86 T-Bird question.
03-28-2006, 02:48 AM
#1
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86 T-Bird question.
Hi, I just found out one of my old friends from back in the day (who I now work with) is selling an 86 T-Bird 5.0. And would like to ask a few Q's, including about the motor.
Ok, it's an absolutely beautiful car, those things almost always are rust buckets right? About a week ago I saw this parked by my work while I was on a smoke break and thought "Holy S*** that 's a nice car" so I walked over to look at it, not knowing it was for sale or it was my friends, interior is mint except for the drivers seat which just needs a seat cover. It has 107,000kms on it (about 65,000 miles) so it's very low. New paint & exhaust. Then today after work my friend was walking out with me after work and i watch him walk up to this car that I was looking at, and am like omg is that YOUR car? And he said yes, and he said he's also selling it for 2,200 CAD. So this is why I'm asking the question.
I asked him to pop the hood because he said it had a V8 under it, I knew right away it was a 5.0 of course after he said that, he had no idea what was under there, he said that's just what his dad told him. It's TB injection and I know absolutely nothing about those motors. I thought all 86 & newer cars had MPFI? Like our 5.0 Mustangs? With the plenum (upper intake and all). I was wonder if it is possible to convert it to the MPFI without modifying toooo much for one. I know there'll be a few more wires to run through the firewall and a new computer of course, but other than that, is it possible?(I already know about the engine mods that'd need to be done, just worried about wiring, really) I'm not going to bother if it's too much work.
Also, what are the specs for output of those 5.0's? Is it an H.O., I believe it said H.O. on the air-cleaner if im not mistaken (was 11pm when I looked at it with him, so it was dark and the lettering on the air-cleaner was worn off)
So what do you think?
Ok, it's an absolutely beautiful car, those things almost always are rust buckets right? About a week ago I saw this parked by my work while I was on a smoke break and thought "Holy S*** that 's a nice car" so I walked over to look at it, not knowing it was for sale or it was my friends, interior is mint except for the drivers seat which just needs a seat cover. It has 107,000kms on it (about 65,000 miles) so it's very low. New paint & exhaust. Then today after work my friend was walking out with me after work and i watch him walk up to this car that I was looking at, and am like omg is that YOUR car? And he said yes, and he said he's also selling it for 2,200 CAD. So this is why I'm asking the question.
I asked him to pop the hood because he said it had a V8 under it, I knew right away it was a 5.0 of course after he said that, he had no idea what was under there, he said that's just what his dad told him. It's TB injection and I know absolutely nothing about those motors. I thought all 86 & newer cars had MPFI? Like our 5.0 Mustangs? With the plenum (upper intake and all). I was wonder if it is possible to convert it to the MPFI without modifying toooo much for one. I know there'll be a few more wires to run through the firewall and a new computer of course, but other than that, is it possible?(I already know about the engine mods that'd need to be done, just worried about wiring, really) I'm not going to bother if it's too much work.
Also, what are the specs for output of those 5.0's? Is it an H.O., I believe it said H.O. on the air-cleaner if im not mistaken (was 11pm when I looked at it with him, so it was dark and the lettering on the air-cleaner was worn off)
So what do you think?
03-28-2006, 02:55 AM
#3
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RE: 86 T-Bird question.
well not anymore, our dollar is like 88cents american, since nothing has gotten cheaper since our dollar has gone up like 20 cents, you could consider it that. Im pumped, because Im almost positive you can still buy seat covers for those things, I think I've seen them in magazines, so like another $200 and the interior will be absolute mint to match the exteriors condition.
03-28-2006, 02:58 AM
#4
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Location: Simi Valley, CA
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RE: 86 T-Bird question.
so that would be like $2000 american.. well that is kind of steep for an old car but if it is that clean and if it is worth it to you then do it. I got my GT for around that but I had to stick some money into it to get it running right.
03-28-2006, 03:07 AM
#5
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RE: 86 T-Bird question.
hell cavaliers sell for almost that here so I know it's a good price, especially for a car in that good of shape. AND I could always take that engine outta there and put it in my stang since it has such low mileage 
I just don't know what kind of mileage those t-birds got with that but im sure it's not good :\ since gas is a buck a litre afterall...
I just don't know what kind of mileage those t-birds got with that but im sure it's not good :\ since gas is a buck a litre afterall...
03-28-2006, 10:44 AM
#7
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RE: 86 T-Bird question.
Right up my alley...
Generally, the 86 and newer cars got the fuel injected, but the canadian cars had different options and whatnot. Some years, the CFI was optional next to a carb, and the fuel injection was optional also.
Its sad to say, but that 5.0 definatly isnt an HO. But dont fret. You can pick up some E7TE heads, HO cam, intake manifold, injectors, all the stuff that makes an HO an HO, and swap it in, use an 86 Tbird wiring harness for the fuel injected 5.0, itll be all plug and play if you use a mustang EEC. To go mass air, its a little more involved, but still not hard.
The only downfall is that the engine has flat top pistons, making it difficult to put a nice cam in it. Youre stuck in almost stock HO territory, but you can still do a lot of other things to the car to get some power out of it.
If youre truly interested, drop by www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com, thats my normal hangout, along with many other people
And as for the cost, a buddy of mine has paid up to 6,200 for mint 88 Cougar XR7's, i dont think 2,000 is steep if its something you feel you want, and with those miles, i think its a decent price.
Also, to address the milage question, they were built to get milage. Im not sure how the canadian 5.0's were, if they used all the same components as the american 5.0's, but in E6, they got the dreaded E6SE heads, which were milage heads as i call them, and a very little cam, milage oriented also.
Generally, the 86 and newer cars got the fuel injected, but the canadian cars had different options and whatnot. Some years, the CFI was optional next to a carb, and the fuel injection was optional also.
Its sad to say, but that 5.0 definatly isnt an HO. But dont fret. You can pick up some E7TE heads, HO cam, intake manifold, injectors, all the stuff that makes an HO an HO, and swap it in, use an 86 Tbird wiring harness for the fuel injected 5.0, itll be all plug and play if you use a mustang EEC. To go mass air, its a little more involved, but still not hard.
The only downfall is that the engine has flat top pistons, making it difficult to put a nice cam in it. Youre stuck in almost stock HO territory, but you can still do a lot of other things to the car to get some power out of it.
If youre truly interested, drop by www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com, thats my normal hangout, along with many other people
And as for the cost, a buddy of mine has paid up to 6,200 for mint 88 Cougar XR7's, i dont think 2,000 is steep if its something you feel you want, and with those miles, i think its a decent price.
Also, to address the milage question, they were built to get milage. Im not sure how the canadian 5.0's were, if they used all the same components as the american 5.0's, but in E6, they got the dreaded E6SE heads, which were milage heads as i call them, and a very little cam, milage oriented also.
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