Hello.  I wanted to give a quick intro since I'll be using this forum for information as I restore this 87 that I just picked up.

A little about me.

I love turbo rigs.  I currently own a 1989 Dodge Caravan SE.  2.5L turbo, 5 speed manual, convert a bed option in the back.  All factory.

A buddy sent me a link to the 1987 TC that I just hauled back tonight.

She's rough but it looks complete, straight and runs *barely*.

230,xxx miles, note pad in the glove box with all service done since new, date, mileage etc.

5 speed.  Looks bone stock.

Paint is trashed.  Interior is filthy.  Amazingly enough the headliner is MOSTLY in tact.  Just starting to sag in the rear.  Honestly surprised it's still there at all.  

Unfortunately the person I got it from had it parked in their back yard.  4 or 5 pit bulls roam / tear up that back yard and used this car as their watch tower.  In other words they would sit on the hood / roof.  There's mud and scratches / paw prints all over it.  Oh well, paint was trashed anyhow.

It also sat for the last coupe years with no drivers window.  Somehow the seat looks fine *just dirty* and the rest of the interior looks good too, again just dirty.

I pulled the left tail light cover off before hauling it home.  I know all too well how they sort of just fall off and didn't want to lose it.


Years ago *roughly 25* I had a 1984 Thunderbird Elan 5.0.  As a young man I blew the AOD in the first month or so.  After replacing it 2 more times during the next year I got fed up with it and converted it to a 5 speed with a T5 from a 5.0 Mustang and pedals etc etc from a 1984 TC.

After the transmission conversion the next thing I blew was the 3.08 open rear end.  I installed a 3.45 from a 1984 TC.

After the rear end got slightly upgraded I then proceeded to blow up the TBI 5.0 engine.  I then converted it to ~1988 5.0 from a Tbird.  Engine, EFI and all.

After all that the car was then able to take my daily flogging and lasted years.  Eventually I sold it and bought a 1990 Mustang 5.0 Sport LX.

Since then I've had so many different vehicles I definitely can't remember them all but do remember the special ones.

1990 5.0 Sport LX.  Heads, cam, intake etc etc etc.  Was respectable quick back in the day.  Slow by todays standards.

1993 GS-R.  Um......yeah figured out that wasn't my style after a few months.

1995 Pontiac Firebird Firehawk.  5.7, T56 315hp trim.  That was a fun car.

1999 Mustang GT, 5 speed.  Slow in comparison to the Firehawk.

2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6.  408ci procharged engine, T56.  Holy $hit that thing was brutal.

2010 CTS-V A6.  Pulley, injectors, exhaust.  Damned nice, fun car.

Several more sporty ones not really worth mentioning.

During ALL this time I've ALWAYS wanted a TC.  The reason I never really got one was I never had property to store it, they'd go for too much when I did find one at a salvage / abandoned vehicle auction etc etc.

Anyhow I'm going to plug away at this one slowly.  #1 is figure out why it runs like doo doo.  I can't see any coolant in the radiator.  I'm going to venture a guess that the head gasket is blown.  I also see oil leaking all down the head / block from the valve cover on the right side.

Apparently there's now an option to do some tuning on the EECIV!  Quadrahorse?  Looks like a Moates product.  I run their Ostrich on my turbo Caravan and think that one is a great product so hopefully the Quadrahorse is good also.

Anyhow I'll be lurking around on here, reading, studying etc.

Thanks!

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Happy to find this group.  I have had my 1988 turbo coupe since since around 1992.  Unfortunately, it is currently not running, but it is garage kept.  I plan on getting it back on the road in the near future.  Having a group of enthusiasts will I am sure be a great help.  Thanks and have a good one. Grumps

Been looking everywhere for a new power steering hose, the high pressure side.  Mine blew out due to rubbing on the fender well.  I tried to patch the metal line with a compression fitting, but it blows it apart everytime the wheel is turned.  I have looked up on the parts stores websites all the way to Rock Auto, and no one has this hose.  My hose has only one bend in the metal part of the line, the ones everyone else shows has 3 bends in the metal part of the line.  So thus it brings me to my question, what part number inter change with our tbirds on the power steering hose?  What other car/truck has the single bend hose?  Thanks in advance.

Jim B .

I picked up some new parts to put on the 88TC in the spring. Always wanted some Konis so I got some of their STR.T's for a 94-04 GT, some MM Thunderbird specific caster camber plates, and some MM Thunderbird lower control arms with adjustable spring perches. After comparing these and the CHE's online, I like the fact that the spring adjusters go all the way through these as opposed to the CHE's, These also have zerk fittings which I like. I can say, just by feel and workmanship, these are beautiful pieces and I am glad I spent the extra to get these from Maximum Motorsports. Looking forward to spring already to get this stuff on.

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this is for my '86 Cougar...

I need the black metal panel which inserts into the door panel and holds the Power Lock / Unlock switches.. Driver's Side.

IDK if they were the same in the '87-8 TC .. (can someone chime in ?)

P.O. previously tried to pry this panel out and damaged it, which I have been living with,
but recently the actual Door Lock switch has been requiring a firmer & firmer 'push' to get it to work,
and now it has failed completely no matter how hard I push

Fellas i think my IVR is going bad?...…….Gauges are erratic and a few times went to zero and then back however...…..does my 88 Turbo Coupe have an IVR and if so why can I not find a aftermarket/replacement for it?

here is a kit with nearly everything you need to swap a '83-6 era Garrett T3 (or equivalent) onto your '87-8 TurboCoupe
(to replace the smaller IHI these were equipped with .. )
OR convert a N/A 2.3 to Turbo ?

contents of kit and description, all parts are USED:
1. '83 Ford Garrett T3 center section with both wheels and shaft. wheels carefully inspected and look 100%, no evidence of either wheel hitting the housing(s), no bent or broken fins;
the '83 is oil cooled only, no coolant line fittings, needs rebuild, kits from $21 ...
however I suggest finding a '84-6 Ford (or Volvo, or Saab, or Buick, ..) (used, then rebuild) or new (water cooled) center section
2. '83-6 Ford compressor housing, very nice, media blasted and coated with Titanium high-temp ceramic
3. '83-6 Ford .48 A/R turbine housing, media blasted, 3 broken exhaust outlet bolts, otherwise nice shape with no visible cracks; however I suggest finding a .63 A/R housing and using that for MORE POWER.
4. both correct '83-6 compressor housing inlet & outlet castings, nice, freshly washed
5. '83-6 turbo brace, turbo to engine block, nice shape
6. '83-6 EGR tube, nice shape, hard to find ..
7. oil drain back tube, hard to find in nice shape like this one
8. oil feed line & 90 degree fitting to turbo. oil line has been cut about 12" from turbo, I suggest an aftermarket SS flexible line..
9. water feed line, metal with neoprene rubber section & (2) OE clamps, metal tube has been cut/broken about 1" from turbo fitting, could be TIG'd back .. otherwise in nice shape; turbo fitting end was a bit corroded but was media blasted and cleaned up nice...
10. Waste Gate Actuator, cleaned up..

no water 'return' line or exhaust outlet

$75 plus shipping

I have pix, private msg me yur email addy or cell pnone # and I will send them to you

I have a nice media-blasted E6 exhaust manifold , one broken stud , if desired, I could also include for a bit extra..
(have this one ported and coated ahead of time to make the swap quicker)

https://turbotbird.com/thread-rebuild-a-t3-turbo
https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/t3-tur...-1.316421/
https://www.stinger-performance.com/stor...nternal-wg

Anyone have information on Fox Body swap for parts? Please and thank you.

Where are the production numbers located. Looked every where. I know we had them before.

I know this has probably been answered before, but what is the stock turbo for an 88 turbo coupe auto? and what would be a good rebuild kit?