Project? TBird SC vs. Monte SS

[Damn True]

The T-bird will accept all kinds of Mustang parts. You could pretty easily put on a bunch of stuff from Griggs or Agent-47 and have a very quick and rather unusual toy.



Resale will be crap though if that's a concern at all.

[ajjones44]

I say go with the Monte or 2nd Gen Firebird. Both can be found at good prices. I am looking at either those two or a T-Type roller.

[Boyd]

Anyone remember the white Thunderbird that Hot Rod cooked up in 1988 or 89? I think they used an '87 Thunderbird and went through the engine, suspension, and interior. I think it was called the Corvette Killer or something like that. I was in high-school at the time and was in love with that car. Every time I see one of those body-styles, I still think about it.

[fastback]

Sorry I don't have any recent pics, but this is the T Bird I'm working on. The nice thing is that the car is almost mechanically identical to the 5.0 Mustang, making aftermarket parts nearly unlimited. Mine is a 5.0 with an AOD, but a five speed swap is easy, if you want to go that route. Currently, I'm doing a five lug, four wheel Cobra disc brake swap and Mustang coilovers, front and rear. The stuff bolts right on...

[kursed56]

I do like the older Birds, 83-88 (the 87-88s turbos) but I imagine those didnt come with the IRS like the 89-97s.

On looks alone Id have to go with the Monte SS, just because its looks mean. And I do like the fact that they are full frame cars.

Thanks for everyones input.

[Boyd]

fastback,

Nice project. Different enough to be really cool, but huge aftermarket support for it.

[MonzaRacer]

As it goes I always thought the Cougar XR7 was a better deal, as its more notch back and same as SC TB too.

[No one]

Yes pre-89 Birds are Fox body Thunderbirds (solid rear axle). 89-97 Thunderbirds (89-95 SC) are a MN12 chassis (IRS). Another Thunderbird site to check out is www.TCCOA.com (Thunderbird/Cougar Club of America) although the members on there are geared more toward drag racing.

[fastback]

On http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/ there are a couple of guys who've made the '99 and up Mustang Cobra IRS work in the fox body T-Birds. It didn't appear to be a terribly difficult project, as the pick up points are nearly identical.

Here's a thread for you... http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/...&highlight=irs

And another... http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2542616/2

[Thrillrr]

You could always do a short wheel based t-bird like this. Although I would probably go with the Monte Carlo SS
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2386647

[ProTouring442]

I do like the older Birds, 83-88 (the 87-88s turbos) but I imagine those didnt come with the IRS like the 89-97s.

On looks alone Id have to go with the Monte SS, just because its looks mean. And I do like the fact that they are full frame cars.

Thanks for everyones input.

The later Cobra IRS is practically a bolt in. A Turbo Coupe with a handful of upgrades, and maybe even a 5.0 or LSX swap could be a lot of fun!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[Bjkadron]

Any Of these would be cool... Thunderbird would be different... Could be fast too... There was a really cool t-bird in one lap of America.... That thing was MEAN!

[fastback]

this may seem like a dumb question but forgive me, I'm not a ford guy... Aren't the thunderbird the cougar and the mustang all the same platform? like the same front suspension and all that stuff?

Yup. The T-Birds/Cougars are just about 9 inches longer. Other than that, they're nearly identical. That's what attracted me to the T-Bird...huge amount of aftermarket support, but a different body, so it stands out from the crowd.

[Bjkadron]

cool... Thanks!

[86Cutlass383SR]

I agree, the T-Bird would be differant and very cool. My vote is for the G-body with the manual. Not hard to do and third gen f-body parts will bolt in, including the pedals for the manual swap.

G-bodies with manual tranny's are FUN... see my sig below...

[ed1le]

My buddies parents had a SC, it would surprise people and was fun to drive! It would definitely be unique to the PT scene. However, I also have a strong love for the G-bodies too having one when I was in college. Both good choices if done right.

[No one]

Yup. The T-Birds/Cougars are just about 9 inches longer. Other than that, they're nearly identical. That's what attracted me to the T-Bird...huge amount of aftermarket support, but a different body, so it stands out from the crowd.

Only up to '88 which are still Fox-bodies. In '89 Thunderbirds/Cougars were built on a new chassis, the MN12 while the Fox body Mustang still soldiered on until '94 which then changed to the SN95 chassis.

[motorheadmike]

It is a whole lot easier to put the LS series engine in a G-body than a 3rd Gen F-body. The G-body is a great handling chassis too, every bit as good as the F-body. The one major flaw with the G-body (and most of the 3rd Gen F-bodies) is the crappy front brakes. It would be cool to see a T-bird SC too, a bit of dare to be different.

I beg to differ... only because this is an open forum and I have the luxury to do so. ;)

The 3rd Gen F-body is heads and tails a better platform for a handling/racing machine. Even my stock suspension 300,000km base model rust bucket Z28 has proven to be a more sound vehicle during an Auto-X than my Turbo Buick with substantial suspension, braking and tire/wheel improvements (many pulled from a 3rd Gen F-body catalog). The number one advantage that the 3rd Gen F-Body has over most every other tub built during that era is its CG. Attached is a very rough overlay of a stock 3rd Gen Camaro over my highly modified (and substantially lowered) Buick Regal. Now imagine those stock for stock, or better yet with the 3rd Gen at competition height... Then there is the wheel base & track width issue (pardon the turned wheels on the Camaro... it wasn't my photo), the Camaro lends itself more favourably in these areas too, even though both cars are of equal track width the Camaro is roughly 7 inches shorter; and that translates to a lot of advantages on the track. Then there are the basic go fast goodies that come factory in an F-body that don't ever appear in a G-body of any designation such as: big sway bars, wide wheels, fast ratio steering, good seats, manual transmissions, fuel injection (excluding the LC2 of course), 4 wheel disc brakes and so on...

So yes. The F-body is superior to the G-body (and the Thunderbird Super Coupe too as it is a helpless boat) and its dump truck handling characteristics. The G-body will understeer all day long and is a handful to drive at the best of times on the track.

However, when it comes to style nothing beats the diversity of the A/G-body from '78-88! There are so many beautiful models with subtle and serious face lifts from "mid-generation" makeovers to special models. The MCSS, 442, GP 2+2 and Turbo Buicks have a presence that you will never gain in an IROC or Trans Am; especially if you are fast in it and drive it well. Remember: a car is only as good as its driver; build what makes you happy.

[kursed56]

Thanks guys, a lot of good info and opinions here.

Of course Im on a budget and thats the reason for the cars have named here. They all seem to have a decent entry price for a lot of car and a good platform to start with.

What basic affordable mods would you guys start with on these cars?

[ANIMOSITY]

I say go with the bird. Plenty of everything else on the road. Plus the later bird had IRS in them. Ford also built a one-off t-bird that was going to come from SVT,blown 4.6 backed by a t-45. Ive seen a few birds that ran and handled nice.

If you look hard enough you might find the rare mid 90s bird that ford had done that had about 6inches taken out of the center. I think there were only maybe ten made, but thet had no motors. You could build one of them or a clone. Just my 2cents.