I aquired an 88 turbo coupe with a bad engine, trashed interior and a suprisingly decent body. I already have a front engine plate Canton pan and a set of headers for a Fox BBF swap, stuff I had for my Mustang that I never used. I have a 460 that was in my jet boat that makes about 500.
I assume this has been done before, I am wondering what is the spring to use up front and what if any diffrence there is in rear control arms from a T-bird and a Mustang. I had Southside lowers and my own adjustable uppers on my Mustang and like how it planted the tires so I will probably go that direction if they will work. Also if anyone knows can I use rotors off of an 86 Mark7 on the front and a Mark7 8.8 in the rear?
Thanks.
Springs not sure, control arms are different. This company makes Tbird specific arms... http://www.cheperformance.com/cartgenie/prodList.asp?scat=30. Yes you can use the MK VII on the front, but some custom wheels will not clear the hubs. In the rear you would need the MK VII axle shafts, and all brake components brackets, calipers and rotors.
Can I swap the whole housing? I'll be running centerlines or weld wheels. Rear will get mini tubbed. Will a set of 90/10 mustang struts work up front? Anyone ever tried getting an E4OD in the tunnel of a Bird?
I was on Hot Rod Drag week a couple weeks ago as a passenger next year a partint (reason for doing this).
Yes the housing will fit, some say it is 3/4" wider on each side. If the front is lowered you can use '94 up struts, not sure if fox Mustang struts would work. Tranny, dunno.
what size tires are you planning on running? wheel wells are massive in the tbird, chances are what ever you want to run will fit.
you can just play with wheel backspacing to make up for the 3/4" difference
315 60 15 drag radials would be nice of I can get them to fit.
I dont understand how the axles will work if the housing is wider. Swaping the stuff is no problem if it keeps the same width. But the axles will still need to hit the spider pinion in the center section and if they are wider by 3/4inch it's going to push the hardened race area of the axle out beyond the axle bearing.
I have done the 87-88 TC 460 swap.
Your factory TC 4 cyl. springs are the strongest. I still have the original 87 TC springs in mine. Work fine. The front TC struts work well also.
The 90/10 shock or struts you will need would be the ones to fit a 94-98 Mustang GT. They are the correct length for the TC.
As posted above, the Mustang rear LCA will move the rear forward about one inch and look goofy on the T-Bird....been there done that. Hated the look and finially fixed it.
As to the rear tires, the pics below show the stock width Turbo Coupe 8.8 (4 lug) with 15 x 10 wheels ( with 6.5 inch backspacing) and 325-50-15 tires. (28 inches tall)
They fit o.k., but the inside lip of the fender needs to be rolled and the wheel tub on the inside needs a little massaging with a hammer to prevent rubbing on bumps.
No mini-tubs required.
The 8.8 rearends have the same housing width from 1986-1998. The T-Bird just uses axles that are 3/4 inch longer than the 79-93 Mustangs.
The cheapest way I have seen to get a 5 lug setup under the rear of the 83-88 Birds is to put a 94-98 Mustang GT rearend in it. Same overall width as the TC.
Hope this helps.
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s3/83-88T-BirdGuy/CenterLskinnies01.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s3/83-88T-BirdGuy/CenterLskinnies04.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s3/83-88T-BirdGuy/CenterLskinnies05.jpg)
Love that car!!
thought your going to use the markvii for the 460 build when you posted a month or so ago over at thelincolnmarkviiclub? oh well alot more has been done with the 460+tc combo than markvii. good luck either way.
Awesome car man . I'd drive out to Kentucky for a ride.
the mustang lowers will work but are like a 1/2" shorter. for the upper control arms you can use 68-72 gm a-body uppers. the mustang uppers are too short.
what size front wheels/tires on that car? i think i'm in love!
you got an underhood shot of this car? , I think I want to do this to mine
Here are some pics with the 460 and shorty headers. That engine is now in my '84 F-350 crew cab.
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s3/83-88T-BirdGuy/TCenginesilver3jpg.jpg) (http://s148.photobucket.com/user/83-88T-BirdGuy/media/TCenginesilver3jpg.jpg.html)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s3/83-88T-BirdGuy/TCenginesilver4jpg.jpg) (http://s148.photobucket.com/user/83-88T-BirdGuy/media/TCenginesilver4jpg.jpg.html)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s3/83-88T-BirdGuy/TCenginesilver1jpg.jpg) (http://s148.photobucket.com/user/83-88T-BirdGuy/media/TCenginesilver1jpg.jpg.html)
Center Line Auto Drags 15 x 3.5 with standard 165 street radials.
Sick tire package
lol, I was about to say his screen name, and he has already posted up!! I follow him on Photobucket..........
I think Im in LOVE! Big Block and Killer Looks, what is not to love?
It looks like you have manual steering? What's it like to steer manually with all that weight up front? I've only driven a geo metro with manual steering, lol, I just wonder what a big car with manual steering is like. It sure makes the engine bay look cleaner.
When your tires are 4inches or narrower you don't need too much help to turn the wheel. There isn't that much contact area on the pavement.
As posted above, with skinny tires ( at 40 psi) the rolling resistance in way less.
Once my 460 T-Birds get rolling above 2-3 mph it is not much harder to steer than with PS.
At road speeds it pretty much feels the same as PS.
It's not nearly as bad as some people make it out to be.
I've wanted to do this for years. I've got a dove 460 and several TCS. Not sure why I haven't.
Great looking car!
What size master cylinder are you using for manual brakes? I don't see a vac booster on there at least.
Thanks!
Actually, it is not the correct manual master cylinder for the car. It's a 79 Fairmont/Mustang manual MC from the local auto parts store. I've just learned to live with it over the years.
When I get back working on the car, it will get the good Mopar style MC they sell for the Fox manual brake swaps you see a lot of.
The Mopar style MC has the lines coming out the left side of the MC. :D
Where do you get 15x10 four lug rims from.... Me want them now!!
Those Center Lines are widened. They use to be 8 1/2 inches.
At one time Weld Wheels made a Draglite 15 x 10 4 lug wheel.