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Topic: This Shifter should fit an '85 TBIRD AOD? (Read 1931 times) previous topic - next topic

This Shifter should fit an '85 TBIRD AOD?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Mustang-GT-LX-5-0-Automatic-Shifter-cable-87-93-OEM/221783784344?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3D9cc13e3157f2408c99bd600447316a45%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D331548696996

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Our column shifter is so rigidy and displays sometimes in between the letters on the display. We have a full console and it deserves a console shifter.
I want to get the entire thing so I don't get nickeled and dimed after buying one. This one looks complete on ebay.

The display plate is correct as well.
1985 Muscle Car V8 Thunderbird
tbirdregistry.com - #56919
Lorain, OH. Assembly #151041
811 TBirds followed Mine
1988 Thunderbird V6
tbirdregistry.com - #80084
Lorain, OH. Assembly #111106

This Shifter should fit an '85 TBIRD AOD?

Reply #1 –
From my experience the floor shifters are unique to the Cougar and Bird. The Turbo Coupe is also different.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

This Shifter should fit an '85 TBIRD AOD?

Reply #2 –
I think Eric has a Mustang shifter in his convertible. And I think minor modifications were required. Also, the shift linkage on the transmission has to be modified (flipped over)
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

This Shifter should fit an '85 TBIRD AOD?

Reply #3 –
Mine is a T-Bird/Cougar shifter. From what I know and have been told, trying to get the Mustang shifter to work in our cars is a hassle. Can't remember which member it was here that tried it...he had to do a lot of finagling with it. But anything is relatively possible. If you're handy and patient then surely it can be made to work properly.

This Shifter should fit an '85 TBIRD AOD?

Reply #4 –
I think the detent notches in the Mustang shifter are a wee bit different too.  I did see a Thunderbird AOD shift cable on Ebay. $100. Those are getting freakishly rare.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

This Shifter should fit an '85 TBIRD AOD?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;449170
I think the detent notches in the Mustang shifter are a wee bit different too.  I did see a Thunderbird AOD shift cable on Ebay. $100. Those are getting freakishly rare.

The only reason the detents would be different is if lever on transmission or shifter(not both) were a different length from the Bird/Coug shifter/lever... All a ratio thing...

All the AOD I've had appeared to have same length manual lever, all were floor shift, from Super coupe, LSC & Fox Bird... No column shiftys...

This Shifter should fit an '85 TBIRD AOD?

Reply #6 –
I found this little goody on the shifters upgrade to the console, 

Shifter_Change_Upgrade.pdf
This is the cover of the pdf file, it goes on about the cougar/thunderbird
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I just thought they were more generic in compatibility as long as the shifter had the same detents as what your replacing. For example, mine is PRN(D)D1...wouldn't the floor shift be compatible if it replaces the same shift sequence?
and if the lever is reversed.
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It's sort of a PIA on determining what correctly will fit when looking into the 1985 TBird mods and upgrades. It is constantly not mentioned in anything specific you look into and made to feel more like the illegitimate family sibling of the Mustang that the family don't want to talk about. If the TBird is exactly like the mustang per year(almost), why is the Mustang always the car mentioned that it only fits in.? Very confusing that TBird/Cougar can't get the mention in the list of Ford cars that a part can fit in.

It all reminds me of the issues with Mitsubishi in early years when they created the narrow block and then upgraded to the wideblock.  Wideblock block being 1 inch wider at the trany to block pins. And why they created this was only since they went to front wheel drive vehicles and determined one was not going to fit in the cars, lol. Manufacturing Fopaws.
1985 Muscle Car V8 Thunderbird
tbirdregistry.com - #56919
Lorain, OH. Assembly #151041
811 TBirds followed Mine
1988 Thunderbird V6
tbirdregistry.com - #80084
Lorain, OH. Assembly #111106

This Shifter should fit an '85 TBIRD AOD?

Reply #7 –
As long as your manual lever has the downward configuration, there should not be a big deal using the Bird or Stang AOD shifter, year is mostly meaningless...

BTW for the TV lever some are curved to front while others curve from rear and still others are straight... One pictured is from a Super Coupe...