Skip to main content
Topic: My GTbird build (Read 44145 times) previous topic - next topic

My GTbird build

Reply #165
Quote from: 4thqtr;459354
Was that a glimpse of your car on the last episode of Detroit Steel? :burnout:

Yeah that was me
Brian R.
88 2.3t Ranger
83 TC  gt40p motor,Vortech,TFS1 cam,long tubes,MS PnP,T5,8.8,17x9 Cobra 17s

My GTbird build

Reply #166
Quote from: deathbypsi;459350
Its a huge Griffen

Ah. Looked like it. When ever the cheap Northern aluminum radiator I got from Summit dies I was planning on going with  Griffin or Be Cool aluminum radiator.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

 

My GTbird build

Reply #167
Just discovered today that because that rad is so thick my Spal fan will not clear the added crank pulley for the blower. In a first class move a tech guy at Spal contacted me through facebook when I put my puller fan up for sale since Spal fans can not be wired in reverse to make a pusher and offered to swap the blades for me for free so I can still use my fan on front of rad.
Brian R.
88 2.3t Ranger
83 TC  gt40p motor,Vortech,TFS1 cam,long tubes,MS PnP,T5,8.8,17x9 Cobra 17s

My GTbird build

Reply #168
Quote from: deathbypsi;459375
Just discovered today that because that rad is so thick my Spal fan will not clear the added crank pulley for the blower. In a first class move a tech guy at Spal contacted me through facebook when I put my puller fan up for sale since Spal fans can not be wired in reverse to make a pusher and offered to swap the blades for me for free so I can still use my fan on front of rad.
.....nice.
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:

My GTbird build

Reply #169
I am so tempted to go junkyarding in the next few days and pick up an explorer top end. I went with a friend a few days ago and the had like 10 302 explorers.

Your build is very close to what I had always pictured doing to my car.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

My GTbird build

Reply #170
I tell you its been hard taking it back apart to do the blower because the thing ran so dam good and was so fun as it was. Great little combo and for some reason compared to a few of my buddies Mustangs with H/C/I setups mine blows them away.
Brian R.
88 2.3t Ranger
83 TC  gt40p motor,Vortech,TFS1 cam,long tubes,MS PnP,T5,8.8,17x9 Cobra 17s

My GTbird build

Reply #171
It's the little things that make a car run good. The more attention you pay, the better the overall result will be. Take your time and make it run right, fix all the little things ect. Now let's take the average mustang guy (not trying to offend anyone, just describing my experience), they dont ever work on their car, they hire it out, or throw a bunch of shiny chrome or drop a ton of money on upgrades, but they dont usually understand how they work, or why one is better.

Let's take a good running car, but rip off the door panels off and maybe a few trim panels. Even though it's a good running reliable car, anyone who gets in side it is gonna say, what a peice of .

Same thing goes with the engine, exterior ect.

My whole idea behind the explorer motor stuff, it's all oem, you can get parts anywhere, and with aftermarket stuff, there is always varying levels of quality.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

My GTbird build

Reply #172
Been wrenchin on and off a few hours everyday and seems like Ive gotten nowhere lol

I hate this dam UPR k member. Just trying to get the power rack on has been a bitch. I fought trying to get the rack up in the hump of the oil pan to get on the mounting tubes and even with offset bushings the rack touches the pan. Then I found because the K member stretched the wheelbase an inch the stock steering shaft is to short now. And even if it was long enough the rag joint hits the header tube. Back to the drawing board....

I ordered a new universal steering shaft, bump steer kit and made a lifty thing so I can unbolt the motor to shim up the mounts and get rack in right.
 

I also bought a FMS King Cobra clutch kit and billet flywheel.


Moving on to the blower I found out I bought the wrong smog pump eliminator that doesn't have a threaded hole I need for the alternator mount. So waiting on the right one to show up now.



So it looks like by Friday all the last few parts will be here and with any luck it will be on the ground making noises by sunday.
Brian R.
88 2.3t Ranger
83 TC  gt40p motor,Vortech,TFS1 cam,long tubes,MS PnP,T5,8.8,17x9 Cobra 17s

My GTbird build

Reply #173
I need up using eurathane motor mounts to get the motor to come up high enough so the pan would clear my rack. Supposedly the eurathane mounts are 1/2" higher than the stock mounts you buy at the parts store. For my Griggs k-member, Canton road race pan, and the 351W it worked perfectly.

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


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

My GTbird build

Reply #174
Well I unbolted the motor yesterday and lifted it up then stuck a .250" shim under the mounts and it all clears now.

Got my new shaft yesterday also and did some mock up to check clearance. I need to move my breather tank forward about an inch and I figured out the layout for the passenger side breather hose and Forge BOV.



I also couldnt stomach paying $80 for Vortechs upper radiator hose tube so I made one cut on my stock upper hose and made a 90* tube from 1.25 straight tubing I had under the bench.
Brian R.
88 2.3t Ranger
83 TC  gt40p motor,Vortech,TFS1 cam,long tubes,MS PnP,T5,8.8,17x9 Cobra 17s

My GTbird build

Reply #175
I was going to say you've got a fancy upper radiator hose ;)
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

My GTbird build

Reply #176
And 98% done!


I added a real cooler for the power steering and mounted it to the bottom of the rad.



Now Im just waiting for the rest of the steering parts so I can fill the power steering pump and fire it up! Going to start pulling the trans today to get clutch swapped.
Brian R.
88 2.3t Ranger
83 TC  gt40p motor,Vortech,TFS1 cam,long tubes,MS PnP,T5,8.8,17x9 Cobra 17s

My GTbird build

Reply #177
How much boost are you going to run? I'm assuming sub 10 psi with no intercooler?

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


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

My GTbird build

Reply #178
Yeah 10psi is my max limit. Hoping to get the job done on 8 tho.

Goals...
400 rwhp
sub 12.50 on the 17" wheels
11.99 on slicks
1/4 mile mph of 112 or more
Get me to and from work at least 4 days a week.
Brian R.
88 2.3t Ranger
83 TC  gt40p motor,Vortech,TFS1 cam,long tubes,MS PnP,T5,8.8,17x9 Cobra 17s

My GTbird build

Reply #179
400 rwhp is a very realistic goal. My 306 was 318 rwhp NA at 10.5:1 so add a little boost and some fuel and I'm pretty sure would have made 400 rwhp and still have been easy to drive every day. Keep up the great work and post up those numbers!

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


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp