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Rough Start: The Under-Appreciated Fox Body Thunderbird


Rough Start: The Under-Appreciated Fox Body Thunderbird

I wanted to start off this year’s Rough Start hunting right: a decent price, a platform that has tons of potential, a car that could be driven as-is without any mods whatsoever if you so chose, and for the sake of Chad’s sanity, something that was not a Mopar. I’m sure I’ll find enough weird crap over the next twelve months to leave everybody wondering if I spend my afternoons beating my skull against the wall for my own amusement, but at lest for the first budget project of 2019, I can try to make a decent compromise. And to be honest, it’s both kind of easy and kind of hard. The easy part was that I’ve been on a Ford kick lately. Working on the wife’s car, stripping another, and searching for another tends to narrow your focus, especially when the Chrysler product in your life is pissing you off to no end. But what would I choose? That’s easy, too: Fox body. But not a Mustang…let’s make this a little more difficult.

A 1988 Ford Thunderbird might be under appreciated, but at least it isn’t the 1980-82 “Box Bird”. In 1983, Ford cleaned up their act and started paying attention to aerodynamics and it paid off in dividends. The Thunderbird looked sharp, smart and unlike anything else in the lineup, and it’s performance in NASCAR became the stuff of legends, nevermind what it did in NHRA drag racing. Street cars are starting to get thin on the ground, though, and that’s a shame. The Thunderbird (and it’s slightly weird sibling, the Mercury Cougar) are a great oddball candidate for a build. This one we found in Texas for $3,800, complete with a 5.0L that’s probably untouched, an AOD automatic, stock paint, and the typical 1980s car headliner issues. You’ll get a factory set of wheels and a set of Weld Draglites in the deal, so other than putting up with a 150 horsepower rating for a 302, you’re off and running. Can you say “cam swap”? I knew you could.

Craigslist Link: 1988 Ford Thunderbird


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9 thoughts on “Rough Start: The Under-Appreciated Fox Body Thunderbird

  1. Will

    We put a 514 bbf in one using ford svo parts and lots nbn if fox body mustang suspesion upgrades. Art morrison cage kit it ran high 9s low 10s with a c6 and a brake.
    Fun cars that make you feel like bob glidden every time you light prestage bulbs

  2. Dan Bowers

    I had a 1988 Sport coupe. Swapped it over to the HO/MAF/T5 with all mustang parts. Added a Turbo Coupe rear with 3.55\’s and disc brakes. Lowered it on late 90\’s Cobra Springs. Was super fun to ride around in and reliable.

  3. Mike

    Building a \’83 Turbo Coupe now with a Gen 3 Coyote and T56 with full Maximum Motorsport suspension.

    1. Jay

      Mike, I’d love to follow your build, if you have it featured anywhere.
      I have an ‘87 TC that would be fun to convert to that powertrain.

  4. Dennis

    Hahaha!

    Someone just sent me a link to this article. That’s my T-bird for sale. I’ve also got a set of brand new shorty headers to go with it if you’d like. Just this article. I’d like to see if it sells from Bryan’s post.

    Thanks for the mention!

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