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attachment=1770][attachment=1771]It's been awhile since I've been back on NATO. I have a fox-body 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe 2.3L that the short block engine was 1st rebuilt by machine shop in Thrall (block, head, pistons, crank). Then upon engine installation and initial “cranking”, a problem arose and engine was pulled. The engine was re-inspected from another engine shop in Georgetown and the distribution shaft bearings were replaced. After that, the engine reinstalled and “cranked”, engine fired up and was running. A little bit oil was leaking around oil pan (the oil pan gasket seem not to fit correctly even though it was OEM performance replacement). Some antifreeze was leaking but that was user error. I made customized steel braid hoses for the coolant line for the turbo and engine block and it seems it wasn’t tight enough. Other than the leaks, engine was running. I went to drive T-Bird just down the street and back but it was making a clanking sound. I don’t think it was coming from the engine because I’ve rev’d the engine up without any problem noise. Bottom line, I want to pull my engine, find the leaks, and fine an “experienced” and “reliable” engine shop to help get this engine running correctly so I can drive my T-Bird again.
Hey, the car looks really nice and I have to say I really love a nice clean and painted engine like you have there. If I were you, I would try to find out where that noise is coming from first before pulling the engine again. Maybe drive train noise, does it do it when you drive, or only at idle? Once you figure out the clanking noise, then you could pull it.
(02-20-2021, 09:37 PM)Kuch Wrote: [ -> ]Hey, the car looks really nice and I have to say I really love a nice clean and painted engine like you have there. If I were you, I would try to find out where that noise is coming from first before pulling the engine again. Maybe drive train noise, does it do it when you drive, or only at idle? Once you figure out the clanking noise, then you could pull it.
You are correct. I really need to isolate where the noise is coming from. It makes the noise when I started to drive it.
So "Kuch" let me ask you something. I had another Turbo Coupe (88 Grey in NATO's '09 Calendar) that had a working moonroof with no leaks. When parting out that car, I cut the moonroof off at the pillars. I was thinking about reskinning that top onto this T-Bird. There are shops that can do a "good" job in that task here in Texas. I wanted the factory moonroof vs having one cut in ( I had another 88 Black T-Bird I had to use for parts and it had a non factory moonroof that leaked). To reskin the car with the moonroof, then fix any body problems ( I have rust in the left side trunk space where the spare tire went ), and paint it to Ford's Maroon color is est $4500. Of course that quote was in 2017.
Thor,
I have never been a fan of swapping over roof panels for the moonroof, and I especially agree with you about aftermarket sunroofs, not a fan. The issue with swapping over the factory roof you cut off are the wiring involved with the factory moonroof, and, is the shop going to install the factory drains and hoses that are supposed to be there? If not, there will be issues. My thoughts are to have your rust areas repaired, repainted and enjoy it without the moonroof. Find a TC with a moonroof factory installed if that's what you want.
Point well taken! I really want to get this bird back on the road for enjoyment. My ultimate goal is get my car "Thor" back on the road! That goal will be intriguing as well because I have a Ford 392 crate motor that will be dropped into that T-Bird.
Extreme machine and performance ,is that the one you went? I've heard a lot of bads about the one in Thrall, a friend told me about another shop in Belton that has build a few engines for him
Might have to try that one in Belton. Yea, it was the one in "Thrall". There's always gobs of engine rebuilders around Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Houston - but it seems like none of them know how or anything about the 2.3L Turbo Coupe motor. I don't mind going that far out to get a "quality" rebuilt long block motor so I can drop in an install the necessary accessories, it's just finding the place. So if anyone know's of a engine rebuild shop that can put the engine back to a long block, and within the areas of Austin, San Antonio, Dallas or Houston.....LET ME KNOW.
(03-27-2021, 10:10 AM)Thor Power Wrote: [ -> ]Might have to try that one in Belton. Yea, it was the one in "Thrall". There's always gobs of engine rebuilders around Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Houston - but it seems like none of them know how or anything about the 2.3L Turbo Coupe motor. I don't mind going that far out to get a "quality" rebuilt long block motor so I can drop in an install the necessary accessories, it's just finding the place. So if anyone know's of a engine rebuild shop that can put the engine back to a long block, and within the areas of Austin, San Antonio, Dallas or Houston.....LET ME KNOW.
Just don’t let them talk you into hypereutectic pistons. I had a shop here try that with an engine I was looking to rebuild, wanted to sell me an engine kit that included those. They are generally a less expensive alternative.
Do a search here on this site for pistons, or “hypereutectic”. According to what I’ve found, they can’t handle the extreme pressure of the turbo engine, and have been known to fragment and/or explode.