78 Cougar Update

[psquare75]

I figured I'd pop in and say hi. This is my Cougar so far.

Started out like this











Car has 80K miles. 351W/C4/2.41:1 rear.. power sport buckets with console and column shift (weird I know).

I've upgraded the front from the stock 11" to 12" rotors, using factory parts.



Before



Rear discs are Ford Explorer pieces. I'm still rolling with stock 351W springs but all the bushings are now poly, and I upgraded the shocks to Bilsteins, heavy duty pieces from a Crown Vic P71 (I should have used non cop car shocks in hindsight).


I also "de- ac'd" the car, using all factory parts from a non A/C 76 Ford Elite.

(some pics here, but if you want the full conversion, click this link

http://v6z24.com/jbodyforum/viewtopi...461&highlight=



This shaved 95 lbs from the car.

I also made up an Auto Meter gauge panel. Not bad for my first attempt at this sort of thing

a buddy cut out the plexiglass for me.


Looks factory :-)

Also added a Hammer shifter (the base is now red)


I roll (for now) on 17" cragars.



I also found a non bumper-guard front bumper.





See other thread!!

[psquare75]

I also finally got my 460 in!



Thread here.

http://460ford.com/viewtopic.php?t=4429&highlight=swap




The nose was off so I could swap nicer sheet metal.



Rough draft (yes I know the glass filter was bad)




I've swapped to this





Of course, once the engine was in (which is from my old Elite), one piston was down on compression a lot.. bent valve and a nicked bore.. awesome.. Engine is currently out, and I have "other plans"

[psquare75]

No feedback at all? Is this car too big to hang around here? :-(

[JoshStratton]

No car is too big to hang around here

Looking good! I like what you did with the dash. It has a bit of a late second gen TA feel.

I do notice one thing. I LOVE the sign on the outside of your garage (see engine hoist pic). A$$holes garage. Awesome.

[TonyHuntimer]

Sweet Ride!

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[BLWN1]

Dare to be different... thats cool. What are the long term plans, the wheels said for now? 6 spd coming with twin turbos, or anything?

[psquare75]

Being built, 523" (stroked 460), should be around 520 crank HP, 620 ft lbs.

I'd really like to stick a gear vendors unit under there as well, or a REALLY built AOD (not sure what 4400 lbs and 600+ ft lbs will look like). Time will tell.

Wheels MIGHT turn into 18s and 20s. However the Explorer rear discs barely handle the 17s on the car now, and the 12" rotor is as big as I can go without making something up.

I know with these shocks it's a bit of a rough ride..

[showme]

Cool project.Any plans for removing weight.With all that motor and a few pounds removed it would be a blast to drive!I like that you are building something different.Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

[psquare75]

Removing the A/C saved 95 lbs. Some creative front bumper brackets will save another 70. I might do something with the rear as well, so that'd be another 70. If I go full on aluminum (heads intake water pump), that's another 100 lbs +/-. Aluminum radiator would be worth around 5 lbs (hah!).

Some lighter rims would help a GREAT deal too.

Ideally, if I can get this down to 4000 lbs +/- with my skinny butt in it (150 lbs), I'll consider mission accomplished.

At this point I'm going to get the engine in, then drive and work out bugs as I see fit. I'm paying insurance on a garage ornament it seems.

I managed to find an NOS hood, got a door from CA for $50, and a buddy is sending me a rust free trunk for little to no $.. That was the only rust on this car, and it came from Connecticut. The paint is presentable enough that I can leave it as is for quite sometime, but I do have other plans in store. Different is all I can say. People will either really like it, or really HATE it.. but, it's my car :-).

[BLWN1]

I'd like to see a 20 x 10 wheel in tha back.....

[Z06killinSBF]

Thats awesome. I like different stuff and you deff have that.

[psquare75]

I can easily fit it. I PM'd PRRC, but I never got a reply.