Now that i got my 92 305 tbi rs my undefeated freind in the thunderbird wants to race me. At first i declined cuz i dont want to blow my 115 k motor(soon to be replaced with a 350). But in the back of my head i still wonder if i could beat him. IM not sure but i think the thunderbirds ran in the low 16 high 15 range in the 1/4 which is right where im at, but i got a few mods.
not much but are these enough mods to beat him.

flowmaster cat-back
k&n
3.42 gears
slp take-off posi

an my tires are pretty new and extra wide if the that matters
255/50/16

thanx a lot guys.
mike

 

i think the 97 lx has the 4.6 mustang motor in it. my friend has a 95 bird and that car can move pretty well. its only drawback is its weight. you might be able to take it.

if you really wanna be cocky, race him on the highway. their speed limiters are set at 100 mph!

 

They'll move, but once they get past 60 mph or so, they don't pull very good. If it's driven well, I'ld say they are low to mid 15's cars. But it still a 4.6, so with not too many mods these guys can hit low to mid 14's. Beyond that, w/o some crazy mods like a supercharger or laughing gas, the weight of these cars really holds them back. Also, they don't handle well compared to our Camaros.

 

i always thought low-mid 15s was the number for the mustang with the 4.6!! if i am right, the Tbird should be no faster than high 15s. if you can beat that, go ahead and race him.

 

tpi is right, the stangs were only good for low 15s, and that was the stick cars. The Tbird will probably be a high 15s car, and I think you should take him.

 

I definitely do not think a Thunderbird would run low to mid 15's. My ex's '94 with the 4.6 with Flowmasters and cold air ran a best 16.3. This is at a pretty bad track but it would never get any where near mid 15's in my opinion no matter what track. I think the 97's had 10 more horsepower but still.....
And I saw a 96 Mustang GT Convert. (4.6L) with the automatic trans. run a 16.2 with exhaust...ouch.
I think it will be a good run but you will win.

 

My friends 4.6L T-bird ran a 15.8 bone stock

 

My friend let me drive the thunderbird and it felt like it had slow off the line speed but really kicked up after 2nd gear. After that we took out the camaro and it felt like it had more off the line torque but died when it hit third.

an btw my friend pushed the car to 100 without problem and it felt like it had some power left so i dont know about the speed limiter thing.

mike

ill whoop em when i get my 350 in!!

 

Good luck to any man that thinks he can break an LO3 after only 115K. Beat on it and it'll keep coming back for more.

 

97 thunderbird LX

3.8 V6 = about 3550lbs, 145hp 215ft/lbs
expect mid 17 1/4mi

4.6 V8 = just over 3600lbs, 205hp, 280ft/lbs
expect high 15 1/4mi