General Specifications
GENERAL SPECS |
1983-86 |
1987-88 |
Wheelbase (in) |
104.0 |
104.2 |
Overall Length (in) |
197.6 |
200.8 |
Overall Height (in) |
53.4 |
53.8 |
Overall Width (in) |
71.1 |
71.1 |
Front Tread (in) |
58.1 |
58.1 |
Rear Tread (in) |
58.5 |
58.5 |
Trunk Space (cu ft) |
14.6 |
14.6 |
General Engine
ENGINE |
2.3L I-4 TURBO |
3.8L V6 |
5.0L V8 SO |
5.0L V8 HO* |
VIN Code |
A or T or W |
3 or 4 |
F |
(T) |
Type |
OHC |
OHV |
OHV |
OHV |
Firing Order/Rotation |
1-3-4-2 / CW |
1-4-2-5-3-6 / CCW |
1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 / CCW |
1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 / CCW |
Spark Plug Gap |
.034 |
.054 |
.054 |
.054 |
Timing (Factory) |
AUTO: 10 degrees BTDC / MANUAL: 13 degrees BTDC |
10 degrees BTDC |
10 degrees BTDC |
10 degrees BTDC |
Oil Filter |
Motorcraft FL-300 |
Motorcraft FL-1A |
Motorcraft FL-1A |
Motorcraft FL-1A |
* Reference for HO converted cars only.
Engine Specifications
Year/Engine |
Cu. In. |
Bore & Stroke (in.) |
Fuel Delivery (U.S.) |
Compression Ratio |
Horsepower @rpm |
Torque @rpm |
1983 |
||||||
| 3.8 V6 | 232 | 3.80 x 3.40 | Carb | 8.6:1 | 100@3800 | 175@2200 |
| 5.0 V8 | 302 | 4.00 x 3.00 | TBI | 8.4:1 | 130@3200 | 240@2000 |
1984 |
||||||
| I4 Turbo | 140 | 3.78 x 3.12 | MPI | 8.0:1 | 145@4600 | 180@3600 |
| 3.8 V6 | 232 | 3.80 x 3.40 | TBI | 8.7:1 | 120@3600 | 205@1600 |
| 5.0 V8 | 302 | 4.00 x 3.00 | TBI | 8.4:1 | 140@3200 | 250@1600 |
1985 |
||||||
| I4 Turbo manual | 140 | 3.78 x 3.12 | MPI | 8.0:1 | 155@4600 | 190@2800 |
| I4 Turbo auto | 140 | 3.78 x 3.12 | MPI | 8.0:1 | 145@4400 | 180@3000 |
| 3.8 V6 | 232 | 3.80 x 3.40 | TBI | 8.7:1 | 120@3600 | 205@1600 |
| 5.0 V8 | 302 | 4.00 x 3.00 | TBI | 8.4:1 | 140@3200 | 250@1600 |
1986 |
||||||
| I4 Turbo manual | 140 | 3.78 x 3.12 | MPI | 8.0:1 | 155@4600 | 190@2800 |
| I4 Turbo auto | 140 | 3.78 x 3.12 | MPI | 8.0:1 | 145@4400 | 180@3000 |
| 3.8 V6 | 232 | 3.80 x 3.40 | TBI | 8.7:1 | 120@3600 | 205@1600 |
| 5.0 V8 | 302 | 4.00 x 3.00 | MPI | 8.9:1 | 150@3400 | 270@2000 |
1987 |
||||||
| 3.8 V6 | 232 | 3.80 x 3.40 | TBI | 8.7:1 | 120@3600 | 205@1600 |
| 5.0 V8 | 302 | 4.00 x 3.00 | MPI | 8.9:1 | 150@3400 | 270@2000 |
1988 |
||||||
| 3.8 V6 | 232 | 3.80 x 3.40 | MPI | 8.7:1 | 140@3600 | 205@1600 |
| 5.0 V8 | 302 | 4.00 x 3.00 | MPI | 8.9:1 | 155@3400 | 275@2000 |
Capacities
Engine |
Oil Crankcase (quarts) |
Rear Axle Fluid (pints) |
Fuel Tank (gallons) |
Cooling System (quarts) |
| 2.3 I4 | 5.0 (w/ filter) | 3.5 (7.5″ axle) 3.8 (8.8″ axle) |
18 | 10.0 |
| 3.8 V6 | 5.0 (w/ filter) | 3.5 (7.5″ axle) | 22.1* | 11.8 |
| 5.0 V8 | 5.0 (w/ filter) | 3.5 (7.5″ axle); 3.8 (8.8″ axle) |
22.1* | 14.2 |
| *1983-85 models have 21.6 gallon fuel tanks. See owner’s manual to confirm this info. | ||||
Transmission
Transmission Type |
Code |
Fluid (pints) |
| T5 manual | 2 | 3.7 |
| C3 | V | 8 |
| C4 ** | W | 10 |
| C5 | C | 11 |
| AOD | T | 12.3 |
| A4LD | L | 12.3 |
| ** Pre-’82 models and retrofitted C4 Cougars only. | ||
Brake Specifications
Front Brake Disc Min. Thickness (in.) |
Front Brake Disc Max. Runout (in.) |
Front Brake Disc Diameter (in.) |
Rear Brake Drum Diameter (in.) |
Front Min. Lining Thickness (in.) |
Rear Min. Lining Thickness (in.) |
| 1983-88 Cougar/Thunderbird (Except 1987-88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe) | |||||
| 0.810 | 0.003 | 10.000 | 9.000/10.000 | 0.175 | 0.123 |
| 1987-88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe (and retrofitted cars) | |||||
| 0.895 | 0.003 | 11.000 | 10.000 | 0.175 | 0.123 |
Stock Caster/Camber Specifications
For more information visit Global West’s site here.
Left |
Right |
|
1985-86 |
||
| Camber (tolerance .75 degrees) |
.25 degrees | .25 degrees |
| Caster (tolerance .75 degrees) |
.75 degrees | .75 degrees |
| Total Toe (tolerance .25 degrees) |
.38 degrees | |