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My GTbird build

Reply #75 –
Im not sure. I got it from a buddy who took it out of a Mustang he bought.
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 #76 –
Quote from: deathbypsi;456523
Im not sure. I got it from a buddy who took it out of a Mustang he bought.

Looks like this one: http://www.griffinrad.com/load_details5.php?PartID=306&year=89&make=Ford&model=Mustang&select_Main_Group=1989&select_Sub_Group=Ford&select_Sub_Group_model=Mustang&select_Sub_Group_Engine=24.5%20X%2019.11&select_Sub_Group_Transmission=TOC&key_id=7-70150

Not a cheap radiator.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

My GTbird build

Reply #77 –
Yikes, that radiator isn't cheap, lol. Cha-Ching!!!
1985 Muscle Car V8 Thunderbird
tbirdregistry.com - #56919
Lorain, OH. Assembly #151041
811 TBirds followed Mine
1988 Thunderbird V6
tbirdregistry.com - #80084
Lorain, OH. Assembly #111106

My GTbird build

Reply #78 –
Well been busy as hell lately so Im almost ready to fire it up for the first time.
 
Got the UPR quadrant installed,rest of dash is apart so I can can fix a bunch of broken parts and get ready for my new gauges.
I replaced the stock dash speakers with some Kicker 1" tweeters and repainted the dash.


I now have the t5 in,headers are on and I ran down the street to Scottrod Fab and had him bend up a rad hold down.


Hood and front bumper are at my buddies shop getting body work and paint right now,fan controller is wired in,made a new mount for my overflow bottle and got my 86 Mustang GT steering wheel on.
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 #79 –
Looking good!

I used silicone tubing for my intake setup as well.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

My GTbird build

Reply #80 –
Looking really good! Are we going to get a video when she runs?

My GTbird build

Reply #81 –
There will be a vid for sure.

Got the engine harness laid in and almost done with that. Cleaned the carpet up and turned out great yesterday.
I also added LEDs to the cluster for turns and high beams,got column back in and the new steering wheel on.Gauges not wired yet but had to mock everything up to see how it looked.





I removed the lower panel in the center stack with the lighter,switch and antenna so I could recover it in the same plastic i used for my bezel. I ordered a 12v power point and two USB charge ports to install there.
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 #82 –
Looks great! I would go with a Thunderbird logo in place of the GT logo on the dash but that's just me ;)
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

My GTbird build

Reply #83 –
The GT on the dash is just one part of my planned Fantasy car theme. Once its done it will all tie in and make sense.
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 #84 –
That dash looks great! Has a "factory" race car look with the grained panels. I'd like to get done as much as you. You make me tired!

My GTbird build

Reply #85 –
Quote from: deathbypsi;456713
The GT on the dash is just one part of my planned Fantasy car theme. Once its done it will all tie in and make sense.

I see ;)
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

My GTbird build

Reply #86 –
After getting the engine harness routed in the car I just wasnt happy with some of the old tape,loom and some of the unused plugs just hanging there so I ripped it all back out and started cleaning it up and removing all unused wiring all the way back to the 60pin connector. Harness looks 100% better in the car now.

What a mess!


Got the MAF plumbed and a bracket made to hold it in place.



I spent a whole day just fixing wiring inside the car. Somebody over the years replaced the heater core and they absolutely did a  job putting the dash back together. I found the wire for the trunk release plugged into courtesy light,courtesy light wires tied up out of sight,power wire in top of fuse box for power seats had a broken locking tab so it had an interment connection,I removed everything for the power antenna and made a new panel for the lower portion of the center stack with 3 power point options.


So after all this the wiring was done, fuel lines made and hooked up and it would only pop a few times on starter fluid. Turned out the TFI was bad so it was replaced and it now had good spark. However , it turns out only my 255 frame pump is working and the in tank pump is not so no fuel is getting fed to the main pump. No start.

It was hot ,muggy and I wasnt happy about having to drop the tank so I took a break and cleaned up a tail light...
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 #87 –
In the home stretch.

At least it didn't die after you started driving it.
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 #88 –
Well dropped the tank and I found a whole new mess.  The seal for the filler neck had turned to a gummy mess and so did the seal for the vent tube valve. The vent tube valve seal had fallen apart at some point and it was just laying on top of the tank leaving a large opening in the top of the tank. Who knows how much dirt,bugs and moisture got into the tank. When I pulled the sender I found the tank was solid rust inside. The sender was rusted , the filter screen had disintegrated and the rubber hose for the pump had collapsed.

I had to order a new tank,pump,screen,filter and both rubber seals. The sender wasnt reading anything so I removed it while I soaked the sender in a bowl of vinegar and after cleaning the contacts inside I got it to read the correct ohms as its swept.


Sooo, while Im waiting for the tank to show up I will start installing the exhaust ,rebuilt the 8.8 and install all the new bushings in the rear arms.

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 #89 –
So what diameter is the exhaust?  Any reason for not running dual 2.5"?

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


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp