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1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe - Birds Of Prey - Tech

1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe Air Filter
The stock MAF was replaced... 
   
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1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe Air Filter
The stock MAF was replaced with this 73mm unit from C&L. The C&L meter was run with a K&N cone filter to replace the factory airbox and panel filter. The new MAF offered consistent power gains and will pave the way for the additional mods we have planned for our bird of prey.
1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe Idler Pulley
After freeing up the inlet... 
   
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1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe Idler Pulley
After freeing up the inlet system, we once again turned to increasing the boost pressure. On the 3.8L V-6, the Eaton supercharger is driven by an idler pulley system that is in turn driven by the crank pulley. Altering the size of the idler pulley will change the speed of the supercharger. Super Coupe Performance supplied a 5 percent idler overdrive pulley to increase the boost pressure by roughly 1.5 psi. Equipped with the new idler pulley, the peak power numbers checked in at 216 hp and 327 lb-ft of torque.
1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe Fig4
SC Performance's 5 Percentage... 
   
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1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe Fig4
SC Performance's 5 Percentage Idler Pulley
Since we had such good luck with increasing the blower speed in Test 2, we decided it was worth another look. Super Coupe Performance supplied one of its 5 percent overdrive idlers (the supercharger is actually run off an idler pulley that is itself driven by the crank) pulley. The increase in blower speed once again increased the boost pressure and the power right along with it. Note that the increased blower speed added more power down low than up top. Was this a sign there was a flow restriction elsewhere in the system?
1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe Fig5
Flowmaster After-Cat And Resonator... 
   
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1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe Fig5
Flowmaster After-Cat And Resonator
The final modification was to swap out the factory exhaust for a Flowmaster system. In addition to the after-cat setup, Flowmaster also supplied a resonator upgrade. The combination of the after-cat and the resonator improved the power output significantly, especially at the top of the rev range. The boost gauge was now showing a peak of 14.6 psi, and we had exceeded 230 rwhp and 330 lb-ft of torque.
1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe Exhaust System
The final modification was... 
   
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1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe Exhaust System
The final modification was to replace the factory exhaust system.
1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe Exahust
Flowmaster supplied an after-cat... 
   
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1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe Exahust
Flowmaster supplied an after-cat exhaust complete with new intermediate resonator. The system offered impressive sound quality and upped the peak power numbers to 230 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque.
C&L Performance
207 Green Cove Rd.
Huntsville
AL  35803
Super Coupe Performance
974 S.R. 28
Milford
OH  45150

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