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Topic: 1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts! (Read 19791 times) previous topic - next topic

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #30
Cleaned the spark plugs, set the timing and did an oil change the other day. Oh and I always see you guys hating on Fram so since I'm so close to a dealership I went and picked up my first Motorcraft oil filter.

And theres a walk around video but the sound is screwed up.




'88 Mercury Cougar LS, 302, Project Car - "The Coug"
'83 Ford Thunderbird Heritage, 302, Summer Ride, - "The Bambi Killer"
'86 Chevrolet S10, Daily Driver -  "The Black Beater"

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #31
Got some time off the other day so I spent a little while cleaning it up.














10 holes appear to be in much better shape than they actually are, a lot of curb rash and clear coat peeling. Front tires need replacing soon, they rub on hard turning.

The thing I like most on this car is how tight the doors close, no sag whatsoever, they sound better than my friends 2007 Mustang when they close. Well to me anyway.

'88 Mercury Cougar LS, 302, Project Car - "The Coug"
'83 Ford Thunderbird Heritage, 302, Summer Ride, - "The Bambi Killer"
'86 Chevrolet S10, Daily Driver -  "The Black Beater"

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #32
Good looking car! Cleaned up really nice. Nothing like cleaning up a new car, I just spent about 2 days on my 88 tbird sport that I bought a week or so ago.

I noticed your car has no a/c either, is that just because its a nothern car?
1971 Camaro Blown 640ci
1988 T-Top Mustang
1980 Mustang coupe
1988 Thunderbird TurboCoupe
And a purple mini van! :burnout:

Previous Thunderbirds:
1988 Sport

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #33
Thanks for the comment. It gets quite hot up here in the summer so a/c is a luxury, for some, but for me I can do with out it. I'd rather have the windows down and belting out the tunes, also keeps the engine bay looking cleaner. But to get to your question it was removed by the previous owner due to it needing a recharge, he offered me the parts that were in a 5 gallon pail but I declined.

'88 Mercury Cougar LS, 302, Project Car - "The Coug"
'83 Ford Thunderbird Heritage, 302, Summer Ride, - "The Bambi Killer"
'86 Chevrolet S10, Daily Driver -  "The Black Beater"

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #34
Haha gotcha! I though about removing mine but sometimes it gets up to 110 degrees here so its also nice to have but i prefer the windows down most of the time too.
Does look cleaner under there! Good luck with the car man! Sure is nice.
1971 Camaro Blown 640ci
1988 T-Top Mustang
1980 Mustang coupe
1988 Thunderbird TurboCoupe
And a purple mini van! :burnout:

Previous Thunderbirds:
1988 Sport

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #35
Quote from: 302 PWR;274843


The thing I like most on this car is how tight the doors close, no sag whatsoever, they sound better than my friends 2007 Mustang when they close. Well to me anyway.



I agree. Of all the cars I've owned I think the 83 TBird has the best closing doors ever. And they have that unique sound!

The trunk on my car was one of the easiest to close too. Ford got it right back in 1983! :)

Good luck with your car.

Rod
tbirdregistry.com
26480
27373

 

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #36
Quote from: rodsterh;275542
I agree. Of all the cars I've owned I think the 83 TBird has the best closing doors ever. And they have that unique sound!

The trunk on my car was one of the easiest to close too. Ford got it right back in 1983! :)

Good luck with your car.

Rod


Yes of all the cars I ever had, the 1983-88 Birds and Cats had the best sounding most solid doors. And the operation of the door handles and latch assembly does indeed have a special feel and sound like no other cars in the world. The cars were even built with thick gauge steel which seems to have resulted in relatively few dings. The following generation Tbirds 89+ and even my new Mustang has steel that is so thin which easily distorts and is more subsceptible to dings.

The cars were of course built in Lorain Ohio highy noted for assembly and build quality and at that time they were considered the highest quality cars in the world, beating out even Mercedes.

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #37
You also have that four spoke square hub steering wheel I like which was 1980-83 only. I am hoping I can find a wheel like that one. I am trying to find something that looks and feels better than the A frame wheel they started using in 1984.

On my red 1985 Tbird I actually installed on it a black Ford Tempo four spoke steering wheel with cruise buttons on and wrapped it in black leather. The only issue with that wheel was it poked out a little more towards your chest but I got used to it. Using a pre-airbag 89-93 Tbird wheel makes the wheel sit way too close to the chest plus it's too far a reach for the column levers.


1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #38
Yeah the doors on these cars are awesome if in good condition, as for the wheel I'm okay with it but it will be replaced with an aftermarket, no not a Grant GT, something unique.

I took this picture the other day and it turned out so great that I had to share it with you guys. (My new background :D )
 



Can anyone notice anything new? And its not the bugs on the bumper or the still center cap-less rims.

'88 Mercury Cougar LS, 302, Project Car - "The Coug"
'83 Ford Thunderbird Heritage, 302, Summer Ride, - "The Bambi Killer"
'86 Chevrolet S10, Daily Driver -  "The Black Beater"

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #39
Quote from: 302 PWR;277233
Yeah the doors on these cars are awesome if in good condition, as for the wheel I'm okay with it but it will be replaced with an aftermarket, no not a Grant GT, something unique.

I took this picture the other day and it turned out so great that I had to share it with you guys. (My new background :D )
 
Can anyone notice anything new? And its not the bugs on the bumper or the still center cap-less rims.


The 5.0 emblems.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
"as if 'religion' were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature." -C.S. Lewis

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #40
Quote from: 302 PWR;277233
Yeah the doors on these cars are awesome if in good condition, as for the wheel I'm okay with it but it will be replaced with an aftermarket, no not a Grant GT, something unique.

I took this picture the other day and it turned out so great that I had to share it with you guys. (My new background :D )
 




Can anyone notice anything new? And its not the bugs on the bumper or the still center cap-less rims.


I had the 5.0 emblems on my 1985.

Dibs on the steering wheel and especially the center trim which I am looking for if you are willing to part with them.

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #41
Yep emblems, I've always liked them and they had 5 finger discount days at the junkyard, a little touch up paint and some double sided trim tape is all it took, I'll get new ebay ones someday. :hick:


As for the steering wheel center I'm not really willing not part with any.. parts of this car, anything that's taken off will be put in a box and stored. Sorry, but next time I'm at the junkyard (which will be soon), I'll see if I can find one, and maybe take a couple requests as they usually have some good T-Bird, Coug stuff there.

And off that topic, I painted the drums yesterday, the calipers shall be done when the pads get replaced.

'88 Mercury Cougar LS, 302, Project Car - "The Coug"
'83 Ford Thunderbird Heritage, 302, Summer Ride, - "The Bambi Killer"
'86 Chevrolet S10, Daily Driver -  "The Black Beater"

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #42
Quote from: 302 PWR;277241
...they had 5 finger discount days at the junkyard,...


You're joking, yes?

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
"as if 'religion' were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature." -C.S. Lewis

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #43
Why do you think you have to pay $1 to get into the pick and pull?
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

1983 Thunderbird Heritage - 03.03.10 New parts!

Reply #44
Quote from: 302 PWR;277241
Sorry, but next time I'm at the junkyard (which will be soon), I'll see if I can find one, and maybe take a couple requests as they usually have some good T-Bird, Coug stuff there.



Hey that would be great if you could keep your eye out and snag one for me if you see it. I have been to several salvage yards around here and the 80-88 cars are non-existant. If I was doing a 89-97 I'd have a field day. Thanks for offering to look!