1988 Thunderbird 3.8, what to look for

[milkovich]

or a Lincoln mark VII LSC (5.0/aod/tracloc/discs/8.8)... that's another one to wait for.

[Russell]

I would wait and find a V8 or turbocoupe if that's what he wants 800 for a v6 I bet you can find a v8 for 1000-1200, you will never be able pull off the swap for $400. I had an 85 v6 bird as my first car it was very slow but good chance I would be dead if I had got the 5.0 mustang I wanted for my 16th b-day

[Mater]

friend had one. we used it to experimant diffrent methods of fixing a bad head gasket and cracked heads with out remving the heads or putting more then $30 into the repair.

it was a raging pile. i think the farthest it ever went under it's own power was 40 miles. and this one only had 60k on the clock and was well maintanded then just decided to kill a head gasket or crack a head. ahh the things we did to that poor car

[HillbillySailor2]

Isn't a 94 an MN112 not a fox?

Yes, a 94 is an MN112 body.

[CTX-SLPR]

We already plan on finding a TC hood for it, and MAYBE even the front fascia
Apparently, we can swap the independent rear out of a 94 that we know is just sitting into the car

Unfortunately, the car is a column shift, it'll probably remain that way, but we'd like to swap in a T45

Isn't a 94 an MN112 not a fox?

[Eagle Kammback]

We already plan on finding a TC hood for it, and MAYBE even the front fascia
Apparently, we can swap the independent rear out of a 94 that we know is just sitting into the car

Unfortunately, the car is a column shift, it'll probably remain that way, but we'd like to swap in a T45

[Beagle]

The 3.8 is pretty doggy but it doesn't sound like he's keeping it anyway. The turbo birds would go 30mpg highway, a 302 will get close. The biggest problem I see is the 7.5 rearend in it. If it has an OD I'm not sure what gear it will have, but probably a 2.73. The 3 speed models came with some really long gears, I think my '85 has 2.45's in it.

If you start making much power it will probably be the first thing to go. It's also got smaller brakes but I'm pretty sure all the Mustang GT stuff will bolt in. I can't remember in '88, may have gone to MPI by then but if it's got CFI then it won't be too hard to regulate for a carb'd 302. I don't think they have double hump cross members.

It's just a big fox... look for the same stuff you do with any other fox. I'd try and hold out for a turbo bird, like everyone has said. It's a much better foundation. 8.8, better brakes, pretty great suspension out of the box.

A 351 is definitely going to need a hood scoop.

[1trickpony]

I am sure you know some mustang stuff will work (aftermarket)
I am willing to bet the 302 or 351 will get the same gas mileage as a turbo 4.
The reason I say this is because his foot will be in the gas/boost and it will probably be turned up. You can knock down 20mpg in a mustang pretty easy.

Also if you go 2.3t, watch the rearend gears. Horsewidower(aka bob) and mustang13 will know more about that than I do

[tardis454]

cracked heads , shitty aod trans

That's what I dealt with on my 3.8 Cougar.
I put so much silver flake in that car the antifreeze looked like liquid lead!

[SpiderGearsMan]

88 is too old

[SpiderGearsMan]

cracked heads , shitty aod trans

[Eagle Kammback]

This would be his only car since he is selling his truck this week, and with gas prices, he decided a 351 would be a bit too much for him at the moment, though he does get paid well

[1988montecarloss 2]

look for rust in the front frame rails and shock towers, under where the battery is and front core support and in the back behind the rear bumper and then look at the normal places you look at when looking at a car, rockers, floors, fenders etc. thats usually what i look at when looking at mustangs, they can hide A LOT of rust.

and a turbo 4 would be cool, but at the end of the day, it still sounds like a 4 cylinder. plus you can get 5.0 performance parts really cheap and could build a 5.0 car a lot cheaper. or since youre gonna be swapping motors anyway, put a 351 in it

[tardis454]

I had a 2.3 turbo XR-7 & 3.8 base Cougar. The 3.8 car was a pile of shit.
I'd definitely do a 2.3 turbo, or a 5.0 if you're working on T-birds of that era.

[TC]

IMO the 3.8 is junk

as far as the older bodied t-birds, find one with the 2.3 turbo, my friend had one in his junk yard a couple months ago, sucker got picked clean in like 2 weeks

X2 on the turbo 4 banger.........Got one myself........