North American Turbocoupe Organization



AOD Demise
Beau Offline
Member
#1
well, the AOD in my XR-7 just let go. Of course it was after i dumped $900 dollars in it. So consequently i am going to be driving my Turbo coupe this winter and to Florida at the end of the year... Not happy about the mileage i am going to put on it!! anyways, what should i be checking before my long trip. This is what i have done thus far. Ball joints, tierods, u-joints are good. I reset the TPS (car is running much better) i just did a recent tune-up (about 3000 miles since) I want to make sure i get the best Gas mileage possible! Also is there anyone that has a good spare set of stock tires laying around that they want to get rid of (someone in PA) I have Z rated tires on it know and the car just skates in any kind of wet weather... i am a nervous wreck driving the car with these tires on it! Well, any suggstions would be apprciated!
Beau
-1988 Turbo coupe, 5 speed, Homemade boost controller, K&N cold air kit, By-pass-valve
-1988 mercury Cougar XR-7, 5.0
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riisitas Offline
Member
#2
Normal maintenance checks should be all you need. Make sure your brakes, battery and charging system is 100%. When's the last time you checked the coolant for winter protection and all your belts and hoses? Especially the oil cooler, turbo and lower intake coolant hoses. In winter I always liked running full synthetic motor oil too. It makes a huge difference in how easy the engine will turn over and start when the tempratures get down to zero and below.

A set of 4 winter tires all the way around will definitely make a huge difference. When I used to live in upstate NY this was a yearly ritual for me and I kept two sets of wheels. Here's a quote from a friend of mine currently living in upstate NY who continues the same tradition and drives his high performance RWD vehicle all winter.

"I run four warehouse brand (yes, studdable, although I Hate driving on studs, so they aren't...) snows - 215/60-16

With snow tires the narrower the better. If you want proof watch WRC sometime - the Winter events. The good thing about the warehouse brand tires is that they are Cheap - $35 each for these. They work just fine - why pay more for some overpriced brand that doesn't have any advantage except the name on the sidewall?
The rolling diameter of the 215-60's comes out to be just barely different than that of the 255-50R16s that are the normal summer tires. Not enough to bother, the speedometer or anything else.

The other interesting "side effect" of the narrow snows is that the car does not tramline or wander at All - drives like a Normal car...

Snow tires, in addition to all of the tread, are also designed with really soft rubber compounds, and compounds that stay soft with cold temps."
1988 TC 5 Speed Stock
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#3
I second everything riistas said. Especially replacing those coolant lines on the driver's side if not done recently. Also what he said about winter tire selection. Some extra weight in the trunk can also help in snow.
On your long trip take some tools and at least a known good TFI and the tool to change it, or a spare distributor.
Pete Dunham


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CougarXR7 Offline
Member
#4
You may consider finding an extra set of IC couplers to keep in the trunk.
I would hate to drive from PA to FL and have the car stopped on the side of the highway for any reason.
How is the timing belt?
1986 Mercury Cougar XR-7
5-Speed - Leather - Dual Manual Seats - Vent Windows - Smokin' T3
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Beau Offline
Member
#5
thanks for all the insight guys! i will definetly take a look at those coolant hoses. You said on the drivers side, where about?
Beau
-1988 Turbo coupe, 5 speed, Homemade boost controller, K&N cold air kit, By-pass-valve
-1988 mercury Cougar XR-7, 5.0
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riisitas Offline
Member
#6
The hoses are below the intake on the left side of the engine. One goes to the lower part of the intake and two hoses go in and out of the oil cooler. They are usually easier to see from below the engine. These are the kind of hoses you want to do preventive maintenance on and not try to change on the side of the road. They are often overlooked because of their location. NAPA has all of these hoses available.


These are NAPA's preformed 90* heater hoses.
These two styles will replace every heater hose on the car except the thinner formed hose that goes to the lower intake. These are cut to length.

NAPA part #s 9807 and 7296.
NAPA part #s 9807 and 7296.
7296 measures approx. 2 1/2" X 3 3/4"
9807 measures approx. 4 1/2" X 6 1/2"

U-Shaped cooling hose/intake
Part # 10304.
Also the radiator hoses:
Main radiator coolant hoses
NAPA upper – 8048
NAPA lower – 8009

We got the new silicon hoses from Ford Part# F4TZ-9324CA for the Turbo. These are high temperature silicon hoses made for the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel. These definitely are the ones to use. Excellent quality, perfect fit and almost identical to the original orange silicon hoses except the color is blue. I highly recommend them. The price is right too. I bought mine for $8.00 at the dealer.
1988 TC 5 Speed Stock
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Beau Offline
Member
#7
the timing belt was done by the previos owner (about 7000) miles ago. i am getting the blue silicon hoses tomorrow as well as the coolant hoses. Royal purple is also going in the rear end and the tranny along with friction modifier in the rear. any hints for lubricating the shifter linkage and such?
Beau
-1988 Turbo coupe, 5 speed, Homemade boost controller, K&N cold air kit, By-pass-valve
-1988 mercury Cougar XR-7, 5.0
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#8
The shifter "linkage" is inside the tranny and lubricated by the tranny lube.
Pete Dunham


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Beau Offline
Member
#9
WOW, i had a 65' mustang that actually had linkage... i really wasnt using my head on that one!! Thanks though
Beau
-1988 Turbo coupe, 5 speed, Homemade boost controller, K&N cold air kit, By-pass-valve
-1988 mercury Cougar XR-7, 5.0
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#10
Some of us (might Big Grin ) remember the linkage for "three on the tree"
Pete Dunham


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