Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => User Rides => Topic started by: DIAF on July 07, 2008, 10:03:34 AM

Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: DIAF on July 07, 2008, 10:03:34 AM
Here are a few pics of the car.  It started life as an '87 20th anniversary in bad shape, so please don't flame me for changing the looks a little bit.  It was bone stock when I bought it.  I'm currently going through my second rebuild of the car.  I learned a lot since the first time I "restored" it.

First pic is the day after I bought it, seven years ago.
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: DIAF on July 07, 2008, 10:04:54 AM
Here are a few pics from a couple of years ago after the build-up.
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: DIAF on July 07, 2008, 10:10:12 AM
The motor needed freshening up.  The block, pistons, and crankshaft are all that's left stock.  Everything else has been replaced.

I replaced the oil pump, added a windage tray, new oil pan, harmonic balancer, timing cover, water pump, motor mounts, and painted the block in the last week.

More pics to come as progress is made...Unfortunately, it's a slooooooowwww process.
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: Bob on July 07, 2008, 11:04:15 AM
Cool, keep the pics coming. So which heads and cam did you go with?
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: DIAF on July 07, 2008, 11:23:44 AM
Quote from: Bob;226235
Cool, keep the pics coming. So which heads and cam did you go with?


Trick Flow Twisted Wedge heads and a Ford Racing E303 cam.  I was told the E cam was the lumpiest one I could go with and still maintain enough vacuum for my brake booster to work.  With the stock AOD I ran a best of 14.2 a few years ago.  The transmission is worn out and I do have about 500lbs. worth of stereo equipment in the car.  I hope to do a little better this year with the C4.
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: Bob on July 07, 2008, 05:14:55 PM
Quote from: DIAF;226236
Trick Flow Twisted Wedge heads and a Ford Racing E303 cam.  I was told the E cam was the lumpiest one I could go with and still maintain enough vacuum for my brake booster to work.  With the stock AOD I ran a best of 14.2 a few years ago.  The transmission is worn out and I do have about 500lbs. worth of stereo equipment in the car.  I hope to do a little better this year with the C4.


Lots of better choices than the e-cam. Do you want a cam that makes your engine sound lumpy or one that will max out your heads and intake performance wise?

I'm no expert but who ever told you e-cam was the only one that could give you good vacuum and power was way off. I ran a TFS-1 cam in a similar setup (Eddy alum heads/cobra intake, 306 ci motor) and it ran great with awsome drivability and power. Not lumpy at all, good idle.

Why do you think trickflow includes this cam with it's engine package? http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=TFS%2DK514%2D360%2D350&autoview=sku

While the motor is out of the car I would seriously look into a different cam.
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: daboss351 on July 07, 2008, 05:26:33 PM
i think he wanted sound over power
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: DIAF on July 07, 2008, 07:44:46 PM
Quote from: Bob;226280
Lots of better choices than the e-cam. Do you want a cam that makes your engine sound lumpy or one that will max out your heads and intake performance wise?

I'm no expert but who ever told you e-cam was the only one that could give you good vacuum and power was way off. I ran a TFS-1 cam in a similar setup (Eddy alum heads/cobra intake, 306 ci motor) and it ran great with awsome drivability and power. Not lumpy at all, good idle.

Why do you think trickflow includes this cam with it's engine package? http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=TFS%2DK514%2D360%2D350&autoview=sku

While the motor is out of the car I would seriously look into a different cam.


I put the cam in the engine about 6 years ago.  I didn't know a whole lot about engines back then and trusted the guy at the performance shop for a recommendation.  As I'm trying to get the motor back in the car soon, I probably won't change it yet.

Quote from: daboss351;226283
i think he wanted sound over power


I do like the sound of the E-cam, but also wanted more power over the stock bumpstick.  I think I got a little of both.  I know it's not the best choice for the heads I have right now.

The block, crank, and pistons have over 125,000 miles on them.  I am planning on putting a dry nitrous setup on this motor in lieu of a supercharger for now and seeing how it does down the 1/4.  I already am predicting the engine not lasting long on the spray, but I'll run it till it blows.  I have plans for a DSS 347 shortblock down the road.  Just don't have the $$$ for a new, blueprinted block right now.
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: Black88LS on July 07, 2008, 10:33:40 PM
looks good, i dig the black
i have a similar setup motor in my 84GT, i have a comp cams XE-262H cam with TFS heads and TFS 1.6 RR's
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: Carpimp1987 on July 08, 2008, 02:20:00 AM
Nice cougar you did a good job fixing it up the E-cam is good but i wish i could go back and change it almost got a TFS 1 cam but now i wish i could of got me Steeda Cam #19 as far as Sound goes the E303 cam sounds great with a nice cold air kit and exhuast. As much as i like the e-cam i hate it to.
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: V8Demon on July 08, 2008, 05:26:01 AM
Clean buildup!
Welcome to the community!

No offense to you, but E-cam FTMFL!
Sounding lumpy and getting you down the track quickly are 2 different things.  What converter/gears were you running when you got that 14.2?  From the sound of it I'd say you were running the stock converter.....That's about 5 tenths right there with the e-cam....
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: DIAF on July 08, 2008, 07:42:25 AM
Quote from: V8Demon;226353
Clean buildup!
Welcome to the community!

No offense to you, but E-cam FTMFL!
Sounding lumpy and getting you down the track quickly are 2 different things.  What converter/gears were you running when you got that 14.2?  From the sound of it I'd say you were running the stock converter.....That's about 5 tenths right there with the e-cam....


Yep, stock converter.  The stock 7.5" rear end is in the car now with 3.73 gears and a limited slip.  Car weighs in at around 3,500lbs. without me in it too.

I'm loosing 1/2 a second just because of that cam?!?!?! :confused: :confused:  That's hard to believe.
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on July 08, 2008, 08:53:14 AM
Quote from: DIAF;226360
Yep, stock converter.  The stock 7.5" rear end is in the car now with 3.73 gears and a limited slip.  Car weighs in at around 3,500lbs. without me in it too.

I'm loosing 1/2 a second just because of that cam?!?!?! :confused: :confused:  That's hard to believe.

No he meant with with the stock converter... I dropped .5 with the 2600 from stock...

With the stereo gear, I'm bettin' it weighs more than 3500 lbs... My 5.0 TC weighed 3760 with me(200), a small tool box, spare, jack and 3/4 tank of gas... To double check, I got out of the car and weight dropped to exactly 3560 lbs

BTW At roughly 3650(incl me), with the TF heads & cam, Cobra intake, 2600 converter, etc, I've gone 13.11 @ 105, with it running 13.3s all day long... Went 12.23 @ 112 with a 85hp shot...
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: DIAF on July 08, 2008, 11:35:45 AM
Quote from: TurboCoupe50;226362
No he meant with with the stock converter... I dropped .5 with the 2600 from stock...

With the stereo gear, I'm bettin' it weighs more than 3500 lbs... My 5.0 TC weighed 3760 with me(200), a small tool box, spare, jack and 3/4 tank of gas... To double check, I got out of the car and weight dropped to exactly 3560 lbs

BTW At roughly 3650(incl me), with the TF heads & cam, Cobra intake, 2600 converter, etc, I've gone 13.11 @ 105, with it running 13.3s all day long... Went 12.23 @ 112 with a 85hp shot...


Wow, I guess I need a new torque converter.  As my setup is very similar to yours, a 2600 stall would work well?  I still want to drive this on the street and not have to rev to 3,000 to pull out at redlights.

I removed the spare tire, jack, and have no tools in the car.  I did have it weighed on a reputable scale.  It is 3,500lbs. with a tank of gas and all the stereo gear minus me in it.  I'm a big guy, so add another 240lbs. with me in it.
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: GrannysBird on July 08, 2008, 12:59:22 PM
That e-cam is hurting your performance, but what you really should be concerned about is that oil filter..
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: V8Demon on July 08, 2008, 02:21:05 PM
Man,  I shoulda gone with the black accent kit.....Woulda looked hot in my engine bay!
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: thunderjet302 on July 08, 2008, 03:02:44 PM
Quote from: TurboCoupe50;226362
No he meant with with the stock converter... I dropped .5 with the 2600 from stock...

With the stereo gear, I'm bettin' it weighs more than 3500 lbs... My 5.0 TC weighed 3760 with me(200), a small tool box, spare, jack and 3/4 tank of gas... To double check, I got out of the car and weight dropped to exactly 3560 lbs



Geesh with out me in it mine weighs 3600 lbs with 3/4 of a tank of gas :punchballs:  Mine has every option (but a sun roof) plus dual power seats with power recline. With me in it the weight goes up to 3770 lbs. Man 215 section tires and the stock converter/trans are kicking my ass at the track.......
Title: Car pics and motor rebuild...
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on July 08, 2008, 05:28:00 PM
Quote from: DIAF;226406
Wow, I guess I need a new torque converter.  As my setup is very similar to yours, a 2600 stall would work well?  I still want to drive this on the street and not have to rev to 3,000 to pull out at redlights.


With my Stage-1 Trick Flow cam, a 2600 really isn't enough... Modern T-verters don't rev on light acceleration, barely know I have one in mine... Just go with a 2400-3200 LOCK UP and you'll think you stuck a 351 in it compared to the 5.0...

I'll hear a bunch of shiznit reccomending the street B&M, but if you're on a tight budget... I sold one to buddy who ran it for a couple of years with a 125hp shot and never did hurt it...