and struts, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #19
Finished getting the motor pulled today









Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB 87-88 Turbo Coupe shocks and struts, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #20
 :headbang:   Where's the chalk outline around the car and all the crime scene tape?  Looks like a slaughter under there with all that trans blood puddled up under the drain pan.  Drain pan?!  We dont use no stinkin drain pan for stinky old atf !  :thefinger:

Nuthin better than working under a car with atf soaked kitty litter to massage and soothe your achy back and replentish the essential oils in your hair..ahhh!   :toothless:

Whats goin in there to replace the mighty 3.8 ??   :popcorn:

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #21
Vintage - that just brought back a flood of memories.  Literally.  In the hair, the smell.  ugh.
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: 84 Tbird project

Reply #22
Did some work today getting the Tbird ready before we drop the V8 in. I removed all of the column shift linkage, tube, rods, and deleted the gear indicator from the gauge cluster. I still need to deal with the hole in the top column cover either with a floor shift column cover or some way to cover the hole. While I did that Dad removed the front sway bar and the power steering hoses from the rack since we'll be replacing them with Mustang parts.















Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB 87-88 Turbo Coupe shocks and struts, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #23
Removed the fuel pump from the frame rail and replaced it with a 12" section of metal line and held it in with new fuel line clips
After that we pushed the Tbird out of the car port and brought the Zephyr in so we can start pulling the motor out of it.











Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB 87-88 Turbo Coupe shocks and struts, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #24
Nice! Love the cluster nice, looks so much nicer without a gear indicator in there. And I didn't know those quick-disconnect steel lines existed...that's an awesome solution.

BTW, if you are sticking with the stock steering wheel but want one in better shape, let me know. I have a leather wrapped one in that color, really good condition. The 1984 A-frame wheels are unique so I'm always trying to stock up on them when I can.

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #25
What's happening with the Mercury?
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #26
Nice! Love the cluster nice, looks so much nicer without a gear indicator in there. And I didn't know those quick-disconnect steel lines existed...that's an awesome solution.

BTW, if you are sticking with the stock steering wheel but want one in better shape, let me know. I have a leather wrapped one in that color, really good condition. The 1984 A-frame wheels are unique so I'm always trying to stock up on them when I can.

Thanks, I was hoping the line wouldn't be too long since 12" is the shortest you can get, but it fit pretty well. I'm probably gonna be going with a Grant wood rim steering wheel or I might clean this one up and put a blue Superior Sport Grip cover on it like I had on my Cougar we'll see.


I might keep it around for a different project later on or I might sell it to a buddy who's wanting to buy it and build it into a race car.
Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB 87-88 Turbo Coupe shocks and struts, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #27
It was almost 70 here today so we took advantage of it and got the 302 pulled out of the Zephyr. This is what is going in the Thunderbird. It's a 89 Mustang 302 HO with an Edelbrock Performer 289 intake, Edelbrock 600 cfm carb, and a 1985 Mustang 302 4 bbl distributor. The trans is an AOD also from the Mustang.



















Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB 87-88 Turbo Coupe shocks and struts, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #28
Looks great! You planning on going factory floor shift?

Re: 84 Tbird project

Reply #29
Looks great! You planning on going factory floor shift?

Thanks! Yea, except it's gonna be a Mustang floor shifter. That's what I'll be doing next time is getting the shifter installed.
Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB 87-88 Turbo Coupe shocks and struts, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)