So what does your Bird have in it.. as in the go-goodies for your small block (I'm assuming it has the 302 CID engine).

Love to hear what you've done to the engine, tranny, and the rest of the drive train. High 12's makes a nice street machine.

 

It started out as a 4.6L SOHC V-8 and 4R70W 4-speed auto.
205 HP/265 TQ and 3,900 lbs. results in low 16's in the 1/4 mile.

Here is what it has today...

http://www.tccoa.com/articles/clipings/mmff7.html

The current engine is a 2000 4.6L Mustang GT engine and develops 325 RWHP/380 RWTQ (SAE) on a dynojet.

The 5.0L engine was only used in '91 through '93 for the T-Bird/Cougar.

The transmission has been given a dose of fresh Ford parts. New accumulators, 2.7" OD servo, 1999 main control (modified by Jerry W.), 11.25" torque converter, and a plate style tranny cooler. Pretty much from the fluid to the pan...all upgraded to survive the 440 lb.-ft. of torque that the engine produces.

The driveshaft is Metal Matrix Composite from Dynotech (ITW).

The cast-iron rear axle pumpkin was replaced with a cast aluminum version ('99 Cobra or '93-'98 Mark VIII) with 3.73:1 gears and a Traction-Lok differential. Since the T-Birds enjoyed an Independent Rear Suspensions, I upgraded the bushings and mounting points to reduce flexing.

Larger rear sway bar from Addco with poly bushings.

Traction comes from BF Goodrich Drag Radials 255 series and boy do they stick! Best short time has been 1.799.

Exhaust starts with JBA shorty tube unequal length stainless steel units. Spent gases move through dual high flow cats and 2-1/4" pipe to mate with a Borla cat-back exhaust system. Made from T-304 stainless steel it just needs steel wool to shine right back up to NEW. There are 3 high flow Borla mufflers and they do not restrict flow at all (not like Flowmaster).

36 lb./hr. injectors (stock are 19's)
80mm Ford Lightning MAF (stock is 70mm)
75mm BBK throttle body (stock is 65mm)
190 lph fuel pump (stock is 88 lph)
Plus the 10-psi of boost from the intercooler Eaton M90S blower
Lots of other misc parts (i.e. '99 Mustang intake tube, custom brackets, custom inlet tube to the throttle body, modified intercooler system, etc.)

Keep in mind that the engine is stock...just a 2000 4.6L GT motor at 9.0:1 C/R.

It all comes together with Jerry Wroblewski's tuning. This car turns over and runs in - 10 degrees F. and on a hot 100 degree F. day. It has been dialed in so well it just might live forever even with the 10-psi on the stock internals.

Oh and the A/C works!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB6cnmqNcV8

This is what it all sounds like...

A-Train

 

That absolutely kicks ass!! I've been considering buying another Thunderbird. This one makes me want one even more.

 

If you are concerned about fuel prices, get a different car as you really cannot afford a TL.

 

You da' man, Atrain!

I should have known that the 302 was no longer made available by the time your Bird was built. I did know that the Birds of that era had IRS rear axles because one of my neighbors (yes, right next door) built a Factory Five 1966 427 AC Cobra replica and used a T-Bird IRS in his machine. He's running 3.73's with (I think still) the T-5 1990 Mustang V8 5-speed. He installed a 331 crate engine with AFR heads, a Comp cam, 1.7 rockers, the obligatory headers/side pipes, and a serious intake system. It's normally aspirated and puts out just over 400 HP in a 2230 pound machine. Yes, it IS bad! It's the quickest street machine I have ever ridden in. Here are next top three in that catogory;

* 1969 Camaro; 454 Chevy, spread-bore Holley dominators, cam, heads, headers, over 600 HP, ran low 10's.

* 1998 Ford Mustang Cobra, Bell blower, don't recall the other goodies, ran 11.30's.

* 1967 L-71 427 Corvette, after-market cam, 4.11 gears, my guess a low 12 machine.


Then I would throw in my own 1966 Chevelle L-34 396/360 with 3;73's and the M21 Muncie. After a few bolt-ons, it was a high 12 (12.8's) street machine.

Oh, your Bird sounds super. Nice job.

 

 

Back on subject. I bought my 97 Grand Prix GTP knowing full well that it would need preminum gas. 10 years and 205k miles later it still going strong. It has seen preminum prices from $.99-$3.79. Yes believe it or not preminum gas could be had for $.99. (Phillips 66, Conoco, Texaco, and Chervon) 98-99 era. I didn't think twice when I bought it or my first of two TL's in 2004.

I agree with the others, in if you can afford the car, be able to use the proper gas.

My Supercharged V6 97GP is very capable of those numbers posted by that thunderbird and mine has its original motor and tranny w/o using laughing gas also




ooops, I forgot BTW

 

Just a reminder of my original question of using Costco vs. other brands of premium. I wasn't questioning what grade of fuel to use--I'm not considering, nor will I consider, using regular in this baby. I just couldn't find any previous threads re. people using Costco premium and wanted a take on it.

However, seems like these types of threads always turn up new tidbits along the way. Thx for the responses.

 

Yeah, I thought that was expensive too... Until I went to Europe.... I just got back a few days ago from a business trip in Holland. I drove past a gas station on the way into our client's office. Regular unleaded was $8.20 USD per gallon.

 

Well thats due to the fact that the USD is worth half of what the euro is.

 

If you use unbranded gas (Costco is one) it is good to run something like BG 44k every 15, 000 miles....Acura sells the stuff or a local repair shop...unbranded gas will have less additives that do such things as clean injectors and carbon build up on valves....also most unbranded gas is not filtered as many times as your branded gas......I use Chevron (filtered three times per my gas rep friend) as it has techron and BG 44k every 20,000....yes i use premium...

 

I have noticed with the TL and with my previous car (RX-8) that they get better gas mileage with the premium....Try it for yourself...maybe the fact that I drive relatively aggressive makes a difference

 

Actually, I'd say its more due to the COLA differences. Their gas may be nearly triple ours, but so might their salaries.

You see similar price differences between states in the US

 

Howdy all,

This thread is interesting .. I just ran my 04 MDX Touring on a 3000 mile tour from the upper midwest to the east coast to florida to the western gulf and back north. I ran all sorts of gas in it from premium, mid-grade to regular grade of all sorts of name brands. I saw NO difference in highway mileage (in fact, according to the trip computer I got 26 mpg on mid-grade on the last day). I also didn't notice any real change in performance either .. when I needed the power it was there.

Considering the power hit Honda engines took with the new SAE horsepower ratings, I don't think the drop in performance by using a lower grade of fuel is as big as some would have you believe.

And one other thing to keep in mind, many gas stations produce mid-grade by blending high and low grade gasolines. Doing the math, a half tank of 93 mixed with a half tank of 89 maintains the 91 spec.

 

This is my first car that I've used premium. Seeing as a $2000 beater car uses 87 octane, I figure my car deserves the 20 cent/gallon difference for premium.

 

Understand that 91 Octane is what is required, but in Ontario, which retailer has the best 91 Octane?

In terms of MPG and performance, when ranking high octane fuels, do TL owners agree that the equation looks something like

Shell > Sunoco > PetroCanada > Esso
?

 

I apologize for hijacking this thread...

Paragon/Phil: I am in TO looking for a Acura TL with Nav..The best price I got so far is 40652 before tax and not including Freight and PDI/Air conditioning tax..

There is a 1800 incentive on the TL with Nav..

What is the price you got? I am also looking for NBP..

Other members: Sorry once again..couldnt send private message so had to resort to this..

 

You can find my Sign In info https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...86#post1815186 , which includes what I paid for the car, pre Tax. I went to Performance Acura after shopping around a bit in the GTA. I already had an 01 Integra GS from them, which I traded in for slightly more than Black Book value. That, coupled with other incentives by being a repeat customer, etc. got me down to the price I paid.

 

Thanks!!

 

Ughhh I used to have a 2000 Grand Prix GTP, do you not love that car, I miss it sometimes it was fun, BTW I always used preminum in it.

 

I guess I went to Greece at just the right time two years ago. I only lost ~7% while over there but a great hotel overlooking the sea in an old castle on the island of Santorini (sp) was only 50 euro a night. A good hotel in a city like Tripoli was 18 euro so I spent less in those two months than I would have if I was living back in the States.

When I went for the first fillup I didn't see what the big deal was with gas at $2.80 euro. Then I realized that was for a liter lol.

Back on subject, premium is not that much more. Detonation kills. Pay now or pay later. And besides, with the timing retard you're probably getting with 87 octane the car should get enough extra mpg with premium to make you break even.