My Project

[Toastedlightly]

I figure I can post my project for everybody on here to scrutinize and perhaps bring up new ideas about! It really isn't too far along, but this is what I have:

1986 Ford Thunderbird Turbocoupe
Stock Engine
Stock Turbo
Stock Tranny
Some custom exhaust welded up by a shop before the car was mine
Stock 7.5" rear diff w/ an LSD unit (factory) [also a grenade waiting to explode]
750 cc fuel injectors (72 lb/hr)
Wideband O2 sensor
Megasquirt 2 Standalone EMS

Total costs so far:
Car- $750
MS2- $400
LC-1 Wideband O2- $200
Radiator (doh) - $60
Random Parts- $150

Total: $1560

As of right now, the pig pushes ~20 psi with no issues, other than the turbo is not designed for this abuse. If one were to look at the compressor map of the stock turbo, it runs out of steam at ~10 PSI and just becomes an inefficient nightmare afterwords.

The project is sorta on hold as I bought a Miata as a more reliable daily driver, but starting next spring the project comes back full swing!

Here are my plans:
AGP turbo "50trim" from their SRT-4 kid (courtesy of a loving brother!)
Intercooler of some sort (largest I can fit into my front nosecone really)
3" exhaust system to the rear axle
Modified exhaust manifold for an external wastegate
Clutch Kit
8.8" rear axle from an 87 or 88 T'coupe
Walboro 255lph pump
BOV of some kind
Wastegate of some kind
New gaskets, rings (perhaps, although compression test reads ~160 PSI), bearings, ARP bolts here and there


Costs for the upgrades:
Turbo- $0
Intercooler- $100
Exhaust- $200
Mani- $200 or so
Clutch- $350
Rear Axle- $200 (bolts almost right in!)
Pump- $150
BOV/Wastegate - ~$50 (hookups at a speed shop)
Rebuild: ~$400

Total for upgrades: $1650

Total (projected) cost for project: ~$3200 dollars.

My power goal is ~400 rear wheel horsepower (and similar torque). What does ATGarage think of my rather cheap sleepermobile plans?

I'll see if I can find a pic of "TwoFace" somewhere...

 

[thedarkwolf]

Really like those but they are hard to find in good shape around here. Everybody around here would rather have a 200hp fwd civic that cost $10k to build.

 

[NutBucket]

Can't say I like the car but I wouldn't mind the engine. Funny how some of the best engines out there are so un-loved.

Somewhere on my list of cars to have is an SVO Mustang.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Really like those but they are hard to find in good shape around here. Everybody around here would rather have a 200hp fwd civic that cost $10k to build.

This one is not in good shape. 23 years of Minnesota winters have taken their tole. The saving grace is that the engine itself wasn't too abused!

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Can't say I like the car but I wouldn't mind the engine. Funny how some of the best engines out there are so un-loved.

Somewhere on my list of cars to have is an SVO Mustang.

I concur. I bought the car as it was a cheap and turboed vehicle. Once I figured out the powerplant's durability I decided that I needed to find a transfer vehicle. Unfortunately a rusted out POS mustang up here still sells for ~1g.

 

[SearchMaster]

Heh - I think ZaneJohnson had one of those and blew the motor after a few months. Good luck!

 

[drnickriviera]

Better change out that tranny. Is that a world class T-5 or not? Either way, it's not going to take that much power long