88 TC to 79 Mustang(Project Thunderstang)

[seventy9_3o2]

ive never been too active on these boards but thats because i havent done too much to my car...aside from my interior but almost noone likes it, but i dont care that much because i made it for me and me alone. That and well....there was no real place for us 2.3 guys.

well i have a 1979 Ghia notch in case you guys were wondering....ive been looking for an 87-88 turbocoupe motor for a good while and i finally bought one from a guy out by Philly on the 12th. I could never afford it because i was always too busy with school and sports and such. I just graduated high school in June and got a decent paying full time job. Well the turbocoupe couldve been saved but it has a lot of body rot even though pictures really dont show it. It's completely stock and has a little under 230,000 on the odometer. Doesn't smoke at all on startup but the cam seal leaks on the cam gear and it slings oil onto the intercooler ducts. Bought the whole thing for $600 + $135 for towing and travelling expenses. Car drives fine aside from a slight hesitation off idle. Clutch didnt slip at all and nothing is awry with the rear. Looks like the mustang will get a little bit more then what i was expecting on its initial build.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/three50one/Side.jpg
cant really see any rot but most of its good

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/three50one/bonestock.jpg
its pretty clean...i believe the guy i bought it from over on turboford pressure washed it

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/three50one/100_0642.jpg
Thats pretty much all i have done....i can only do so much in a rock driveway but my brother wont get his 68 Firebird out of the freakin garage

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/three50one/7170engine_4cyl_-med.jpg
That TC motor is sure gonna be better then that pile...haha

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/three50one/interior.jpg
there was my stock interior

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/three50one/VDash.jpg
Interior i did looking through the back window....not the greatest of pictures

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/three50one/Interiordone.jpg
and thats what she looks like inside without it being all foggy. It's covered in all black fabric and each door has a pony embossed in it and i reshaped it so the armrest isnt completely there. Most dont like it on here....dont be afraid to tell me you dont.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/three50one/IM000313.jpg
Thats the only picture i have uploaded on the net of it at the moment....the other car is my brothers 81 Trans Am


If you guys are interested ill keep you up with my project ive name project ThunderStang. I plan on swapping the Rear, Tranny, and Motor with ECU from the thunderbird and then ill probably get ported lower and a gutted and rotated 120* upper intake from 40bob and a front mount kit from Stinger. Ill probably get a single 3 inch exhaust from stinger as well. Then we'll see what else is in store for it.

What do ya say.....Want to hear more about it as i go along?

[mfpmax]

Go for it. Always interested in the Pre-87 swaps epspecially considering I have one. Remember, if you get caught up somewhere thinking you'll have to do more work to get it done, take a step back, take a breath, and seek out an easier solution. Seen a few swaps where people did unnecessary things to get the job done.

[loutheplumber]

you'll need the lower engine mount plates off of a 87 up stang if the ones in the tc are welded in

[Chuck W]

you'll need the lower engine mount plates off of a 87 up stang if the ones in the tc are welded in

No..
If the Mustang was a 2.3 to begin with you can use those mounts, but you will not be able to use the 87-88TC mounts anywhere but with an 87-88 TC K-member.

You will need motor mounts from any 2.3 Mustang and the K-member adapter brackets from the same car if they came with them. The early 2.3's used the "block" type mounts that bolt directly to the K-member and the later (83+) used the ones with the adapter brasckets. 83-84TCs used the same type of mounts as the 2.3 EFI Mustangs. 85 TC's can work, but you need the adapter brackets from and 85 TC (an 85 TC only) as they are different from the others. 86 TC mounts are like the 87-88TC mounts and will not work on a Mustang K-member.

Not that I know anything about 2.3T motor mounts ;)

[gregpro50]

I'm sorta doing the same thing right now. I am in the process of getting a drivetrain from a donor '88 TC into an '86 SVO.

I bought the SVO as a roller and it was missing all the wiring and everything. I plan on keeping it mostly stock though.

[mfpmax]

Not that I know anything about 2.3T motor mounts ;)

One day you will get my money...hopefully...maybe... :(

[ethangsmith]

Where in PA is Fairfield? I am in Lititz near Lancaster. Good to see another PA person on here!

[svopaul]

It'll make a really nice swap/car! I did this years ago with an '87 Notch using an '88 Turbo Coupe for the donor car. I swapped in the entire drivetrain and suspension. The light coupe chassis with all the Turbo Coupe stuff makes a nice handling/nimble coupe! Good luck....

[tbirdscott]

Thats a bright console! If you do the exterior in the same style (the HERE I AM! style) I think it'll look good. You'll now have the power to back up the look.

Just wanted to add to anyone parting a TC that us t-bird guys need parts too, interior, exterior whatever. Post 'em up at www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com or message me and I could post it there for you if you like.

[loutheplumber]

86 TC mounts are like the 87-88TC mounts and will not work on a Mustang K-member. i know you know alot about these mounts but i have plates off a 90 mustang i beleive it was, and what i was told to be 87/88 tc mounts holding the engine in my capri bolted to the mustang plates

[Chuck W]

i know you know alot about these mounts but i have plates off a 90 mustang i beleive it was, and what i was told to be 87/88 tc mounts holding the engine in my capri bolted to the mustang plates

Nope.....unless your Capri has an 86-88 Tbird K-member in it, the later mounts will not work in the Mustang. BTDT

[loutheplumber]

just out of curosity why WON'T they work

[Chuck W]

They are totally different, the 86-88 mounts are HUGE compared to the earlier ones. If it wasn't late I'd take pics of both types to show the difference. WAAAAYY back when I was designing my mounts I was unaware of all the differences and started with a set of 87-88's as samples to make mounts for my 84 XR-7...boy was I pissed when I went to try and install the prototypes.... It took a TOTAL redesign for them to even come close to fitting in the car.

[seventy9_3o2]

fairfield is just south of gettysburg....the one i live in anyway-there are 3

[gregpro50]

Yep I found out the whole deal about the mounts too.

I just used some mounts off a spare '79 4 banger I had sitting here.

[seventy9_3o2]

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/three50one/hoodpaint.jpg
thats the paint scheme for the hood....the black just goes down to the molding except for the one pin stripe thatll point to a 2.3 badge on the fender...i deleted the emblem so thats not there now

[mfpmax]

Aww yes now I remember :D

[rnjstel]

Now thats funny!

I am Gettysburg as well and swapping an EFI to my 79 Turbo Pace!

Small World!

[seventy9_3o2]

i havent done too much.....been busy with other personal issues that arose last week all of a sudden......although ive found out that it should be cars over women every day....at least when your car breaks down itll let you fix it-or at least try----but hey....its all good i may go visit a friend at college i havent seen since 10th grade

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/three50one/guttedint.jpg
i took out the dash that i found out must have been out before because it was only held on with 2 bolts on both sides....no worries though i really dont need that portion and it was just gettin in the way of some things

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/three50one/engine9706.jpg
i took off the radiator, electric fan assemblies, a/c condensor, radiator hoses, and the intercooler only to reveal a BABY turbo, if youve never seen an IHI off of an 87-88 turbocoupe....they are seriously tiny.....but to spool 18 pounds of boost and max out your turbo by 2800 RPM with stock exhaust and intake---i guess it has to be
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/three50one/bturbo.jpg

a buddy who has an 80 Mustang notch has been wanting to do something of a large project with his recently......and because i have an engine already and we need a cruise machine i told him mine was priority. As much as i love my Astro....it just doesnt turn enough heads. So if he heeds my wishes for a Twin Turbo 302/351W i may have to put some wrench time into that one after mine gets on the road.....Mustang might just get on the road quicker yet now that i have another 4eyed enthusiast in the works

[ashley roachclip]

looks like it WAS a nice t-bird

[red390gt]

Looks like a fun project. I did the same exact thing to my 92 convertible. I just finished doing a T5 swap to it about two weeks ago, it woke that car up a lot (much faster). Here's some pictures: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2249632

I started to lose interest in the project so i posted it in the for sale section to swap it for a 79-86.

[seventy9_3o2]

the thunderbird is on hold at the moment......i HAVE to do another side project

i was driving home from work yesterday and i get about a mile from my house....look at the speedometer and im going 60...but it occurred to me that i never felt my astro shift from second....turn down my music and the engine is roaring...and gettin it...haha

tried everything i could before looking up to see any trouble shooting for it....good thing hot rodders like 700R4's as a hot rod transmission...apperently the 3-4 clutck pack burnt out of it because i saw countless entries in forums about my problem-its the weak point of the tranny.....so the transmission is going to get a rebuild with some heavy duty stuff put into it....just sucks cuz now i have to dump a lot of my paycheck and time into the van instead of getting the mustang going

the thunderbird was nice at one point....but there are a lot of things wrong with it body and interior wise....engine needs all new seals and such too....it couldve been saved...but i couldve bought a really nice turbocoupe for the money it would cost to save it....flame me all you want but i had no interest in doing all that work

[86caprirs]

Hey! I am doing the same swap to my 1986 Capri RS. I removed the 5.0L and am in the process of finishing the engine compartment so I can wire in my 1987 Thunderbird 2.3L turbo. Everything will go into the Capri. Even the diff and front suspension.The car is not going to be stock in any way.I have a body kit,new hatch and old style spoiler,shaved doors,custom interoir with rear seat delete. The Tbird is getting rusty and no replacement parts are avail so she is going into the Capri.Good luck with your swap.