I finally isolated a wierd grinding noise below the floorboard. My crossmember bushings got too soft and allowed the metal bolt sleeves to touch the crossmember tube.
I tried to find new bushings for a TC. Ford says the parts are obsolete and none of the local stores can get them either. I searched the Steeda website as recommended at turboford.org and found transmission a crossmember bushing kit for a Mustang. I called Steeda to make sure it fit a TCoupe - they would not confirm it but I ordered the kit anyway.
I installed the Poly bushings and the noise went away. They fit better than the original bushings. They are twice as long which means they spread the xmember tube support over a larger area. The SKU is 097-6-1603-bl. The kit comes with 4 bushings, 2 new metal bolt sleeves, a catalog, and a nifty Steeda decal to help you go faster. Total price with shipping was $26.06
They have a Poly transmission mount for a Mustang also but my fluid mount is okay and I wasn't sure the Steeda part would work. It's $36.
Good info! Maybe post the part # in the Part Numbers forum as well?
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Jeff Korn
88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 21 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 02 Taurus Vulcan(wifes car)
i just put the energy suspension bushings in my cross member part# 355-4-1102G for $13.99 on jegs web site. here is a quick link to it
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/P...rmenbr=361
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86 turbo coupe (14.9),2 86 2R SVO's, 90 mustang GT, 69 mustang coupe
...so you have a V8...isn't that cute...
Steeda doesn't say the manufacturer of their parts. The trans mount looks similar to the Energy Suspensions at Jegs. Jegs doesn't have a picture of the bushings to compare designs.
The Steeda description: Stop excessive driveline movement caused by sloppy transmission mounts! Excessive transmission movement causes missed gearshifts and worn driveshaft universal joints. Plus, your exhaust system hangs from the top of the transmission mount. If your tranny's moving, your exhaust system is too! Heavy duty urethane bushings and transmission mounts prevent unwanted driveline movement.
Here's the Steeda link. It has pictures of the bushings and transmount
http://www.steeda.com/store/-catalog/mountbushings.htm
[This message has been edited by 1owner88TC (edited 02-09-2004).]
I put the ES bushings in the crossmember, along with the ES trans mount (both "Mustang" items), and they fit fine. Looked just like the ones in the Steeda photo.
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86 TC, 73 Mini, 72 Mini Van project, SVT Focus
Click here to beat a ricer.
Another confirmation to back up the poly parts for the Mustang will work on the TBirds. I've used them on 3 cars...
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Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental..
83 TC Clone, 87 Ranger (soon to be 2.3T), 84 XR7, 80 XR7, 86 XR4 and 62 Mercury Monterey
NATO Member
Dang! I paid too much! Should have bought them at Jegs. I was just so glad to find them!
Quote:Originally posted by philS:
I put the ES bushings in the crossmember, along with the ES trans mount (both "Mustang" items), and they fit fine. Looked just like the ones in the Steeda photo.
The transmission mount on my car (88 T5) is a round jelly filled mount, not the rectangular block as shown in the Steeda picture. Just wondering what your transmission mount looked like.
those mounts should be filled with shit! that's about what they're worth! the tranny mount for 83-88 was that "dounut" compaired to the mustang (hell! all RWD fords!) tranny mount. they are inner changable.
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86 turbo coupe (14.9),2 86 2R SVO's, 90 mustang GT, 69 mustang coupe
...so you have a V8...isn't that cute...
Quote:Originally posted by fred k:
The transmission mount on my car (88 T5) is a round jelly filled mount, not the rectangular block as shown in the Steeda picture. Just wondering what your transmission mount looked like.
That's what the mount on my '86 5 speed looks like and it only has one bolt going through the cross member that attaches it. I know a place that sells a trans mount that is identical to the stock one. He makes them for the 89+ mn12 chassis tbirds but says they will fit the 85-88 5 speed tbirds.
http://www.mn12performance.com/mn12parts...-mount.htm