Mods or changes you want to do…… but never will.

[Chingon1]

I don’t know if he ever did, he’s more active in FB, we mostly texted about the swap, his car has a Mach 1 4V too

I found em on the FB group, pretty sweet bird. He hasn’t posted much on it but it seems like a coolish swap, it looks like the shifter even might fall right into the stock location without needing to make a remote shifter.

Thanks

 

[Chingon1]

That guy replied to me and it seems like it’s a lil involved, besides the crossmember and driveshaft everything else seems pretty Str8 forward. For sure the 4.6 won’t break it, it doesn’t make coyote power AND it doesn’t rev up that high compared to the yote either.

 

[XR7-4.6]

I found em on the FB group, pretty sweet bird. He hasn’t posted much on it but it seems like a coolish swap, it looks like the shifter even might fall right into the stock location without needing to make a remote shifter.

Thanks

NP, me and him go WAY back.

That guy replied to me and it seems like it’s a lil involved, besides the crossmember and driveshaft everything else seems pretty Str8 forward. For sure the 4.6 won’t break it, it doesn’t make coyote power AND it doesn’t rev up that high compared to the yote either.



View attachment 16444View attachment 16445View attachment 16446View attachment 16447

Some of that you’d need regardless; custom driveshaft, speedometer converter, custom tunnel plate etc. with any trans swap really. I forgot he needed the custom crossmember but remember that pic now… it’s not terribly difficult to make as I did as well (primarily for more exhaust clearance). The shifter offset could probably be improvised with spacers and some methodical butchery (keep in mind he’s an engineer, but there’s always an easier way )

 

[Chingon1]

@XR7-4.6 i rather like his shifter modification, i thought it was a part of the MGW kit haha, your boy got some skills. That said, I’m pretty sure that 6 speed must keep the 4.6 always in the power band, plus it’s lighter than the 4R which is also a bonus.

I thinking of waiting til the next half off sale at the JY and snagging a pumpkin off a bird and the 3.73’s or 4.10’s off an explorer. I believe the gears should bolt on right??

 

[XR7-4.6]

@XR7-4.6 i rather like his shifter modification, i thought it was a part of the MGW kit haha, your boy got some skills. That said, I’m pretty sure that 6 speed must keep the 4.6 always in the power band, plus it’s lighter than the 4R which is also a bonus.

I thinking of waiting til the next half off sale at the JY and snagging a pumpkin off a bird and the 3.73’s or 4.10’s off an explorer. I believe the gears should bolt on right??

Yes, ranger (with 8.8s) is another source. I used to keep a note in my wallet with axle codes but never ended up using it lol

 

[KevinVarnes]

The MT82 doesn't seem great from what I've read, but whatever works. There is also a TR3160 6 speed that I know relatively little about. It seems like the two piece driveshaft with a slip joint is a fair amount more to have custom made then just a traditional one piece. I don't know about other years, but '05-10 manual transmissions should put the shifter right where you need it. The 05-10 TR3650 is another option for you to look for.

 

[Chingon1]

Tr3650 MT82
1st. 3.38 3.66
2nd 2.00 2.43
3rd 1.32 1.69
4th 1.00 1.32
5th .62 1.00
6th. .65



These are the ratios I got off Google for both trans. 1-3 gears are a lil closer together, and I noticed 5th gear is the 1:1 ratio which is weird since most trans it’s 4th.

5 speeds are cool… but 6 speeds are better I think price wise, it’s pretty much your pick to which route you want to go. The only thing that dis make it a bit harder is making a new trans crossmember.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Tr3650 MT82
1st. 3.38 3.66
2nd 2.00 2.43
3rd 1.32 1.69
4th 1.00 1.32
5th .62 1.00
6th. .65



These are the ratios I got off Google for both trans. 1-3 gears are a lil closer together, and I noticed 5th gear is the 1:1 ratio which is weird since most trans it’s 4th.

5 speeds are cool… but 6 speeds are better I think price wise, it’s pretty much your pick to which route you want to go. The only thing that dis make it a bit harder is making a new trans crossmember.

The 1:1 5th is because it’s a Getrag primarily engineered for wimpy BMWs. Big manly V8s are just fine with a 1:1 4th

The MT82 doesn't seem great from what I've read, but whatever works. There is also a TR3160 6 speed that I know relatively little about. It seems like the two piece driveshaft with a slip joint is a fair amount more to have custom made then just a traditional one piece. I don't know about other years, but '05-10 manual transmissions should put the shifter right where you need it. The 05-10 TR3650 is another option for you to look for.

A 05-10 TR3650 would need a telescoping driveshaft as well, only the New Edge era TR3650s like mine use the old school slip yoke type

 

[KevinVarnes]

MT82 requires a driveshaft with a slip joint as well. I would probably go with the TR3650 if I had to choose between the two.

 

[XR7-4.6]

MT82 requires a driveshaft with a slip joint as well. I would probably go with the TR3650 if I had to choose between the two.

Like I said that only applies to 01-04 TR3650s, those are basically “Tremecized” T45s with the SN95/New Edge turret shifter and slip yoke. The 05-10 TR3650 for the S197 chassis has basically the same guts as the 03-04 (minus the .67 overdrive, internal slave and slightly beefier forks) but it has a fixed yoke flange just like the MT82, so you still need a custom slip joint driveshaft with it too.

If the MT82 requires a custom crossmember that’s really the only difference between it and a S197 TR3650. I do however agree I’d rather have the TR3650.

 

[KevinVarnes]

Like I said that only applies to 01-04 TR3650s, those are basically “Tremecized” T45s with the SN95/New Edge turret shifter and slip yoke. The 05-10 TR3650 for the S197 chassis has basically the same guts as the 03-04 (minus the .67 overdrive, internal slave and slightly beefier forks) but it has a fixed yoke flange just like the MT82, so you still need a custom slip joint driveshaft with it too.

If the MT82 requires a custom crossmember that’s really the only difference between it and a S197 TR3650. I do however agree I’d rather have the TR3650.

I think we're both saying the same thing here. Since he was comparing the TR3650 and the MT82, I didn't want him to think the MT82 didn't required the slip joint driveshaft as well.

I don't think the 6 gears in the MT82 makes it better than the TR3650, so don't fall in to that trap. Where you live I am guessing there are plenty of good used transmissions to choose from.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

For my car, it would be a 90s two-tone paint job. Think Mercedes or Lexus of that era, as well as some Town Cars.
I would use pre-96 bumper covers because they have a distinct upper and lower with a thin line molded in to separate the two. Upper would be Pacific Green, lower would be anthracite or tan metallic. The side cladding would stay the 96/97 type, but also in the contrast color.

Coming back to my initial response, I came across this car on a YouTube channel. And here you see why it doesn't work with 96/97 bumpers: there's no good way to paint them properly. The 94/95 bumpers have a line running side to side, which would enable you to easily paint the upper bumper in body color.

This car's colors don't work either. The bottom color should be lighter than the top.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Coming back to my initial response, I came across this car on a YouTube channel. And here you see why it doesn't work with 96/97 bumpers: there's no good way to paint them properly. The 94/95 bumpers have a line running side to side, which would enable you to easily paint the upper bumper in body color.

This car's colors don't work either. The bottom color should be lighter than the top.

Yeah that pretty much makes it look like the bumpers were replaced from a different color car

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Yeah that pretty much makes it look like the bumpers were replaced from a different color car

I know. I'm more interested in this look.

 

[XR7-4.6]

I know. I'm more interested in this look.

I don’t think it would look good on any MN12 year tbh, I’m really not a two tone fan myself but that gives me some impartiality in the matter, and to my eye the best way to two tone these is at the upper body line, like how @supergordo did with his sons car.

The thing is is where you recognize the issue with the bumpers I think it also makes the side cladding stand out like a sore thumb

Town cars have higher belt lines and have flatter sides which I think helps, but I can’t say I’m a fan of those either.

 

[Zep5.0]

Coming back to my initial response, I came across this car on a YouTube channel. And here you see why it doesn't work with 96/97 bumpers: there's no good way to paint them properly. The 94/95 bumpers have a line running side to side, which would enable you to easily paint the upper bumper in body color.

This car's colors don't work either. The bottom color should be lighter than the top.

Is this the Hot Rod TV car with a 427c.i. stroker in it? There was so much left unfinished on that car, and I remember the paint being 2-tone.

Back on track, I think there's something about chrome bumpers that lend itself to two tone paint. The plastic bumper rarely has a good spot to transition. Sometimes a third color as a pinstripe works to create a transition, tho. Plus gives the opportunity to create a highlight.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Is this the Hot Rod TV car .

 

[XR7-4.6]

Oh yeah I remember that, I tried to bury the memory lol I remember that car got junked immediately when the show was cancelled