Bought the car at police auction with a dead trans for $300. I think I spent too much. It's taken alot of work but it was mostly fun (exception, power steering rack).
I swapped in a T-5, built an EFI HO, with TFS1, WWJR Heads, Headers, H-Pipe, Flowsound lers, Roller Rockers.
Did all the body and paint in my garage. Its a good 10 ft'er. Runs great, but a little loud. I even got the AC working again (it's San Antonio after all.)
Still have a Posi 8.8" from an XR7 in the garage for it, and a set of 3.73 gears. Also have a turbocoupe hood awaiting paint.
I plan on driving it to work for a while.
I stressed out the whole time they were inspecting it. Almost ped myself when they installed the sticker. I need to find a lazier shop.
From this:
(http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4631/30057320008large.th.jpg) (http://img411.imageshack.us/i/30057320008large.jpg/) (http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/9337/30057320007large.th.jpg) (http://img101.imageshack.us/i/30057320007large.jpg/) (http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1879/30057320001large.th.jpg) (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/30057320001large.jpg/)
To This:
(http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/6624/p1010467medium.th.jpg) (http://img412.imageshack.us/i/p1010467medium.jpg/) (http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/3302/p1010465medium.th.jpg) (http://img62.imageshack.us/i/p1010465medium.jpg/) (http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/779/p1010464medium.th.jpg) (http://img412.imageshack.us/i/p1010464medium.jpg/) (http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/3268/p1010463medium.th.jpg) (http://img13.imageshack.us/i/p1010463medium.jpg/) (http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8001/p1010471mediume.th.jpg) (http://img11.imageshack.us/i/p1010471mediume.jpg/) (http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7149/p1010469medium.th.jpg) (http://img412.imageshack.us/i/p1010469medium.jpg/) (http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2042/s7300330medium.th.jpg) (http://img145.imageshack.us/i/s7300330medium.jpg/)
Hey, thats a sharp Cougar ya got there!! You should feel proud that all your hard work paid off!! I'm just thankful we don't have any inspections around here.....I would not be happy having someone else pawing all over my car!!!
Later, RAY
Hey, thanks. I bought it to learn some bodywork basics. Ended up doing alot more. Still trying to figure out what my next project should be.
I went through the same feelings a couple of weeks ago. I have half my interior installed, have a carb'd 351w with a big cam, offroad h, loud exhaust. This guy didn't even pop the hood. Drove it around the block, tested the wipers, horn, lights, and put a sticker on it. I only pay $14.50, because it's an '80. Only a safety inspection is done for cars 25yrs or older. One of the main reasons I bought the car. I'm in Texas as well.
I got rejected at 4 places because I had an offroad H-pipe on it. I bought a catted H-pipe, and some guys at the part store told me of 3 shops that would pass a death coach. Oh well.
-Z
I was turned down at one place because the motor wouldn't idle and I had bald drag radials on the back. Fixed both of those issues and took it to a different place.
I assembled the motor, fixed wiring issues, tuned carb, installed front and back seats, exhaust, and changed all four tires in 6 days! I left the inspection station and went straight to the beer section at the gas station on the way home.