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My 1967 Mercruy Cougar Restoration Project |
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How many people do you know in their mid 30s that still have their first car? Most people that know me also know about my 1967 Cougar because I have had it since before I had my drivers license. I have been through many cars since then, and each time that one of the subsequent cars would bite the dust, I would bring the old reliable Cougar out of mothballs.This photograph is from an advertisement in a 1966 magazine and is what my Cougar looked like back then, even the same color. When I got this car, I was 16 and poor. I had to work to scape together the gas just to fill the tank! This also meant that I could not afford to have anybody work on it, and for this I am now truly grateful. This forced me to learn about cars and how to maintain and repair them. Now that I do have some money, I have decided that the old kitty needs an overhaul. Once again, I am going to use the Cougar as a vehicle (pun intended) for learning something new. I intend to completely refurbish the vehicle. The car originally came with and still has the GT package, with a 390 motor and a C6 Transmission and a Four Barrel carburetor. I have only seen four other 1967 GTs, and a freind of mine has seen one other. This makes it sound like a little of a rarity, and three of my friends have discouraged me from taking away the stock charm of the car, but I am going to anyway. In addition to replacing all worn out parts, I intend to make the following changes: 1) Replacing the 390 motor with a brand new 302. I intend to use a computer module from a late model T-Bird or Mustang to control the fuel Injection and other computerized moter functions. 2) Replacing the C6 with a FMX Transmission 3) Replacing the incredibly funky electro-mechanical mechanism responsible for the sequential turn signal with a solid state upgrade of my own design. 4) Replacing the shock towers with a form of front independent suspension. I will pay somebody else to do this for me. I have seen it done on other Ford products of the same era and I like the results. 5) Replacement of the funky "vacuum assist" steering with a bolt on power steering kit. 6) Replacement of the vacuum operated headlight covers with a better electrical one. This project will commence when I buy a new home and have a place to do it uninterrupted. I am hoping that this will occur in upcoming winter. The fact that I am an electrical engineer will probably help out greatly with items 1,3, and 6. I expect to make many errors in the other areas of the restoration and will document them here with photographic evidence as the project continues. Wish me luck.... TINK |
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