My 1968 Cougar XR7 Build (Pic heavy)

[crazexr7]

Hello everyone, thought I'd make a build thread of the project I've been working on for a while. The car is a 68' cougar that's been passed down in my family ever since my Grandpa first bought it in 68'. Originally bought in New Jersey, the car has traveled from New Jersey to New York, to California and back all the way to CT.

It was passed down to my Dad as soon as the carburetor caught fire and caused a bit of damage, by my Grandpa working on it. Dad rebuilt the motor and much of the interior and had it repainted looking in prime condition. By 1996, Dad couldn't afford driving it around much anymore so it was stored at my Grandpa's garage for a bit until he got sick of it and pushed it outside, where it was exposed to the elements. From there on, rust, decay and any other words you can think of or imagine have gotten to the car, and prevented it from running.

So the car is now mine and has been a great project for me. I've done a ton of work over the summer and plan on having it running as soon as I start my summer job again. So here's some pics of the car and what I've done.





Here's me sanding the hood when I was 14. (I'm 18 now)



Filthy engine:


The engine is a 302 with holley 4 barrel carb. The motor wasn't turning over so I dismantled it to see what was wrong. Ended up being completely hydrolocked with rust over the cylinders




So I honed the cylinders, painted the heads, intake manifold, and exhaust manifold and my Dad helped me polish my valve covers and Assembled it back together.




oh and my friend sand blasted some parts for me



almost together:


and then where it was at


Used vinyl paint on my dash from green to black:



In the last couple of weeks I've been trying to start it up, but found out the floats are bad in the carb so I'm going to have to rebuild the carb before I light the car on fire trying to start it up again . Really can't wait to get this thing running and back to great condition. Also plan on lowering it a bit to about this:


So let me know what you think and I'll update this thread every now and again with some progress on my way

Album can be found here

[FujiTekniques]

Wow, awesome story! I've always loved that generation of the Cougar as well. Definitely keep us posted.

[200HP4dr]

Excellent job. Neat car too. I'm guessing it has the FMX transmission?

I've got a buddy who drag races a car like this, only in crappier shape, with rotted quarters and all. He sprays nearly a 350HP shot on basically a stock engine with an FMX transmission (cast iron gears!) and it runs reliably in the 1/8 mile just a shade above 7 seconds! He has a 302 as well.

See if you can find some nice Magnum 500 wheels to throw on there, as it currently has a mid 80's mod look to it with those centerlines. Still vintage, I suppose.

Keep up the good work, and keep us posted.

Chris

[Boogety Boogety]

One of my favorite cars, looks-wise, from the era. Loved the horn that blew when you squeezed the steering wheel... and the headlight covers that had to be adjusted, Just. So. so they were perfectly aligned instead of slightly off. Good luck with your project...

[crazexr7]

Wow, awesome story! I've always loved that generation of the Cougar as well. Definitely keep us posted.

Thank you sir, I will definitely keep everyone posted.

Excellent job. Neat car too. I'm guessing it has the FMX transmission?

I've got a buddy who drag races a car like this, only in crappier shape, with rotted quarters and all. He sprays nearly a 350HP shot on basically a stock engine with an FMX transmission (cast iron gears!) and it runs reliably in the 1/8 mile just a shade above 7 seconds! He has a 302 as well.

See if you can find some nice Magnum 500 wheels to throw on there, as it currently has a mid 80's mod look to it with those centerlines. Still vintage, I suppose.

Keep up the good work, and keep us posted.

Chris

Not entirely sure about what the transmission is called, it is an automatic though, like most xr7's were. And as for the wheels, I like them but they're in pretty rough shape now. I am planning on getting new wheels for the car at some point though.

One of my favorite cars, looks-wise, from the era. Loved the horn that blew when you squeezed the steering wheel... and the headlight covers that had to be adjusted, Just. So. so they were perfectly aligned instead of slightly off. Good luck with your project...

Gotta love pop up headlights and thanks!

[sullie]

Calypso Coral (Vermilion) or Cardinal Red? Nice job on the project - keep us posted - great work!

[Air and water do mix]

Great project! Those are handsome cars. Have you had to rebuild the sequential taillight motor? My buddy had to do his '66 T-Bird to get them functional. It's pretty basic and they're quite robust, so it's not a tough job, just a very unusual one!

It's one of those cars I hope I don't run across in good shape on the cheap, as I don't need to spend the money!

[lip]

[MotownSVT]

LOVE the first-gen Cougars... keep us updated.

[crazexr7]

Calypso Coral (Vermilion) or Cardinal Red? Nice job on the project - keep us posted - great work!

not quite sure, but I plan on painting it guards red either this summer or next. And thanks!

Great project! Those are handsome cars. Have you had to rebuild the sequential taillight motor? My buddy had to do his '66 T-Bird to get them functional. It's pretty basic and they're quite robust, so it's not a tough job, just a very unusual one!

It's one of those cars I hope I don't run across in good shape on the cheap, as I don't need to spend the money!

Funny you ask that, I thought I'd have to get a new one. My dad had to buy one a while back but that one stopped working. Any way of knowing how he rebuilt his and got it to work? That would definitely help me out! And thanks I have seen some in great condition on ebay go for low prices.

LOVE the first-gen Cougars... keep us updated.

Me too man what were they thinking after the second generation . And I plan on it!

[ArmenB]

Looking great, thanks for the cool project thread. Keep us updated!

[Wrong Beach]

awesome thread and an awesome car, keep up the good work.

[crushed20th]

I'm jealous! That's amazing, my first two cars were 1989 cougar Xr7's. Loved them to death.. Literally. Will be following.

[adoniram7]

1967/68 Cougar's were a great looking car. I owned a 68 with a
race 302. The interior WAY outclassed the Rustank.

I believe the tranny is a C4. The 351s got a C6.

[Roketdriver]

I'm jealous, I wish I had an awesome project car when I was 14.

[Air and water do mix]

Funny you ask that, I thought I'd have to get a new one. My dad had to buy one a while back but that one stopped working. Any way of knowing how he rebuilt his and got it to work? That would definitely help me out! And thanks I have seen some in great condition on ebay go for low prices.

I'll have to ask him, but if memory serves, it was simply dismantle, rebuild the thing, grease moving components, clean contacts and re-install.

I'll see if I can get in touch with him and let you know.

[Orion ZyGarian]

Awesome thread, keep posting pics and keep it up to date! Been jumping around on something like 10-20 car forums for 8 years now, and I think TCL is the best right now.

[crazexr7]

Thanks for all the compliments!

I'm jealous, I wish I had an awesome project car when I was 14.

It was very cool none the less but the only thing I did really was sand the hood lol. I couldn't really afford to do anything to the car until last summer.

I'll have to ask him, but if memory serves, it was simply dismantle, rebuild the thing, grease moving components, clean contacts and re-install.

I'll see if I can get in touch with him and let you know.

That'd be great thanks! I'm sure I can find a DIY thread somewhere, I'm also on a cougar forum so that'll probably be of great help also.

[adoniram7]

Sequentials are simple - you have to replace the relay, if memory serves.
Mine were bad, the lights were fine. A simple drive to the local Ford dealership
(they still carried them back in the late 80s) was all I needed.

[Yo Teach]

Good work

[zeewhiz]

AUTOMATICALLY, SYSTEMATICALLY, my new favorite thread on TCL...


67-68 Cougars are my absolute favorite 60s-70s FoMoCo product.

Will be watching with great interest, and expect a bunch of leg-humping from me.

[PJtree23]

Nice! Great project, post updates!

[Air and water do mix]

Thanks for all the compliments!

You're welcome. It's a great project and looks to be loads of fun.

It was very cool none the less but the only thing I did really was sand the hood lol. I couldn't really afford to do anything to the car until last summer.

I have a standing offer with my kids that when they turn 15, I'll help them build a car. I'm not sure if my 8 year old will (it's "iffy") but I'm quite confident my 5 year old will want to!

That'd be great thanks! I'm sure I can find a DIY thread somewhere, I'm also on a cougar forum so that'll probably be of great help also.

I would imagine you could find it, at least I hope so. I've already tried to call him once and his cell mailbox is full (as per usual) and he doesn't have e-mail, believe it or not!

[Air and water do mix]

Sequentials are simple - you have to replace the relay, if memory serves.
Mine were bad, the lights were fine. A simple drive to the local Ford dealership
(they still carried them back in the late 80s) was all I needed.

That would mean that it's completely different than the T-Bird from a couple of years previously. It was literally a motor, stepped down through a small gearset and a rotating set of brushes that made contact on circular pieces of brass.

I'm sure the new Mustang does it with a chip!

[rpmk4]

[crazexr7]

Good work

Thank you

AUTOMATICALLY, SYSTEMATICALLY, my new favorite thread on TCL...


67-68 Cougars are my absolute favorite 60s-70s FoMoCo product.

Will be watching with great interest, and expect a bunch of leg-humping from me.

hahah thanks man!

Nice! Great project, post updates!

Thanks will do!

That would mean that it's completely different than the T-Bird from a couple of years previously. It was literally a motor, stepped down through a small gearset and a rotating set of brushes that made contact on circular pieces of brass.

I'm sure the new Mustang does it with a chip!

Ah, I thought the t-bird had a relay as well, I'm sure I can probably disassemble it and re-solder the joints and see if that gets it to work again (If it works like that). That's how I fixed my cruise control relay in my a4.

[Air and water do mix]

Ah, I thought the t-bird had a relay as well, I'm sure I can probably disassemble it and re-solder the joints and see if that gets it to work again (If it works like that). That's how I fixed my cruise control relay in my a4.

I'll double-check with him, just in case I'm completely misremembering it!

I sort-of assumed that they both used the motor-driven unit.

[crazexr7]

I'll double-check with him, just in case I'm completely misremembering it!

I sort-of assumed that they both used the motor-driven unit.

Just ran out and took a picture of it

That's the sequential relay I opened it up and there's seems to be a motherboard with chips on it.

[Iroczgirl]

Awesome! I love Cougars.

I keep getting talked into working on a friends' '69. It's easy to do.

[Air and water do mix]

Just ran out and took a picture of it

That's the sequential relay I opened it up and there's seems to be a motherboard with chips on it.

Those aren't chips, they're diodes, resistors and transistors. Edit: That's not a "motherboard", either. It's "Breadboard". Breadboard was similar, but it was simpler and didn't have daughterboards that plugged into it. It's different terminology for a different time. Yeah, the chip was invented before that time, but it sure wasn't in a car yet! Go back another decade or so and you're talking tubes!

I don't know if that was in addition to or instead of the motor unit, though. I'll try him again and see if I can get something more firm for you. It looks as if it would be instead of.

[crazexr7]

Awesome! I love Cougars.

I keep getting talked into working on a friends' '69. It's easy to do.

Thanks! They're really simple cars to work on

Those aren't chips, they're diodes, resistors and transistors. Yeah, the chip was invented before that time, but it sure wasn't in a car yet! Go back another decade or so and you're talking tubes!

I don't know if that was in addition to or instead of the motor unit, though. I'll try him again and see if I can get something more firm for you. It looks as if it would be instead of.

Hmm good to know, and cool I'd appreciate the help!

[adoniram7]

Just ran out and took a picture of it

That's the sequential relay I opened it up and there's seems to be a motherboard with chips on it.

Mine didn't have that original part. It had already been converted
to the simpler relay, like the below.

http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/ite...&CatKey=Cougar

[crazexr7]

Mine didn't have that original part. It had already been converted
to the simpler relay, like the below.

http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/ite...&CatKey=Cougar

Damn that's pretty expensive. I'm gonna try and rebuild it if I can, or source one out hopefully for cheaper.

[Air and water do mix]

I talked to my buddy a bit ago. Apparently the two have nothing in common as his was motor driven unlike yours. sorry, man.

On the other hand, I don't feel too sorry for you, since you have a first generation Cougar with family ties/history!

[crazexr7]

I talked to my buddy a bit ago. Apparently the two have nothing in common as his was motor driven unlike yours. sorry, man.

On the other hand, I don't feel too sorry for you, since you have a first generation Cougar with family ties/history!

haha thanks anyways though. I'll figure it out somehow. That's really low on my priorities for the car though, the lights still work just not the sequentials. Mainly focused on getting it running and then getting it prepped for paint