I dont own one just wondering if u guys ever seen one supped up they have the 4.0 liter 8 thats good for 280 hp and trq and a qrt in high 14. I know there exspensive as hell but theres lots of money out there and ppl are willinging to pay up to be different. Also is that motor a jag motor or whats the deal modular or push rod. 05 is the last yr for the T-bird so there gonna have a value down the line for sure buy one if u like them asap before they sky rocket in value in the near future. Thanks.....

 

It's a 3.9L v8 (I know, picky...) that is a cousin--or maybe a sibling--to the Jag-u-ar designed Tritons/Intech v8s.

It is defintely an OHCer.

280 hp's? That came up from like 252 that they initially had.

Ouch. Premium fuel, though.

www.internetautoguide.com/car-specifications/ 09-int/2004/ford/thunderbird/index.html

 

I may have been miss informed on the hp on those i read somewhere 280 thanks for the corrections, has there been any modded though?

 

there it was lol
http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/thu...eatures/specs/

Oh yeah one more thing weres these Thunderbolts I hear about i also read about these special limited t-birds modded and under the name thunderbolt, cant find pics or anything besides what i read.

 

The 2002 had 252 HP, the 2003-2005 added variable cam timing and boosted the horsepower to 280.

 

I am not sure on the Tbird, but I own the Lincoln LS, which I have read is essentially the same car except for sheet metal. If this is true, then the 2003 and up Tbirds should have 280 hp, an independent rear, a very stiff chassis, lots of aluminum parts and an aluminum 3.9L V8 that is the basic block for the Lincolns, Tbirds and Jags.

I think the Tbird and Lincoln have the same engine and trannys. The Jags use different intakes, cams etc so they are not similar except for the block itself. Even the Jag computers are different and not interchangable I have read.

The Jag, Lincoln, Tbird was a joint development of Ford/Jaguar and is called the DEW platform if I recall.

The word is that the chassis is what makes the LS and I assume the Tbird special. The chassis is supposedly one of the stiffest, ie best ever made by Ford. It gives the car very good road handling.

In my opinion the 3.9L V8 engine is not very good on torque but it really wakes up at high RPMs. I think my old Chebby Impala SS would have dusted the LS off the line but once you got to freeway speed I think the LS would take over.

Paper performance puts the LS at a bit under 15sec in the quarter with something over 120-140mph top end. I think this depends on the computer speed limiter setting which seems different depending on year.

The engine control system and limited number of these cars, means there are not a lot of aftermarket parts for them. If you want a quick and fast ride a Mustang is probably a better bet. If you want a car that handles very well and is reasonably quick and somewhat luxurious, the LS/Tbird might be for you, but move fast, this is the last year for production. I think the birds are already gone.

Just my recollection,

Jim Henderson

 

Not meaning to get off topic, but, isn't the new Mustang built on the same DEW platform?

 

From reading on the LS list, the Mustang is not built on the DEW. Too many expensive chassis and drive line parts for a car in the Mustang class.

Besides the new mustangs will wipe up an LS, at least off the line and in the quarter. In the twisties, the LS may have the edge.

Jim Henderson

 

Ford definitely made the DEW 'Bird a "lifestyle car", and I think you kind of have to buy in to the idea that it is a cruiser and not a sports car to want one.

I'm kind of a Thunderbird freak, and really, I think I'd rather have a low-miles '97 or '98 Lincoln Mark VIII or a '96 or '97 V8 'Bird than an '02-'05 Thunderbird.

As for value... that's been/being debated. In a way, I'd really be surprised if they went up that much in value. They are nice cars to be sure, but the ones I've had the chance to sit in, they weren't really that high up the quality scale, they're not feature-rich, the power train is not spectacular (though it is impressive), but they look gorgeous as all-hell and they ooze class (especially black w/white top and white w/black top combos).

I guess that kind of strayed off the performance topic...

 

As an owner, and a part-time driver of an '02, I'd have to say they're a niche car.

The car drives & handles the road superbly. I wish the engine was a bigger, but for the weight and size of the T-Bird, it's more than adequate. Looks kill when she's clean and shined, and the quality of the interior finish is good. Sound system is good, I just wish there was more tweak-ability to it.

Other than that, there's not much to report on. Interior room for me (6'1" 240lbs) is cramped. Headroom in the T-Bird is non-existent, I actually have to move the seat forward to let the seat recline more, so my head won't rub the headliner.

Transmission is good if you let it do it's own thing, but as soon as you want to use the 'Tiptronic' feature, it freaks out. Heck even compared to the old Dodge Intrepids semi-auto trans, the Dodge tromps all over the T-Bird. Downshifts are slow, and lag waaay behind. Interior fit is average, it has quite a few squeaks that have come up over the past 3 years of ownership.

With the hardtop on, you can hear it shifting and flexing against the body, and with the top down or the convertible top, there is almost no cowl flex which is awesome. Hardtop is a heavy sucker, but it does come with a good quality stand.

The engine has been killing COP's lately. 4 COP's have gone south in the past 6 months. We've still got an intermittent shutter that we can't find the source of.

This car is definitely a cruiser car, we've done 5 hour road trips without really realizing it. Car will do 80MPH+ on lonely Texas country roads with no problems.

When we were going to buy a new car, it was between the T-Bird, and a BMW Z3. BMW salesman made the deadly mistake of showing the old lady how great of a auto-cross car it was by tearing through an empty parking lot as if it was the Le Mans. He finished off his test drive with a e-brake skid. Guy scared the living crap out of her, so she backed out. Ford salesman let her drive it around town, in traffic, on the freeway, and *presto* we had a T-Bird in the garage that night!