What did you do with your Thunderbird Today?

Kurt K said:
Changed the oil in my 95 XR7 today. This is the 3rd time I've changed it since I've owned and I will say I'd rather change the plugs on my modified SC twice, than do an oil change this car....the filter orientation is horrible.
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I changed the oil and filter in mine while it was up in the air for the fuel pump.

Inluding the time it takes to clean up all the spilled oil, I think it actually took less time dropping the exhaust than changing the oil. :oops:
 
Kurt K said:
I hate paying the dealer to do anything to my cars. This is also why all but two of my cars are at least 19 years old.

I'm done venting about oil changes....at least until the next one.
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It is terrible. Once you've done it enough times it does get easier. I remember one of the first times I changed the oil on a 4.6 MN12 over 20 years ago. I was so mad trying to get that filter out of there. Collapsed engine mounts won't help the cause either.
 
I remember reading old TSTSNB some fellow had broken his arm doing a MN12 oil filter change, and he had to walk to the doctor because his car wasn't together. I can kind of feel how that could happen. Because I stand under the car to do them, I find it easier for me to to the twisting from above my shoulder wtih elbows bent closed
 
Oil changes... meh. Over and done with within about 15-20 minutes. The thing I hate the most about other people doing oil changes... they always overtighten the drain plug and filter! When I can do the oil change for $30-$35 using full synthetic in under 20 minutes, and with the cheapest service shops wanting 2-3x that... I'm a miser, to be sure. :)
 
I remember hearing about this too, I have used it on every vehicle that has the oil go on or near a crossmember or suspension piece. It has saved me a ton of brake clean usage cleaning up.
 
Long, long, long time ago in a time line far from now, I let Big O tires change my oil. A while later, I decided to do it myself. The drain plug was in crocked and too tight for a regular wrench to open. It took my f-i-l and myself with a long cheater bar to break it loose.

Needless to say, I never let anyone change my oil again. Fkin' apes.
 
Kidd-7 said:
I think it was over at TSTSNB I read a suggestion about using folded tin foil to drain the oil filter before doing the dance to remove it.
That has seriously helped clean up.
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I clean up the major mess, but oil is free rust proofing where I come from. Most of you would probably be disgusted by the amount of grease and oil on the underbody and engine bay in our '97, but that is the cost of driving one of these rigs year round up here.
 
I bought more E85 for it … put in gas cans not the car.
 
1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
Is your car modified to run on E85? If so, what does that entail, and what are the benefits?
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Yes. I run E85.

To get that done you need:
  • A bigger fuel pump. I run a FORE 465 lph pump.
  • Bigger Injectors: I'm using 60 lb injectors. Stock injectors are 19 lb.
  • Billet Adjustable Fuel Pressure Regulator - 2 hole design - SCP sells them for $156.00 but you might find them elsewhere for less.
  • I"m still using the stock fuel lines and rails
  • And, of course you'll need a tune to dial the engine in with E85
The benefits are:
  • Much, much more performance - E85 is equivalent to 112 to 114 Octane rating! Think racing gas on steroids!
  • Lower Cost: E85 can be had for much, much less than premium 93 octane pump gas - Usually over $4 a gallon. I bought my E85 today for only $2.499 a gallon!
Down side:
  • It takes more E85 to get the job done, thus the need for a bigger fuel pump and injectors.
  • Your MPG will drop significantly. I haven't calculated mine but, depending on how heavily you're into the throttle (or not) it can get you pretty far at a slower pace or a shorter distance at a very good pace. ;)
  • E85 can be more difficult to source than regular pump gas. Fortunately for me there's a Sheetz gas station relatively nearby that carries it. You'll have to check around your area for availability. There are websites that show where to find it. Sheetz is a good source as most of their stations carry it.
 
i hate changing my oil filter. It seems that the DA who put the power steering hose on made sure to leave that damn spring clamp turned so that the tab literally cuts a groove along the filter when pulling it out. Going in with some oil in it I go high and push the hose up enough to drop the filter in the pocket w/ gasket side up to not lose all the pre-fill.

Thought about installing a remote and move it but when I replaced the filter housing gasket a few years back I had forgotten about it so f it. I just replaced a section of vacuum line from the PCV to the throttle body. I had noticed it was collapsed and I messed with it and realized it was old and non-reinforced hose. It also had a hard turn too so I used a plastic tee and cut it and added a short piece to connect to TB and plugged the other end. It idles so smooth now I was like What the? The throttle response also seems better. Hmmm.

Maybe it will consume/leak less now that the crankcase is more evenly pressurized. We'll see., but I've gotta do the intake and heater tube leak fix AGAIN. tried to rent the pressure tester at Oreilly's and theirs was out.
 
There's a pour lip on the crossmember. I loosen the filter a couple of turns, and let it drain into a pan, then move the pan and pull the drainplug, let it drain, put the drainplug back in. remove filter,check flange for filter remnants,like part of the rubber gasket from the old filter,put in new filter, wipe off kmember with rag,add new oil,start car and look for leaks,write mileage down.Letting the oil drain is the longest time.
 
theterminator93 said:
Oil changes... meh. Over and done with within about 15-20 minutes. The thing I hate the most about other people doing oil changes... they always overtighten the drain plug and filter! When I can do the oil change for $30-$35 using full synthetic in under 20 minutes, and with the cheapest service shops wanting 2-3x that... I'm a miser, to be sure. :)
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I don't know if its my scrawny muscles or what but I truly have no clue how people overtighten filters that bad. I get the overtightening of lugnuts with the infernal torque sticks on impacts but god damn, oil filters you only need to tighten until they stop screwing on via inertia plus a half turn at most! doesn't take much.

Plus where I agree with @KevinVarnes about free rust proofing via oil (far superior to any "painted" undercoat), the K member doesn't need it, and the plastic valve covers on SOHCs (and many other modern vehicles) most certainly don't need it to stave it off! It's just laziness.
 
I thought the 4.6 was the only one with the sway bar in the way.
 
The sway bar isn't really in the way on the SC, but the filter is above the crossmember and mounted at angle....oil ends up on the crossmember.
 
I bought a relocation kit for the red coguar. now to figure out how to cut this stainless braid off, so I can assemble the AN10 lines.
 
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Zep5.0 said:
It sucks on the 5.0, too. We did my oil change once when I first got the car, and Dad said "pay someone to do that shit next time"
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That unlocked some memories right there of my Dad and I having some of our biggest arguments under a car. :rofl:
 
Grog6 said:
There's a pour lip on the crossmember. I loosen the filter a couple of turns, and let it drain into a pan,
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Mine just drains onto the power steering hose tucked in the crossmember, gets caught on that and drips from there basically right under where the filter attaches to the block. It never makes it to that little lip in the crossmember. I keep promising myself I'll eventually replace the engine mounts and it will get better, but we all know that won't happen.
 
Trunk Monkey said:
Yes. I run E85.
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How is E85 on the seals and gaskets? I recall that the corn oil crap they put in regular gas can effect gaskets, but I don't recall how far back the age of the car before it can cause issues.
 
That's as bad as using an impact to install lug nuts. I beat a guys ass over that. It wouldn't have pissed me off that bad if he hadn't cross threaded them all. not a one was even tight.
 
Filled up with 93. It was about on fumes since I just changing the fuel pump. Put in a can of 134a, aired up the tires and gave it a wash! Pretty much spring here now so it's ready for summer :cool2:

I was getting sick of the drone with no mufflers, so put on a pair of glass packs. I'm undecided on the look but I like that the exhaust exits straight out the back now. Sound is much more mellow but still aggressive, it's way quieter on the highway. Going to try some chrome tips on it

These are what I used and with the angles in and out they actually fit perfectly in place of the factory mufflers - https://www.summitracing.com/parts/APH-351822S



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Kenz said:
Filled up with 93. It was about on fumes since I just changing the fuel pump. Put in a can of 134a, aired up the tires and gave it a wash! Pretty much spring here now so it's ready for summer :cool2:

I was getting sick of the drone with no mufflers, so put on a pair of glass packs. I'm undecided on the look but I like that the exhaust exits straight out the back now. Sound is much more mellow but still aggressive, it's way quieter on the highway. Going to try some chrome tips on it

These are what I used and with the angles in and out they actually fit perfectly in place of the factory mufflers - https://www.summitracing.com/parts/APH-351822S
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Beautiful ride, ugh, I wish it was getting to the right season. -22°f here today, car is under 2 feet of snow, im jealous of being able to work on a car in February. Maybe one day ill live somewhere warm
 
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