I just had the greatest idea ever

"KatzManDu" (KatzManDu) 02/02/2016 at 05:19 • Filed to: None

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I want to restore a 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo. My dad had one when I was growing up. Actually, he had two. He totalled it once, had it rebuilt, it was then totalled again by a semi driver high on Quaaludes, and then got a second, which he then totalled a few years later because no snow tires and RWD on icy roads.

Now I want one. And then I can bolt in a Fox Body IRS upgrade, too, so it handles.

And then I can take it to Spa and the Ring since I live in Belgium.

Plus, since it’s 25 years old (and only a 2.3L) registering it in Belgium will be relatively cheap.

And here is some IRS porn.

http://forums.corral.net/forums/general…

duurtlang > KatzManDu 02/02/2016 at 05:39

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This one is almost in Belgium, seems very clean and has a V6. No turbo. Hasn’t been driven for a while due to a deceased owner, but the seller says he’ll sell it with a new inspection, meaning it should be roadworthy. first registration: 1990.

http://link.marktplaats.nl/m1009066432

There’s also this V8 in the north. 1988.

http://link.marktplaats.nl/m1014736081

CounterTorqueSteer > KatzManDu 02/02/2016 at 05:59

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I've had a similar idea. My dad also had one and he was dating my mom when he had it. It would be a fun project.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > KatzManDu 02/02/2016 at 06:07

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This begs for a Cosworth YB 4 banger.

KatzManDu > duurtlang 02/02/2016 at 06:17

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I was in Groningen last weekend looking at the David Bowie exhibit. :D

Also, the 2nd one you listed is the body style I want; they changed it in 1990. Also, the turbos had a different front end with no grille. It was very sexy. And hood scoops.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > KatzManDu 02/02/2016 at 08:01

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What about a Super Coupe with the 3.8 supercharged V6?

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > KatzManDu 02/02/2016 at 08:23

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This one might be something: 1987 5.0 V8

MultiplaOrgasms > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 02/02/2016 at 08:38

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Nearly impossible to find in the civilised world. Tons of cheap 3.8 NA MN12s though.

mr2gud2u > KatzManDu 02/02/2016 at 09:01

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I had forgotten how elegant and muscular this car is. Kind of a looker.

tythegeek > KatzManDu 02/02/2016 at 10:58

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This is a really cool idea, but an even better idea is... LS swap one.

KatzManDu > tythegeek 02/02/2016 at 11:01

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The 2.3L Turbo is an EU engine, I think, that was used in the Sierra. You can tune the MF out of them, plus 2.3L is cheapo to own and register as a normal car here.

duurtlang > KatzManDu 02/02/2016 at 12:53

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How did you like the city? I’ve been living here since 2001 now.

Haven’t been to the Bowie exhibit yet. I was planning to go before his death, but expected it to be overly crowded after the news of his untimely demise broke.

Difficult to find a <90 Thunderbird Turbo somewhere close to you I imagine. Here’s one in the south of the Netherlands. No Turbo though. Inspection expired 8 years ago. 1989 car.

http://www.autowereld.nl/ford/thunderbi…

Here’s another one, this time in Germany. No grille, but still no Turbo either I imagine. Clean car though. 1989.

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/deta…

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > MultiplaOrgasms 02/02/2016 at 22:13

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You can buy the super chargers in the after market. There’s actually a kit to put one on my SHO V6, but I’ll either go Turbo or Centrifugal Supercharger to keep that bitchin intake manifold.

KatzManDu > duurtlang 02/03/2016 at 04:50

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Awww, thanks for looking for me! :D

It’s a really nice town. Once you get north from where I am the architecture starts to look the same; canals at The Hague, Amsterdam, and Antwerp and even Brugge to some extent all look similar.

I’m amazed at the urban planning that goes on in The Netherlands; the bike and jogging lanes/tracks, etc. We don’t have ammenities like that in Wallonia.

Items there are cheaper, too. We did some simple clothes shopping for the kids at H&M and Hema and most items were €1-3 less than in Belgium.

MultiplaOrgasms > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 02/03/2016 at 08:12

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And where does one get a beefed up Mazda 929 5-Speed and all those fancy electronic suspension bits?

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > MultiplaOrgasms 02/03/2016 at 18:34

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Are you talking about the T bird still? If you are, the electronic suspension bits need to find their way to a junk bin post haste. As for the trans, you’re better of with a T5 from a Mustang.

If you’re talking about the SHO, the MTX is very hard to find, you’re basically stuck with the one you have, and then upgrade it like mine. New diff, the rod shifter, better CVs. And the SHO, early ones like mine anyways, are just plain old MacPherson struts on all 4 corners.