FoMoCo for me, 68 Cougar.

[DanT69]

I have decided to branch out and own something other then a GM car. I have found a one owner '68 Cougar locally and plan on looking at it this weekend. My Ford knowledge right now is limited so I have a few beginner questions: I know the mustang and cougar shared architecture, as far as suspension do they share everything? Also, what is the widest wheel/tire combo you can fit in the back of a cougar? More importantly, can all the info I can find on mustangs be applied to the cougar, which if thats the case my previous questions Im sure have been answered 1000 times.

[bnickel]

pretty much everything suspension wise interchanges between the stang and the coug except the rear leaf springs, the cougar springs are about 6" longer. most all general mustang info will apply to the cougar as well, there are several cougar forums

[phonedude_mln]

as bnickel said, suspension pieces interchange w/ very few exceptions.

as for tire sizes, here is some info for mustangs:

http://www.kkpony.com/gifs/JaysWheel_tire_6770.gif

assuming the wheel wells are similar (you should probably test fit that though...)

other resources:

http://www.mercurycougar.net/forums/
http://www.dcconline.org/

as a GM guy, you probably already know about Global West (they make Ford stuff too),
but the main Ford suspension player is Total Control Products:

http://www.totalcontrolproducts.com/

the other player after that is Griggs, but you're crossing over to big $ track stuff there:

http://www.griggsracing.com/

I've had 2 1968 cougars a long time ago -- loads of fun. But you'll spend most of your time
futzing with the vacuum canisters for the head lights and the cam for the sequential turn signals
(though I think they make an electronic replacement for that now).

some examples:

Trans Am cougar:
http://www.dcconline.org/05EastNats_Gallery/pages/DSCF0115.htm
http://www.dcconline.org/05EastNats_Gallery/pages/DSCF0033.htm

PT-style cougars:

http://www.kkpony.com/Events/20030907-FunFordSunday/pages/Cougar05.html
http://www.mercurycougar.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1466/password//sort/4/cat/502/page/3

[DanT69]

Damn! Thanks Phonedude, loads of help.