tie rod

85McLaren · Post by **85McLaren** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 2:56 pm

I think the individual who I purchased my car from has put some wrong parts back on. I am attempting to put the car back to stock. Along in doing this, I own two other regular capri 5.0s. The trouble with these cars are - you, as the owner, must know what goes on the cars when getting them serviced. For instance - the tie rod end was off of a thunderbird. Most people would replace it with capri tie rod ends not knowing what the car actually is. Is it safe to put thunderbird tie rod ends on a regular capri and use the alignment specs for a mclaren?????

Jason

Post by **negusm** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 3:09 pm

What exactly is the difference between the two?

Can you tell visually?

I will need to know this too when I go and rebuild my front end. I want to make sure the correct tie rod ends are there.

I don't see why you couldn't just swap them on a regular Capri. In essence, thats what asc did. They also put on lowering springs too.

-Mike

Euro#13 · Post by **Euro#13** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 8:13 pm

The T-Bird rod ends were used to reduce any bump steer that would be caused by the lowering springs that were installed by ASC.

The studs on T-Bird tie rod ends were longer than the those on the Capri's. By using the longer stud it helped keep the tie rods and inner sockets on the steering rack in the proper position to reduce bump steer.

The T-Bird part number was E2SZ-3A130-A
The Capri part number was E2DZ-3A130-A

Of course both original part numbers have been discontinued by Ford.

If you go to the aftermarket such as Moog for tie rod ends, they will only list one part number to fit both applications so it probably has the longer shaft but I don't know that for sure.

Brent

Euro#13 · Post by **Euro#13** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 8:49 pm

Mike,

I just checked and Green Sales still has 10 of the original T-Bird tie rod ends in stock.

Get them while you can.

Brent

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 11:43 pm

Who is/are "Green Sales"? How much are they ? I wanna buy them & sell them to Mike!

Just kidding, but really... WHO is this company??

Also, now I MAY BE WRONG, but I seem to recall being told that the ones employed herein were from the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. Were THOSE different from the regular model 1985 T-Bird?

Post by **negusm** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 12:34 am

http://www.greensalescompany.com/

They buy up remaining inventories of Ford stock all over the world and then resell it.

-Mike

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 3:01 am

Thanks!!

Euro#13 · Post by **Euro#13** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 3:49 am

Sandy wrote:Also, now I MAY BE WRONG, but I seem to recall being told that the ones employed herein were from the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. Were THOSE different from the regular model 1985 T-Bird?

Sandy,

All T-Birds and Cougars from '83-'86 used the same tie rod ends regardless of trim.
It was probably just a marketing thing, saying that they were from a TurboCoupe has more appeal than telling you that they were from an average run of the mill 3.8 V6 base model T-Bird.

BTW, I have some inside information that your particular Coupe has a set of tie rod ends that were originally destined to be used on a Cougar XR-7 Turbo.

Brent

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 4:14 am

"" BTW, I have some inside information that your particular Coupe has a set of tie rod ends that were originally destined to be used on a Cougar XR-7 Turbo ""

Me thinks that you just contridcted yourself !

But that does sound even better than Thunderbird Super Coupe !

Post by **negusm** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 1:15 pm

I called Green Sales and asked for a 1985 TURBO Coupe Tie Rod tip.

They came back with the same part number.

I ordered 2. They were $45 each.

I suppose I may as well try and order the chrome Carrera shocks too. With that, I will now have purchased EVERY special part that asc or Ford put on the car. From the B303 cam to the Tie Rod tips to another rear wing to an extra set of wheels.

Sheesh.

-Mike

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 1:48 pm

Mike somewheres

I have the shock(s) part numbers. Do you have them ? (the parts #s) .....

Do you have the SPRINGS ??

Post by **negusm** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 2:17 pm

Yeah I got a set of springs from Hank.

We replaced the rear and it dropped the car over 2 inches. The fronts we didn't change because we didn't have the correct spring compressor. However, it looks like the person who changed the rear springs, didn't have a front spring compressor either as the front springs looked like the same as what Hank sent me. When we got the car off the jack stands, the whole thing sits at the same level all the way around. (maybe .25" higher on the driver's side).

I called Carrera for shock #3698

They have been bought out and no longer list that part even as a reference.

He gave me some alternates #s but I don't know if they would work based on my description:

Chrome Small Body, Adjustable, with stud top conversion (not sure if its 50/50): 7574
Chrome Large Body, Adjustable, 50/50: 5375

I didn't know what the shock lengths were for Compressed vs Extended...so I don't think those part numbers are probably correct as the guy was "guessing" at what I'd need.

-Mike

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 12:38 am

Chrome Large Body, Adjustable, 50/50: 5375

PRETTY SURE THAT IS THE ONE

Post by **negusm** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 12:44 am

Yeah. It sucks that I missed out. The correct shocks were for sale as late as back in March of this year.

Oh well. We keep hunting I suppose.

It seems that I delay a part here or there because I don't want to spend the money right away and by the time I go looking it goes out of stock.

-Mike

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 1:42 am

I just bought a pair of the tie rod tips from Green Sales. $45.00 each + S&H.

I need 'em like I need the Flu, but they were 1 part that I didn't have, so now I got them coming, so they can sit in the box in the celler for the next ___(#) of years, with the rest of the stuff down there.

What did the new comany do with the old stock? {Don't say it} !!!