your help is imparrative to the survival of my tc

This is tc related, but at the same time not. People have been saying "winter's comming". Let me tell you, it's here, and in full force. My world is covered in a nice & slippery layer of ice and snow. The last thing I want to be doing is driving the tc in that. Remember, salt is the next thing to come.

So my question is this. I've been on the lookout for a winter vehicle, but it's not as easy as you might think, since I've only got about 1000 bucks to spend. I just found a 1990 Ranger for $950 obo with a V6 and 5-spd. Needs transmission work. There's the rub. I've got a t5 sitting in my garage. Could anyone tell me if this model uses the t5, and is it a quick and easy swap?

I know I'll probably get burned for posting in tc general, but I need a quick reply, and the off subject forum has been collecting dust for longer than most of you would like to admit. Please, tell me what you know. And thanks, in advance.

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I'd like to think my life has a soundtrack, and it sounds just like the white album.

1987 Turbo Coupe, 5-spd. Burgundy, soon to be black oldraven.

You've still got the RWD problem in a Ranger...you should check for a Tempo. My mom has one and it goes like there isn't even any snow at all...and they're cheap too!

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Nick Johnson
87'TC
88'TC- Distributor gear sitting in the oil pan in pieces
"Educating Columbus, Ohio about the Turbocoupe; One stoplight at a time"

We do make allowances for emergencies [Image: biggrin.gif]

The only thing lighter and slipperier in the ass end than a TC or a Mustang is a 2wd Ranger. The 4wd models are great in ice and snow, I have had a couple.

I don't know the answer to the tranny question but maybe some of the Range guys at TF can help. Also here is a link to one of the Ranger sites and maybe there will be some answers there: http://www.therangerstation.com/

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NATO Member. it's not a vice, it's an obsession
"The nice thing about each new day is nobody ever used it before" Barnaby Jones
88 TC X 2, 86 SVO, mods list at
http://www.turbotbird.com/showroom/pd_88tc.htm

[This message has been edited by Pete D (edited 10-30-2002).]

It's not the rear drive that bothers me, it's the rarity of tc parts, and the fact that if I pop out a tail-light, my insurance will write it off. I wouldn't give a crap if I dinged up an old ranger. (besides, a tempo/topaz is one of the last cars I would own, no offense to your mom, because I hate the damn things)A light fwd is just as bad as a light rwd in the winter. You can at least put sand bags in the box of a ranger. no room for those under the hood of a tempo. Thanks though.

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I'd like to think my life has a soundtrack, and it sounds just like the white album.

1987 Turbo Coupe, 5-spd. Burgundy, soon to be black oldraven.

according to the ranger station, you need an adapter plate to mount a t5 to a 2.9L. Shite. Thanks guys. Sorry about the cafuffle. Back to the traders.

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I'd like to think my life has a soundtrack, and it sounds just like the white album.

1987 Turbo Coupe, 5-spd. Burgundy, soon to be black oldraven.

My dad has a '90 2WD Ranger. It is atrocious in even the slightest amounts of snow. Extra weight in the bed doesn't help much either. My TC does MUCH better in snow, and that's really saying something!

I think a light FWD car is one of the best vehicles for snow. Sure there's less weight, but most of it is over the wheels and that means there's less mass to get moving when there isn't much traction. Plus those cars tend to not have much torque, that helps too. Whatever you do, don't get a 2WD pickup and expect to get anywhere in bad weather!

And as for the insurance writing off the TC.. I got rear ended a few weeks ago by a Ranger, he hit me hard enough to buckle the quarter panel where it goes over the rear wheel, not to mention demolishing the bumper and a taillight. $1800 worth of damage in all, it's in the shop getting fixed now. I'm sure it would've been totalled if it was any more severe than that, though.

Humorous anectode:

I just took my TC off the road for the winter due to:
1. It can't handle any more rust damage. It's lightly rusted here and there, I don't want to deal with any more rust.
2. Recurrent nightmares of it being demolished by a monstrous SUV flying down the icy highway at 100 mph by a soccer mom.
3. Recurrent nightmares involving the suv being driven by 16 yr old son of speeding soccer mom.
4. I managed to pick up a supercoupe for $1800 due to a newspaper misprint.

Serious advice: pick up a honda civic or another ricey car to bear the dings and dents in place of your TC, which will be sitting in a nice, warm garage.

yeah. I've actualy been looking for a little VW, or 4X4 tercel or something. We've already got two cars, and I thought it might be a good idea to have a truck around the house. But good trucks are a lot harder to find for $1000 than cars, so when I saw a cheap, half decent truck, I was quite pleased. You're level headedness reminded me of my dad's 2wd S-10 in the winter. three or four sand bags, a few monstrous chains, what looked like an I-beam and who knows what else in the box made absolutely no difference. Still a realy poor drive in the winter. Well, I've been looking at cars again. That's about all I can say about that.

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I'd like to think my life has a soundtrack, and it sounds just like the white album.

1987 Turbo Coupe, 5-spd. Burgundy, soon to be black oldraven.

It's too bad you're way out west, I have a great VW Jetta I'd happily let you have for $1000, and I'm positive it would safety. I just did a ton of work to it. Hmmm, if I could take time off work I'd drive it out there and deliver it and Tank's tranny. *lol*

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87 TC 5-speed Black, loaded. 17psi, G3 alternator, KB subs, Grant steering wheel, custom greasable swaybar bushings, K&N. Soon to have KB Trackit Axle brackets, Maximum Motorsports lower control arms, T-3, Saab intercooler, ranger roller cam Gen1 DSM BOV and rebuilt front suspension.

Unless you're the lead dog, the view never changes.

Do you feel like driving to MO?! [Image: biggrin.gif] I've got something heavy enough for you to drive in the winter-time! 1977 Ford Thunderbird Town Landau. [Image: biggrin.gif] If you buy, I'll donate $100 to the board!!!

Rick

EDIT: Oh yeah, I'm selling for $1000.

[This message has been edited by 86tc (edited 10-31-2002).]