PAGE 1=Vehicle Info
PAGE 2=Parts Page
PAGE 3="The Swap Files"
PAGE 4=Track Pics
PAGE 5=More Pics, Videos, Awards & Thank-You's
PAGE 6=History

THE CAR: 1987 THUNDERBIRD TURBO COUPE. Paint: Sikkens Base/Clear. Purchased used in 1991 from the original owner with 26,000 kms logged. Currently has 84,000 kms logged to date. It's primarily driven on the street, but it does make the occasional visit to open track lapping events. During the spring/summer of 2003, I completed the process of swapping out the factory 2.3 turbo/intercooled four cylinder engine for a Paxton Novi 2000 Supercharged 5.0 (See the "Swap Files" for more info and details)

The car has yet to be dynoed but based off the dyno results of similiar engine combos, this engine should produce power in the range of 470+ RWHP. The only rollers this car has hit to date is those of the Emission-Test machine and I'm happy to report it passed with flying colours.

Exhaust System...

Exhaust system consists of BBK 1 5/8" Shorty headers, a MAC 2 1/2" H-Pipe w/cats and a 2 1/2" Dual Stainless system manufactured by ATR Performance (Now out of business). The after cat system was originally designed for use with the original 2.3 Turbo four cylinder so it required some modification to the intermediate pipes to be used with the 5.0. It's not overly loud, but not quiet either. Check out this video to hear it.

Suspension and Braking Improvements...

The car handles extremely well thanks to the suspension upgrades. Front springs are DECH Motorsports "Speedrive" road race spec in the front ( 1100 lbs/inch ) and Suspension Techniques in the rear. Koni "Sport" Shocks and Struts are at all 4 corners. The ride is quality is on the stiff side but still very tolerable. Even though a V8 now resides under the hood, the handling did not suffer as many naysayers assumed.

After the suspension, brake upgrades were the next order of business. The stock brakes are good for a car that is only driven on the street but were woeful at the track. After two laps at my local track, the brake pedal would get very soft and spongey due to overheating which would boil the brake fluid in the calipers. Bleeding the brakes after every session was a ritual that got real old, real fast so improvements had to be made. Front brakes were updated by swapping the spindles for units from a '95 Mustang. This allowed the mounting of the 13" brakes from the Cobra Mustang, using it's rotors and carrier plates. Calipers are dual piston PBR ( Corvette ) with HAWK pads. Rear brakes are the stock discs that were converted to a 5 bolt pattern ( 4 lug is stock ). Brake hoses were upgraded to Aeroquip Braided stainless at all 4 corners. Needless to say the braking is much improved. Wheels & Tires are the newest upgrade. I previously ran Ford Motorsport Cobra R's and Firestone SZ50's. As much as I liked them I was bored with them...I've had them since '96 and it seems everybody runs them nowadays so I wanted something unique that nobody has done on a T-Bird. New wheels are IForged "AERO's" which are a 3 piece forged design and were custom made to my offset specifications. Sizes are 18 x 9's up front fitted with 255/40-18's and 18 x 10's at the rear fitted with 295/35-18's. Tires are BF Goodrich KDW II's.

New engraved centercaps....

Check out my brother's DECH Mustang