Possibly found my first car

[3991v]

1985 Ford Thunderbird. Has a 5.0L 302 motor, and an automatic transmission.

The good:
It's a T-bird
The paint is still good
Not a lot of rust
5.0L motor

The bad:
Needs an oil pump
Has a bit of rust
Located south of Pittsburgh, PA and I'm all the way at the NY border and can't personally look at it.

And... its only $200 (r)

http://img.techpowerup.org/091012/537001.jpg

BTW if I do get it, I am going to fix it up over the winter and have it 100% ready for spring

[jmcslob]

I love T-birds...That is/was a great car...Pickup new door hinges, those always go bad on those cars

[JC316]

Hmm, Thunderchicken is a decent first car. The 5.0 ain't too bad in it, but I think it's a carbed engine in that year.

[3991v]

Hmm, Thunderchicken is a decent first car. The 5.0 ain't too bad in it, but I think it's a carbed engine in that year.

It is carbed. My dad used to have a 85, but it was the 2.something liter engine.

[Wile E]

Great thing about those year cars are the fact they are Fox bodies, only 8" longer, iirc, so the Mustang parts minus the drive shaft and exhaust should be a pretty straighforward, bolt-on affair.

2 downside you want to consider before buying that car. One, make absolutely sure it isn't rusted underneath and the hoses aren't rotting. And 2, the oil pump going doesn't always give warning, so the engine may not be in good shape.

[1Kurgan1]

Plus side is a 5.0L downside is those years are gutless, but some cheapo headers and you will already be making decent power. Looks like it's been sitting a while, I would be wary. If your looking for cheap cars, dont worry about going fast. Granted a 302 is a reliable motor, so this wouldn't be too bad if it isn't all rotted out.

[3991v]

Great thing about those year cars are the fact they are Fox bodies, only 8" longer, iirc, so the Mustang parts minus the drive shaft and exhaust should be a pretty straighforward, bolt-on affair.

2 downside you want to consider before buying that car. One, make absolutely sure it isn't rusted underneath and the hoses aren't rotting. And 2, the oil pump going doesn't always give warning, so the engine may not be in good shape.

Right, so they're basically stretched out Mustangs. And I won't be able to look at it before I buy it since its a long ass drive just to look at a car, so I'll have to trust pics and the people I'd be getting it from. Either way, it's going to be a winter project car.

[jmcslob]

Right, so they're basically stretched out Mustangs. And I won't be able to look at it before I buy it since its a long ass drive just to look at a car, so I'll have to trust pics and the people I'd be getting it from. Either way, it's going to be a winter project car.You want a pic of the front Shock/spring mount....Those cars also have Bad front ball joints If it squeeks while driving (like the squeek you get from clean tupper ware) you will likely have to replace the whole front end Also it has a notoriously loose rear differential that will likely need repacked
I owned 4 of those T-bird series 1-84 with the 232 2-85's 1 with the 232 and 1 with the 305 and 1 87 with the 232
I also owned a Brand new 1997 LX my favorite car of all time sadly it was murdered by a 1984 Buick Skylark on 11/20/99

[Cuzza]

i would sooooo help you cut the springs on that baby

[Wile E]

i would sooooo help you cut the springs on that baby

Cutting springs is a terrible way to lower a car. The only thing worse is heating them with a torch to make them sag.

[1Kurgan1]

Thats a really old car to be buying sight unseen, granted it is only $200. And really surprising the wheel well lips look really clean.

[Wile E]

Thats a really old car to be buying sight unseen, granted it is only $200. And really surprising the wheel well lips look really clean.

Yeah, I was thinking that. Not all fox bodies manifest rust in the wells tho. A lot of them like to rot in the floor boards first.

I wouldn't buy it without looking at it, $200 or not.

[1Kurgan1]

Got to agree, PA is rust belt area, can't buy anything that old without looking at it first. The oil pumps out, worse case scenario is you get a car with rusted out floor boards and a bad motor. So you basically got a transmission for $200 and maybe a 8.8 but I'm betting a 7.5 rear end.

[3991v]

Well, I think I decided against it and wised up a bit. When I first saw the ad I was like "Wow, an '85, I can be just like dad!" and it was $200 so my best judgment was not present. Anyway, I'm probably just gonna save up over winter and get a better one that needs no work at all. I mean, it would probably be a money hole anyway, since it already needs work.

[1Kurgan1]

If I was you I would save up over winter and buy a commuter car. You can get a basic car for cheap as their is nothing special with them. Last week I seen a 01 Lumina for $1200 on craigslist. Once you have that basic car, then save up for a project.

This is something I have never done and regret it, because if you buy something fast off the bat, fast things break shit, then your car less. And being up north, it sucks to drive your fast car in the winter. I have to do that crap this winter, will be real fun with a lowered car n winter :/

Thats not the funnest route, but it works better in the end.

[Wile E]

Got to agree, PA is rust belt area, can't buy anything that old without looking at it first. The oil pumps out, worse case scenario is you get a car with rusted out floor boards and a bad motor. So you basically got a transmission for $200 and maybe a 8.8 but I'm betting a 7.5 rear end.

Should be an 8.8 with the 5.0. Tho, strange combos do tend to find their way out of the factory at Ford sometimes.
If I was you I would save up over winter and buy a commuter car. You can get a basic car for cheap as their is nothing special with them. Last week I seen a 01 Lumina for $1200 on craigslist. Once you have that basic car, then save up for a project.

This is something I have never done and regret it, because if you buy something fast off the bat, fast things break shit, then your car less. And being up north, it sucks to drive your fast car in the winter. I have to do that crap this winter, will be real fun with a lowered car n winter :/

Thats not the funnest route, but it works better in the end.I support this idea, except driving a powerful lowered car in the Winter isn't that bad. Good tires and a light foot are all you need.

[1Kurgan1]

Should be an 8.8 with the 5.0. Tho, strange combos do tend to find their way out of the factory at Ford sometimes.

I could be wrong, but I don't think the 8.8 came on all 5.0's, and with it not being a Mustang the chances are even lower. My 84 Grand Marquis was a 7.5" 1 wheel wonder. But could be diff on Tbirds.

I support this idea, except driving a powerful lowered car in the Winter isn't that bad. Good tires and a light foot are all you need.

Oh it will make it since I'm living in town, it has the highest rated all season tires on Tirerack. But if I lived out at my parents, wouldn't have a chance. Last winter was a day where it took me 1.5 hours to leave the driveway, no shoveling involved, just rocking back and forth and gentle gas, had many vehicles just get hung up once moving, doesn't help the exit is up hill :/ I really dread going there if they don't plow.

[Wile E]

I never really have troubles in winter, even with modded Mustangs.

But, for my fwd cars, I always had the best luck with Kuhmo Ecsta ASX's if I couldn't swing a dedicated snow tire.

[1Kurgan1]

The thing I prefer is a manual, I personally love driving in winter and watching all the grandmas driving around when its a nice day out. But the one thing that gets me is getting snow under the car, no matter how good the tires are, you get hung up and your done. Heres the tires I got on the GTX right now

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=Altimax+HP&partnum=445HR7AMAXHP&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

I usually just had bald crap tires on my cars as I never had issues, but with my parents usually having at least a foot of standing snow in their driveway, it just doesn't sound like any fun.

[kevinaddes]

Hi
I am kevina . and I am from USA,so I tell you one think I have E code headlights also on the way with the cross and some other small engine parts. This car is one hell of a fun car to own. i only took one pix of it so far and that was the day i bought it. I just ordered some Sport max.This car was my present to myself after my finance and I split.I like my car color, wheels and peek up speed So I take care of my car.I have Ford.
Thank you.

[LittleLizard]

with that engine i would buy just to say. I HAVE A 5L engine :P. if u love cars u can be replacing parts along the time to make it better or to use less fuel (that thing shall use fuel like my old dads 5.2 Pontiac Boneville). Also buy a recaro seat. Just for the kicks :)

[1Kurgan1]

with that engine i would buy just to say. I HAVE A 5L engine :P. if u love cars u can be replacing parts along the time to make it better or to use less fuel (that thing shall use fuel like my old dads 5.2 Pontiac Boneville). Also buy a recaro seat. Just for the kicks :)

This is America, land of gas guzzlers. V8's arent a rarity really, and with that car, I'm betting 10mpg would be a good day, I had an 84 Grand Marquis with a 5.0L and I got 8mpg, that 8mpg though was up hill, down hill, towing a 3400lb car + trailer (yes really), the mpg just couldnt get worse 8 was where it had leveled off, lol.

[JC316]

This is America, land of gas guzzlers. V8's arent a rarity really, and with that car, I'm betting 10mpg would be a good day, I had an 84 Grand Marquis with a 5.0L and I got 8mpg, that 8mpg though was up hill, down hill, towing a 3400lb car + trailer (yes really), the mpg just couldnt get worse 8 was where it had leveled off, lol.

Yeah, the carbed five-oh was HORRIBLE on gas. The EFI wasn't so bad, my mom's 90 towncar got 23 MPG when it had 110K on it. Same with my sister's 88 cougar XR7.

[LittleLizard]

This is America, land of gas guzzlers. V8's arent a rarity really, and with that car, I'm betting 10mpg would be a good day, I had an 84 Grand Marquis with a 5.0L and I got 8mpg, that 8mpg though was up hill, down hill, towing a 3400lb car + trailer (yes really), the mpg just couldnt get worse 8 was where it had leveled off, lol.

Yeah, the carbed five-oh was HORRIBLE on gas. The EFI wasn't so bad, my mom's 90 towncar got 23 MPG when it had 110K on it. Same with my sister's 88 cougar XR7.

mpg is miles per gallon, right?

[1Kurgan1]

Yeah, the carbed five-oh was HORRIBLE on gas. The EFI wasn't so bad, my mom's 90 towncar got 23 MPG when it had 110K on it. Same with my sister's 88 cougar XR7.

Yeah, she loved the gas, made me cry because at that time my gf lived 400 miles away and I would visit her 1 - 3 times a month. But a least the crush velour interior make up for it, I miss that boat, had power seats and a factory amp on the stereo system for an 84, thing was loaded.

mpg is miles per gallon, right?

Yep.