67 Cougar restification

[screamin_c10]

So my boys 68 EFI cougar fell victim to a rather large snow laden limb last winter that fell across the nose and did some pretty extensive damage to the front end. Cougars are no where as popular as the Mustang as far as aftermarket panels and parts go, so we needed to find a parts donor for his car.

Searched for a while until we found this 67 on CL for a grand. The odometer shows 42000 miles and I'm inclined to believe it as the car has sat since 1989.

Brake and gas pedals show little wear and everything is complete and unmolested... rare for a 45 year old car...

We pulled the 289 A code 4V out as it was seized, ended up being the water pump was seized due to electrolysis pulling all the aluminum into it... pretty cool actually.

The cylinders, crank, cam all show very little wear so we will be freshening it up and putting it all back together.

In typical Mustang/Cougar style the cowl started to leak as well as the quarter windows and wiped out the floor.

Besides the floor the body is very straight and rust free, not quite sure how to proceed on it as we really want to put her back on the road.

She will need full floor pans and the drive-train gone through, but the other Cougar needs extensive body work... decisions decisions...

[Zoomin]

I can't offer any advice on it, but I'll be anxious to see what you do. I always liked the lines on those.

[Sillyoldman]

Strikers? I always liked them wheels back in the day.

[raic65]

Cool. I drive a 68 cougar. Well, everything from the rear seat forward structurally is identical to the mustang with the exception of the seat platforms and dash. The seat platform is lower on the cougars. The dash is flat across the top unlike the mustang. I say get a full floor pan from a mustang vendor.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Any pics of how bad the other one is wrecked?
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[screamin_c10]

Looks worse inside the engine bay... apron is bent and separated from the shock tower a bit. Front end sags at the left corner about a 1/2 inch...

Its repairable and all the parts except the fender are mustang interchangeable.

[screamin_c10]

Well, several parts arrived for the 67 including new pans... The engine and carb are freshened up now and I've acquired a low mile C4 truck trans. Trying to keep this one as low budget as possible by reusing and recycling some parts...

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by screamin_c10

Looks worse inside the engine bay... apron is bent and separated from the shock tower a bit. Front end sags at the left corner about a 1/2 inch...

I think that solves your problem then. Fix up the white car and drive it. Use the mustang parts to fix the other one and find a hood/fender when you can and sell whatever one you're not too attached to

[screamin_c10]

Sound advice as usual redneck... thanks

[cheyenne shortstep]

Just picked up this 34k original mile S-code 390/4spd '67.

[screamin_c10]

Nice one shortstep, the 390/4spd cars scream...

[screamin_c10]

So we gutted the old girl in preparation of the new pans and toe panels... engine compartment is detailed out, new brake lines, Shelby modded front suspension and power disk brakes are installed... Holding off on the motor and trans until the pans are done.

The current plan is to get her running with the original 289 and then transfer in the 5.0 HO and EFI from the 68 after the car is a driver... I just had hand surgery on the 31st so things are slow going with the boys working and back in school...

I keep having to remind myself that its a driver for my sons and I cant go hog wild on this one...

[cheyenne shortstep]

Thanks, but seeing how I,m not a Ferd guy it can't stay. Just sold it a few hours ago and already bought another C/10, SWB, BBW, fleetside total project truck.

[Frizzle Fry]

Lookin good! It's hard to hold back isn't it? Same situation I'm in with my son's 68 Squareback.
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[67ChevyRedneck]

Gotta love that Ford cowl rust!

You've done a lot in less than a month!

[screamin_c10]

Thanks guys... we are trying to set a record for build speed and low buck on this one... LOL

Pressure washed the rear end and pulled the drums, was happy to see new seals and shoes/hardware in place... We went ahead and replaced the wheel cylinders and gave the shoes a scuff. dumped the lube which looks new and gave it a fresh coat of chassis paint... New brake hose and shocks will be installed tomorrow. The boys can/will upgrade to a 9" eventually so no big money needs to be spent on the old 8"

Drivers side pan test fit... will need some trimming as expected but all in all I'm pretty happy with the fit.

Today's festivities...

[andrewmp6]

Looks pretty good so far,On getting a 9 inch look at quickperformance.com they are the cheapest i found new that bolts in.

[screamin_c10]

Thanks Andrew, I'll check them out...

[screamin_c10]

Quick update on the rustification... Firewall mods are done for the 5.0 booster and all lines have been redone. The rear axle is back in place with new shocks and brake lines. Hunter welded in the drivers side floor board yesterday, the passenger will have to wait until the weekend. I got a screamin deal on a 5.0 harness, intakes and ECU so I think I will start getting that sorted while the car is blown apart. That way the conversion to EFI will be that much easier when the time comes.

[screamin_c10]

Only so much I can do with 1.5 hands... figured I would finish up the engine today and clean up my shop a bit...

[884x4Sub]

nice

[67ChevyRedneck]

That is a pretty motor.

[Frizzle Fry]

Nice!

[Clyde65]

I think its very cool you having your boys doing the actual work, this kind of experience will help them all through life IMO.

[screamin_c10]

So we got half the cowl finished today... I think the kid did pretty good..