Anyone interested in performance?

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

The T-Bird really needs to be respected for what it is.

It gets out of it's own way well enough but is not and doesn't have even the potential to be a racer, IMO.

Let's just think about what you're starting with here.

The car is relatively heavy despite it's physically smallish appearance.

This car's weight is a result of lots of extra metal underneath to stiffen it up to produce the "nice" tight ride that Ford wanted to deliver here. (Try driving some of the convertibles like the Chrysler offerings that flex and shake over every bump and you'll understand why this is a good thing)

The Motor is small......really small. A lack of cubic inches is no way to find torque and horse-power easily or at a reasonable price.

Then the drive train. The automatic transmission in the car is weak and a poorly geared single track rear would fail to put the power you want down anyway.


The bottom line is ....... you want to go fast, without spending ridiculous amounts of $$$$$$$ on a total make-over you need a different car.

I think you'll find most of us here with the "performance bug" own other cars besides just the T-Bird. For me it's a Corvette but mostly it's Mustangs for others in this Ford dominated forum.

Happiness in T-Bird ownership is found in appreciating what it is not in wishing for what it isn't.

It's a stylish, comfortable and fairly unique CRUISER........it's no racer and it doesn't pretend to be.

[bottomtime]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

The T-Bird really needs to be respected for what it is.

It gets out of it's own way well enough but is not and doesn't have even the potential to be a racer, IMO.

Let's just think about what you're starting with here.

The car is relatively heavy despite it's physically smallish appearance.

This car's weight is a result of lots of extra metal underneath to stiffen it up to produce the "nice" tight ride that Ford wanted to deliver here. (Try driving some of the convertibles like the Chrysler offerings that flex and shake over every bump and you'll understand why this is a good thing)

The Motor is small......really small. A lack of cubic inches is no way to find torque and horse-power easily or at a reasonable price.

Then the drive train. The automatic transmission in the car is weak and a poorly geared single track rear would fail to put the power you want down anyway.


The bottom line is ....... you want to go fast, without spending ridiculous amounts of $$$$$$$ on a total make-over you need a different car.

I think you'll find most of us here with the "performance bug" own other cars besides just the T-Bird. For me it's a Corvette but mostly it's Mustangs for others in this Ford dominated forum.

Happiness in T-Bird ownership is found in appreciating what it is not in wishing for what it isn't.

It's a stylish, comfortable and fairly unique CRUISER........it's no racer and it doesn't pretend to be.

STEVE: I TOTALLY AGREE 100% WITH WHAT YOU HAVE SAID HERE....THE THUNDERBIRDS, PRESENT AND PAST, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DESCRIBED AS "PERSONAL CARS" NOT SPORTS CARS. THAT'S WHAT FORD HAD IN MIND WHEN THEY DEVELOPED AND ENGINEERED THESE CARS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CHOICES OUT THERE IN THE MARKET PLACE, THAT WILL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO DO, I.E., PERFORMANCE, BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE THUNDERBIRD WAS NOT, AND NEVER WILL BE IN THAT CATAGORY. LIVE WITH IT AS IT IS, AND NOT WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE. NUFF SAID........

[5bird7]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

LOve to get in on the more power question.

first let me say that Birdsandbugs states the most common type of Thunderbird owner:

No not really interested in performance at all. I'm totally satisfied with them as they came from the factory for my relaxed cruising in the evenings and weekends.

2nd (which follows from the first): There was NOT enough interest from owners for aftermarket companies to pursue more than they did with performance mods for these cars. Saleen dropped it - not enough interest from consumers - they could not get dealers to order them; A couple of other smaller west coast companies also could not get the interest up. Personnally, I wished Ford had continued with their SC project but times were tight at Ford and the money was not there to continue for the amount of sales that it might generate.

history - (I'm repeating myself) the Show circuit supercharged car was built for looks/show only. It did NOT have a functional supercharger on it according to Jim Youngs, the Thunderbird Project Manager. The ONLY functional supercharger on a Thunderbird was strictly a preproduction model, built with a Jag. engine and the transmission to go with it. It was built to test the engine and see what it would take to produce one. The really odd fact is that the supercharged program was dropped at about the same time the SC show car was introduced so it could really only be considered a concept.

Price point to produce would have been 10 to 15K over the MSRP of the stock engine versions and you know what the dealers would have done with the price once it came out.

[SixPac]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

Here's an interesting read about a supercharged PCR.




http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20016

[Brad]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

I think virtually any performance thread on here historically gets flooded with ether the "don't do it the car is a boulevard cruiser" or the others that feel the car should be kept in a garage in a plastic bag and never driven.

I was somewhat seriously looking into the supercharger for my 2002, I had someone that felt I could get it done for about 10K or less similar to what the guy on the LS site did. After I did the exhaust and intake I "trained" the computer and got the car to the point where I would substantial "rubber" every time I wanted it. At 20,000 miles I needed new brakes all around and at 25,000 the transmission failed. At the expense of sounding like all the other nae sayers I do think you need to consider the rest of the drive-train as well when exploring the supercharger.

[Ski]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

I forgot to mention, yet again, that I bought an Evening Black, so it already had a leg up on performance!

[Lindy]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

Why not cut through the chase?

Shop for a Ford GT, it'll cost you, but you'll have your heart's desire.
http://fordgtforsale.com/fordgtforsale.htm

Still, maybe I'm not spoiled for performance as of yet or what ever, but I am impressed with the performance of the T-Bird, be it the '02 or the '05, true, there is a lot of competition, but none of 'em are as classy, and as full of lore as the Thunderbird.

Lindy

[Brad]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

As I've mentioned before it's a real shame that in August of 1964 that Carrol Shelby didn't take his neighbors advice and leave the classic design of the 1965 Ford Mustang/boulevard cruiser alone.

Can you imagine how much more valuable a 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 would currently be if it had not been "hacked up" and left completely stock like the FORD designers intended them to be...

[BenHawes]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

Hi everyone,

If I'm at a red light & need to be in the other lane right after it turns green, most times if I hit the gas I can make it.

I also know I'm cooler than the kid with the fartcan exhaust & the spoiler taped to the back of his front wheel drive car.

It's a Thunderbird, chill & be cool.

But if I could just talk my wife into Borlas & a CAI....

Later,
Ben

[Daktari]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

Hi there,

Reading back through this thread I see a few examples of owners who have the earlier model. For these, the one sure way to increase h.p and performance is to sell and buy a 2003 or later model which come with an increase in h.p. from the factory.

Ours is a 2003 now fitted with Aero resonator rear pipes and a straight in cold air intake and now 'FLYAWAY' looks better, sounds better and performs slightly better too.

Good enough for me anyway.

By the way, I fall into the 'designed to cruise and not race category'. The car is not really set up for really spirited driving. Our Infiniti FX, although a hybrid SUV feels, performs and handles more like a sports car than the T-bird.

All the best, Gordon.

[Lindy]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

Just to contrast things a bit: did some research on the Hemmings web-page about the 1988 Pontiac Fiero Formula (V-6 automatic) which I once owned. When I drove it, I thought I was at the "top-of-the -heap" in that day. As for performance, my bright yellow Fiero Formula looked awesome and was 135HP at 5,200rpm and 170 lb ft @3600rpm. Zero to sixty in a mere 9+ seconds or so, a true mid-engine sports car. Wow, I thought I had a Porsche! But that was all back in 1989.

By the way, I usually pamper the T-Birds, but I hit-it around the corner one day in my '02, and I thought..."what's all the negative-speak about?...these things handle like the awesome sports cars that they are." Spose it all depends upon a guy's standard of measure. To me they are still sports/luxury cars and the true re-incarnation of the original 1955-57 two-seaters.

If you can find a way to beef 'em up...more power to you!

Enjoy!

[Daktari]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

The T-bird can be driven fast around windy, twisty back roads but it's not the handling of a true sports car. The suspension is set up to give a nice comfortable ride and under pressure, the car does bounce and wallow quite a lot from side to side.

Gotta be careful if driving them that way...

Gordon.

[CnP]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

I've had quite a variety of vehicles over the years and quite frankly and with all due respect I am not to sure about that "nice comfortable ride". My 03 seems like it has a solid rear axle. That is why I want to change the suspension some how some way but also don't want to spend $2,000.00 to do so.

[darkpyro6]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

Guys as far as the supercharger is concerned there is a guy in Austin, TX with the 3.9 supercharged as well as many other mods. i understand that a lot of you feel as though its fine how it is but for those that would like more power there are more options than just the exhaust and intake. I'm just saying if anyone really is interested in the performance available to this engine then check out the Lincoln LS forums the guys over there are not afraid to try new things and most have come out a success, we have guys running a 100 shot of nos a supercharger on one some turbo setups and a lot of other things all without changing the transmission i dont know how much of the rest of the driveline is the same but i know the engine and transmission are and there are more options out there instead of just getting a newer one

[lostjohn]

Re: Anyone interested in performance?

When I bought this car, I bought a classy cruiser. For the same money I could have gotten a mustang gt- tire spinnin, gear yanking, muscle machine just like all the ones you see. T-birds are, to me, laid back- special cars. Now don't get me wrong, if Ford put a supercharger and 6 speed in the T-bird, that's what I have! But when I 'm on the road and a hot mustang races up to check out the Bird I'd still look over and give them a big grin and let them go on... John