[jims eli]

I have purchased a 1989 Thunderbird super coupe and am looking to put the entire drive train into my 38 ford which currently has a stock front end with the straight axle and am running a 350/350 in it. I would love to put the independent rear end from the thunderbird under the 38 so that the entire drive train would be matched but I'm not sure that it is possible. Would I be better off keeping the rear end that I have under it or try swapping it out. The current rear is a 2.08 from a chevy two I put in years ago.I am also wondering if the engine and tranny will fit without to much modification. I know that I will probably have a wiring nightmare on my hands.

[Rustydawg]

That T-bird rear suspension is pretty heavy from what I've seen. You may be ahead just swapping your rear axle for another solid axle with friendly gears like 3.55 or thereabouts.

[techinspector1]

I guess it's just me, but I'd put the TC rear in it or die trying. Also, if you disassemble the TC carefully, all the wiring you'll need is right there.

[OneMoreTime]

Check with Ford performance for a stand alone computer and harness..would be worth it to me..I would do some serious measuring and try me best to get the rear end from the coupe in your 38..

Sam

[bentwings]

My 89 SC went 200,000 miles before I sold it. Fine car, handled nice and had good brakes....while the ABS lasted.

You will most likely have a far larger radiator so the coling issues will be gone, The ABS won't be needed. the rear end can be interesting. I'd look at making tubular contol links. I think I paid about 100 bucks each for the rear calipers. They are self adjusting and have a parking brake built in.

The motor made 14 pounds of boost most of its life and I had very little trouble with it. Plug wires once a year and platnum plugs were necessary.

Here is a link to the SC club of America. The best site for SC information. Everything that has ever happened to a SC has been covered here. Also a good source of parts.
http://www.sccoa.com/

[Dave57210]

If you do go ahead with the independent rear out of the super coupe, please keep us advised as to how it goes. Build pix would be nice. I am looking at using the independent rear out of a "sooper coop" for my '56 F100 - just because I've never seen one that has done it! I see a lot of 'vette indep rears and quite a few Jags, but the Thunderburp rear appeals to me because no-one uses 'em.

(I'm gonna use a 500 inch Caddy for the motor-vator, and again its because virtually no-one else does!)

[yknot]

You must be kidding me right...!! IS IT POSSIBLE?? What do you think Hot Rodding is ??? Hot Rodding is a bunch of guy's that started putting all kinds of strange and un-usual drive trains under there cars......Everything is POSSIBLE...that is what makes our sport so nice. Go for the Independent rear end, if that is what you really want, where there is a way, there is a will...or where there is a will, there is a way...you get the ideal right...Hot Rodders have all kinds of will...it's the only thing we can get for free.

[Dave57210]

where there is a way, there is a will...or where there is a will, there is a way...you get the idea right...Hot Rodders have all kinds of will..[/QUOTE]

I thought the quote said "where there's a will, there's a lawyer!"

(I crack me up!)

[dalesy]

Just curious, was this not the one with the Yamaha V-6? I read about them when they first came out, but not much since. Were they decent cars? They seemed to have a lot of seemingly good parts in them. But you hardly ever see one on the road anymore. That could be good, or bad.

[techinspector1]

Originally Posted by dalesy

Just curious, was this not the one with the Yamaha V-6? I read about them when they first came out, but not much since. Were they decent cars? They seemed to have a lot of seemingly good parts in them. But you hardly ever see one on the road anymore. That could be good, or bad.

The 3.0 Yamaha V6 was a front-wheel drive configuration in a Taurus. There was also a 2.5 V6 in the Mercury Mystique and the Ford Contour, both FWD. Ford produced a Taurus SHO from '89 to '99 and I have also seen a Contour SHO.

The Thunderbird Turbo Coupe was a turbocharged SOHC 2.3, 4-cyl in a rear wheel drive configuration.

[dalesy]

Oh crap, I knew that! Brain fade....

The Yamaha V6 was in the SHO Taurus.

I never could understand why they put that 4 cylinder in a big car like the T-Bird. Why not a turbo-d V8? That 4 woulda probably worked better in a Mustang, or other small car.

Personally, I'd maybe put the independent rear end in the coupe, but I'd leave the small block in it.

[53fordguy]

i liked the t bird rear end i did a 46 coupe with a camaro front and a t bird rear it was soooooooooooooo nice and fit sooooooooooo well

heres a before w/ aerostar front and rear




and after the new frame







i would def do this swap slid under that coupe with no problems