This 5.0 is not a mustang

[5_Oh_Bird]

I recently swapped a 302 into my 85 thunderbird turbocoupe. i know this is a mustang forum but my bird is a fox body and shares many things with mustangs. Anyway i have yet to get the engine started the wiring is really a P.I.T.A. . i was wondering how this combo will work out for a daily driver and what kind of power you think i will get out of this. i have the following on the eninge: Stock heads , 9.6 to 1 speedpro pistons, comp cams 270h cam, new lifters, melling high volume oil pump, holley street dominator intake, holley 600 carb, bbk 1 5/8 shorty headers, Mac 2.5in off road h pipe, Mac 2.5in cat back exhaust, accel 300+ racing ignition, and accel super coil. what do you think??

 

[FineLineMtrsprts]

Send pics....sounds badazz...i still have a soft spot for t-Birds....im still considering building a Super Coupe

 

[Ranchero5.0]

Carb should be painless...

Finished a '88 TC EFI cobra conversion a month ago. E cam, performer heads, cobra intake BBK longtubes, hand built mandrel exhaust with dynomax ultraflows runs nice and sounds mellow.

 

[91_4ourBanger]

just out of curiosity, what did you do with the original 2.3T? if you still have it does it run, i may be interested.

 

[SmockDoiley]

What wiring issues are you having? Is it just no ignition, if so what dizzy are you using?

 

[393Bird]

With your Bird being a Fox body, using a carb makes it a easy swap. The only thing the engine needs is power to the dist from a ignition on/run source. It should have 2 seperate harnesses to the engine, one for the computer and one for the gauges. Seperate them, and use only the gauge harness.

You will need to modify the fuel system also. Here is a page that should help.
http://www.jason.fletcher.net/tech/efi-carb/efi-carb.htm

Make sure if the engine is a 85 or newer one, that your distributor has a STEEL gear, and not a cast one, or the harden roller cam gear will eat it up.

I did a swap into one of the newer Birds, which is a LOT harder.
http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/birdwork.htm

Takes a lot of time, but results are worth it.

 

[Qwk88LX]

Cool I always liked the older t-birds. Post some pics when you can. I saw a sweet black 65' yesterday.. I'd love to rebuild a 55' someday