Defined as “a gentle, mild breeze,” the word zephyr has adorned trains, V12 luxury sedans, and Mercury’s 1978 through 1983 offering seen here. This 1981 Mercury Zephyr in Colorado Springs, Colorado uses a VS Racing 7875 turbo to blow more than a gentle breeze up the intake pipes and into the modified 302 V8. BarnFinds’ Jeff Lavery wrote up what appears to be the same car in November of 2021, when it wore a carburetor that the current owner has replaced with a Holley Sniper fuel injection system. Only the market can determine if that plus inflation justifies the price bump from $9000 to $14,000. Any high-schoolers not impressed by the Sniper setup will definitely dig those LED headlights. Check out a comprehensive list of the car’s modifications and more pictures here on Craigslist. Thanks to Pat L. for spotting this Barnfind boomerang, improved and back for another go-round.
The Zeyphr and Ford’s Fairmont shared their basic Fox platform structure with the popular Mustang of the day, and everything here will look familiar to Fox Mustang fans. The Holley Sniper system includes a CD / controller box and can (as in this case) control timing when fitted to an MSD or other modern distributor. The Sniper system can also be setup as boost-aware for power adders like this turbo. The seller claims it run much better than the carburetor setup but is not quite perfect. Cost of such a system can run well over $2000 and can elevate a car from track-only use to daily driver status when properly adjusted.
The T5 five-speed transmission also hails from the Mustang parts bin, along with the 8.8 rear end stuffed with 2.73:1 cogs, the same as my 1989 Mustang LX 5.0, giving this Zephyr a theoretical top speed of 170 or more. I’m no turbo expert, but even with the power adder, something like a 3.08 or 3.27 ratio might raise the fun factor without mindless roasting of today’s grippy street tires. That said, I could *just* barely get 30 MPG on the highway with my Mustang’s 2.73s and the overdrive T5. When I changed from 2.73s to 3.73s, it felt like I added a turbo.
Fox 5.0 ten-hole wheels don’t necessarily preclude calling this a sleeper, though evidence of a comprehensive EFI fuel system hanging under the rear bumper might. The perfect buyer might be a Fox Mustang freak looking for a roomier two-door sedan. I considered building a wagon with this sort of powertrain years ago. Would you change anything before stalking victims with this turbocharged V8 sleeper?
One big problem with this set-up doing a blow through with a turbo. Pretty sure why it’s for sale again. Helped a friend with a Vortech on a 331 Ford small block. Used upgraded EFI intake, injectors, fuel pump and aftermarket fuel management and ignition. Heat which we had to deal with. Here a turbo that increases intake temperature even more than a Vortech, creates detention issues as the boost increases. Not drawing cold air and no ethanol or intercooler this just isn’t going to work well. Good start but a lot more to do to make it run hard. Oh yeah that 91 Fox made 550 HP to the rear wheels on the Dyno with a Dart block as original head studs pulled out of the stock block. It’s wicked quick and there is more, but he is quite content with it there.Oh yeah that T-5 won’t make the cut too long.
Hey Cadmanls – Hopefully someone will or has “done the math” on this. As you say modern factory turbo setups are just forcing air and not blowing it through a carburetor or (in this case) a throttle-body style EFI unit. Regarding the intercooler, many factory turbos were engineered at low boost levels to favor longevity even without intercoolers, but keeping the air charge cold is always better for power and reliability. I’ve only installed one Sniper (with no power adder) but the system can be boost-aware and capable of supporting a blow-through turbo setup (link below). I have no idea if this one is well-engineering and configured or not. We’d love to hear from the new owner! https://www.holley.com/blog/post/how_to_make_900_horsepower_with_a_blow-through_holley_super_sniper_efi/
Yes but again the issue of high intake temperature can’t think of one factory setup without an intercooler. Don’t mention an old 240 Volvo. Before computers timing was pulled back under boost. Not very efficient and pulling air behind the radiator isn’t helping. You can’t optimize timing due to detention. Breaking rings or pistons isn’t making power fun. Takes a good fuel supply as going lean is another issue, we installed a methanol system that drops the intake temperature dramatically as well as adding an additional fuel source. Yeah I am sure the seller thought it would be fine and the manufacturer says it will work but just bolting parts together doesn’t always lead to success. So many variables to make a system, the choice of camshaft and even the hat on the throttle body, even fuel line size including the pickup. By the way I not talking about adding 5 or 6 psi boost here and I’m pretty sure that turbo is capable of at least 8 to 10 psi most likely more, otherwise what’s the point. Stock small block tuned properly will handle at least that. All about moving air in and out as efficient as possible without breaking parts.
“to blow more than a gentle breeze up the intake pipes…”
HAR HAR, good one Todd!
Merry Christmas,
Dave
Would you consider Chevrolet Corvairs and 80-81 Pontiac Turbo Trans Ams as factory?
Jack, come on those were on the cars but hardly capable of what turbos do today. Had a turbo Vair, tore a couple of engines up as couldn’t hear the detonation behind me, yep was pushing them.
I like Fairmonts,but at that price it should be finished & sorted.
Is that a gas line hanging down under the gas tank?
I had a Black ’78 Fairmont wagon,& was tempted to swap
everything over to it from a wrecked Mustang GT.
Like this?
“Here a turbo that increases intake temperature even more than a Vortech, creates detention issues as the boost increases.” I’ve only heard of detention used as in a punishment setting; perhaps you meant “detonation”? :-)
Yeah auto correct on the phone gets away from me sometimes.
I guess that’s the price we pay for not needing white out or correcto tape anymore.
Go ahead and laugh, a Zephyr? Really? The late GREAT Bob Glidden kicked everybodys azz with it’s cousin, the Fairmont. While a far cry from Gliddens pro stock car, they proved to be a good combination. Bob Glidden was the best and if he drove one, it had to be good. This particular car looks rough and probably as finicky as an old lady. No thanks.
I don’t think anybody’s laughing at a Zephyr. They’re laughing about the slapdash modifications of THIS Zephyr.
Those seats are gargantuan!
A personal inspection should be done before purchasing. Recommend bringing and expert to help make sure you aren’t going to run into problems later from modifications.
I don’t know…..when somebody asks what kind of car you drive.
You really want to say a……..Zephyr !!!
Right up with saying you had a Edsel in 1960.
Another better Idea from Ford !
This is a $5-6K toy, at best. The car itself is worth zero. The engine and parts are $4-5K and that’s only because they are attached to the car. It will break down and sit for years in someone’s driveway because it’s just not done that well. It will take someone that really knows what they’re doing to maintain and improve on it…and most of those people already have nicer, way cooler cars.
Guy in high school and his old man did a LTD wagon into a sleeper w 87 mustang power train w the T5 stik. It was a beauty.
I like fairmont/zephyr. A nicely sorted 2 door, 302 with some mild mods, 5 speed, 355 year is a great hot rod. I think the sellers intentions with the turbo were fine, but as said above it is not sorted properly. They advertise turbo as bolt on but there is so much more necessary. Cool car though, I , like it
I have learned a lot about cars through this site, and most times I find something about a vehicle that is interesting and useful.. I have learned nothing here and I will never get back the ten minutes that I have spent perusing this article.
PRICE DROP to $9500!
The Fairmonts in Mexico were mostly sold with a 302 in either a 2 door sedan, 4 door sedan or the wagon.
A lot of them had the manual on the floor from the factory in all body styles.
I recently posted a 1983 Fairmont Squire on my Instagram page that is red, 302, stick shift and has the wood grain.
It is easy to find a clean well taken care of car.