Right from the start of the Fox bodies I have always liked them.
My father worked for Ford where the Fairmonts were assembled for a few years.
I have owned 3, 1980 Thunderbirds, one a Silver Anniversary model that was too rough to save.
My first new car was an 87 Thunderbird LX Sport.
Unfortunately I missed as red light six months later.
As the original owner of an 88 XR-7, that I still have, I share you love of these cars.
I spotted the Red one for sale in 2017 but I was too busy to even go see it.
It had some equipment on it, Like a Tremec TKO 5 speed and the top of the line MSD ignition system.
It disappeared on-line so I forgot about it.
About 8 months later, it appeared on-line again, minus the 5-speed and the ignition.
The seller, now just wanted to part it out and was not interested in selling it whole.
I offered him a fair price it Red/Red was on it's way.
I have been hunting and gathering a few parts that I needed and even found a whole Blue/Blue Cougar parts cat that had stuff on it that I never thought I needed.
The motor I am using has been in the corner of my shop since 2012.
https://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/index.php?action=dlattach;sa=tmpattach;attach=post_tmp_6239_d378af0155b53a8663ce0cc40fd30f1d;topic=40946


I tried to sell this years ago but the guy showed up and paid for the motor and transmission but only wanted the transmission.
It was a column shift AOD so I didn't want it.
I drove the car that the engine came from, for 2 hours (home) and I know that the engine was tweaked a bit so I didn't mind keeping it.
I decided to keep the racing exhaust, and put Shortys on.
Today, I got the motor in !!!
Good deal, seems we both are putting one back together.
My original plan was to go 100 % stock but the budget always gets in the way.
The 5 speed is preferred by most but there is a demand for automatics in a daily driver.
If the next owner of this car wants a 5.0 H.O./5 Speed, I will gladly buy the powerplant back !
The interior is like new on this car.
The doors are not rusted but damaged from a bad trailer ride in the past.
Easier to replace them then try to fix.
Just happen to have a couple of them laying around.
Underbody and shock towers are like new but are covered in an oil/wax coating that is impossible to remove so I will just spray more protectant in the bare areas.
I said in the past that my plan was for the original stereo to be put in but in today's world, it will just get chucked away.
The power locks even still work !
So are you keeping the red Cougar or selling it?
My wife says I can't have two.
My Black 1988 XR-7 is the only car I would never sell.
The Red XR-7 will be for sale at one point.
I would like to have it running with everything working first before I put it up for sale.
Like I said, something is different with this motor.
It was in an 87 Anniversary that was rotted right out.
I bought it from the estate of a mechanic and drove it two hours to my place.
There is about 75,000 miles on the motor.
That's why I kept it.
The motor was headed for my black 88 but I decided my original engine will probably out last me !
Right now, this is a lot of fun and a neat challenge.
https://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/index.php?action=dlattach;sa=tmpattach;attach=post_tmp_6239_95f257c8f9f65c776254f0704e0c13b1;topic=40946
So the assembly continues.
The shorty headers are an exact match but rub slightly on the steering shaft.
Quick fix.
The ECM was bypassed and fortunately marked by the previous owner. Thanks buddy !

I have that mutant Taurus/Sable 3.8 modified ECM somewhere It was in the 87 that the engine came from.
But for now I used the one that I knew worked.
I have to keep stealing parts of the parts car that I was never supposed to need.
a million little things keep coming up.
The support brace under the engine cradle has been changed and set up for a different oil pan.
It's in the way of the current pan.
Ol' Blue to the rescue again !
Head lights, Grill panel, front bumper cover just to name a few parts I'm going to use.
The Blue door panels have already headed south. The rest of the blue interior will saved.
Dash is like new.
The mint rear view mirror is already on my Black XR-7
Finished wiring up the project XR-7 and guess what,
It started !
The motor last ran in 2012, before I pulled it out of it's rust trap.
The pollution pump seized so I pulled the belt and ran it for a very short time.
My Frankenstein is alive !

The 2 inch racing exhaust sounds awesome !

The wiring was all hacked up to convert it to a carburetor so I had to rebuild it with a donor harness and computer.
I know we have some pretty good mechanics here,
But I'm not one of them.
I'm just persistent.
Is the inside clean? My car was a stinking pile of after sitting for so long. Looks good, I would love to be at this stage of assembly right now.
There me is a company on ebay that rebuilds computers down in Florida. I have read good things about them and am sending my a9l down there.
Don't worry Claude, your build will be worth it.
This one sat in a heated, attached garage from 1995 until 2017
One small crack in the dash but otherwise, perfect interior.
The blue parts car's interior has that "rodent lived in smell" but the dash is perfect so its coming out.
I don't need a blue console but it's going to be saved as well.
I'm hoping to see pictures of the blue door panels I sent to North Carolina, installed. (hint, hint).
The computer that came with the motor is stamped (Taurus/Sable 3.8) it's in a box somewhere.
I have yet to find any write-ups on using this type of ECM on a Cougar/Thunderbird.
Has anyone else ?
All I can say is, darn that engine and computer worked well together in The two hours I drove it back home.
Definitely, not your 155hp set up.
I would love to go back in time and ask the late mechanic, what the **** he did to this thing ?
It's really too bad that 87 Anniversary couldn't be saved, just too much rot.
Alot of mustangs had 3.8 taurus stamped on the computer.
Sounds like someone might have done a h.o. upgrade.
Can you post a picture of tags on the 60 pin connector?
I will be up in my loft tomorrow.
I know it's boxed up there somewhere.
Just, what box ?
I will post pics ASAP.
Found it !



As you can see, 3.0


As you can see, not opened.
You wouldn't believe what's up in that loft !!!
After this build, I'm going to be selling off a bit.
All 87, 88 parts
Shipping will be a pain in the,
Got any NOS headlights?
3 sets but all very fogged up.
I didn't realize they want over $100 a set on E-bay for fogged up ones.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1987-1988-ford-thunderbird-turbo-coupe-headlights/372535797591?hash=item56bcdd2757:g:wjsAAOSwolpcFCoy:rk:11:pf:0
I would spend the extra money and get the clear ones at $ 145 each.
That’s a 5.0 Tbird computer.
I'm pretty sure that tag just meant those specific patents only applied to the 3.0 Taurus. I've seen that tag on several late 80's EEC-IVs.
DG1 - 5.0 T-Bird SD-SFI / Auto
Here is a comprehensive list of all the EEC-IV processors:
http://www.cb4x4.com/PDFs/Engine%20-%20EFI%20-%20EEC%20Program%20Codes.pdf
Basically they saved the info from the old fordfuelinjection.com site which can be accessed here since Ford went after the guy for having "Ford" in the name of the site:
http://archive.vn/20130629073159/http://oldfuelinjection.com/
I believe the guy that owned the site was named Ryan and the rumor mill was he was a Ford Engineer. His knowledge was legit and from what I understand he was the one that pioneered the SD to MAF swap. Just Google "RJM Wiring Harness" if you are curious.
http://archive.vn/20130629073159/htt...injection.com/
"The ROM cannot be altered and lasts 20 years after the EEC is disconnected from voltage."
A lot of good reading !
The one I installed in the project looks quite different with a broken seal.
But the car runs fine.
I might switch them just to power this up.
So the difference must be in the motor.
I can't wait for spring to get this thing on the road and testing it out.
Thanks, for your help !
My neighbours must be shaking there heads today,
I got the project out on to pavement and gunned it.
Chirped those tires real nice.
Darn tranny leak, hopefully the line connection.
Then I decided to pull my original black 88 out of the attached garage because of the possibility of mice.
and I repeated the road exercise.

There is definitely some kind of difference.
I don't think the engine I put in is a H.O. but WOW.
Excellent! Always nice when they are back on the road. Is your black car full options? I see keyless entry and a moonroof I believe as well as possibly illuminated entry?
The Black one, I bought July 7th, 1988
Built June 23rd, 1988.
Has every available option I know of.
305,000 KMS,
That's 189,000 miles
Original engine.
Wheels originally silver.
Rebuilt in 2011.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/index.php?action=dlattach;sa=tmpattach;attach=post_tmp_6239_c743eb80fd2eb7bed76fb8923faf0819;topic=40946
Just a long awaited update,
My project ended up having head gasket problems.
I put it aside and worked on my other projects.
In the mean time, this car was actually sold 3 times over with each guy backing out :crazy:
The last guy was a door knocker who saw it in the laneway.
"I'll be back on Saturday with a flatbed" he said. Never saw him again :screwy:
So it's been hiding ever since.
https://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/index.php?action=dlattach;sa=tmpattach;attach=post_tmp_6239_9eb21398eab539bafbe84ed99de4374a;topic=40946
Last fall I came across a very low mileage Crown Vic motor.
Covid worked in my favor as the Crown Vic car would have sure been used as a derby car, if there was a derby in 2020.
https://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/index.php?action=dlattach;sa=tmpattach;attach=post_tmp_6239_de43bfcf6b8dea651a8d628221115ff5;topic=40946
Found a new friend near me who is building two 88s himself, one drag, one street.
told him about the forum.
I think we will inspire each other this year ;)
So there will defiantly be some parts sharing with my new friend.
Didn't think I would find someone so close with more 87-88 Cougars than I have :biggrin:
https://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/index.php?action=dlattach;sa=tmpattach;attach=post_tmp_6239_b3e40688f82db8cf059949873a4389be;topic=40946
Lucky guy!!! There are practically none of these cars around me......
So I left this morning with the rest of my Blue parts to see my new friend.
The A-pillar and Door panels went to members here.
Came home 5 hours later with a load of Red for the project :smile:
https://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/index.php?action=dlattach;sa=tmpattach;attach=post_tmp_6239_431c8eb60eacbded8858387bbbe1d76c;topic=40946


At this point, it looks like my blue seats are in the car he bought.
From the same area and the Car is a XR-7 with Blue LS seats
Small world.