The new Thunderbird.

[packman]

4.3L Astrovan FTW. I forgot how cramped the Rangers are; at 6' even, I fit in the Ranger quite easily. As far as the Thunderbird is concerned; I think Hot Rod did a small feature on modded 80s and 90's Thunderbirds. I didn't think too much of those cars until I saw that feature and I was impressed with what they did with those cars. Actually, at the Fun Ford weekend last November, there was a T-Bird around your vintage that had the 5.4L Triton swapped into it. Unfortunately I ran out of film B4 I got to that car. I'll try to dig the mag up if I still have it.


Packman

[Lincolnmania]

those wheels come in 5"x4.25"

[Pirate]

those wheels come in 5"x4.25"

It's a copy of the Saleen in that bolt pattern.

[Lincolnmania]

excellent!

[P72Ford]

Hey Larry, just buy a fucking Lightning already!...

[torquelover]

Hey Larry, just buy a fucking Lightning already!...

+1

[Heretic]

Hey Larry, just buy a fucking Lightning already!...

+2

You'll love youself in the morning, I REGRET to all fuck selling my 93L now...

[Pirate]

As of right now....there aren't any to be had locally. The closest nice truck is in College Station, Texas...a 4200-mile round trip.
In addition, I am a bit of a picky bastard, as I only want the 94-95 Lightning (roller cam block, and R134a air conditioning), and it has to have the center console/seat, so I can at least squeeze another kid or two in there. On top of that, I am not buying one with over 110K miles on it, unless substantial work has been performed.

Otherwise, there isn't any point in getting one.

The bad part is that they were literally raining out of the sky here at one point, but all are gone now.

There is a 93L up in Bremerton....but he's wanting a bit much for a 93 with 122K miles on it....and I don't want a 93, unless one fell in my lap dirt cheap.

[P72Ford]

I want a really low mileage one. You know Larry, I'm sure familiar with Hemmings. There is a listing this month in there for two of them (not sure on the years). There is a white one with 12,000 miles, for 15, and a black one with mid 30's on the clock for 12. Not sure if you want to spend that, but thats nice low mileage.

[Pirate]

I want a really low mileage one. You know Larry, I'm sure familiar with Hemmings. There is a listing this month in there for two of them (not sure on the years). There is a white one with 12,000 miles, for 15, and a black one with mid 30's on the clock for 12. Not sure if you want to spend that, but thats nice low mileage.

I missed a 60K Lightning for $6000....by one day. There were several others available...but all disappeared fairly quickly.

I am already picking up parts for the Thunderbird, so I am not going to stress that much if I don't find one right now.

[packman]

Okay, this may sound inane at best, but I'll suggest it anyways. Are there any F-150s around your area that you could build into a Lightning clone? Perhaps find an F4TE block and start from there?


Packman

[Archangel]

Okay, this may sound inane at best, but I'll suggest it anyways. Are there any F-150s around your area that you could build into a Lightning clone? Perhaps find an F4TE block and start from there?

That's what I was thinking - with Pirate's knowledge and skill, it can't be too hard to turn a regular F150 into a Lightning. Or maybe even start with an F250, if it has a fatter frame that would make for less flex/twist and better handling?

[Pirate]

That's what I was thinking - with Pirate's knowledge and skill, it can't be too hard to turn a regular F150 into a Lightning. Or maybe even start with an F250, if it has a fatter frame that would make for less flex/twist and better handling?

To be honest with you, I would rather start with either a longbed, or an extended cab shortbed truck, as I can't haul the entire clan around in a regular cab truck. There are a couple of guys who have built ex-cab versions of the Lightning on the lightning-owner's forum...

However, there is something to owning the real thing....

[P72Ford]

However, there is something to owning the real thing....

Damn purists. I'd rather have a home built Lightning. That way, when (notice I didn't say if) I wreck it, I won't have desecrated the real thing.

The whole long bed thing is a little goofy to me; I don't know how good that would look. Also, I'm not a fan of the extra cab, but I can see the value in your circumstance.

[Archangel]

Plenty of lowered long beds running around, if done right they look wicked. Can't see why that can't apply to performance-oriented trucks like the Lightning as well. What I'd like to see is a shortcab F350 dually turned into a 1-ton Lightning :evil: Not mine obviously, but a gasser with a stick of some sort...