I had some time to play with the Cougar yesterday :cheers: and did some k-member swapping.
The first picture is all stock components. (k-member, lower control arm, spindle, 15” x 7” 10-hole wheel & 225/60-15 Gatorback tire)
The second picture is with the stock k-member, lower control arm, ‘94/’95 Mustang spindle, 17” x 9” FMS Cobra R, & 255/45-17 Comp T/A tire.
The third picture is the same components as the second picture, except the k-member is from a 1987 Turbo Coupe (thanks Chuck !).
It’s kind of hard to tell from the picture, but there is some positive camber on it right now, a set of caster/camber plates should take care of that and bring the top of the tire in even more.
This was just a temporary mock-up for now to test fit things. I will be pulling it all apart again to get the engine compartment ready for paint.
The wheel & tire combo I plan on using a 17” x 9” with 2mm more offset and a 245/45-17 tire.
Brent
:cougarsmily:
that 87 TC k-member wouldnt happen to be white, would it? ;)
Yup, you should know it well. ;)
Brent
:cougarsmily:
Looking good.
Mmmm vent windows:D
sweet!!!
Did you paint the mirrors body color?
I'd love to see more pictures of that car.
I believe xr7 mirrors were painted body colour by default. Mine is Black
Was that an '85 thing? The mirrors on my '86 XR-7 are matched to the window trim.
'84-'85 XR-7's mirrors were painted body color, '86 XR-7's mirrors matched the charcoal color of the trim regardless of the body color.
It's in disassembly mode right now, but I will see what I can do. ;)
Brent
:cougarsmily:
Here a few quick ones that I took today. Like I said, it's currently in disassembly & test fitting parts mode so there isn't a whole lot to look at.
Brent
:cougarsmily:
continued.......
last two, and one from "before". ;)
Nice. The Chrome Cobras look really good with the red.
I am very impressed by how clean you keep your cat. Somehow I have the feeling that the motor will have an extensive cleaning befor it is reinstalled.;)
That is an absolutely stunning XR-7.
O man i need to change underwear. That thing is CLEAN!
You have Chrome Cobra R's? Nice looking car. It is stunning. I thought I kept mine clean. I want polished aluminum Cobra R's. But I think Im staying 4 lug. Nice car.
Thanks for the nice compliments everyone, it definitely is a labor of love.
My plan is to have it in better than new condition when I get it back in there. ;)
They are actually not the wheels I plan on using, I'm just using them to test fit things.
I like Cobra "R" wheels on some cars (Hawks comes to mind) but personally I don't think they look "right" on my Cougar. The chrome finish is a little to blingy for me and the Cobra "R" style is maybe a little too aggressive for the Cougar body style. Besides, it seems like
everyone is putting them on their car so that alone makes me want something different.
Brent
:cougarsmily:
So are you selling the Cobras then?
Wow your engine bay didn't get much coverage? That's the least paint I've seen in there on any Fox Bird/Cat.
The car looks amazing though! And +1 on wanting to know what is going in there? Something gunmetal/silver to match the lower paint?
Well, I wasn't prepared to sell them but they are/will be for sale.
Give me a few days to gather them up, get some pics & info.
Brent
:cougarsmily:
There was more coverage but the paint that was there was very thin and a lot of it came off when I used Simple Green to clean. It didn't seem to harm the factory primer gray underneath though.
I have changed my mind so often on what my overall plans are that you will just have to wait and see what transpires. You are extremely close with your guess on the wheels though. ;)
Nothing too exotic though, the 2.3 will be going back in.
Brent
:cougarsmily:
that's a really sharp looking car. keep up the great work.
Aww man... Cobes look sweet on XR-7s! You're right, the Cougar isn't amazingly agressive by itself. But thats what wheels are for!
Simply a beautiful car.
I agree with you on the chrome Cobra Rs.
I think a 96-98 GT wheel with a machined finish would look good on it.
cobra R's are overplayed and boring.
anniversay cobra wheels on the other hand.....mmmmm
man, that kmember is still GROSS!! did you get it like that, or like i dropped it off to chuck :rollin:
Hey Anny Cobra wheels were my idea! :hick:
They'd kick @$$ on Brent's XR7 though! Too bad about the simple green, but yeah that primer is some tough stuff.
It sat behind my garage from the time you dropped it off until I took it to him a couple week ago.. I never touched it ;)
I probably sed 5 lbs. of gunk off of it before I bolted it in. Good thing is that it's rust free underneath all that gunk. :hick:
10th Anniversary wheels are the current plan, 245's in front/275's out back. :burnout:
Brent
:cougarsmily:
that's going to look killer!
I *love* those wheels. Especially on a Fox Bird/Cat!!!
That's going to look stunning Brent ;)
Oh, sweet mercy...
That is going to look wicked-cool.
God I envy you!!
Sweet:D
While the car is nice, the Merkur sign has me hot and bothered.
It would be sweet if it was lighted :D
Those wheels are going to rock on that car!! 9s and 10s?? or just 9s all around??
Just 9" all the way around, I want to make sure I have plenty of room for tailpipes. ;)
You like that huh? :D I really wanted to get both sides but I missed out on the getting them both by about 10 minutes. It definitely pays to get to swap meets early. I would really like to get a FLM sign but since Ford leases them to the dealership, they are very good at making sure they don't make their way into the publics hands.
Lighting the Merkur sign is "on my list" but there is too much other stuff to do first, like finishing my car. :hick:
Brent
:cougarsmily: