My Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

This is what my car looked like when I got it. Not real pretty, huh? I knew it was going to take a bunch of work.

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The previous owner had hit something (a Deer possibly?)

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After finding some new and used parts and having the Bumper Cover reworked, I started tearing off the old and installing the new (or new to me).

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It only took a couple hours of work. It's still not complete, but at least I've got four headlights now that point at the road!

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I also needed to fix a little problem of the engine smoking. I was going to just replace the valve stem oil seals, but I couldn't get the air lock to hold the valves up. So I pulled the head and had the valves ground. As it turned out, I also needed a new camshaft (and followers!).

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I've also redone the brakes (turned the rotors but had to replace the drums), installed a new clutch, put in a new heater core (click here for a short write up) and replaced the fan motor. That was just to get the car back in daily driver status. In the (fun) performance department, I've put on 16" wheels and tires from an 87 Turbo Coupe and installed a Gillis Valve (adjustable boost). I still plan to install an intercooler. I've had new shocks (all four in the back) and struts installed along with replacing all the springs. I also had the Ball Joints and Tie Rod Ends replaced. No more noise in the front end!

I bought a 140-MPH Instrument Cluster off eBay and took the Speedometer out and installed it in my Cluster, see it here

I took a week off in February 2001 and preped the car, then my Best Friend painted it for me. Thanks Mike! I posted my progress here. I also stripped the wheels of their factory coating (which was chipping and looking bad). First I bead-blasted them. Then I used 300 grit wet/dry sandpaper, then 600, then 1200. I would still be working on them if I had to sand in all the holes, so I just painted them Gloss Black. That got the car ready for the Carlisle All Ford Nationals June 1, 2 and 3, 2001.

In February 2002, I pulled the motor and painted the engine compartment. Sixteen years of having nothing cleaned in there had left it a mess! While the engine was out, I fit the Intercooler to it.

I've got an A-pillar pod ordered, too (order from Eric at CoolCats. I've got a Boost/Vac (4701) and an Air/Fuel Ratio (4775) gauge from Autometer to put in the pod.

This is what it looks like now:

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