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Old 08-18-2004, 09:09 AM
Deamonwing Deamonwing is offline
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TBird Upgrade/Alterations Help?

Hey all, I'm new but seems people here know their stuff, so here's my scenario.
I've got a 97 V6 3.8 TBird LX Limeted Edition. Currently it's got almost 108K on it. What I would like to do is keep the car on the road as long as I possible can, and was thinking of a few ways to do that. Also I would like to give the car more power, and I've got some body mods I intend on doing as well.
In your opinion would I be better off just getting a new engine, preforably a V8 4.6, or finding one that not in that bad of shape and rebuild it. From what I've gathered I need to change the computer and wiring to drop the V8 in the V6, but is there anything else that I would need to do. Also anyone know a general price for that engine.
Or would I just be better off modding the V6 engine? I'm just worried that too much power on the engine with 108K will cause problems.
Any advice you guys have is appreiciated.

Last edited by Deamonwing; 08-18-2004 at 01:26 PM.
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Old 08-19-2004, 09:16 AM
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CamaroSSBoy346 CamaroSSBoy346 is offline
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Re: TBird Upgrade

108? Your car is still a virgin. I was in the junkyard a month or so ago, and stumbled apon a 94-95 T-bird with 290K Miles on it, apparently it had had some modifications done on it.
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Old 08-19-2004, 04:22 PM
94GreenBeast 94GreenBeast is offline
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Nice way of putting it...Vigin. My 94 LX 4.6L has 137,000, and still running stong.
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Old 08-19-2004, 06:06 PM
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Re: TBird Upgrade

My 97 still has less then 8,000 miles on it. I guess I'll own it for quite a while before it wears out!
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Old 08-20-2004, 02:09 PM
Deamonwing Deamonwing is offline
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When I got my 97 two years ago this month, it had 84K on it.. not any more. It doesnt help when it's your only car, and you live 45min from work. That definitely helps put on the miles.

Any way, I take it you guys don't think that the 108k will be a problem If i want to mod the engine? Or should I go balls to the wall, and put in the V8?
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Old 08-20-2004, 07:41 PM
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Re: TBird Upgrade

For all the work involved with changing to a V8 it might be wise to look for a Bird with a V8 already in it. I would not mod an engine with that amount of miles on it. If you want the easiest way, get a rebuilt V6, mod it and then drop it in. That way the car is out of service for only a couple of days.
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Old 08-21-2004, 02:57 AM
emailer33 emailer33 is offline
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Re: TBird Upgrade

my 93 just blew a head gasket at 180k. it'll be up and runnign shortly, so we'll see how long it goes.

amazingly enuf, it's still on the original tranny, and no serious work was ever done on it! you can bet i'm selling this car soon cuz i don't wanna get another tranny :P. probably be getting another tbird or maybe a mustang ^_^.

but yea if i were you just get a 4.6L engine and build it up. if you build it right and everything was clean, you'll have a beautiful running car .
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Old 08-22-2004, 07:28 PM
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Re: TBird Upgrade

You would enjoy the V8 I know I have.
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