North American Turbocoupe Organization



1987 5.0 Auto to 5 Speed Swap
TheUglyDuckling Offline
Junior Member
#1
Hello everyone! I recently found myself a clean 1987 5.0 for super cheap. I already have a 1987 TC, but jesus it was rough from the last owner. I love this new 5.0 car, it's clean well optioned and only 120k miles. I love everyone about it, except for the part its an automatic........ I've always said when I look at buying a new car, automatic is a dealbreaker. But I couldn't miss out on this deal. So, now that I just so happen to have a 1987 TC lying around the yard retired for parts use, I was planning on using that transmission to swap over the new bird. I'm aware that I'd need a different bellhousing, clutch and flywheel. But I was curious about the pedal assemblies swapping over. I read that the Turbocoupes were actually a hydraulic clutch, so the pedal assembly wouldn't work on a 5.0 Cable Bellhousing. I'm still kind of a noob so I figured I'd ask for some help. I don't plan on swapping it until after I enjoy the car all summer and retire it for the winter. But I want to start gathering parts ASAP. *Also expect me to put up my 87 TC partout once I drive it to its final resting place within the month* But here's some pictures of my new 1987 Thunderbird Sport.

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margood Offline
Junior Member
#2
Have you thought about doing a rear-end swap as well?
87 TC Not bone stock anymore, no rust, sittin' pretty, always trying to get it running...
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TheUglyDuckling Offline
Junior Member
#3
I considered it, but doesn't seem necessary really. The money I could get from selling the rear end would be more beneficial than the actual rear end itself. I don't plan on doing anything crazy with the 5.0 so disks in the back really wont make much of a difference.
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margood Offline
Junior Member
#4
That would give you the rear discs as well...
87 TC Not bone stock anymore, no rust, sittin' pretty, always trying to get it running...
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margood Offline
Junior Member
#5
Sorry, sent that before my page refreshed.
87 TC Not bone stock anymore, no rust, sittin' pretty, always trying to get it running...
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margood Offline
Junior Member
#6
I had an 83 at one time that I swapped a roller 5.0 into and carbed it. I had a lot of fun with that at the track, 1/4 mile that is.
87 TC Not bone stock anymore, no rust, sittin' pretty, always trying to get it running...
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turbo80sdriver Offline
Administrator
#7
Nice car! Looks like the rear brakes got a little hot in that last picture though - ha-ha!!
'88 TC-Black T-5 with 79K stock 98.5% original, just w-i-d-e rims and tires, and some under hood powder-coating
'88 TC-Blue w/98K. Stocker w/t-5 ( the resurrection car) top gas mileage =31 mpg!
'88 TC-Grey w/99k. Auto, well optioned, 2nd owner car - getting more options
'87 TC-Blue w/123k t-5 parts car - less of a car now
'88 TC gray- body only so far- very very late factory build dated car, awaiting resurrection
'87 GN w/16.8K
"96 Bronco XLT w/351 (5.8l)
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TurboCoupe50 Offline
Posting Freak
#8
The gear ratios on the 4cyl T5 trans aren't really suitable for the torque of a V8, it's input shaft snout is smaller(can use a Probe pilot bearing) and it's weaker than a V8 T5...

For the swap you'll need all the components from a 5.0 Mustang, pedal assembly, clutch cable, bellhousing, flywheel & clutch assembly...

If the 5.0 Bird has a 7.5" rear(every one of the '87 I've seen did) you should swap to the TC 8.8", which being a 3.55 would be a great performance enhancer for the automatic... BUT will make the 3.97 1st in the the 2.3 T5 seem like a granny gear...

Best transmission would be the Ford Racing M-7003-Z with a 2.95 1st gear...

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FMS-M-7003-Z/
1988 Turbo Coupe331 AOD

1972 Comet GT

1969 Fairlane Cobra 428CJ 4-Speed
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