1987 Ford Thunderbird Boss 429

[mrmike]

This Thunderbird is another refugee from my dusty and dirty model shelves.  When I get done with this T-Bird, it will no longer be a Turbo Coupe!  Why?  It will have a Boss 429 engine in its engine compartment, that's why.  This T-Bird was covered with dust and dust-puppies and I started to clean it off.  Then, the model started to fall apart.  I remember reading in Hot Rod Magazine some time ago about rodders stuffing Ford V8s into the T-Bird and then Ford followed suit by adding a 5.0 Ltr. V8 to their lineup.  I'm going to attempt the same, but with a BIG PUNCH!  The Boss 429 is on the left.  The others were considered and much smaller.  It fits the frame rails, but it might have to be lowered a bit to fit under the hood.

More Thunderbird to come...

Edited October 18, 2019 by mrmike

[Vince66]

Should be a cool build. 

[mrmike]

I think it will be, Vince.  I am using parts from the Monogram '70 Boss 429 Mustang.  The engine should fit and the exhaust system from the Mustang should fit with some minor tweaking.  

[Claude Thibodeau]

Hi!

You are right, it can be done. But, it is a tight fit, more so if you use the standard engine bay panels. Here, it is with the paneling from the Iaconno pro-stock 'Bird. 

Keep on!

CT 

 

[mrmike]

And, it was done!  I turned the engine into a dry sump engine to get it lower in the chassis.  I'll create a new transmission and engine mounts for the frame.  The only clearance issue I had was the overflow container was hitting the pump on the left side of the belt assembly.  

[mrmike]

Tonight, I got the engine installed into the chassis.  Save for a few touchups, the chassis is done!  The exhaust system hooked up right where it should.  I'll add some exhaust tips and maybe notch the rear bumper for the tips.

More Thunderbird to come...

[mrmike]

I masked the T-Bird this morning and brush painted the trim around the windows and the body side moldings.  I had some bleed under the tape, so now it's cleanup time.  The more I stared at the exhaust system, the more I didn't like it.  I cut the mufflers from the Turbo exhaust and the Mustang Boss 429 exhaust and swapped them around.

More Thunderbird to come...

[mrmike]

I got the T-Bird body trim painted and the body polished.  I added the glass and the interior to the body.  I'm using a Parts by Parks aluminium distributor on the engine.  I may need plug boots, too.

More Thunderbird to come...

[sfhess]

Very cool.  Reminds me of an 83-85-ish Thunderbird with a SOHC 427 I saw at a couple of car shows.

[Protouringjoe]

Love this build. I used 3D printed parts to put EFI on, and chopped a AOD4 off of a lightning engine, and a modern accessory drive (can't remember what it was from) to modernize it a bit. Built headers out of solder. 

[mrmike]

Thanks Scott and Joe!  Sometimes a build can remind you of a 1:1 car that you may have seen at a show or on the street or parking lot somewhere.  It happens to me quite often and I am compelled to build that model.  One such car I saw at a car show is a '65 Buick Riviera GS that caught my eye.  I have the AMT kit and I will build it someday soon.

[Mr. Metallic]

I'm digging this project. I've always liked the lines of this generation T-bird. This engine swap brings back the Thunder to the name. Cool concept

[MININORTHFORDMAN]

this is a cool project

[mrmike]

Thanks Craig and Charlie!  Originally, the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe was suppose to compete along side with the Mustang SVO against some of the European cars.  But, that turned out to be a big sales disaster for the Turbo Coupe and the Mustang SVO.

[mrmike]

I have finished my '87 Boss 429 Thunderbird and it is posted in Under Glass.  I would like to thank all those who have viewed and commented on my WIP.