1997 T-Bird SC reliablilty?

[STAPrap]

Hey guys,just wondering if anyone knows about Super Coupes and the cars history?Any websites I can use to check out this car?
I was thinking about getting one,I have always liked that car.Would like a manual tranny,but would settle for an auto probably,if the car was in real good condition.

Cheers and thanks for any tips and advice,


DD :beer:

[FiveO]

Its a Ford...can't be all the bad :D


Good luck with your choice...!

[Embassy]

Have you checked out TCCoA?

http://forums.tccoa.com/ (http://forums.tccoa.com/)

[sailsmen]

I owned one w/ 5 speed the first year they came out. Loved the car. :P Biggest prob max torque 2,500 RPM was 315'lbs and 2,500 RPM in 5th was 105 MPH, hence I never used 5th, no desire to go to jail.

S/C replaced around 40K miles, due to bearing knock.

[jonroe]

Go see www.sccoa.com (http://www.sccoa.com) for info.

First, there are only 1989 - 1995 TBird SCs. 1996 and 1997 did not have the SC option. I have had a 93 stick since May 1994 and LOVE it. I've always been a TBird guy. You can't beat the feel of a beautiful TBird with a blower and a stick. Try to find the stick. You'll be glad you did. My 93 is my baby in the garage while the new MM, unfortunately, sits outside.

jon

[STAPrap]

So in 96 and 97 what engines where they?V8 by then wasn't it?

Was there manual offered in 96/97 then?



DD

[jobrien8]

I currently own a '94 Supercoupe :D . The manual transmission was only offered with the Supercoupe. The V-8 option was a 5.0L in the early years and a 4.6L-2V in the later years. Like what was shown earlier, the best web sites are either the tccoa.com or sccoa.com sites.

[STAPrap]

Ok guys,thankyou very much for your replies.They have been very helpful.I am switching to the sites given now...so long!!!!!!


DD

[jerrym3]

94 was the first year for the TBird 4.6.

[jonroe]

The 96 and 97 birds only had the 3.8 V6 NA or the 4.6 V8, both auto transmission. Still a very nice car but not like a Super Coupe.


Jon

[RoyLPita]

Super coupes had 3 wide serpentine belts. To take off the primary belt, the lower radiator hose had to be removed and coolant dropped.

Just my .02 and then some.

[UAW 588]

I owned a 95 Super Coupe. 95 was the last year it was produced and they all came with a 3.8 liter engine and a choice of manual or auto. The car was nice and could be quick. But in my opinion the Marauder blows it away. I couldn't believe the HP once I stepped on it. A bit of advice on the Super Coupe, it can leak in all the wrong places. Like head gaskets, which leads to cracked heads. I had two heads replaced. Thank god for extended warrenties, and a good service dept. Also I could never get rid of small coolant leaks. I could smell them all the time. I could go on for ever about this car. Must have been a lemon from the factory, but knock on wood for my Marauder. Its been almost a year now and nothing but praise for this beast. :D

[STAPrap]

Ok perfect,thankyou.And I check the SC was last made in 95 available in auto or man tranny.



DD ;)

[jerrym3]

If the SC used the same auto trans as th 4.6, beware. The mid 90's Ford trans were not very good.

My brother-in-law, father-in-law, and I all had to get the transmissions rebuilt in Ford 94 cars with the 4.6. I also noticed the same trans' problem with the airport limo service Towncars during that period.

Trans shudder when shifting from 3rd to 4th was the major issue. It felt as if you were driving over a washboard highway.

Also, look out for the front rotors. Extremely poor quality was the problem. In no time at all, the front started to wobble when the brakes were applied. Had them cut down, and they'd start to wobble again.

Other than that, they were/are great cars that still look good after all these years. My 4.6 has never been apart. Only had to do simple stuff like ignition wires/plugs/thermostat/belts, and I've got 118,000 on a 4.6 with a 3:27 rear.

And to this day, I don't think I've seen a more attractive dashboard layout than the 94 and up TBird. The dash wraps around the driver, cockpit style.

I think there's a picture of my black 94 in my gallery. (I added the spoiler and the 16" TSW Imola rims.)

[RF Overlord]

I have a '94 SC for sale, if anyone's interested...PM me...

[Stew]

T-Birds are fine cars,i think about everything has been covered! theSCs were offered 89-95. the 8993 cars had 210HP/315 torque, were available with the Mazda designed 5 speed or the AOD transmission (5.0/AOD was offered in the 91-92 Sport, 91-93 LX and base birds). As an interesting note the 89-90 Cougar XR7 were basically the same as SCs, but the 91-92s came with all the SC goodies (ride control, seats, etc), but had the 5.0/AOD instead of the SC motors. In 94-5 the SC had 230 HP/330 torque, was again avail. with the same 5 speed, but the auto tranny was now the 4R70W and yes, they are known to have issues. If you want to consider a V8, the 96-97 Sport models are great cars, SC like handlinng and the 4.6s reliability (reliabilitywise the SC 3.8 is a hell of a lame duck with many issues, the most prominent is blown headgaskets). Oh the tranny issues were worked out about middle of the 96 model year, so an 97 would be a good car and most 96s.


Brian