Greetings UK Cougar owners!

[Trunk Monkey]

Hello from the USA! My name is Ron and I'm the proud original owner of a 1995 Ford Thunderbird. I'm also the forum admin. of the US site for Cougars and Thunderbirds Birdcats.com We cater specifically to the 7th GEN Cougars (1989-1997) and 10th GEN Thunderbirds - also (1989-1997).

Your admin, Quicksilver, who joined our forum invited me over to check your forum out. It's great to see there's a group in the UK that is as passionate about these cars as we are! Together we can keep these great cars running and save their legacy. You guys have some really nice cars!

Here's my car. I won't bore you with the details but it's heavily modified. Cheers!

 

[Mako]

Sir, we are car people. We are not bored by details; we thrive on them.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[backseateducation]

Ron that's an absolute beauty!

 

[Quicksilver]

Hello Ron and welcome to the forum.
So pleased to see you made it over here and thanks for the kind words and the photos of your pride and joy.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Sir, we are car people. We are not bored by details; we thrive on them.

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you so much.

Ok, so here's the nitty gritty, detailed, laundry list of my changes and modifications and some history on my car for your reading pleasure ...
Sorry most of the links here are broken as I haven't updated them in years and they've changed.

2012: The year of the new Bird

Besides having the car painted this year I snuck in a few changes under the new hood. Once again, with the guidance and assistance of the Carolina Crew Chief the new Trunk Monkey Racing Thunderbird was born. To my knowledge, the only Trick Flow / SVO MN12 Thunderbird in existence anywhere.​

2013: The upgrades continued

In 2013 the half-shafts were upgraded with DSS Level 5 shafts, the Mark VIII LCA's were installed in back with DLF bushings and drag bags were also installed. In addition to the rear end rebuild the car was converted to run E85. Stay tuned for an even faster 1/4 mile as we continue to dial in the new set up!​

2018: A whole new engine

After blowing up the old engine due to a bad tank of gas on my way back from Carlisle in June of 2015 I was forced to reconsider my power plant options. This time I went with a BOSS 5.3L stroker and upgraded Trick Flow Heads. See below for all the new build details. During this time I also stepped the gears back from 4.10's to a more highway-friendly 3.73.​

2019: Upgraded the torque converter from the old single disk DirtyDog to a new CircleD Triple-Disk with mechanical diode at 3800 to 4000 RPM stall.

2020:

• Sound dampening treated the car and installed a new stereo system.
• Installed a Mishimito auxiliary cooling fan.

CURRENT MODIFICATIONS

Exterior

• Fiberglass Cobra R style two step cowl hood by FiberConcepts
• DODGE VIPER Anaconda Green paint by Chung Beverly

Engine Monitoring / Management

• AeroForce Interceptor Scan Gauge with Boost/Vacuum Sensor
• SCT PRP Programmed by Rob's Tire and Auto
• EEC Reflash - 7,000 RPM Redline

Engine

Trick Flow Powered Ford Racing 5.3L / 323 ci stroked BOSS block with a balanced rotating assembly.​

Block

The Ford Performance M-6010-BOSS50 Boss 5.0 block is a 4.6L deck height, 94mm cylinder bore cast iron block. The block uses a proprietary iron mix to yield the strongest possible casting strength with the least porosity and greatest consistency.​

• Block Weight: 165 lbs.​

• Siamese 3.701" (93.83 mm) Bore x 3.750" (95.25 mm) stroke​

• 17mm main web minimal thickness​

• 4 Bolt main with interference fit nodular iron machined caps​

• Increased main web window size for improved crankcase breathing​

​

Crankshaft, Pistons & Rods - Metal in Motion​

• Eagle® 3.750-inch stroke forged steel crankshaft with 8 bolt flywheel pattern
• Eagle® 5.850-inch forged steel "H" beam rods with ARP® 2000 bolts
• Mahle® forged aluminum pistons with a dish that is compatible with 2, 3 or 4 valve heads
• 11.56:1 Compression Ratio

Heads
Trick Flow Specialties TFS-5291B002-C01 - Twisted Wedge® 44cc, 2-valve, Race 195 Cylinder Heads for Ford 4.6L/5.4L
Sealed with Cometic MLS Head Gaskets

• Altered Intake Valve Position​

• OE PI-style Intake Inlets​

• CNC-profiled combustion chambers​

• 3/4" thick decks​

• Patented replaceable cam bearing journals​

• 3/4" Reach spark plugs​

• Fully CNC Competition ported runners with a premium high resolution surface finish​

• Larger, stronger valves​

• Race-duty valve-train components capable of 8,000-plus RPM​

Key Differences over my previous TF Heads

• Exhaust Runner Volume (cc) 95cc vs. 93cc​

• Exhaust Valve Diameter (in) 1.470 in. vs. 1.450 in.​

• Intake Runner Volume (cc) 195cc vs. 185cc​

• Intake Valve Diameter (in) 1.900 in. vs. 1.840 in.​

Cams

• Cushman Motorsports (VT) Stage 2.5 Blower Cams
• .536/.540 lift, 228/235 .050 duration, 114 LSA

Lubrication & Filtering

• Melling Select 10176HV: High-pressure, High-Volume Billet oil pump circulating
• Shell ROTELLA T6 Synthetic, 5W-40 oil
• JLT Performance Oil Separators

Cooling

• Stock Radiator Puller Fan
• Mishimoto 14" Slim Line Auxiliary Cooling Fan - Installed as a pusher fan in front of AC Condenser
• Custom built FLUIDYNE 3-Core, Single Pass Radiator
• Meziere Electric water pump

• Motorcraft 180° T-Stat (Winter)
• Stant 170° High-Flow Performance T-Stat (Summer)

DANA CORP., LONG Tru-Cool MAX 45,000 BTU Auxiliary Transmission Cooler

Drive Train

• Circle D Specialties 3,800 - 4,000 RPM Stall, 9.5" Billet, Triple-Disk Torque Converter with Mechanical Diode (Installed - December 2019)​

• 2003 Mustang GT 4R70W Transmission with Stage II custom build to support 450-550 rwhp by RobertP at Rob's Tire and Auto​

• 2003 Valve Body with 300 - 450 HP Jmod​

• Dynotech Engineering 3.5" Dia. 6061 T6 Aluminum Driveshaft​

• FRPP 3.73 Gears with Traction Lock​

• 1994-2004 Extended Range, SPEED-CAL​

Half-Shaft Axles

Drive Shaft Shop Level 5 Half-shafts rated up to 900 RWHP​

• 4340 (Chromoly) Alloy Steel, 28 spline inlets​

• 300M Alloy, Oil Quenched & Double Tempered Vacuum Melted Silicon-Vanadium Steel shafts​

• 4340 (Chromoly) Alloy Steel, 33 spline outlets​

Ignition System
OPTIMA® Digital 1200 12V Performance Battery Charger and Maintainer
ACCEL 140018 EDIS Coil Packs
Ford Racing (9mm) Ignition Cables

Spark Makers: NGK R 4177 Plugs

• FINE wire electrode​

• FULL thread type​

• Two heat ranges cooler than stock​

• Cold-rolled threads prevent cross-threading and damage to cylinder heads​

• Trivalent plating eliminates need for anti-seize​

• High-grade alumina silicate ceramic​

Fuel / Air Delivery

60 lb/hr Ford Racing Fuel Injectors with JETRONIC to USCAR adapters​

Billet Adjustable Fuel Pressure Regulator - 2 hole design​

TI Automotive (owner of Walbro) 465 LPH Fuel pump from FORE Innovations​

​

At 40psi and 13.5 volts:​

• Flows 465 lph in Gasoline​

• Flows 430 lph in E85​

​

Custom Cold Air Intake​

K&N RU-2590 Cone Filter​

CFM Performance 90mm MAF 4" Air Filter Adapter Flange​

90 mm Lightning MAF Meter​

'03 Mustang GT Intake Tube​

Federal Mogul Fel-Pro MS 98008 T-1 Rubberized Aluminum intake gaskets​

​

SUPERCHARGER

Ford Motorsport SVO EATON M112 (4th Gen) 1.7L Supercharger​

​

13 psi of Boost with these pulleys​

• Innovators West 10% Overdrive Harmonic Damper​

• 3.0" Blower pulley​

Blower Cooling

• Alcohol Injection Systems, Trunk Mount Water Methanol Injection with 14 GPH nozzle
• 50/50 RENEGADE Methanol/Water Blend

Exhaust System

• Mid-Length KOOKS Headers: 1-5/8" (41.2 mm) Primaries into 2.25" (63.5 mm) Collectors
• Aluminum/Ceramic coated by AirBorn Coatings, Mount Holly, NC
• No Cats
• EGR Delete
• Mandrel Exhaust Systems X-Pipe
• True Dual 2.5" (63.5 mm) Mandrel Bent Pipes
• Borla Pro XS Mufflers, 2.5" Offset in / Center out, Part #40358
• Borla Single Square Angle-Cut Inter-cooled Tips

SUSPENSION

Springs
Vogtland Lowering Springs - 1.0 inch (25.4 mm) Closer to the Road
Air Lift Rear Coil Spring Drag Bags - To eliminate off the line wheel hop

Front

• Moog Performance Upper Control Arms
• OEM TRW Thunderbird Super Coupe Lower Control Arms
• KONI Adjustable Shocks
• Stock 1.06" Anti-Sway Bar

Rear

• 16.8 lbs lighter than stock - Aluminum Mark VIII LCA's with
• Delrin LCA Bushings and UHMW spring perches by DLF
• 1.25" ADDCO Anti-Sway Bar
• 99-04 Cobra Bilstein Sport Shocks

Additional Bracing

• Stock V brace with Thunderbird Super Coupe L Braces

Brakes

• Ford Racing 10TH Anniversary Cobra Calipers: 40mm dual piston calipers by PBR with AIMCO drilled and Slotted 13" Rotors from db1Racing.com
• DOT 4 ATE Super Blue Racing Brake Fluid
• My Brakes Bleed Ford Blue!

WHEELS

​

18" x 9" Cobra R Replicas Powder Coated in Gun Metal Grey​

+ 36mm Offset​

TIRES

​

Street​

NITTO Tires​

255/45ZR18 NITTO NT555 G2 - Front​

285/40R18 Micky Thompson ET Street S/S - Rear​

​

Strip: Micky Thompson​

 

[Quicksilver]

That's some list, Ron.

 

[Damian]

Hiya Ron, Wow what a car and what a list! you've got the bug bad my friend. Just love the Proper racing tyres on the thing and the bonnet bulge is freakin' massive. You Americans do shinny glossy paint and sunsets better than anywhere else in the world. It reminds me of every copy of Road and track and Car and driver mags that I could afford back in the late 80's with my pocket money.

 

[TopCat1127]

Holy s*** that makes my shopping list look sedate lol nice job!!!

 

[Mako]

I'm curious. Does the large bonnet provide clearance for anything (the supercharger?) or is it for airflow?

Because this thing must pump out heat like a mother that the engine bay was never set up to handle.

Related: Methanol cooling for the blower? Huh. Christ on a bike.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Hiya Ron, Wow what a car and what a list! you've got the bug bad my friend. Just love the Proper racing tyres on the thing and the bonnet bulge is freakin' massive. You Americans do shinny glossy paint and sunsets better than anywhere else in the world. It reminds me of every copy of Road and track and Car and driver mags that I could afford back in the late 80's with my pocket money.

Thank you so much. Photography is a hobby of mine.

A friend of my mechanic, who built the car for me, painted it. He's a paint a body guy who went into business for himself painting at home. He did an outstanding job - including the engine bay - while the car was down for other upgrades and the engine was out.

I modeled my specification and modification list after the format that Car & Driver magazine used to use. Yes, the 80's and 90's were the golden age of automotive magazines.

Holy s*** that makes my shopping list look sedate lol nice job!!!

Thank you so much. It's taken me years to get the car to this point.

I'm curious. Does the large bonnet provide clearance for anything (the supercharger?) or is it for airflow?

Because this thing must pump out heat like a mother that the engine bay was never set up to handle.

Related: Methanol cooling for the blower? Huh. Christ on a bike.

It probably does move air out the back better than the stock hood and the clearance is there if I need/want to use it but no, there's no need for extra clearance for the engine right now. The supercharger that I have sits comfortably in the valley of the engine so there are no clearance issues. The fiberglass bonnet is about half the weight of the stock bonnet which is 58 LBS ( 26.3 Kg.)

Yes, you're absolutely correct, the motor generates a lot of heat, with a 11.56:1 Compression Ratio the motor will detonate on Premium pump gas (93 Octane). By running E85 (generally rated around 100 to 105 Octane) it's true racing fuel and the car hums along without issue. It takes more fuel to run the engine on E85 but the cost benefit is huge! I can get E85 for considerably less than premium. This photo below is from May of this year. Prices are higher now (obviously). But, this is my weekender car. I don't daily drive it so I'm not filling it up regularly.

The main issue I have with cooling - and it's a bit of a story so bear with me - is that the high stall racing converter generates a lot of heat to the transmission so I run an extra large transmission cooler that is mounted in front of he main air intake (see the photo below). It's the largest trans cooler made (with 5/16 & 3/8" cooler lines that will fit a Thunderbird or any passenger car) and is specifically designed for full-size trucks like Ford's F250/F350/F450/F550.

This cooler comes stock on the '04 to '08 F-150's and provides towing capacity up to 11,000 LBS on equipped F-150 trucks.

On a Thunderbird this cooler is ideal for road racing and is ideal at the strip when running in hot weather to protect the transmission. This cooler tucks up nicely under the bumper in front of the radiator and just in front of the power steering cooler; it's 8.5" tall x 22" long x 1.25 thick. A perfect fit!

However, this cooler blocks the main air intake area for the engine and preheats the air before it gets to the radiator. So, in order to combat this I had a custom radiator built by Fluidyne and added a second "pusher" fan in front of the AC condenser to move air. Together they do a good job of managing the heat.

 

[David`]

We could only dream of those fuel prices, it's roughly $9 a gallon over here if my maths are correct!