North American Turbocoupe Organization



My Turbo Coupe Build
TCLover82 Offline
Member
#1
Well, I have my new Daily Driver all in order now and getting me around reliably, so I'm about to pull my '88 off the road, and start major work on her, (Drivetrain, Chassis, Suspension, Bodywork/Paint, Upholstery, etc..) So, I thought I'd start a thread for you guys to document all the work that is gonna be done on this car.

This should be around a year long project until completion, maybe a little longer, as sometimes work steals my time away from me unexpectedly. Funds for my projects are not in short supply though, so I think you guys will appreciate some of the work that I am gonna do on this sweet 80's ride.

The goal here for this project is gonna be to create an Auto-X/Drift car, that can beat the faster Audi's and Porche's that dominate the auto-x tracks around here, but also being reliable and streetable.

I will upload some current pictures of the car tomorrow.
'88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe - 120K miles, 99% Rust-Free, 351W/AODE Swap coming soon!
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Huey866 Offline
Posting Freak
#2
Sounds like its right in line with what im doing. Mine's been on hold for the last 2 years due to lack of money. But I have that all straightened out now. Once I get my truck sold I'll have all the funds I need to get it finished.
87 TurboCoupe - silver, 137k, 5-speed, 3.73, 5 lug swap, MM... Evertything, 03 Cobra Brakes, Griggs Subframe connectors, Bo 1.5, Big Valves, massaged 79 turbo head, Essy Cam Gear, Boblog + Elbow, .63 T-3, Stinger Exhaust/FMIC

Currently dreaming about ball-bearings and Pimps
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TCLover82 Offline
Member
#3
Sweet, it's gotta be nice to finally be able to get back on it, after so long.

Wish there where more T-Bird people in my area. It gets lonely sitting in the Misfit section of the All-Ford cruise-ins that we have here in Charlotte. Fox Mustangs are literally a dime a dozen, but not one Fox bird, cat, or mark. A lot of people just don't get what I see in this car, and I feel like the odd man out here sometimes, lol. It's a great feeling to be doing something different from everyone else around me is doing though.
'88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe - 120K miles, 99% Rust-Free, 351W/AODE Swap coming soon!
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Huey866 Offline
Posting Freak
#4
It is, and I know exactly how you feel about being the odd man out. In my area, its usually the 50+ year old guys going, "Turbo Coupe, super sweet ride."
87 TurboCoupe - silver, 137k, 5-speed, 3.73, 5 lug swap, MM... Evertything, 03 Cobra Brakes, Griggs Subframe connectors, Bo 1.5, Big Valves, massaged 79 turbo head, Essy Cam Gear, Boblog + Elbow, .63 T-3, Stinger Exhaust/FMIC

Currently dreaming about ball-bearings and Pimps
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TCLover82 Offline
Member
#5
Welp, I keep getting rained out here, so I'll throw the first pics that I ever took of the car up.

This one was taken by me at the original seller of the car's house, which was an old lady who lived in Raleigh, NC. I went to pick up the car myself, and drove it back home with no ABS assist whatsoever, was kind of sketchy, lol. She only had 83k miles on her at this point.

http://natomessageboard.com/uploads/00017462/TC_01.JPG


This is the first pic I took, after I got it back home. I think this is the one that really pleased me the most as far as the cars appearance.

http://natomessageboard.com/uploads/00017462/TC_02.JPG


Will get up some current pics soon, but she doesn't look much different now.
'88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe - 120K miles, 99% Rust-Free, 351W/AODE Swap coming soon!
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lonstar7 Offline
Posting Freak
#6
From those pix, the car looks very straight. If you got no rust, you'll have a good solid car to work with.
Lonestar7

1988 Black/Red TC, 5 Speed, 92,400miles (on 4/14/2012). KYB Shocks And Struts, 140MPH Speedo, CHE Rear Control Arms, Otherwise Stock.

2005 Volkswagon Golf GLS 1.9L TDI Turbo Diesel, 5 Speed Manual, InMotion Stage II Chip Tuning

1998 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4, 5.9L Cummings Turbo Diesel, 5 Speed Manual

1988 Firebird Formula 350, 350ci Tuned Port Injection, 700R4 Auto
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TCLover82 Offline
Member
#7
Thanks, I searched for over 3 years before I finally found the exact TC I was looking for. The body being nice and straight (never been in even a minor accident), and the fact that the car had no rust is what sold me on this one, even though it had a slew of mechanical and electrical issues to sort out. Took me around 2 frustrating years, reading on internet forums, and working on her in my spare time to get her functioning and running perfectly, but I finally got there fully a few months ago. Now that I'm there, I'm ready to pull her apart again, lol.
'88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe - 120K miles, 99% Rust-Free, 351W/AODE Swap coming soon!
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Stang8u Offline
Senior Member
#8
Looks clean I was going to buy one that color before I found my white one


I like how different these cars are I'm a big fox guy but it sits on the same chassis so it's all good lol
:mad:
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TCLover82 Offline
Member
#9
Well, it finally happened. I blew the A4LD to hell at around 5K rpms pushing 15psi on the little 2.3, last night while driving. Had to have her towed back home. Looks like I'm gonna be keeping the car now for sure. Guess that's the end of this project for awhile, as I have other Iron on my plate currently. She's going into storage, while I save money and build the beast 351W/C4 this car really deserves to have powering it.
'88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe - 120K miles, 99% Rust-Free, 351W/AODE Swap coming soon!
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Stang8u Offline
Senior Member
#10
****
:mad:
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