My 68 Cougar Pro-Touring / Resto-Mod Project

[langleylad]

Quick update , I haven't been able to do much in the shop lately , half hour here half hour there . Still wet sanding prior to buffing . Ordered some kick panels/speaker pods ,not much room in these cars for speakers . Don't even think about putting them in the doors . https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Retro...ng,251579.html

[andrewb70]

Quick update , I haven't been able to do much in the shop lately , half hour here half hour there . Still wet sanding prior to buffing . Ordered some kick panels/speaker pods ,not much room in these cars for speakers . Don't even think about putting them in the doors . https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Retro...ng,251579.html

Unfortunately, you're not going to fit any decent speaker into those kick panels. I had to do some rigging to get some decent Polk Audio shallow 6.5" speakers to fit.

Andrew

[langleylad]

Unfortunately, you're not going to fit any decent speaker into those kick panels. I had to do some rigging to get some decent Polk Audio shallow 6.5" speakers to fit.

Andrew

I figured that would be the case with these . I was thinking that these would be a good base to start from . So , I may be learning how to work with fiberglass. They were cheap enough.

[andrewb70]

I figured that would be the case with these . I was thinking that these would be a good base to start from . So , I may be learning how to work with fiberglass. They were cheap enough.

They are definitely good as a base. There are a lot of good YouTube videos that show how to do the fleece and fiberglass enclosures. I think a challenge is making the fiberglass stick to the ABS plastic.

Andrew

[jlcustomz]

Not sure if it would be an option here, but on a gm vehicle I cut out metal behind the kick panel speakers & glued on those black foam XTC baffles to the metal.
Other option if extending the kick panel speaker mount would be to cut out rings from wood, such as a 2 x 8 which would measure 7.25 x 1.5. Sand & body fill it after cutting & shaping & screw in place.


Pretty sure polyester resin will stick to roughed up abs, epoxy definitely will. But if you're not familiar with fiberglass work, you're spending a lot of time and $ for a little item that could be spent on something else.

By the way, looking good with wheels & paint.
Hard to beat the looks of cougar tail lights.

[langleylad]

Not sure if it would be an option here, but on a gm vehicle I cut out metal behind the kick panel speakers & glued on those black foam XTC baffles to the metal.
Other option if extending the kick panel speaker mount would be to cut out rings from wood, such as a 2 x 8 which would measure 7.25 x 1.5. Sand & body fill it after cutting & shaping & screw in place.


Pretty sure polyester resin will stick to roughed up abs, epoxy definitely will. But if you're not familiar with fiberglass work, you're spending a lot of time and $ for a little item that could be spent on something else.

By the way, looking good with wheels & paint.
Hard to beat the looks of cougar tail lights.

Thanks for the input , if you're refering to the recent picture of the taillights . Those are 68 Shelby taillights .

[stanger89]

Not sure if it would be an option here, but on a gm vehicle I cut out metal behind the kick panel speakers & glued on those black foam XTC baffles to the metal.

That was actually a factory option:
https://secure.cougarpartscatalog.co...tml?attribs=76

[andrewb70]

That was actually a factory option:
https://secure.cougarpartscatalog.co...tml?attribs=76

The problem is that those pods don't accommodate very large speakers. You really need 6.5" speakers in the front for a good front stage...

Andrew

[digitalsolo]

It’s looking great!

[stanger89]

The problem is that those pods don't accommodate very large speakers. You really need 6.5" speakers in the front for a good front stage...

Andrew

I thought I read somewhere 6.5's fit in those.

For example:
https://forums.vintage-mustang.com/v...ts-o-pics.html

[andrewb70]

I thought I read somewhere 6.5's fit in those.

For example:
https://forums.vintage-mustang.com/v...ts-o-pics.html

Well...I guess they do. Now I'm wondering why I didn't do this with my Cougar. My guess is that I didn't like the speaker being mostly covered by the stock kick panel. As I recall the stock kick panel just had a series of holes drilled in it where the speaker was located. It may also have been that the I felt the internal space provided by the pods was inadequate for good sound. I always thought that good 6.5" speakers needed a good size enclosure to achieve good sound. I did all this with the Cougar a fee years back, so I don't know what my reasoning was, exactly.

Andrew

[stanger89]

Yeah, when I first looked, I think the "official" descriptions say it fits 5.25"s, so maybe that too. I'm planning to at least try these at least in mine.

[langleylad]

Finally finished the color sanding and buffing !!! I've got to say that for my first DIY paint job in my small garage , that I'm very pleased with the outcome . Is it perfect ? hell no , any runs in the clear ? hell no , better than it was ? hell ya , going to win trophies in a show ? not going in any shows , proud of all my hard work ? hell ya ! is it hard work ? hell ya ! was it worth the hard work ? hell ya !!!

[jlcustomz]

Looks good from the pic on my 24" screen.
I'd say something to be proud of

[andrewb70]

Great job. I might be biased, but I think Cougars have way better design lines than a Mustang. The longer wheelbase really help the overall proportions.

Andrew

[Richness]

Paint looks phenomenal. If I were to paint any other color other than the current green or darker, I would be all about a silver just like that.

[andrewb70]

Today I finished up the fuel pump/sender wiring . I built a electrical panel to mount the fuel pump relay and breaker plus whatever else that might need power . I'm sure it's overkill and not needed but who knows ?. I also plumbed in the fuel tank vent into the top of the filler tube with some 3/8 stainless tube ( leftover scrap ) . I bent up some trans cooler lines with the same tubing two days ago . Man ! that is one thing that will drive you crazy ! . You lay under the vehicle and measure and bend your tubing and try to fit it and bend again and refit and bend and straighten and rebend and through it away and start over and measure etc etc etc ...... It doesn't look as good as I want but this could drive me crazy as I said ! . I will cover all the wiring in Powerbraid .

Attachment 155027

Where is your vent going?

Andrew

[langleylad]

Thanks guys !

Where is your vent going?

Andrew

Because you asked Andrew and because I realize that you're one clever fella , you have me double guessing my set up . I have the vent tube plumbed into the top of the ridetech fuel filler , there is a port there to run a vent line too . Because you asked I'm thinking that this method is really not venting as the gas cap is sealed . I'm now thinking that I'm going to need to run a vent tube to the outside of the vehicle . The Tanks Inc fuel tank came with a vent fitting and instructions to mount it as high as possible . Your thoughts ....

[andrewb70]

Thanks guys !

Because you asked Andrew and because I realize that you're one clever fella , you have me double guessing my set up . I have the vent tube plumbed into the top of the ridetech fuel filler , there is a port there to run a vent line too . Because you asked I'm thinking that this method is really not venting as the gas cap is sealed . I'm now thinking that I'm going to need to run a vent tube to the outside of the vehicle . The Tanks Inc fuel tank came with a vent fitting and instructions to mount it as high as possible . Your thoughts ....

Well, ****. I was hoping you had a brilliant solution already implemented, hence my question! I believe you are correct in your assessment that your current configuration is not venting anything.

My vent situation is not optimal. I have the vent going into the trunk and thus have a very stinky car. I was thinking about punching a hole behind the license plate and vent there, but I hate putting holes in perfectly good body panels. Obviously, this is not an option for you, because you have that fancy gas door and your plate is down on the valance.

So....maybe someone else has some suggestion :-)

Andrew

[langleylad]

Well, ****. I was hoping you had a brilliant solution already implemented, hence my question! I believe you are correct in your assessment that your current configuration is not venting anything.

My vent situation is not optimal. I have the vent going into the trunk and thus have a very stinky car. I was thinking about punching a hole behind the license plate and vent there, but I hate putting holes in perfectly good body panels. Obviously, this is not an option for you, because you have that fancy gas door and your plate is down on the valance.

So....maybe someone else has some suggestion :-)

Andrew

Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow ... lol !

Tanks Inc wants to see the vent as high as the filler neck but will be a PITA !