86 Mustang Notch + 86 TurboCoupe = ?

[Jimmy2.3Mustang]

I just acquired a 1986 Mustang notchback, 2.3 4spd with 42,000 original miles. It's virtually untouched but had a remanufactured 2.3 dropped in about 300 miles back. A few days after acquiring the Mustang I came into a 86 Thunderbird TurboCoupe 2.3 5spd.

From what I understand I should be able to drop the TC drivetrain into the Mustang body, but what I need to know is what else will I need? What can I expect from the swap? If I were to sell the turbo coupe drivetrain, what would be a fair price?

 

[samickguy15]

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86 Mustang Notch + 86 Turbo Coupe = 86 Turbo Notch

 

[samickguy15]

I would suggest the swap b/c the turbo motor will give you double the power and still keep 20+ MPG. You'll need the computer and corresponding harness. You should be able to basically plug and play if you do that. Fair price??? Some people pay $50 and some pay $500. It all depends on what you want out of it and what somebody is willing to give.

 

[NjccBflo]

I just acquired a 1986 Mustang notchback, 2.3 4spd with 42,000 original miles. It's virtually untouched but had a remanufactured 2.3 dropped in about 300 miles back. A few days after acquiring the Mustang I came into a 86 Thunderbird TurboCoupe 2.3 5spd.

From what I understand I should be able to drop the TC drivetrain into the Mustang body, but what I need to know is what else will I need? What can I expect from the swap? If I were to sell the turbo coupe drivetrain, what would be a fair price?

Where are You located?

 

[Jimmy2.3Mustang]

South Dakota, Home of the snowball.

I hate to say it but I think I've lost my mind. I bought this car because I figured it would be dependable and now I'm trying to figure out how to make it fly.

The Turbocoupe has about 150,000 miles on the odometer. I got it virtually free because the clutch was/is out. It's got the turbo motor (obviously) T5 5spd transmission, an 8.8 rear from a later GT Mustang, and 10-hole GT 15" wheels. All of which will be going in the Mustang. I've got the clutch ordered and I'm soaking up all the information I can find on a turbo swap. I had the bird running the other day and it seems to run ok, but with the mileage is there any preventive maintenance or problems I should expect to encounter? Also it looks like the swaybars in the Thunderturd are much larger but the same design as the Mustang's, will they swap over? Is there anything else on the T-bird that I should save for the Mustang that I'm overlooking?

I'm new to Fords, been driving GM all my life except for a 82 Cougar Wagon (first car handmedown) and a 91 SHO beater, any advice is appreciated.

 

[kilgorq]

Do A Compression test on the turbo motor... This will tell you a lot about what kind of shape it really is in. My 2.3 Runs good but gets only 16 MPG and drops 500 RPM when I put it into gear... The compression test told me a story 1) 100 PSI 2) 110PSI 3) 60 PSI 4) 110 PSI... Number 3 doesn't fix by adding oil in the cylinder either which means it is a head gasket or valve. No wonder it acts so gutless. If you have low compression in a cylinder add a few drops of oil to it and if the compression goes up you have bad rings. If not you have another issue. Usually a bad valve or blow head gasket. By the way 110 PSI is kinda low... On this motor it should be 140 Plus. I am not sure what it should read on the turbo motor but I bet is will be close to that.

Make sure you bring the motor to normal operating temp before the compression test. And No Power to the coils... Let it turn over about 3 Seconds before getting your reading and also look at the reading 1 minute later to see if it drops much...

 

[Jimmy2.3Mustang]

Thanks for the information thus far...

Update: The turbocoupe has been stripped and the hull has been crushed. I've got the engine, transmission, rear differential, steering rack, and sway bars sitting in the garage ready to install. I also saved the gas tank, fuel lines, and most of the wiring.

I'm still looking for information on this swap into a carbed, 4spd, Mustang. Seems most of what I've found is 87-up specific. I removed most of the wiring from the TC and it should be fairly straight forward to drop it in the Mustang, but I could really use some 86 Mustang wiring diagrams. Everything should bolt up, but I'm not sure how the Mustang guages will interface with the TC harness, and I'll have to run wiring for the fuel pump. I also need to remove the headlight wiring from the TC harness.

Would anyone happen to know if the mechanical speedometer sending unit in my 4spd will swap in place of the electric sending unit in the T5? Since the Mustang has cruise I'm guessing it has a speed sensor somewhere that will interface with the computer...

Any other information that I may need?

 

[Lilwhitestang]

86 Mustang Notch + 86 Turbo Coupe = 86 Turbo Notch

Hey...you live in Delavan? I live outside of Bartonville. I saw that you have a '93 Mustang and you have a turbo plan. I was wanting to turbo my '93 but it's got a dual plug head. How are you going to plan your swap?

 

[stykthyn]

do a complete motor swap and you wont have to worry about that dual plug head. it's a piece of crap anyway.