Towing with a TBird

[JSGAuto]

Hi,<br />I am new here, and a relitively new boat owner, not quite a year yet. <br />Anyway I have two boats, 13' Sooy hydroplane, inboard, that I am restoring. When I am finished with it I would love to pull it with my 1993 TBird which has a worked engine, upgraded trans, and a lot of my own little improvements. The boat trailer should weigh around 1000lbs with all the necessary racing equipment. Would it be possible to pull the boat safely with my car? <br />1993 TBird IRS RWD<br />3.8L modified v6<br />AOD trans<br />just under 4000lbs with me driving<br /><br />Also, if possible, I would like to use it to pull my other boat. But, not on a regular basis. I have been using my fathers tahoe to move her around. But it would be move convient with having another car to tow with. The boat is a 16' Dixie with a 70hp merc outboard. Estimated at 1800 lbs. <br /><br />Check out some pictures!<br />Hydroplane history page;<br /> http://www.vintagehydroplanes.com/uluakai_y101_history.html <br />Restoration pics, it is a lot farther along then the pictures, but how many pictures of sanding the old wood can you take?<br /> http://www.vintagehydroplanes.com/uluakai_y101.html

 

[Capt. T]

Re: Towing with a TBird

The AOD tranny is NOT designed to tow anything as placed the T-Bird. Also, you just don't have enough torque out of that engine / tranny combo to get out of most landings. <br /><br />If you absolutely MUST tow with this car, at the very least fit up extra engine AND tranny coolers. But in all honesty, you'll just be trashing a perfectly good car that is not designed for this duty.

 

[JSGAuto]

Re: Towing with a TBird

The trans was rebuilt (5k miles ago) with V8 clutch packs, 1200 stall converter, and a 24000 GVW B&M trans cooler. I also have a shift kit (trans-go), would it be better to tow (If I choose to do so) with or without this? <br /><br />The engine in stock trim;<br />140 hp @ 3800 rpm; 215 lb-ft torque @ 2400 rpm <br />It also has been recently been rebuilt with milled heads, ported and polished heads, upper and lower intakes, underdrive pulleys, 73mm MAF, enlarged throttle body, cold air intake, 2-1-2 2.5" exhaust with a single flowmaster muffler up front. So I am sure the performance has been improved. All the work was done by myself, so it is quality work. <br /><br />Thanks for the reply!<br />Jim

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Towing with a TBird

JSGAuto You can tow with it I towed a 17' Baja sport with a Merc 140hp 3.0 , My actual towed weight was about 2200lbs, I towed that Boat with a 1987 3.8 liter v6 T-Bird for almost 8 years, sold that car with 265,000kms on it, I had to install a tranny cooler engine oil cooler, and put varible rate cargo coils in the rear, Car towed well, but do not use overdrive, I then towed the same boat with a 1994 Cougar xr7 4.6 v8, sold that boat and bought a 20 wellcraft with a tandem trailer and V8 approx towed weight is about 4800lbs, Cougar has towed it also but only short runs, never had a problem pulling up ramp, But I rather use my explorer to tow, I still have the Cougar 255,000kms and still strong. With good maintenace and graceful driving your T-Bird will pull fine.

 

[DaveM]

Re: Towing with a TBird

This is just my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt...<br /><br />No, no, no, no. Don't tow anything that big with your T-Bird, 350Z, Camaro, Harley, etc. They are just not made to do that. Continue to borrow the Tahoe. That way you will be a bit more safe and we will all get to where we are going.

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Towing with a TBird

The t-bird and cougar are rated for 2000 pounds, they are not made out of a toilet-paper, you sound like a mechanic I'm sure you can really judge for yourself If the T-bird is up to it, Just a quick note I logged about 2500-to 3000 miles a year towing with my t-bird, yes I kept track to keep up on severe duty service, Never had a overheat, tranny of brake problem, Cougar I still own, never had a problem towing with it either, not everyone needs a 3/4 ton to pull a 14 tinny, I was even inspected by a d.o.t blitz once towing the 20 foot Wellcraft with Cougar, they were satisfied I had the right equipment for the laws here, ( correct hitch chains, trailer brakes tie downs) they also took a fast look under the car, I do use my Explorer for towing now, and yes towing a 20ft boat with the Cougar I know is not the best choice but I only moved the boat to and from the ramp for a total 3 miles round trip , . I'm not suggesting that the T-bird should tow a 20ft boat, but a 13footer and a 16 footer, is fine. When I sold my 17 foot and went to a 20ft I purchased the truck a year or so after. I see alot people towing big loads with bad tow vehicles and I see other that just go plain overkill with tow vehicles,these are the guys that suffer from S.M.S (short man syndrome) All I'm saying use common sense, make sure you have good safe equipment, and remember that you are towing a boat, I see guys towing big trailers all the time, passing me at about 75 or 80 mph, I just hope they are wearing a diaper for when they need to stop quick.

 

[JSGAuto]

Re: Towing with a TBird

Thanks everyone for your imput!<br />It is comforting to know that soneone has pulled a good amount of weight with the MN-12 platform. Northern Eclipse, what brand and class hitch did you use on your cougar? Class II was the bigest I could find, which is probably fine, but I was just curious. <br /><br />Jim

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Towing with a TBird

Class II is the biggest, and was the only one from Draw Tite for my Cougar, I went with Draw Tite because of ease installation no drilling, just bolt right up, Took me 30min. and that was with car on the ground. That hitch is 3500lb carrying and 350lb TW, it is a 1 1/4" box receiver it will work for your needs. Let me comment that I am impressed how well my Cougar towed, I think Mercury under estimated the tow ratings, because of the Uni-body construction, but let me tell you with the 4.6l V8 and a 355 axle, it will outrun my Explorer from a standstill towing the same boat, but I perfer to use the truck for towing naturally now because of the heavy weight I tow now, but if I still had a boat/trailer combo under 3000# I would have no problem using the Cougar still..and for anybody that has not towed with one don't have a clue how good a choice they can be for lighter loads if a truck it not in the books, to bad they don't build'em like the MN-12 anymore.

 

[DJ]

Re: Towing with a TBird

JSG,<br /><br />If your rig is really about 1000 pounds, the Bird will do very well with it.<br /><br />The powertrain is more than up to the task. That same PT is available in an F-150 as a 4.2L. Same trans (4R70W).<br /><br />The real issue is the body. Make sure you put a reputable brand hitch on it. Also, isolate the tail light circuits with relays from the battery. This is particularly important if you have the in dash message center.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Towing with a TBird

I have to disagree with towing with a unibody, V-6 engine car. I just do not beleive that they are built with the pulling torque to pull much more that a lawn tractor trailer. Also, they do not have the suspension, braking power, or the body weight to properly handle a big load. You might can get away with it depending on how "smart" you drive while pulling and doing excessive preventive maitanence.<br /><br />I have alos said before on this type if issue, look at the mass you are pulling as well as the weight. It your rig catches alot of air flow, then you are actually pulling more than the curb weight down the highway. I pull full size trucks. Not over-kill for my boat, they are both 1/2 ton trucks. They do great pulling my 18" Cobia, and my other trailers. Both trucks are rated to pull about 7000#. I have pulled up to 10000# or maybe a little more. Only did it when I absolutely have to. But I really feel that for the care of your automobile, and the safety of others, please tow with something that ir rated and built to pull your rig.

 

[DJ]

Re: Towing with a TBird

Let's make sure we have some things straight here.<br /><br />1. True, the T-Bird is a unibody car.<br /><br />2. The T-Bird is NO lightweight. It's almost 3500#. That car was criticized by the automotive press as being too heavy. That, and it's stance (wide, with independent rear axle) is what made it such a sweet handling vehicle.<br /><br />What does a Nissan pick up weigh?<br /><br />3. The powertrain, whether 3.8L, 5.0L or 4.6L is identical to truck versions of those engines/transmissions. There are some SLIGHT calibration differences.<br /><br />The weak link here is the body. If a hitch is PROPERLY installed, it will handle this persons PROPOSED load-easily.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Towing with a TBird

one other thing, the t bird is a sweet handing car because the torsional stiffness of the chassis, IE, how "tight" it is ... or how strong it is<br /><br />its actually better for towing, its lower, the spring rates are higher, and if memory serves, they have some sorta heat sink oil pan on that puppy, I could be wrong about that, but something is ringing a bell on that part, also the turbo shift kit is faster, harder, doesnt let the clutch packs slip and slide between shifts<br /><br />the downside of course is ground clearance, but you are hitting a ramp, not going off road, but the hitch might hang on driveways and such<br /><br />tow in STYLE<br /><br />

 

[JSGAuto]

Re: Towing with a TBird

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<br /><br />Sorry, couldn't resist. I currently have SC wheels (16") with 205/65/16 (yea they are terrable, but were free!) tires on them, but I am going to put the stock fan ones in the picture back on for towing because of the added ground clearance. My car doesn't have an oil cooler, but now that you mention it I am going to grab one off a tbird the next time I am in the junkyard. <br />I had a trans-go shift kit in the car, but I took it out because I thought it would be bad for towing. It has powerful shifts, spins the tires downshifting from overdrive into third, and spins upshifting into ever gear under moderate acceleration. Would it be benifitial to use this when towing? <br />The car has pulling power. I pulled my brother's 91 Buick Lesaber, and my other 90 TBird up my hilly driveway with the car, no problem. But that is a another story. <br /><br />Thanks for the imput, I appretiate both sides to help me see the pros and cons.<br /><br />Jim

 

[DJ]

Re: Towing with a TBird

Nice Bird!

 

[wayne h]

Re: Towing with a TBird

wow bet that thing will overheat with no fan shroud.all that work and no fan shroud ????better get 1 of then and a trans cooler from the junk yard should not be too hard to find since thats where all fords end up.anyway i pull a 12 footer with a 3.1 chevy lumina with no problems at all and thats a front wheel drive. i dont know if a ford will do it though hahaha. sorry but thats my con. want a pos buy a chevy

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Towing with a TBird

JSGauto good looking Bird...I'm getting ready to start into my Cougar, hopefully I can get has clean looking under the hood as your Bird..hey did you tow the boat yet??