1983 Thunderbird Heritage

**GTP231** · 02-01-2017, 02:42 AM

Guess this is long overdue as I picked the car up in Septemper

So around 2 years ago my buddy asked me if I was interested in picking up an 84 Elan for a couple bucks. I had been looking for something inexpensive but in decent shape since ultimately I intend to LS and turbo something. When I said yes I was a couple hours late and he had already taken it to scrap. That car was picked up by the previous owner of my 83 for the purpose of getting my 83 back on the road.
Fast forward to August and my buddy calls me up asking if I'd be interested in an 83 Heritage car for free. He tells me he remembers the car being solid and in good shape. So I said sure and it got towed over to his then gf's place. I get a few pictures and he tells me it's got a few minor rust spots and no brakes and hasn't run in 1.5 years or so. The car cranked right over but needed some pedal assistance to start and stay running. So we loaded it on the dolly and dragged her home.

Sorry for the quality as it was around 10 when we got home and no lights on the side of our attached garage

Here's an intro video I took for a Facebook group and an update also. Well update is a couple months old already. Been busy with other cars and honey do stuff

**pajeff02** · 02-01-2017, 03:14 AM

Thunderturd!

Looks like a fun project... love the running narrative in your vids. Also enjoyed listening to Puddle of Mudd in the second vid.

**GTP231** · 02-01-2017, 04:01 AM

Yeah I don't turn off the radio. YouTube copy right nonsense be damned

**pajeff02** · 02-01-2017, 05:05 PM

I think you should DD it for a bit before tearing it apart.

**pajeff02** · 02-01-2017, 05:10 PM

I just had Dawn watch the first vid -- she is digging it!

**GTP231** · 02-01-2017, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

I think you should DD it for a bit before tearing it apart.

I plan on driving and bracket racing it this year. I have to get it inspected at least once stock with Delaware's dumbass laws

**GTP231** · 02-01-2017, 06:56 PM

The swap will happen once I get the parts together. Thinking of doing a kb racing style manifold and 88/83 turbo. Hoping I'll have to hood clearance. One of the reasons I'm planning on running a tubular front end

**pajeff02** · 02-02-2017, 08:55 AM

They are neat looking cars -- my boss at the original firm I worked for had a Super Coupe back in the day and a friend up the road drove a Turbo Coupe. I have always liked the look and how they both drove and handled for that era.

**GTP231** · 02-02-2017, 04:51 PM

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...4003138013553/

**pajeff02** · 02-03-2017, 06:41 AM

<< No access to FaceBook, and no plans to change that!

**bigrondownhiller** · 02-03-2017, 01:42 PM

Looks to be a fun project. Free makes it even better. Car craft is doing a t-bird for a project car, might be worth checking out the articles for some ideas.

**GTP231** · 02-03-2017, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

<< No access to FaceBook, and no plans to change that!

Black 88 turbo coupe for $1800

**GTP231** · 02-06-2017, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

They are neat looking cars -- my boss at the original firm I worked for had a Super Coupe back in the day and a friend up the road drove a Turbo Coupe. I have always liked the look and how they both drove and handled for that era.

My brother's first car was a Blue pearl coat 95 V8 LX. It pissed him off when I'd sleep on the tree with my 94 GTP and beat him at the stripe. Had hopes of finding his old car to LS swap and even had a nagging hunch it was sitting out front of a house by our current place. Sadly it was gone by the time some funds freed up to try and get it.

**GTP231** · 02-06-2017, 08:37 AM

Guess I need to do Jeff's vinegar trick

This fell out when I pulled off the old lower hose

**pajeff02** · 02-07-2017, 04:00 AM

That's about what the radiator looked like in our Camaro.

***SMWS6TA*** · 02-07-2017, 06:15 AM

Are you still going to LSx swap it?

**GTP231** · 02-07-2017, 05:40 PM

I plan to. Delaware laws are stupid so I have to get it inspected before I can get a tag. So I'll drive it stock for a bit. Ideally I'd like to have all my parts by the end of the year and start the swap over winter. Whether or not it goes that way time will tell

**GTP231** · 02-19-2017, 05:59 PM

Pulled the radiator to give the vinegar trick a try. Looks to be working so far

Also did some window cleaning. Smoker owned it at some point

**pajeff02** · 02-20-2017, 02:04 AM

Our Regal was smoked in and for the longest time it smelled kind of bad. After we bought it I poured a layer of fresh coffee grounds in a plastic dish and set that in the car whenever it was parked. Seemed to help soak up the odors and sure smelled better -- little trick from the intrawebs.