The Free-Wheelin’ Bronco elicited some very warm guesses. But none quite hit the mark. Here’s one for a consolation prize.
Now one or two of you might be familiar with this specific car, so please use restraint. Remember, its about guessing, and letting other enjoy the guessing process. Thanks.
Pretty sure it’s a Ford, but other than that…
I’ll assume it’s a Ford, and that looks like the plumbing from the 2.3 Turbo (also you can see the turbo housing on the starboard side), so that narrows it down. Only problem is the hood has springs rather than a prop rod, and I believe every Fox Mustang ever built had a prop rod (Thunderbirds did as well, I believe). I’m going to take a stab at the Merkur XR4Ti.
I’m going to guess a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, prior to 1987 because it doesn’t appear to have an intercooler. Some things underhood seem wrong though, making me think maybe this is actually an engine transplant into something else.
EDIT: Looks like Don’s thinking was along the same lines as mine. 🙂
+1 because I feel like I have a cheat secret on this one.
Been a long time since I’ve seen one, but that cam cover smells of 4.2L Jeep Straight Six to me. Of course the forced induction thingy sort of spins that idea out the window though.
Might as well pile in on the Ford turbo guess and go with an 83-84 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. Similiar to the one you had Paul…time for an AB!
The Merkur and Mustang did share the same engine, but the Merkur has the battery in the left (facing engine) rear corner and the engine sits a little closer to the cowl. The Mustang SVO had the intake from the hood scoop.
It occurs to me I have seen this exact picture before, but can’t remember where. I think it might be some Austrailian trick.
Ford Sierra did the US get those? Not Ozzie brake cyl wrong on side
An 80’s Ford Ranger pickup.
Before I looked at the other responses, I guessed Ford Mustang SVO. But if all Fox Mustangs had a hood prop rod, then I’m wrong.
This one is going to keep me up tonight.. I know that power plant intimately but the chassis is throwing me.. It’s not a Fox, doesn’t look like a Pinto or Mustang II and it appears to have non-assist brakes.
I was thinking some type of “captive” import. Maybe a Ford(Mercury) Capri.
Turbo with non assist brakes smells of Chrysler/Mitzi nobody else used to make cars go and not stop
It’s a Ranger with a Turbo 2.3 dropped in.
I don’t think Rangers ever had hood counterbalance springs like that.
Merkur XR4TI
That was my sierra answer but not enough cam covers
Mitsubishi Astron turbo no idea what the cars were called in NA
This is uhhhh, if I’m not mistaken, a V6 T-Bird (circa 1985) with a 2.3 Lima engine. Could be a V6 Cougar of the same vintage too actually.
UPDATE 1: LOL, it’s so a Fox. I see my Ford IAC on the back of that engine. It’s the L-shaped kind, all Foxes used that. The Panther one is a straight connector type, and the Mustang I believe is too (correct me on this though, please). And as someone else said, it’s not a Stang b/c the hood doesn’t have a prop rod. Ditto for the Capri, I believe.
I always found it funny how they gave the sixes a standard master cylinder, and the eights had the Teves unit, btw. Again I was tempted to say the Capri but I’m pretty sure I’ve only seen those with the Teves brake unit.
UPDATE 2: I’ve never seen an XR4Ti in real life, I know those had these engines too. I also know some of them had the Teves. The question is did all of them? Now, I am assuming this is the stock master cylinder and the car hasn’t been converted from a Teves ABS unit. Otherwise all bets are off. The Merkur was supposed to be a high-end car, so the hood springs make good sense. But so does the Teves unit.
Oh lol, which one do I go with? Since a number of folks have said Merkur, I’ll stay with the Foxes (pre-87 Bird or Cougar), just because.
UPDATE 3: You know what, I don’t see the ABS listed for the XR4Ti anywhere. It gets my vote now. And it’s definitely not the Cougar, the XR7s all had the ABS. So it’s between the Bird and the XR4Ti, and based on the hood springs, XR4Ti it must be.
I can tell you it is not a Merkur XR4Ti. They didn’t have hood springs, the battery isn’t cooking over the turbo, heater valve with about 18 hoses isn’t there. A/C hose running directly over the turbo isn’t either.
It is a post 86 2.3l Lima engine. The valve cover has the dip to keep the throttle linkage from dragging across it. The throttle body is not from the XR4Ti either, and to counter someone before me, the XR4Ti did not have ABS, only the Scorpio had that, and it had the 2.9l so it isn’t that.