[Milner62]

I guess I'll give alittle information bout the ford, actually Mercury, product that Im working on now.

picked up the car in October 2005 for a nice price of $500.00 Ive seen the car in the paper for sale for 3 weeks at $500 and I desided he must be getting desperate and if im lucky i could probably pick the car up for less than $500.

Went out to go look at it and it looked like it hasnt been waxed or washed in about 5 years, paint on hood faded and dulled, vinyl top was tattered but still sticking and in one piece. Steering was shot I figured, when he went to go get the key to start the car I checked the steering with my hand at 12 o'clock, the wheel had play from 10 to 2, Odometer read 57327 (which I questioned and found out to acctually be 157,327). Engine cranked up and sounded great idled good too, reved up to 2 grand till it warmed up and then dropped down in stages as the choke opened up. He also told me that the rear passenger side break locks up if you hit the gas hard and that the wheel cylinder is leaking but he has a wheel cylinder hes letting go with the car that he didnt get around to replacing. Also told me the car needed new shocks on the front and a new spair tire atleast.

Now I got the car for $500 and since October 2005 Ive changed the oil, replaced the oil pressure sending unit (has all gauges) replaced the tempreature sending unit, got a new fresh air boot for the aircleaner which it was missing, replaced the carb cause the rebuild he didnt was good but it was dumping fuel in the engine and the car wouldnt stay at one speed cause of that when driving. Installed a radio and 4 new speakers (no radio in the car just a big hole where one of the two previous owners cut the dash ) repaired the brake problems and rebled the system and come to find out the reasion why that tire kept locking up was he had the drum brakes adjusted tighter than the other side. I also redid the cooling system swaped out the stock 192-195 thermostat for a more approprate 180 thermostat flushed the system and also installed a new radiator cap and added a bottle of Royal purple purple ice to try and control the tempreature during summer when the ac is on (would burry the gauge past hot even when moving, but now the gauge with the ac on and being 100 degrees outside the gauge sits on the O in NORMAL) and the last thing ive done to the car was installed new 9mm ford racing sparkplug wires on the engine which made the engine run even better (had some unknown brand of 8mm universal wiring)

Now on to what I plan to do with the car, first of all to pull the seats out and have them recovered and install new insulation and sound deadner and jute padding under new carpeting repair the driver side power seat system (it dose everything but move forewards and backwards) after that take the car and have the dents taken out any body damaged repaired a new paint job with a new vinyl top and new windshield. Also opting to go the extra route and have the pinstripes painted on over the sticker that the factory used. Then beef the engine up some with World Product Windsor Sr heads ( 200cc port flow, 2.020" intake 1.600" exhaust) a circle track series crane camshaft (226*/236* 0.502"/0.520" 110* lobe seperation and a power band of 2800 - 6000 rpm), Keith Black flat top pistons with 2 valve reliefs an windage tray, Weiand Stealth intake manifold and a holley model 4160 600cfm 4bbl along with a Accel Performance replacement dist. Exhaust will most likely consist of Hooker Header Super Comp headers (1 5/8" primaries, 3" collector) a Hooker Header Reducer (3" to 2 1/2") which will have Flowtech Race Readies bolted to the reducer (2 1/2") then back to the rear where it will have Flowmaster 50 series Deltaflow mufflers (3" inlet and outlet) and 3" tail pipes to the rear and a H pipe to improve the idle and general exhaust sound in the system.


Stock Specs

Year : 1978
Make : Mercury
Model : Cougar XR-7
Engine : 351 Windsor (144bhp) (will be about 300 to 350 hp and around 400+ lbs of trq after overhaul)
Transmission : FMX (3spd auto)
Rearend : Ford 9" (2.50:1 open)
ACC : A/C, Power steering, Power Seats, Alternating delay wipers, Power Brakes, Cruise control, Convenience Group, Light Group, Mirrors dual color keyed remote control, Tilt Steering, Decor group, molding wide bodyside, vinyl roof landau, wheels cast aluminum.

The picture below was taken when I first got the car home after washing the car but no waxing


This picture was taken a good 5 months after I had the car and has received the wax job she never knew


This picture is one I like taken just after finishing a full waxing over the whole car. (Still has a good shine considering its 28 year old paint)


This one was with the old 8mm wires which on the back of the box for the new wires said is for the ford 4cylinders


The new 9mm wiring installed which is listed as being for ford 6 cylinders and 8 cylinders.

[ChrisJ]

Good luck on the project...Going to be different...

[Milner62]

I know its not a mustang but im wanting to get a 67 to 70 mustang for a project but i wanted to build a sleeper luxury sports car, be something different than what is commonly done. Im going to upgrade the brake.suspension and steering along with the engine and transmission but the rearend is staying the stock gear ratio unless i can track down the correct speedo gear for the transmission. I hooked up a G-tech pro to get a good stock base line and the best 0 to 60 mph time was 6.7 seconds bone stock

[Milner62]

The curved High Pressure Power steering hose on the engine picture with the red sparkplug wires needs to be replaced, when you turn the steering wheel and bump the steering stops, it starts spraying power steering fluid all over the place and its getting worse. Will replace that later today if I can find a replacement since advanced auto is too far away from me and the one their building near by is still a good month away from completion.

Also replaced the brake pads, the passenger side pad was sticking on the caliper and was rubbing the disk constantly so i should be getting better gas miliage now.

[Milner62]

Ok got one from Napa and it works great after i got it on. I drove the car today also and she has more power it seems i guess since i debured the passenger side caliper where the outter brake pad (one without the piston) was sticking and wasnt going on fully so it was constantly rubbing the rotor. Now i took her onto the road out back not too far from the house and tested her and before she would only get up to about 65 floored before i had to start breaking but today she hit about 77 or 78 almost 80 before i had to break so she seems to be running better.