What is the M code Ford Thunderbird?

The M-Code Ford Thunderbird
The M-Code Ford Thunderbird refers to a specific model of the Thunderbird that is equipped with the M-Code engine. Here are some key details about the M-Code Ford Thunderbird based on the search results:
– The M-Code Ford Thunderbird features the desirable M-Code by Ford’s desirable M-Code 390-cubic-inch V-8 engine with three two-barrel carburetors and higher compression ratio. This engine setup produces a stout 340 horsepower.
– The M-Code cars utilized three two-barrel carburetors, resulting in a tri-power setup completed with a special intake manifold feeding Ford 406 heads on top of the Thunderbird 390 V8 block.
– The M-Code 390 CID engine boasts high compression (10.5:1) and three Holley two-barrel carburetors, producing 340 HP and an impressive 430 lbs. /ft. of torque.
– Only 145 M-Code Thunderbirds were built in 1962, with 120 being the convertible sports roadster model and 25 being the 2-door hardtop version, making this a very rare survivor.
The M-Code Ford Thunderbird is known for its powerful engine and limited production, making it a highly desirable and sought-after model among enthusiasts and collectors.

What is the Ford M Code 390?

Ford upped the ante of performance in 1963, and what truly made the Thunderbird stand out was the addition of the 390-cubic inch Tri-Power V-8, nicknamed “M-code” due to the M designation in its chassis number, which signified this incredible powerplant.

What does a 1962 Thunderbird look like?

But sort of accidentally. Created a whole new market segment called the personal luxury car segment by 1958.

How much horsepower can you get out of a Ford 390?

If you dial a budget cast-steel stroker crank, heavy-duty I-beam rods, and Mahle forged pistons from Eagle Specialties to achieve 431ci, you can make 450 to 500 hp with factory cylinder head castings. Do some port work, dial in the right Crane hydraulic roller cam, and you can make brute street torque all day long.

What is a 1962 Thunderbird M code?

Another addition for 1962 was a special engine code (VIN engine code M) that added a “Tri-Power” or three 2-barrel setup to a higher-compression version of the 390ci engine.

How rare is a 1962 Ford Thunderbird?

Thunderbird Sports Roadster production numbered 1,427 units in 1962, but it went down to just 455 in 1963, making them rare birds indeed. Even rarer were Thunderbirds ordered with the monstrous 390-cubic inch tri-power V-8, which was designated by an “M” in the VIN, thus resulting in the nickname of “M-Code” cars.

What is a Thunderbird E code?

The “E-Code” option, regarded by many as the most desirable option available in the Thunderbird, features the 312-cubic inch V-8, which is topped with a pair of Holley four-barrel carburetors and was graced with a larger bore, longer stroke, higher compression ratio, and an automatic choke.

What engine is in the Thunderbird M code?

390ci OHV V8 engine
It is powered by a 390ci OHV V8 engine with three Holley 2-barrel carburetors, with factory 340hp at 5,000 rpm.

Was the Thunderbird fast?

The Super Coupe delivered the best overall performance, including a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of 7.0 seconds and a completion of a quarter-mile in 15.2 seconds at 88.1 mph (141.8 km/h).

What is a 390?

The 390, with 390.04 cu in (6.4 L) true displacement, had a bore of 4.05 inches (102.87 mm) and stroke of 3.785 inches (96.14 mm). It was the most common FE engine in later applications; used in many Ford cars as the standard engine, including the Thunderbird, and in many trucks as well.

What is the fastest Thunderbird model?

At Talladega in 1987, Bill Elliott, behind the wheel of his ’87 Thunderbird, set NASCAR’s all-time speed record at 212.809 miles per hour. His T-bird featured a 351-cubic inch Ford V8 engine that made 625 hp. Of course, you were never able to find this racing version of the Thunderbird at your local Ford dealership.