What did you do with your Thunderbird Today?

Picked up the last of the bits I need for my Gold T-Bird. Time permitting, I'll be working on it this weekend so I can start driving it to work coming Monday.
 
White Lincoln said:
7 point beauties....

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Only regret with my Cougar is never seeing it on the factory 7-spokes. I bought my 10th anniversary Cobras back in the day in part because they were “split” 7-spokes. I leapfrogged wheels from stock 15” snowflakes straight to hubswap/wide Cobra wheels but at the time I just could not find a passable set of 7 spokes or was too broke.
 
The wheels themselves are powder coated, and the center caps are painted. I was going to have them just sandblasted and paint them, but it was only $125 more to have them powder coated. I was originally going to just do black again like I had before, but I saw a car a similar color with gold wheels, and liked the combo. If I get tired of it, I’ll go back to black, but for now I’m liking the “iron bird” look.
 
Got my chip back, car runs much better! BUT, I now have a CEL for dpfe sensor, and rear O2’s which were originally turned off in the very first tune. 🙄😠

Also, noticed my power steering hose leaking so I replaced that, I’m gonna start looking into the PTFE hoses to do in the future.
 
Kurt K said:
Found my A/C issue. Any thoughts on repair options other than replacing the comprssor?View attachment 13330
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With the compressor being fully removed already I’d just replace it.

Ericv8thunderbird said:
Got my chip back, car runs much better! BUT, I now have a CEL for dpfe sensor, and rear O2’s which were originally turned off in the very first tune. 🙄😠
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Funny enough driving my car around I’ve been getting rear o2 heater circuit codes all of a sudden. and I’m pretty sure not only did I shut those off but have it in forced closed loop. Last time I was tuning I created like 5 different files with as many solutions to get the idle where I’m now currently satisfied… but I don’t remember which one lol
 
XR7-4.6 said:
With the compressor being fully removed already I’d just replace it.
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I should have added context. This is for my 44xxx mile 89 XR7. The compressor that O'Reilly's stocks is all black and would not look correct. I have not checked other parts places yet as their hub stores are not close to me, but I really don't want a black compressor.
 
XR7-4.6 said:
With the compressor being fully removed already I’d just replace it.



Funny enough driving my car around I’ve been getting rear o2 heater circuit codes all of a sudden. and I’m pretty sure not only did I shut those off but have it in forced closed loop. Last time I was tuning I created like 5 different files with as many solutions to get the idle where I’m now currently satisfied… but I don’t remember which one lol
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Lol. Well, on a positive note, I have no more trans codes. He told me he had to use a 95 program because it is slightly different than a 94 and it allowed more features.
But now I have to go through the hassle of taking the computer out again!
I really need to learn how to do this myself so I can transfer it over to a hand held programmer.
 
You could always paint it, a black clutch and pulley wouldn't look out of place. I've used kbs coatings quite a bit with great success, the aluminum color is designed for hight heat and looks close to actual aluminum.
 
Kurt K said:
I should have added context. This is for my 44xxx mile 89 XR7. The compressor that O'Reilly's stocks is all black and would not look correct. I have not checked other parts places yet as their hub stores are not close to me, but I really don't want a black compressor.
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I agree but I really can’t think of a fix there that would work short of having it welded and machined.

Rockauto seems to have mostly bare aluminum compressors other than four seasons(which is probably what Oreillys sells)

1989 MERCURY COUGAR 3.8L 232cid V6 Supercharged A/C Compressor | Shop Now at RockAuto

Heat & Air Conditioning Parts and More for Your 1989 MERCURY COUGAR at Reliably Low Prices. Fast Online Catalog. DIY-Easy. Your Choice of Quality. Full Manufacturer Warranty.
www.rockauto.com

Worst case scenario you could probably strip the black off with aircraft stripper, it’s not powdercoat
 
Kurt K said:
I should have added context. This is for my 44xxx mile 89 XR7. The compressor that O'Reilly's stocks is all black and would not look correct. I have not checked other parts places yet as their hub stores are not close to me, but I really don't want a black compressor.
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I’ll check when I get home, but I’m pretty sure I have a factory SC AC compressor.
 
Last night I changed out my starter and replaced a fog light that ran into a parking bumper (no, I didn't run into the bumper, the fog light did).

In my long project to find out why my key would turn and the starter not engage, I believe it finally came down to the starter itself. The starter would not kick over and was intermittent under any circumstance, but would start on a second turn of the key. I was lucky to find out that RockAuto honored my limited lifetime warranty on the starter I bought 9 years ago. But I bought a different brand a few months ago thinking I would replace it, then recenlty found out about the warranty on the one in the car. So now I have an extra starter, brand new, never used sitting on my shelf. I put the one I bought in the Cougar thinking that the replacement starter would have the same issues in time.

We will see if the new starter gives me crap and if so, it's back to tracking down the issue.
 
Worked on it for the first time in my newly air conditioned garage at a dry 82°F instead of an insufferable humid 90°+ to do a front suspension check and oil change. Now I can spend extended time in here for more than two erratic transitional seasons every year.

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The temptation is always there to run it at 75° or lower, but I tell myself I know better than that. Next month's electric bill is almost certainly going to be my all-time high.
 
Irv said:
Worked on it for the first time in my newly air conditioned garage at a dry 82°F instead of an insufferable humid 90°+ to do a front suspension check and oil change. Now I can spend extended time in here for more than two erratic transitional seasons every year.

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Very VERY Jealous of the lift. Dude, that is the meow! Of course with the CTEK handy you are prepared.
 
Be grateful. Some say welcome to H3ll.
 

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Oil change at 163,570 for the bird. This is a good milestone in my healing process because I screwed up the tendons in my arms late february. Couldn't even wear a metal bracelet back then.

There's a new owner of the lift rental shop. He basically said "not only did I buy the shop, I bought their customers." He added a third lift and is installing a fourth dedicated to people who accidentally go over time. Really going to miss the previous owner though.

Tomorrow is 90F but otherwise averaging 82F throughout the week
 
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