I know this isn’t the cars we talk about here and it is one year too new even if it was...but I had to share. I have been driving junk late models daily for several years now and have been wanting to get back into something old. I have been looking around a little for a few weeks ever since I had a transmission go out in a Yukon that I decided to sell for parts instead of fixing. Anyway, I also have three kids turning 16 this year and my progress on two of their vehicles hasn’t been as fast as they need to be to get them done in time so we are getting short on driver cars. So, all that said...I was sitting at my desk at work today when a co-worker walked up and told me his father in law was selling his T-bird. I have known his father in law and this car for about 30 years now and knew it was set up to be a great driver. The owner had put in a 4.6, AOD & AC in it back in the early 90’s so it would be better on gas than the 352. Anyway, they are now in their mid-70’s and the car has mostly been sitting for several years. I am more of a traditional guy and would likely never put an engine in an old car like this, but for what I was looking for, it makes a lot of sense. So, I made a deal which I think was pretty reasonable and now have something old for my 60 miles of driving every day again. It needs a little work first, but I am excited.
Thanks guys. I have always been fond of the square birds too whether it is because my dad had a 59 convertible when he was in high school or because they just make kool mild kustoms. Main goal is to fix a few mechanical issues from sitting, clean it up a little, and start driving. I will likely do something with the wheels and tires at some point, but since the tires are pretty new, it might be a while.
OK..I'm jealous! I love the squarebirds. Funny thing is, back in the day, everybody hated them, thought Ford ruined the T-Bird. (Ford didn't manage to do that until later). I know it's OT, but whats the 4.6 you have in it? sohc? dohc? Coilpacks/wires or COP's? That's a surprising install for being done "in the early 90's"..I think 1993 was first year for 4.6's, but not sure on that. That would have been a incredibly difficult install without the help/knowledge/wiring that is available nowadays.....my 4.6 has 94 wires coming off the engine and*******. Speaking of*******'s, 4R70W? I see it's still got the column shifter. You're gonna love that drivetrain........it's going to change your mind on whether or not you'd put one in an older car, lol. 3 kids turning 16??? Don't envy you on that, lol.
Thanks Rich. The 4.6 is out of a ‘92 Crown Victoria and the owner wondered if he wasn’t half crazy or if that motor might even be a flop for Ford when he pulled it out of a wrecked car with 20k miles on it. No one was doing that with that specific engine back then so there was no help or parts availability for the swap. Past that, I am no expert to know much more about the engine or transmission yet. I do see why people do this to old cars. I figure this won’t be much different than driving a late model daily with this drivetrain and A/C.
I for one would be interested in seeing a picture of the engine compartment to see how it all fits in there.
I will try to remember to get a pic later today after I go pick it up. Some of what he did isn’t pretty, but appears the only real tight area was the exhaust manifold on the drivers side to the steering gearbox.
It isn’t pretty, but I plan to tidy it up some once I get some time. The insulated box is the A/C unit.
OK.......now you know what I was faced with trying to keep it neat, lol. I admire the guy's abilities to get that installed....must have been a heck of a mechanic. Way beyond my capabilities without the internet, which he probably didn't have. "A/c unit"........is that the evaporator that is normally under the dash? That is a single overhead cam engine, btw. For future reference, a bunch of stuff is transferable from one 4.6 block to another, but in most cases that does not apply to whatever is bolted to the heads that are on it. IE: exhaust manifolds are not interchangeable from sohc to dohc.....exhaust ports on a sohc are round, on the dohc (cobra) motors they are oval. Intake manifolds are not interchaneable either, etc. That sticker on the passenger valve cover will confirm date of manufacture. The computer system for that engine is OBD1. If it's got the port to plug in a code reader, you may want to keep your eyes peeled for a code reader. OBD1 readers are hard to find. I got mine at the tri state swap meet in Denver.....love it. You don't want one of those cheapies where you have to count beeps to get the code #. OBD2 started in 1996. I don't know offhand what******* it would have. Later 4.6's had the 4R70W, maybe that one does also.
Thanks for the info Rich. Oh, and this is my dad standing by his 59 with his 57 Ranchero in the background too. Timeframe would have been around 63 or so.
Nice find! An old car with 30 years of history is a very rare opportunity to not pass up. I always liked the interior design on those square birds, seemed custom right from the factory. Even liked the next generation with the wrap around rear seat, they had some style then. I never seen a 4.6 swap in one, I have a friend that was putting one in a 63 bird but don't know how far he got.
Well, I drove the car about 150 miles the day after I got it and had a modified exhaust manifold come apart. It has been parked since Saturday night, but I got the manifold fixed today and should drive it to work in the morning. You can see in the pics the lack of penetration the previous owner got with brazing the pipe into the manifold to miss the steering gearbox. I work with some very talented welders, so one of them got me back going today. I don’t think it will ever cause me issue again. Before... After...
That manifold doesn't look too different from the close-in design of the Cobra Mustang I took mine from. Maybe they are from a Mustang GT which would have had the round ports. The Lincoln Mark viii manifolds are a welded together monstrocity. So, 150 miles and no other issues? Pretty darn good for a car sitting so long.
Yep, no other major issues. Drove it to work and back today and did a little more cleaning on it. I am really enjoying driving this thing and the more I seem to drive it, the better it runs.
the more I seem to drive it, the better it runs"............I've been told the computers need to relearn what it takes to keep the engine running smoothly. This relearning takes a dozen or more starts and runs....OBD1, they're slow learners! So, with that said, your computer is relearning what it needs after sitting a long time. Same thinking applies to gas........whatever octane it seem to run on ok, stick with, or the computer may take a tank or two to adjust. I use the mid grade, even though Lincoln suggested high octane. Keeping this in mind and avoiding disconnecting power to the computer when possible will prevent the computer from having to reschool itself. When I take mine into High Altitude country, it runs*****py for a few days when I get back. It's the stopping and restarting that promotes the relearning, just a long drive home to Texas altitude is not enough by itself.
The Jalopy Journal
