Went to the junkyard today to remove a center console and stumbled across another car with parts I might like. It looks to be a 86 Cougar. 1st ?, will the dash work in my 87 bird? It physically looks the same and it is correct color and zero cracks. 2nd? How hard is it to pull the dash on one of these? 3rd ?, other than the hole in the header panel for the cougar emblem will the header panel swap with a 83 bird? It almost looks different to me but figured I could get a better answer here. I have a lead on one but this one I could get without shipping 1/2 way across the country. Thanks Dan:birdsmily:
The dash will swap out.It's not too hard to pull if you're at the salvage yard,just pull the screws and fasteners and cut the wires where you need to.Make a quick job of it.The '83 and '88 Birds have different body lines.
Check your heater core while you're in there. . . . . I have mine in the shop having a 351w installed, they got 'er all buttoned back up, took it for a test drive.... and the core was out. 6 hours of labor and a core later..... I had no idea one had to remove the dash to change that darn thing... I guess that's what 10 years of storage will get you....
Oh well. The weather is nice, and I should have it back early next week!!! SSWWWEEEET.
Birds an Cougars header panels are totally different too. grill, headlight buckets dont swap over.
look here
http://www.coolcats.net/tech/reference/parts.html
Thanks guys, I figured the header panel wouldnt work on the 83, it just looked a bit different but figured it was a good shot to try. definitly going to get the dash though
6 hours of labor for the heater core.Man,that's a scam.After talking to Eric in 2006 about that,I had mine changed in the driveway in about half an hour.No lie.Just a few fasteners,pull the dash back,swap the core,BAM,done.
that header panel will bolt onto the bird but like they said you would have to use all the bird parts on the header. I test drove a 85 cougar with a t-bird header panel. Not to bad but I new it wasn't right anyhow.
WHAT! They looked it up in their computer software and it reccomended 6 hours labor and to pull the dash! I have not paid yet, so I will look into this! One thing I do know is that these guys will treat me right. I have not seen the bill yet..... but I will for sure question it!!!
Thanks.
Thats what the mitchell labor guide calls for...I wouldnt go as far as calling it a scam think about it from the other end when you take a responsability for anything that may get broken.
We all know it isnt that bad of a job for a DIY'r :D
Chances are they just followed the official Ford instructions as found in any online or paper manual, which includes removing the entire dash. Anyone here would have assumed the same thing if Eric didn't have This Page (http://"http://www.coolcats.net/tech/troubleshooting/heatercore.html") for us to point to.
Can't believe everything you read. Last week, Mitchell also said I had to dismantle the center console and remove the entire shifting cable and neutral switch to swap in a new transaxle on a FWD Monte Carlo. Unsnapping it from the trans and holding it out of the way with a bungie cord worked just fine.
dash and header panel will swap.
time to pull dash for a heater core,, its up to you but a half hour is some david copperfield stuff.
1/2 hour isn't David Copperfield stuff if you're familiar with your car,and have pulled the dash before (even the wrong way).It's like the intake.It can be done super fast,but for some,it takes a couple of hours.Practice and you to will be master of the dash.LOL.
I can see doing it in a half hour or so. My kid and I pulled this dash in a hour and that was unplugging and removing the whole harness. I know the guy that has this j/y and he always treats me right and as I said to my kid if I snip the harness somehow someway I will need that very same piece as that is just the luck I have.
I talked to the shop today and I'm having him check the timesheet for the mechanic that did the work. I told him about your experiences, and he assured me he would bill the actual amount of time and that he will not just go by the computer. I trust these guys..... so we will see.
Oh, and Dansbirds, sorry to have led this post in a totally different direction off topic. Twas not my intention...