swaping '86 to '87 parts

I have an '87 tc with a lot of mileage.I am currently looking at an '86 with about half the mileage that i can get for a couple of hundred bucks complete. Here's the plan.
installing the engine trany and rear end of the '86 into the '87.Will I be able to keep the intercooler intact? are the turbos the same? is the wiring the same? Also, about a year ago I lost my a.b.s. system due to what appeared to be a short in the wiring somewhere in the car. After paying over 600.00 to mechanics with no results exept a butchered up wiring harness I proceeded to convert the car to conventional power brakes using a booster from a cougar and a master cylinder from a t-bird. The only problem is that i can't get enough braking to the rear discs so I would be considering changing the rear ends since the '86 is drum brakes. To date on this car I've changed engines from another '87, I've converted the car from automatic to standard 5spd, and converted the braking system so I'm not afraid to get into it as long as i know how to do it

IMO I would swap in the lower mileage '86 engine and trans, but reuse the '88 rear end as it's an 8.8 rear with discs vs. the 7.5 with drums that the '86 has. Mileage isn't as much of an issue with the rears as the 8.8s are nearly indestructible. Also keep the '87 exhaust manifold if it's not cracked, and the VAM, computer and intake manifolds off the '87. The turbo on the '86 is better for peak HP. Reclock the turbo off the '86 to bolt up to your intercooler and grind off the flange of the turbo so it bolts up and you have a pretty nice setup. Wiring shouldn't be an issue, but use the electronics from the '87. For brakes, how about getting a booster from a car with 4 wheel discs and no ABS? Mustang SVO maybe, or '93 Mustang Cobra?

Originally posted by Mr. Sam Ford:
IMO I would swap in the lower mileage '86 engine and trans, but reuse the '88 rear end as it's an 8.8 rear with discs vs. the 7.5 with drums that the '86 has. Mileage isn't as much of an issue with the rears as the 8.8s are nearly indestructible. Also keep the '87 exhaust manifold if it's not cracked, and the VAM, computer and intake manifolds off the '87. The turbo on the '86 is better for peak HP. Reclock the turbo off the '86 to bolt up to your intercooler and grind off the flange of the turbo so it bolts up and you have a pretty nice setup. Wiring shouldn't be an issue, but use the electronics from the '87. For brakes, how about getting a booster from a car with 4 wheel discs and no ABS? Mustang SVO maybe, or '93 Mustang Cobra?

I'm tempted to reinstall the a.b.s. system and learning to find that short circuit myself. I'd looked into geting a booster from a cobra, s.v.o. or lincoln mk5 l.s.c.
all of witch had to be ordered new since there are none in the boneyards.Problem is that the local ford dealer couldn't tell me if this would even work.the problem i had with my a.b.s. has been posted on this board several times since then. Brake light and a.b.s. light both went on at the same time
I was left with a hard pedal and virtually no brakes. hydraulic pump is good, relays are good but there is no power going to the pump when you turn the key.

If the pump relay, pressure switch, and pump are all good, but the pump doeant run, check for 12V at the GY/Y wire at the relay with the key in run. If there isnt 12V there in run, either fuse link N is blown or you have a bad ignition switch, or a bad wire from the ig sw to the relay. The T/Y wire at the relay should have 12V at all times. If it doesnt, fuse link S is blown, or you have a bad wire between the fuse link and the relay.

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Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 20 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 00 Windstar (wifes vehicle)