General => User Rides => Topic started by: sarjxxx on July 04, 2010, 03:15:57 AM
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 04, 2010, 03:15:57 AM
EDIT: For a complete backstory on this car -since I've had it- (with pics) go here (http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3246694)
And then to make sense of the first two lines of this post, go [thread=28463]here[/thread]
Well, the time is finally here.
Now that the AOd finally let go, and license and insurance have been dropped, the ol' cat can finally take a rest and get worked on properly.
I've done a lot of work to this car since I got it, probably somewhere in the $2500 range,(no, I'm serious). but now that it is to become my fun car, no longer a DD, there are a lot of other things I have in mind.
Here is what we are working with:
1988 Cougar LS, 3.8L V6, base model, mileage unknown due to multiple speedo changes (apparently somewhere over 200,000 though based on carfax report)
And here is some work that has already been done:
Rebuilt v6
New motor mounts
High torque starter
Electric fan
MSD coil and dis cap, Bosch platinum +2's
Custom CAI
Glasspack ler
New radiator, hoses, water pump, ps pump, alternator, fuel pump, and battery
Sway bar addition in rear, new bushings/links up front
New tires and brakes-both already toast, new u-joints
Headlights restored, and marker light/turn signal mod
Fog lights added
LED taillights, dome light
trunk pop switch and glove box light addition
JVC HD radio, jensen speakers, audiopipe 12" sub
Faux aluminum dash trim swap
Thats the majority of whats been done. Course there's always a couple of here and there's, and maybe some other things I forgot about too.
However, there are still many many many other things that need to be done. Most are simple wear and tear repairs that need to be done. Such as: [LIST=1]
Working transmission. Working AOD with floor shift conversion installed 02-19-11
Tires.
Brakes. Fixed (for now...)
Front-end Alignment.
Front struts.
Broken taillights. Replaced 09-28-2010
Interior headliner has a couple holes.
Rear package tray carpet is worn out.
Interior carpet is not so great.
Window crank handle is broken on DS, and window arm tabs are broken on PS. Fixed 07-24-11
Window trim is rotted out fixed 12-27-11
DS door lock is broken. Fixed 07-24-11
Rear window chrome trim is gone.
Exterior paint has seen better days.
HUGE dent under PS quarter glass.
AC does not work. System completely removed, 08-24-10
Nor does the heater. Fixed, 10-29-10
Dash top is awful.
All front-end lights need to be de-yellowed/de-fogged/de-cracked. Again.
New dew wipes Installed 12-29-11
New seat belt sleeves
As my car was as base as they come, there are many things that need to be added. Seriously, the only option I have are power mirrors. That don't work. [LIST=1]
(Working) Power mirrors.Fixed 01-08-11
Power door locks.
Power windows.
Full center console. Installed, 01-08-11
Underhood light. custom LED set complete 09-06-11
Underdash/floorboard lights. custom LED setup installed 11-15-11
Sunroof. Installed 03-10-12
Cupholders. Project started 07-24-11
Lighted sunvisors. Installed 01-08-11
Needs sport bucket seats
Aftermarket keyless entry (keyfob)
And others are things that just need to be upgraded: [LIST=1]
Bigger sway bars.Installed 03-07-12
Bigger front discs.
Rear discs.
3.73 rear.
New exhaust/headers. Headers installed 03-31-11; Single 2.5" system installed; Thrush Welded ler 12-27-11
Turbine rim swap. Installed[/B/] finally
Full buttstuffog gauges. Installed 02-27-12(fully custom set designed for later, just have to get guages)
Racing seats?
Full LED conversion on ALL lights.
Sequential tails. Installed 03-09-11
Performance 15:1 steering rack.
TC Hood Installed 02/13/14
But the biggest, most time (and money) consuming, things that are going to be happening to this car are these: [LIST=1]
T-5 going in soon
Split port heads + 4.2 internals.
MAF ECU conversion.
~350hp turbo setup
Forged internals and SC block... for more boost of course!
Yes, all of those can be done.(Don't worry, I've done the research) No, none of those will be entirely practical or easy.(Again, done the research) And yet, I still do not care!
3 things that WILL NOT be happening:
5-lug conversion (just don't want them)
Leather and/or power seats.(can't stand them)
5.0, 2.3, 5.8, or any other engine swapping.(maybe someday, in another car)
There. Now we have the basic starting point of any project: What is wrong, and what are we going to do about it.
There is no particular order in which things will be happening.
Most of anything that happens during this project that dives into a deep technical subject will get its own thread in its respective forum category, and will be discussed there. When a particular project deserves this, a link to the corresponding thread will be provided, so that all discussion can happen there. This is to better facilitate any searches for particular information later on, and also to keep posts on this thread to its topic.
As items are knocked off the list, they I will be updating the thread, both in the title as a dated update, and on the lists above, as completion dates. All the items above will have links directed to the post(s)/thread(s) that they were involved in.
Hopefully when this project is completed, it will be a very original project. It won't be your nice clean stock interior rebuild, but it won't be ricey. It will be a v6 under the hood, but it won't be slow. I have decided to call this Project Black Panther. You'll see why soon. I hope that when this is all completed, it will be something that people will have to take a step back and say "woah... that's quite different". It will be something truly unique and something to be proud of. I realize there are far more practical solutions to some (if not all) of the work I'm going to be doing, but I don't mind that. This is going to be what it will be for a good reason.
This is my first project car. It's going to be a lot of work, and will no doubt be a long drawn out pain in the ass, but I hope to have fun with it. And I hope you guys can have some fun in it with me, and be able to help out along the way if I need it.
Updates will begin soon.:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Beau on July 04, 2010, 05:00:42 AM
You want power windows, and I want manual...hmmm.
I'd skip a sunroof....wish my Sport didn't have a piece of glass overhead.
I'd do all the mechanical stuff first, esp. the T5 swaparoo. What's the use of having a pretty car that can't move? ;)
Good luck!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Kitz Kat on July 04, 2010, 05:24:03 AM
It's a long redo, keep motivated and keep your goal in sight. Good luck.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 04, 2010, 06:50:19 AM
I wish my list was that short when I started.LOL. I agree with the above post,do the mechanical work first.Get it running how you want it then get busy on the rest (unless those "other" pieces show their face early).Headliner,lights,trim,etc....all super easy stuff,and if you really look around,cheap.Make a list on paper of what you have,what you need,and what you want (there IS a difference).Make a list of what you need to do.Check things off as you get them,and as progress is made.It lets you see progress.I did a lot to the Sport but because of the amount of work needed,I couldn't really see progress.The list helped me.Good luck,and as you know,pics will be required.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: hcor on July 04, 2010, 09:16:51 AM
Now that's a project. What parts do you need to complete it? And of course we will need pics of the progress!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Cougar8775 on July 04, 2010, 11:11:18 AM
hell i could sell ya some solid motor mounts that should fit your v6. they came off my SC.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thunderjet302 on July 06, 2010, 06:04:20 PM
You need a 5.0;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 06, 2010, 06:23:50 PM
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;327240
You want power windows, and I want manual...hmmm.
Considering a trade off?....
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;327240
I'd do all the mechanical stuff first, esp. the T5 swaparoo. What's the use of having a pretty car that can't move? ;)
Quote from: sarjxxx;327232
There is no particular order in which things will be happening, but, the t-5 will be the first and most important thing to happen, since the car currently has no way to move itself.
Quote from: vinnietbird;327244
Make a list of what you need to do.Check things off as you get them,and as progress is made.It lets you see progress.I did a lot to the Sport but because of the amount of work needed,I couldn't really see progress.The list helped me.
Quote from: sarjxxx;327232
However, since we are looking at a considerable amount of time and money to accomplish such an undertaking, there are other things which require no money that can be accomplished now. ... As items are knocked off the list, they I will be updating the thread, both in the title as a dated update, and on the lists above, as completion dates. All the items above will have links directed to the post(s)/thread(s) that they were involved in.
Come on guys, I'm on the ball!!:D
Quote from: Cougar8775;327265
hell i could sell ya some solid motor mounts that should fit your v6. they came off my SC.
Quote from: sarjxxx;327232
And here is some work that has already been done:
-Rebuilt v6 and new motor mounts
Got 'em bro!;)
Quote from: thunderjet302;327493
You need a 5.0;)
Quote from: sarjxxx;327232
3 things that WILL NOT be happening:
1. 5-lug conversion 2. Power seats. 3. 5.0, 2.3, 5.8, or any other engine swapping.
I knew this would be coming anyway:flip:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 06, 2010, 06:35:57 PM
I'm considering doing the tempo/topaz mirror trick. Has anyone here done it? If so can you provide me with a pic or two? Eric's site was more for fit and finish and didn't really show how it looks against the car.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 07, 2010, 09:22:39 PM
Well, since Cougar Funds is still at rock bottom, I decided to do something that would cost absolutely no money, and try to work out the dent under the ps quarter glass.
As you can see, some of it came out, but I'm not done yet, I need better tools cause I just cant get to it good enough with a hammer now.
On another note, I went by the transmission shop today. Since I am unsure of whether or not I am mechanically qualified to completely take on the swap out by myself, I went to see if he would handle all the technical stuff after I put pedals in and pulled the AOd. Well, thats all fine and dandy, and for roughly $300 which is about what I was expecting anyway. Idk, I might do it myself anyway if you guys can help me out here and there...
But thats beside the piont. When I was explaining to him what would be going on, I told him it was going into a fox body cougar. I explained it had a AOd, and he says,
"wait, what year did you say that was?"
88.
"well thats not a fox body!"
I was like WTF???
"that after they switched to the single headlights right?"
...well yeah...
"well thats not fox body. The true fox bodies had four headlights up front":hick::hick:
GD'd four-eyes:flip::rollin:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: ShowBoy on July 08, 2010, 07:47:12 PM
Ummm ... not to make you mad at me ... 'cause I bruise easily ... but I am told that "technically" it's "fox chassis" and not "fox body" ... but either way you like it is fine with me ... 'cause you're probably bigger than me ... and hey, I think "fox body" sounds better anyway.
It's cool to tell people that you got a "fox body."
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 08, 2010, 10:31:56 PM
Quote from: ShowBoy;327715
... but I am told that "technically" it's "fox chassis" and not "fox body" ...
:beatyoass:
...well that's true though :(
Btw, I am bigger than you:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Haystack on July 09, 2010, 06:45:04 PM
The body is the chassis...
Just so you know, the 4.2 is not worth it. I have driven two f 150's with the 4.2 and around 100,000 miles. No balls. Freeway speeds with a flat bed and no weight = 4th gear. 5th the truck can barely maintain speed with no hill. Every small grade turns into a down shift and is pointless.
I liked the 3.8 cars that I have had, and they are adequate for around town. I think a t-5 would make them feel much peppier. If I ever drove a sefi instead of cfi v-6, I might be able to see where your coming from.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Haystack on July 09, 2010, 06:45:43 PM
The body is the chassis...
Just so you know, the 4.2 is not worth it. I have driven two f 150's with the 4.2 and around 100,000 miles. No balls. Freeway speeds with a flat bed and no weight = 4th gear. 5th the truck can barely maintain speed with no hill. Every small grade turns into a down shift and is pointless.
I liked the 3.8 cars that I have had, and they are adequate for around town. I think a t-5 would make them feel much peppier. If I ever drove a sefi instead of cfi v-6, I might be able to see where your coming from.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 09, 2010, 08:49:19 PM
Yes, I did not have a 4.2 in mind at all. Even with a little hp gain, it probably gets less torque due to the increased stroke range, which is why you said it sucked on hills...
Besides, I'm proud of my 3.8 anyway. I plan to get custom valve covers with "3.8" etched in there...along with a few other things...
And yes, you are right. The MFI and SEFI are definitely smoother and more powerful than the CFI 3.8s. I own one of each of the direct injected engines...my 88 is the MFI speed density setup with a dizzy, and my 96 is SEFI with MAF and DIS. The 96 definitely feels more powerful, (but the extra 700# on the MN-12 doesn't help it get out...)
However, my friend has an 84 bird with the CFI 3.8 and I have driven it. The engine has undergone almost a complete rebuild, so its on par with mine mechanically. However, the get-up-and-go is just not there compared to my 88. I think this is due in part to the earlier heads being so inefficient.
My plan for the 88 now, though, is to do the split port head swap, which produced a drastic increase in power, (from 140-190bhp), but to throw a 4 barrel carb on there instead of going SEFI and MAF. This is in part to significantly reduce the amount of bs involved in ECU and wire swapping, but also just for the plain cool factor that goes along with it. I know of no one with a carbed 3.8. (yes, I know they did exist, but don't know of anyone who still has one).
Also, it will be much easier to install the supercharger late on this way. This is partly why I'm going with the t-5 swap also, just do give it that added feel, partly because its so much more fun to pass people with, and partly because I don't know of anyone who has ever had a v6 fox cougar or tbird with one in it, and I would love to be the first.
This is going to be one serious Frankenstein mahine.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Haystack on July 09, 2010, 11:59:13 PM
You ever think about a turbo instead?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 10, 2010, 12:07:06 AM
Yeah but not seriously cos i just dont wanna screw with fabricating custom headers for one. Plus, ive always been a fan of blowers anyway :D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 10, 2010, 02:01:19 AM
Well, made some "progress" lately.
While I haven't actually done anything to the car yet, I have been doing some hardcore planning and research.
I figured out some things that will help me with the tranny conversion.
First thing, I found out exactly what kind of trans I will be putting in it. I looked it up and found out that the 94-95 at least mustangs still ran a T5 on their v6's. So, went to autozone, they were able to come up with a rebuilt trans, a new clutch kit, and the fabled v6 flywheel for the engine. This seemed to be a big deal on Eric's write up about the T5 swap b/c no one was sure what flywheel to use. So...I just asked for one from the 94-95 V6 mustang, and sure enough, a balanced flywheel, ready to bolt on.
Looking at $300 for the tranny, $161.99 for the clutch kit, and $77.99 for the flywheel.
Now I just gotta find a 5.0 something to ravage the pedal set from.:D
Also, I decided to go with a completely custom guage set. I'm going to go with the Sunpro Super III set, all the way. P/N CP7125 for the speedo, CP7915 for the tach, and CP7101 for the OP guage, WT, VM, Fuel, V/B, and AFR all are similar to the OP guage. All in all, w/o the V/B and AFT guages, it's gonna run me a little more than $400.
I'm going to make a custom cluster backing from our existing stock cluster. Here is a template I came up with last year when I was considering this before. The first picture was my original idea back then, but the second two are what I have decided to change it to. There are still a couple of things missing that you cannot see in the picture.
You can see how in the two different designs I changed the position of the small guages to match our own anlalog clusters, and I got rid of all the useless lights that my car doesn't even have. It still needs a little tweaking, and I have a custom LED setup in mind for things such as TS and HB indicators. Its going to be mind blowing:eek:
I was hoping for a test fit today, but ran out of time. I will try to fit it tomorrow or on sunday, that will really help me with guage placement once I see the template in-dash.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 11, 2010, 06:39:00 PM
Ok, well I have tweaked out and testfitted the custom gauge panel. I decided to make a change to the gauge set I am using too. I decided to go with Auto Meter's Sport Comp I set, 3-3.8" tach and speedo and 2-1/16" instrument set.
Here is the new design I am going with. It's basically the same, only I had to make the gauge holes the right size, which caused some moving around. Its a reaaaaally tight fit.
The only lights I am going to be including on this are the High beam indicator, and the Turn signal indicators. This is in part because my other lights don't work anyway... These are each going to be custom LED strips, white for the HB, and green for the TS's. The gauges themselves are going to be backlit red.
Here are some test fit pics.
This one is from eye level in the car (http://i25.tinypic.com/2e67o5v.jpg)
Here are two close ups...in the first one you can kinda see the "RH" for the RH TS strip on the bottom corner on the black part (http://i31.tinypic.com/2iadimb.jpg) (http://i29.tinypic.com/2l48za.jpg)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 12, 2010, 05:13:29 PM
Well here's a neat idea I had.
I had this trunk emblem laying around forever and decided not to put int on the trunk because I have another idea. So.....
Longing for the style of the 83/84 interior what placed the logo on the dash, I had an idea!
I just measured, centered, and leveled. Then I marked and drilled 1/16" holes and stuck it right in. It sticks in there pretty good. No glue required.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: hypostang on July 12, 2010, 05:49:43 PM
I like it :D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 22, 2010, 07:41:25 PM
Well, I went out a started the car up for the first time in about a week and half, and it obviously needed to be, judging from the 7 or 8 cranks it took to get it started. (normally its about 3)
I'm so disappointed that its just sitting there and there's really nothing I can do about it right now. Don't get me wrong, I love my bird, and it is a much nicer car on the inside, but the cat is just sooooo much more fun to drive.
Its weird, I sat in it when I started it up and everything just felt so alien to me. After driving the 96 around for a month the 88 just feels so old and out of date. The lack of options, the small thin *everything*, and just the general age decayed poor interior feels so different to me, but I still miss it.
The one thing that I always loved about my cougar was that it is the most fun car I've ever driven. (now thats not against too many cars though) I love the handling in it, the speed, the sound, and just the general feel.
I can't wait to get the tranny in it and get it back on the road. Its just so hard right now to come up with funds when I can hardly even pay my bills on time. :(
On another note, I think I have come up with a solution for how to fix the massive dent under my window. Link to the thread I just started:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on August 24, 2010, 07:15:39 PM
Well, I had all day to go junkyarding today, and came up with some good finds.
I found $13!!! in a car today...just sitting there!... I found a 86 TC that I may be able to get some susp parts from, but it looked like I'm already as upgraded as it was
I also found blue 88 cougar that I can possibly get a transmission from And I finally was able to find a sable with the piece that I have been looking for for a long time to do a special secret project I've been planning for a year now...
I'm thinking about just buying a pos AOD and throwing it in there for now. What I want more that anything is just to be able to drive my car from time to time. If I wait out all the time and money it's going to take to get all the pieces and parts and get the T5 installed, it will be a long time before the cat is out prowling the streets again. I think I am going to go get the AOd from the 88 cougar and just slap it in there and get it done for now, while I take my time and get everything I need for the T5 install.
I also today finally got around to removing/hackingall the AC components, since I have now decided to just ditch it instead of getting it fixed. If this was going to be a DD or stock rebuild, I would keep it, but as for what I plan on doing with it, since it doesn't work anyway, I just ripped it all out. (which really wasn't as easy as it might sound);) I also got all the smog pump bs tubing out of there all the way back to the metal tube which I capped off Found out the wire I ran from my alt to power my fan has some sort of problem and is draining my battery and/or causing my alternator not to charge correctly which is what keeps causing my battery to die... I need to do this properly and run it straight from the battery and get a relay attached to the ignition to power it.
So, here are a couple of picts after a quick purple power bath:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on August 24, 2010, 09:24:11 PM
Jeez man, got enough clearance for that fan?!
This winter I'll be re-installing my AC, but I plan on DD/road-tripping it.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on August 24, 2010, 09:59:29 PM
Quote from: jrad235;333305
Jeez man, got enough clearance for that fan?!
:rollin:Yeah thats what everybody says; I can actually stand in there:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on August 26, 2010, 07:44:19 PM
Well, here is the big secret revealed.
my super secret but not as impressive as I thought idea (http://"http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?p=333631#post333631")
I also got the ac tensioner off and out of the way... only thing left to do about that is remove the evaporator... I guess I'll do that when I fix the heater
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 01, 2010, 10:59:16 PM
Well, I found a tranny!
There is an 88 v6 car in the JY nearby, the guy said he wants $200 and he'll pull and deliver the tranny to me! Sweet!
I'm pretty sure it works cause the car was plainly in there due to a wreck and getting totaled, but it shouldn't have damaged the trans at all. But, just to be safe, I'm going to take it apart and clean it when it gets home, and then I will be adding a fan assisted trans cooler after it goes in too.
I'm not really looking for something badass, since I still plan on going T5, but now at least I will be able to move it by means other than pushing it!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on September 03, 2010, 08:06:06 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;334431
Well, I found a tranny!
I don't think I would be bragging if I found a tranny :punchballs:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 03, 2010, 08:26:08 PM
Scott!:flip:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 07, 2010, 06:55:48 PM
Well, I got a couple things accomplished today.
First, got the battery switched out this weekend. Turns out it wouldn't hold a charge. I thought it was my alt, but I could run the car as long as I wanted, (with the battery light on) but soon as I turned it off, it was dead. Since it was a walmart battery that I've already replaced under warranty after I got the car, I just took it back, got another one free.
Got the fan hooked up properly, through a relay, attached to the battery, and it runs great. However, one problem still bugging me is that the battery light is still on. With or without the fan hooked up. I guess its 3G time!
One other thing that really pissed me off, is I went to change the thermostat, because the engine doesn't seem to be heating up properly, so I suspected a stuck open thermostat, well, I SNAPPED the GD bolt off. GAAAAAHHHH. Which really confuses me because I just did a tsat job last year, so I don't know why it was so stuck. The other side was too, but it did loosen up.
So now my only options are to try to drill it out and turn it out somehow, or to get another lower manifold. . I was not planning on that!!! But, I think the tstat housing will come off if I can get the other bolt off, and maybe I can turn the bolt out with a real good pair of vicegrips. We'll see.
:toilet:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Watchdevil on September 07, 2010, 08:41:04 PM
Quote from: Scott D;334655
I don't think I would be bragging if I found a tranny :punchballs:
LMAO! :rollin:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 07, 2010, 09:46:32 PM
I wasn't laughing.
I like trannys.
I like it when they're full of fluid.
I love to connect them to my powertrain.
I think they should be a part of my underbody.
I don't mind it if they're a little used.
I think its OK if they're old.
And, they're best if they're cheap.:D :flame:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on September 08, 2010, 04:15:53 AM
Quote from: sarjxxx;334961
I wasn't laughing.
I like trannys.
:punchballs:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 11, 2010, 10:58:23 AM
Shiny picture:D:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thunderjet302 on September 11, 2010, 11:07:09 PM
The snapped bolt means you need a 5.0.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: hypostang on September 11, 2010, 11:08:13 PM
Quote from: thunderjet302;335305
the snapped bolt means you need a 5.0.
+1 :)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 11, 2010, 11:09:40 PM
Actually, i'm kinda thinkin about it. Kinda. Just a little. Not really very much at all. But a little. It'd be getting a carb if I did though. ehhh, nah. not gonna do it.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on September 12, 2010, 06:17:31 AM
Quote from: thunderjet302;335305
The snapped bolt means you need a 5.8.
:headbang:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 12, 2010, 05:37:14 PM
Don't worry. 5.8's coming when I get my next one. I promise.
That one is going to be my race car:evilgrin:
This one is going to be my show car:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on September 12, 2010, 06:41:12 PM
Need we remind you how cheap it is to get a v-8?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on September 12, 2010, 07:24:51 PM
Quote from: RunninWild;335368
Need we remind you how cheap it is to get a v-8?
It's not really cheap to swap to a V8.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on September 12, 2010, 08:31:20 PM
Quote from: daminc;335374
It's really cheap to swap to a V8.
:headbang:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 12, 2010, 10:25:33 PM
Quote from: daminc;335374
It's not really cheap to swap to a V8.
:iagree: Especially after you've already swapped in a v6.;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on September 13, 2010, 09:18:02 PM
Quote from: daminc;335374
It's not really cheap to swap to a V8.
But it's cheaper to build a high performance v-6 car?
I'd think it'd be cheaper to get a used v-8....
Of course, I realize Steve doesn't wanna do a v8 swap, but I'm just sayin'.
Title: new grille
Post by: sarjxxx on September 15, 2010, 07:55:30 PM
Got my new grille from SR86C today. Slapped it on. Looks a whole lot better! See the difference?
Now if those taillights would just get here;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on September 15, 2010, 08:08:30 PM
Me gusta.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 19, 2010, 08:32:11 PM
Got my new taillights put in from 88turbo tonight.
Still need to polish and clean the outside but the insides are beautiful.;)
Also, all 8 bulbs are now converted to LED, and the innner lights have been converted to 3157 LED's, and have been hooked up to the turn signals also.
However there was a problem see here: [thread]29508[/thread]
On another note, I met a guy last night here in town, who is a SC fanatic.
He took me for a ride in his, (I have never actually seen one in person before, much less ridden in one). I was simply blown away. I had plans since the beginning to throw a supercharger in the cougar, but now, it is for sure. It was mind blowing (to me) the amount of low end tq on that thing. There was no delay, didn't matter where you are in the rpm range, that sob just takes off.
I really want a blower in this thing, but he was also talking about turbo applications, and he said it would be real easy to put a turbo in a fox car. He threw reeaaaally impressive numbers at me. Said he did it for a customer one time, and got ~400 lbs of tq and 2800 rpm on the dyno, and over 300 hp at 5200. I don't care what you say, those are some impressive numbers for a v6. I still don't know what I want to do though, but I think I will be going for the supercharged application, just because I want a cleaner cheaper install.
Either way, I am going to come up with a supercoupe block and get it rebuilt before I do anything so that I can have a motor to handle that much boost.
First thing I'm doing though, is putting in the split port heads and intake from a 99-04 Mustang, and also MAF.
The list is going to go in this order at this point.
-Install s-p n/a heads and intake, fuel rails, MAF computer -Replace transmission -install center console -install floor shifter and remove collumn shifter -install headers and exhaust
The exhaust setup I'm going to use is Paceseter LT 2-1/2" headers, Y'd into a 3" single, running into a glasspack, Y'd back out into 2-1'4 duals at the axle and back.
I'm honestly so excited about all this I can't stand myself.:D:D:D:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: hypostang on September 19, 2010, 08:37:29 PM
Taillights look good , where did you get your leds from ?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 19, 2010, 08:45:51 PM
Auto zone.
There ok, but I want to get better ones, these only have led's in the front, so they're really hotspot(ty?). I want to get the ones that have led's in the front, but also all the way around the bulb.
like these: (http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/enkmall/3157_36LED_R.jpg)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on September 19, 2010, 08:58:34 PM
Looks good, Steve!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 20, 2010, 03:50:24 PM
One more tail pic...
I still gotta buff em and get those black lines out
Oh, and don't let the cougar badge fool you. Its not really that shiny:hick:
UPDATE: nvmd, BUFFED:
Properly cleaned, painted, sanded, buffed, and shined::D:D:D:D
(http://i55.tinypic.com/20jstvt.jpg)
(http://i53.tinypic.com/w0gppd.jpg)
(http://i53.tinypic.com/nnrznl.jpg)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 28, 2010, 12:04:16 PM
Well, got the new chrome radiator supports in. Sweet! If I get that front support bar painted nice and black they'll look real good. I just don't really wanna pull everything out of the engine bay to do it right now....
(http://i55.tinypic.com/i3hseq.jpg)
I think today I'm going to start the dash removal, and go ahead and remove the column shifter and replace the heater core. I also have a MASSIVE rewiring project to undergo.
I put a fuse block in there that I've got all kinds of running to, (including my headlights), that was put there before I realized there was a headlight fuse link (or relay (or whatever it is)) that could blow. Which, I do have to replace. Does anyone know where that is exactly?
The fuse block is going to get moved to the engine compartment, where it will most likely be paired up with another one after the battery is moved to the trunk. I gotta have something to run all my aftermarket bs on....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: blackcougar71 on September 29, 2010, 04:06:25 PM
just curious why are you wanting a sc v6? the v6 I'm running isn't a sc engine and it handled a twin turbo setup and now a nitrous setup. just fine after i ported and polished the heads , 3 angle valve job and stroked it to a 4.4 liter v6 with MAC longtube headers
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 29, 2010, 07:29:12 PM
Just because the SC engines are a drop-in replacement purpose built boost engine. They can be had cheap, and rebuilt for even less, and they are designed specifically to handle boost. The compression ratio, and cam is different, they have different heads, and are all forged internal components.
I know a guy who has been building super coupes for years, and says that in all his experience, the easiest, cheapest, and fastest way to boost your engine right is to just drop an SC engine in it. Sure, you can boost a stock engine, and it is much easier with turbos, but, sooner than later, something will go wrong.
Me, I just have a prejudicial preference towards blowers over turbos, and cannot seem to shake it. I might end up putting a turbo(s) on mine, but for right now I am still pretty dead set on supercharging it. I've seen some pretty impressive numbers but I'm just a stubborn ass and sometimes it takes a lot for me to change my mind. Idk, maybe when I see one in action... But I just LOVE the instant power you can produce with a supercharger, plus it will make for a much cleaner installation, since they were designed to go on there. Not like a turbo set up.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on September 29, 2010, 08:05:02 PM
I don't want to sound like a smartass, but why do all you guys put an air filter in your engine bay and remove the airbox? doesn't it suck hot air in instead of cold air? I'm I missing something, or just not understanding something about this.....I feel very confused with all this engine building stuff....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 29, 2010, 08:15:35 PM
Yes it does. Mines not staying like that very long. It was different setup before and I moved a bunch of stuff and thats just how it looks right now. I'm going to have it breathing colder air in from the fenderwell when I get it fixed.
But, even so, those filters do breathe better than the stock stuff. (it only makes for a less than noticeable performance gain, but I'm a sucker for anything that helps at all) Even where it's at right now though its far enough away from the radiator and the engine that it still isn't getting that warm of air.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on September 29, 2010, 08:44:21 PM
Ok, just thought I would ask.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: CougarSE on September 29, 2010, 09:21:06 PM
I did the T5 swap behind the 88 3.8 5 years ago, I did a write up on it back then. If you haven't come across it yet here is a link to it.
I now have the 88 XR7 I wanted so bad back then but its not the same. I don't have any passion for the car like I did with the old 3.8 SE.
I had 4.10 gears in mine, it was a little excessive but it would pull pretty hard. I would go with 3.73's now, at this point that would be the single best upgrade you can perform and for nearly nothing. Find a ranger at a pick a part junkyard take along the axle tag information from http://www.therangerstation.com and have a field day, just avoid 4.0 4x4's as they could have the 8.8. After a gear upgrade and T-5 swap you would need to address the low rev limit of the 3.8. Mine would float the valves at a 5k rpm. A good set of valve springs would be the ticket here. I also had a 155 LPH fuel pump, mostly because it was a Walbro and could be had for like $20 more than a stock replacement.
The 3.8 can be a fun engine to have and still get good mileage. While N/A the stock speed density engine in your car will never be a real speed demon those three things I listed will make the car a completely different animal. If at that point you care to go any further with the N/A 3.8 find some idiot who thought that a $400 set of headers was a performance upgrade for his Sn-95 mustang 3.8. Word on the street is the early style mustang 3.8 (94-98) header is good for 300 HP. Just by looking at them you can tell they are a real improvement. Jegs sells an H pipe for an Sn-95 3.8 mustang that fits the stock mustang headers and allows you the use of mustang cat backs. I've not tried it myself but there should be no reason that it wouldn't fit, some work may be needed at the transmission hanger. You may have to buy a mustang transmission hanger. I would get someone's decent shape fox mustang take off cat back and do the necessary mods to make it fit, extending this and cutting that. Shouldn't be to much work in a driveway or just take it to a ler shop, they should be able to make the mustang cat back fit well. As temping as it is I wouldn't go with a flowmaster or any other loud ler, the 3.8 has one of the most horrid-terrible exhaust tones on the road. Plus the mustang cat back will be fairly quiet and be more than you will need N/A. I always wanted to convert to Mass Air but its much more difficult on a 3.8 than a 5.0, the 3.8 being bank fire as apposed to sequential. All mustang 3.8 MAF computers are sequential. Also advance the timing, it was a great free performance upgrade and I was still able to run 87 gas with a great seat of the pants improvement.
I'm sure I'll own another 88 3.8 car down the road.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 29, 2010, 09:39:51 PM
AWESOME!! I think you have just reconvinced me to do this. Having never done a manual swap, this is very good information. Most of what you have put about interchangeability is what I've already figured out, but there is no doubt some really useful stuff in there. I was only able to skim over it for now, but tomorrow I will definitely be dissecting that essay. Thank you good sir!!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: CougarSE on September 29, 2010, 10:04:59 PM
I wouldn't cave to the 5.0 conversion crowd, I did and it is fun but I miss my old car.
I did the T-5 swap in a carport with a $40 socket set and two jack stands. After I did the swap I had horrible clutch chatter... caused by broken motor mounts, after changing them all was fine.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 30, 2010, 12:14:10 AM
Quote from: CougarSE;337238
I wouldn't cave to the 5.0 conversion crowd, I did and it is fun but I miss my old car.
Don't worry, won't be happening;)
Quote from: CougarSE;337238
I did the T-5 swap in a carport with a $40 socket set and two jack stands. After I did the swap I had horrible clutch chatter... caused by broken motor mounts, after changing them all was fine.
Well I've got lots more tools than that so I better be able to right?:burnout:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on September 30, 2010, 12:47:17 AM
Quote from: CougarSE;337230
I did the T5 swap behind the 88 3.8 5 years ago, I did a write up on it back then. If you haven't come across it yet here is a link to it.
I now have the 88 XR7 I wanted so bad back then but its not the same. I don't have any passion for the car like I did with the old 3.8 SE.
I had 4.10 gears in mine, it was a little excessive but it would pull pretty hard. I would go with 3.73's now, at this point that would be the single best upgrade you can perform and for nearly nothing. Find a ranger at a pick a part junkyard take along the axle tag information from http://www.therangerstation.com and have a field day, just avoid 4.0 4x4's as they could have the 8.8. After a gear upgrade and T-5 swap you would need to address the low rev limit of the 3.8. Mine would float the valves at a 5k rpm. A good set of valve springs would be the ticket here. I also had a 155 LPH fuel pump, mostly because it was a Walbro and could be had for like $20 more than a stock replacement.
I'm still not sure how I'm gonna go about that either. I think right now I'm still planning on grabbing up a complete TC rear with the brakes, and gearing and all.
I was told that uber-safe rpm redline is 4600 on a stock n/a, and I definitely wouldn't try take it over 5000. As far as I could tell with my AOd it kinda seemed to stop making more power around the low 4's anyway.
Quote from: CougarSE;337230
The 3.8 can be a fun engine to have and still get good mileage. While N/A the stock speed density engine in your car will never be a real speed demon those three things I listed will make the car a completely different animal. If at that point you care to go any further with the N/A 3.8 find some idiot who thought that a $400 set of headers was a performance upgrade for his Sn-95 mustang 3.8. Word on the street is the early style mustang 3.8 (94-98) header is good for 300 HP. Just by looking at them you can tell they are a real improvement. Jegs sells an H pipe for an Sn-95 3.8 mustang that fits the stock mustang headers and allows you the use of mustang cat backs. I've not tried it myself but there should be no reason that it wouldn't fit, some work may be needed at the transmission hanger. You may have to buy a mustang transmission hanger. I would get someone's decent shape fox mustang take off cat back and do the necessary mods to make it fit, extending this and cutting that. Shouldn't be to much work in a driveway or just take it to a ler shop, they should be able to make the mustang cat back fit well. As temping as it is I wouldn't go with a flowmaster or any other loud ler, the 3.8 has one of the most horrid-terrible exhaust tones on the road. Plus the mustang cat back will be fairly quiet and be more than you will need N/A.
Well, I've already got my exhaust planned out. Its gonna start of with pacesetter LTs then run into 2.5" cats on both sides, then 2.5"-3" single Y into a 3" glasspack. From there it will split at the axle, and go dual 2.25" with tips.
Believe it or not, glasspacks actually sound great on the car. But thats my opinion. Right now its running stock manifolds and y-pipe minus cats down a 2" pipe to a 2" glasspack that dumps right under the rear axle. I loooove the way it sounds. It has a great low rumble at idle, and really growls under acceleration, but it doesn't sound like a shiznitty resonator like I expected. It really just sounds like open exhaust just quieter and w/out the airflow noise.
Quote from: CougarSE;337230
I always wanted to convert to Mass Air but its much more difficult on a 3.8 than a 5.0, the 3.8 being bank fire as apposed to sequential. All mustang 3.8 MAF computers are sequential.
Yeah, still not sure how thats going to work out. I plan on putting 99-04 heads/intakes on it, but afaik they wont work w/o a MAF setup. Which means, I gotta go find an intact mustang with all the harnesses that I'm gonna need and attempt some way of reconfiguring all that back into my own.
The upside to that is the fact that when I pull the intakes of the mustang, all the required sensors and what-have-we will be in it. And then the added fact that my tranny will be either AOd or a T5, which are non-electronic, and also that my car will be devoid of most computer output components, and most non-engine related wiring (instrument cluster, AC delete, etc) should mean to me that it shouldn't be too hard. I will also be keeping my distributor. I've heard that it has a minimal effect on performance vs a coil pack, plus you don't have to tune your distributor to advance it:D
Quote from: CougarSE;337230
Also advance the timing, it was a great free performance upgrade and I was still able to run 87 gas with a great seat of the pants improvement.
I'm currently running at 14* and running 93 :burnout:
Quote from: CougarSE;337230
I'm sure I'll own another 88 3.8 car down the road.
Gotta love em:headbang: (long as you keep water in em....)
If I come across an 88 3.8 bird in decent shape in about a year I'd probably pick it up
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on October 12, 2010, 10:16:52 PM
well I got all the auto trans shift linakage and kickdown out of there today. Going to go to the JY this weekend to pull clutch pedals and such from a rotting TC before its gone. (actually the same one I got the emblems for my bird off of)
made excellent use of the propane torch today at least 3 times. Its really amazing how much easier something can be to take apart when you have absolutely no intention of reusing it later:D
I also got the shifter and shaft out, and am getting ready to pull the dash, probably on thurs. I hope, so that I can begin the heater core and rewiring. Yayy.....:toilet:
I think I might go with one of those toupee tops instead of a hard replacement top for my dash. I had one in it when I got the car, and when new, those things are actually pretty nice. I don't know for sure. I guess I just don't wanna go through the trouble of installing that thing. We'll see.
I jumped her and fired her up today too. Engine's still running great. Which is good. I can't wait to drive it again. Whats weird to me though, about two weeks ago I was revving it and noticing it had a good stall at 2000 rpm. couldn't quite figure out what that was about. This time, no stall, just a smooth rev all the way up, every time. Huh.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on October 12, 2010, 11:00:43 PM
I think the Turbo Coupe pedal assembly is different than a Mustang setup is (like I used for my 5 speed conversion). The Turbo Coupe used a hydraulic setup didn't it,using a different pedal assembly? I need to look that up.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: hypostang on October 13, 2010, 12:13:31 AM
Quote from: vinnietbird;339191
I think the Turbo Coupe pedal assembly is different than a Mustang setup is (like I used for my 5 speed conversion). The Turbo Coupe used a hydraulic setup didn't it,using a different pedal assembly? I need to look that up.
4 eyed cars had cables :D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on October 13, 2010, 03:40:28 PM
cool its coming from an 85!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on October 13, 2010, 04:16:00 PM
Cool.I didn't know it was coming from a 4 eyed car.Again,good luck and I can't wait to see the results.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on October 13, 2010, 04:39:46 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;339303
and I can't wait to see the results.
hah, me either!:burnout:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on October 13, 2010, 09:09:02 PM
Got my carfax:D
I cant beileve my car was in the north for so long, its so rust free...
I can't believe how many miles are on it either... when I got it it had a replaced speedo in it that read around 140,000 so it had WAAAYY more than that.. I figured maybe they at least replaced it with something close... Idk whats up with the EML title, the digital speedos go all the way to 199,999 so theres no reason for that title that early....
(http://i54.tinypic.com/2s6oi6a.jpg)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 02, 2010, 11:26:38 AM
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 02, 2010, 12:05:22 PM
Well, PROGRESS:D has been made!
Nothing in the way of getting the thing moving, I'm afraid, but nonetheless a very important few weeks of stuff that needed to be done.
In order of chronology: First, all column shift linkage and shifter junk is removed. Second, heater core is repaired! Third, massive rewiring project is somewhat complete.
Prepare for pics:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 02, 2010, 12:18:13 PM
I really don't have any pics of the column shift coming out, but, I do have visible progress on the heater:
And here we have the cause of heater failure, a broken solder joint on one of the inlet pipes. Easily fixable, but I still feel better off with the new core in there and getting rid of this old rusty one.
Unfortunately I didn't take more pics of that process, but its back in, and the heat does work now!!!
I wanted to remove my ac evaporator while I was at it, but I couldn't figure out a way to get it out w/o hacking up the whole box so I just left it in there and cut the lines up flush against the box, sealed it, and painted it black.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 02, 2010, 12:45:22 PM
As for the rewiring project, some of you may be wondering WTF needed to be rewired.
Well, I've put a boatload of a/m on my car, some necessary, some cool stuff, and some just to put what should have been on my option stripped car to begin with.
About a year ago, my headlight switch quit working. I tried to put a new switch in it, but it wasn't the switch, instead was some kind of internal wiring problem. Anyway, fact of the matter was that I needed headlights and fast. I actually got a ticket for it and I was not about to get another one. So, if my stock switch wasn't going to cut it, I would have to put new ones in. And that was exactly what I did. Unfortunately this was a spur of the moment cheap ass project that I had to do to.
What happened was I ran power straight from the battery to some big ass ugly rockers from AZ and from there one switch was wired directly to my low beam input wire on the headlight harness, and one was wired directly to my high beam input wire on the harness. I also had another big ass ugly rocker switch running power to my fog lights which were added earlier on.
All of these big ugly switches looked horrible on the switch panel. Whats worse is all the extra wiring that I just kinda threw together, (with no fuses, mind you), was taking up space, getting tangled, and looked awful.
In addition, I added a glovebox trunk release switch and releaser? in the trunk, and also a stock glovebox light from the j/y.
I bought an electric heater last winter since my heat in the car didn't work and I was FREEZING. Well, needless to say, whatever it was wired to before fried, so I ran a wire straight from the battery to the lighter. Once again, no fuse.
I also had the power wiring for my sub amp in the trunk. Straight from the battery, no fuse.
I had wired in changes that turned my low beams on the inner marker lights into runner lights that came on anytime the car was on. no fuse, and what worse, I ran it straight from an ignition wire.
The electric fan, powered by 18 ga wire, straight from the (alternator). Disgraceful.
A/m tach, illumination power provided by the illumination wire to the digital clock. WTF?
And the biggest problem: all my wiring was passing through the firewall in the spot where the clutch cable is located. Well, that had to go.
Well, all those are now things of the past. Two weeks ago, in the process of doing the heater core, I figured since I have to pull the dash out, now would be a good time to fix all this shiznitty wiring. Well, thats what I did.
Here we have the beginnings of the process, before the dash was pulled out. I still had more to tear out of there. I did have the stock fog light switch and housing installed at this point. Thanks Jay!
I wish I'd gotten more pics of the wiring process but here is everything put back together, complete with push-button start! Say what you will, but I love it. You still have to turn on the ignition to get the car to run of course, so nobody's going to run off with my car. And I did the high torque starter upgrade too, so the only current passing through it is the signal to the starter, not all the juice that would normally pass through one of these switches, so its not like my switch is going to burn down one day.
Heres the tach, properly reinstalled. Why pic? Just cause. This is however, only its temporary home, until I get the rest of my gauages and the new custom cluster gets installed.
And here we have the cleaned up wiring complete with fuse box, and relays where needed. MUCH nicer than what it looked like before.
The only thing I have left to do now is go get some conduit to clean up the wiring route between the fuse box and the firewall, right now there just running through the engine bay, slightly under control.
Apparently, I also have the 3G upgrade to look forward too, because my alternator no longer charges my battery below 2000 rpm. So, if I have to replace it, why not go bigger and better while I'm at it?!!
I also managed to fix my door chime so that it now emits an AUDIBLE ding. I don't know exactly what was wrong with it, but it seemed to have something to do with the tuning fork type think inside of it was to long and was contacting something wrong. So, I took it out, and filed down the middle pr0ng just a little bit and now it sounds like its supposed to.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 02, 2010, 01:01:34 PM
And here we have proof that a little detailing and shine will make ANYTHING look good:rollin::cool:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on November 02, 2010, 11:39:05 PM
Wow man! Looks like you've been doing stuff! I've just been sitting around whining abut how my car is a finicky bitch... That and getting it through DEQ/Smog, which took 4 tries.
Definitely want EFI now though. I think within the next two years I will man up and get the Megasquirt setup and run most of the stock fuel injection stuff that I have for my motor. We'll see though.
Anyways, glad to see you're getting stuff done. Is that a 2 1/16" tach? Whereabouts did you find it?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 03, 2010, 01:05:32 AM
Actually its a 2 5/8" tach. Got it at Autozone. Its one of their generic sunpro guages they sell on the shelf. Picked it up for about 30 bucks, it works great. Has a switch for 4,6,8, was easy to hook up and came with instructions. Also has a settable redline/shift time marker.
Isn't your car old enough to be exempt from inspections by now? Or do they not do that in your state? FL has no inspections so IDK anything about that...
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on November 03, 2010, 08:56:28 AM
Washington still has a sliding year, anything older than 25, but Oregon capped it at '74 and older only. (For those areas that require emissions testing.)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 03, 2010, 03:43:26 PM
Is that also how old it has to be to get an antique plate? Here it used to be +20 years old but a couple years back they changed it to +30 yrs. Which sucks cause mine would have been there by now. Now I got 8 more years to go...
They said they had to do it on account of the fact that antique plates cost less to register, and the fact that 20 year old cars are all out of the 80's, and a lot more are still on the road than ever before, well they weren't making enough money....:rolleyes:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 88CougarGT on November 03, 2010, 04:14:18 PM
How come all Cats are smashed in the same exact spot? I had the same damage on mine when I got it. I have seen a bunch with huge dents in the same spot. Blind spot?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 03, 2010, 04:24:59 PM
Blind spot for the jackwagon that hit me! :beatyoass:
Explanation: [post=326083]here[/post]
I swear he must have just slammed the gas in reverse cause thats a hell of a big dent. And, trust me, its nasty.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on November 03, 2010, 04:43:59 PM
Idk if you've got a definite idea for the location of your tach, but 50tbrd88 has a pretty sweet location for his tach, right where the digital clock is supposed to be. Of course, his tach is bigger...
Btw, the fall semester for me ends the week of Dec 5th. I'll be in Citrus for 5 days following that week, so I'll give you a call one day to see if we can get together.
car looks great man! When I saw it in person, it was all tore apart...I can't wait to see it next time!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 03, 2010, 04:56:52 PM
no, its staying right there for now. Its only gonna be there until I get the rest of my gauges. I've got a template for a 3 3/8" tach and speedo, and 2 1/16" OP, WT, VM, and FL to go in the stock location. Its going to look very similar to the stock buttstuffog cluster. I'm also going to be sticking AFR and VAC gauges down below the heater panel. I've changed my mind about 3 times on what set I'm going to use, but I think I'm pretty set on AutoMeter's Street Rod Designer Black I series. (http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugeop.aspx?sid=18)
Yes, you should definitely see it again. There's been a lot of stuff going on since then. Maybe you can grab those mirrors and I'll let you get that gauge cluster from me too.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on November 03, 2010, 05:04:35 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;340407
Yes, you should definitely see it again. There's been a lot of stuff going on since then. Maybe you can grab those mirrors and I'll let you get that gauge cluster from me too.
Those mirrors are yours. To be honest, I don't think I'm actually gonna use that gauge cluster, because at some point, I'd like all aftermarket gauges as well.
And possibly a boost gauge....but that's waaaaay off.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 03, 2010, 10:04:58 PM
Quote from: RunninWild;340408
but that's waaaaay off.
I hear you man. my whole set's gonna run me just over $500, +$100 for the vac/boost and AFR.
And the gauges aren't until after the ~$300-700 worth of transmission work I'm about to do, which is only after the ~$200 worth of interior parts I have yet to pay for. All of this is on ~$20/wk budget. :bricks1:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on November 03, 2010, 10:25:41 PM
Grab parts for people and make some cash.That's how I built the Sport....and trading.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 03, 2010, 10:34:10 PM
Great idea, but....
Takes money to make money......;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on November 03, 2010, 10:50:15 PM
Right. You have to make the investment. Sometimes it's a risk,but you have to take it to make it. Every dollar made is a dollar closer to the goal. Believe me,I built the Sport from a salvage yard car doing the same thing.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: hypostang on November 03, 2010, 10:58:30 PM
Most of my funds come from parts sales too:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 03, 2010, 11:00:32 PM
Quote
Most of my funds go to parts sales:D
I know right :toilet:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: hypostang on November 03, 2010, 11:04:37 PM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
:spit::rollin:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on November 04, 2010, 05:27:11 AM
Quote from: sarjxxx;340445
I hear you man. my whole set's gonna run me just over $500, +$100 for the vac/boost and AFR.
And the gauges aren't until after the ~$300-700 worth of transmission work I'm about to do, which is only after the ~$200 worth of interior parts I have yet to pay for. All of this is on ~$20/wk budget. :bricks1:
At least you can do some work to your car...I can't touch mine without my apt complex mangers going "YOU'RE VIOLATING THE TERMS OF YOUR LEASE!!!"
Plus, I wanna yank the entire drivetrain anyways...and i'd like to start with a crate motor-then boost it. So I pretty much have to wait a year and a half graduate, take a 5th year, take the CPA exam, land a job, find a house, THEN my work can begin.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on November 04, 2010, 06:41:31 AM
Quote from: RunninWild;340491
At least you can do some work to your car...I can't touch mine without my apt complex mangers going "YOU'RE VIOLATING THE TERMS OF YOUR LEASE!!!"
Plus, I wanna yank the entire drivetrain anyways...and i'd like to start with a crate motor-then boost it. So I pretty much have to wait a year and a half graduate, take a 5th year, take the CPA exam, land a job, find a house, THEN my work can begin.
Rent one of those big storage units for a month and swap the drivetrain. Around here they have huge ones with garage doors on both ends,and concrete floors.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 04, 2010, 09:05:19 AM
Yeah I'm not really allowed to work on mine either. When I signed my lease it was under the terms too
- No working on cars in driveway -
But I asked them about it and they said well its not that big of a deal they just don't want anyone tearing out motors/trannys and leaving them sitting around in the yard and stuff.
But I'm going to anyway:burnout:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: mcb82gt on November 04, 2010, 09:38:24 AM
Nice progress. Too bad about the dent in the side, straight car before that.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 04, 2010, 10:09:26 AM
Oh I know. I was sooo pissed at the time.
Thanks
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 88CougarGT on November 04, 2010, 10:15:21 AM
Quote from: vinnietbird;340497
Rent one of those big storage units for a month and swap the drivetrain. Around here they have huge ones with garage doors on both ends,and concrete floors.
I second vinnie's idea. I helped a friend do exactly this. It was like running our own garage for a month. Freaking awesome to have all that room.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 04, 2010, 04:47:44 PM
Finished [thread=29792]this[/thread] today. I like it. A lot.
The weird clicking at the start is me trying to start the car but the battery was too dead. I had to use jumper cables just to get the lights on.
It blinks about 4 times for each side with all parking lights on (middle setting on switch), and about 4 times for each side with just ignition on and all lights off.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on November 07, 2010, 08:56:00 AM
Wow you've defenately been busy! Great job on the wiring and the new switch panel looks so much better than all those toggles. It's nice that you can tackel the bigger jobs as well, I had my heater core replaced last fall but I had it done at a garage. I can do some stuff but sometimes I'm afraid to get over my head, plus I pretty much have the car where I want it so I'm afraid to screw it up. Luckilly I have a buddy I work with, (actually he's my supervisor), that is willing to help me out with it. We changed the rear coils 3 times this summer, I finnally got a set of factory ones from a Cougar in the jy and it looks alot better sitting level again.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on November 07, 2010, 11:04:01 AM
Quote from: sarjxxx;340572
Figured I'd add this on here, so the rest of you can see the light modification I made to the car.
Looking awesome, dude, looking awesome.
Maybe you could add this to the front - http://www.tccoa.com/articles/exterior/altlights.html
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 07, 2010, 03:58:14 PM
Quote from: 1Bad88tbird;340821
Wow you've defenately been busy! Great job on the wiring and the new switch panel looks so much better than all those toggles. It's nice that you can tackel the bigger jobs as well, I had my heater core replaced last fall but I had it done at a garage. I can do some stuff but sometimes I'm afraid to get over my head, plus I pretty much have the car where I want it so I'm afraid to screw it up. Luckilly I have a buddy I work with, (actually he's my supervisor), that is willing to help me out with it. We changed the rear coils 3 times this summer, I finnally got a set of factory ones from a Cougar in the jy and it looks alot better sitting level again.
Yeah, I actually had that heater core since last year. I wanted to put it in then but the fact that it was winter at the time and I hate working on my car in the cold and the fact that I was still DD'ing at the time held me back.
Its hard to take on the big projects when you're on a limited time schedule, such as one afternoon for the car you drive everyday. Now that the cougar is just siting in the driveway, it makes it much easier to tackle the big projects since I have the time to complete them the right way.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 10, 2010, 03:47:38 PM
Quote from: Scott D;340839
Looking awesome, dude, looking awesome.
Maybe you could add this to the front - http://www.tccoa.com/articles/exterior/altlights.html
Hmm... Thats pretty cool. I might do that to the 96. I'm gonna put sequencer in the front of the cat though, so that won't be happening to it.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 10, 2010, 03:52:10 PM
Well I'm gonna get a transmission sometime soon. A friend who collects SC's...I mentioned him before...has a used SC 5 speed and clutch in his garage he'll sell me for $150. Thats the way to go.
A top of the line T5 is only rated for 350 lbs/tq but an m5r2 is rated for 550 lbs. Now were gettin somewhere. I think that'll hold up to a turbo setup eh?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 88CougarGT on November 10, 2010, 04:02:28 PM
An M5R2 trans from an SC will put your shifter about where the glovebox is in a console fox cat. Just FYI.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 10, 2010, 04:24:10 PM
yeah, i'm still working that out....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 10, 2010, 06:19:19 PM
Since the 5.0 and 3.8 use the same bell housing pattern couldn't you use say a T56 that has a 5.0 bell housing?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 11, 2010, 12:12:33 AM
Yeah I spose so but t56's don't typically rear there big heads for $150 very often... I could be wrong
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on November 11, 2010, 05:32:14 AM
Quote from: sarjxxx;341247
Yeah I spose so but t56's don't typically rear there big heads for $150 very often... I could be wrong
I haven't seen a T-56 for less than 2K :(
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 11, 2010, 11:24:40 AM
Quote from: Scott D;341264
I haven't seen a T-56 for less than 2K :(
That's less than my AOD cost....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on November 11, 2010, 11:37:45 AM
Quote from: sarjxxx;341247
Yeah I spose so but t56's don't typically rear there big heads for $150 very often... I could be wrong
But what good is a $150 m5r2 that generally won't really work with your car anyway? I'm not saying it can't be done/you can't do it, but when you think of the extent of all that would have to be done to make it fit, along with the headaches that will come with ever having to repair it, you gotta ask yourself "Is it worth it?"
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jandmmustangs on November 11, 2010, 03:19:26 PM
Forget the SC 5spd idea. The amount of work kinda makes it impractical. There are TONS of SN-95 V6 stangs with 5spds in the U-pull its. Those T-5's are actually a good trans strengthwise. Keep in mind that with any T-5 flat shifting is your enemy. Right now im putting approx 400rwhp through my T-5. There is nothing special done to it other than being a T-5z. I use the clutch pedal when I shift. The trans has taken regular abuse at the local racetrack for a year now with no ill effects.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 11, 2010, 03:36:36 PM
Quote from: jandmmustangs;341324
There are TONS of SN-95 V6 stangs with 5spds in the U-pull its.
The one I just found the other day is the first one I've seen in 2 years at 4 different yards. And this dude wants $450 for it.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on November 11, 2010, 03:44:35 PM
I agree.My T-5 takes everything my engine gives it,and have had no issues. I'm sure the Sport is putting out a little more than the 3.8 does,and I think a T-5 will make you happier in the long run.The other tranny may be a good deal to buy (if it's a truly good tranny) and flip it for a profit and buy the T-5 pieces you would need.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on November 11, 2010, 03:45:10 PM
The V-6 T-5 parts are out there and plentiful. Ebay,the Corral,you just have to put in a little leg work,and be patient.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jandmmustangs on November 11, 2010, 06:07:40 PM
Off the top of my head there are 6 or 7 of them sitting complete in U-Pull it yards local to me. The price on a 5spd is $75 and if you dont want to get dirty they'll yank it out for you for $35 more
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jandmmustangs on November 11, 2010, 06:13:01 PM
WC T-5 & A SC 5spd
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Haystack on November 11, 2010, 06:59:56 PM
The sc tranny's are garbage. I doubt one would last for any length of time behind any kind of real power. There the same tranny's used behind the 5.0 trucks, and those go out all the time.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 12, 2010, 12:10:53 AM
Quote from: jandmmustangs;341348
WC T-5 & A SC 5spd
that looks like it would wind up closer to the back seat, not the dash
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 12, 2010, 12:12:05 AM
Quote from: jandmmustangs;341345
Off the top of my head there are 6 or 7 of them sitting complete in U-Pull it yards local to me. The price on a 5spd is $75 and if you dont want to get dirty they'll yank it out for you for $35 more
yeah dude but it has to be from a 94-95 not just any old v6 mustang... but hey, if you can get one of those from that year for $110 mail that sumbitch to me I'll throw it right in.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 88CougarGT on November 12, 2010, 09:23:20 AM
I have a V6 T5 bell housing and separator plate. My dumb-ass bought it thinking it would bolt up to my V8. It doesn't. I'll sell it, cheap. The V6 T-5s are in my yard as well.
-Z
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 12, 2010, 03:18:48 PM
Quote from: 88CougarGT;341440
I have a V6 T5 bell housing and separator plate. My dumb-ass bought it thinking it would bolt up to my V8. It doesn't. I'll sell it, cheap. The V6 T-5s are in my yard as well.
-Z
the 3.8 and 5.0 bolt patterns are the same.... I don't understand why it didn't work for you?
I think I'm just gonna go with regular t-5 if I can pick one up on the cheap. I'm not gonna boost this engine for a good while so for now I'm only gonna be making somewhere between 200-230 hp so I don't need a world class trans yet.
Sooo......
If anyone's got (or can get) a MT from a 94-95 3.8 stang or 85-95 5.0 stang lemme know. Send PM. All I need is the trans and clutch. If you can get it to me (including shipping or transport) for less than $300 I'm interested.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 88CougarGT on November 12, 2010, 03:29:22 PM
The bolt pattern is the same. I tried to use the separator plate with my V8 bell housing and the Starter hole didn't line up. The Starter was further out by like 0.5". I found a v8 separator plate eventually. Not sure if it would have worked if I swapped to the V6 bell and separator plate.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jandmmustangs on November 12, 2010, 06:34:41 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;341414
yeah dude but it has to be from a 94-95 not just any old v6 mustang... but hey, if you can get one of those from that year for $110 mail that sumbitch to me I'll throw it right in.
Ill be hitting the yard this weekend. Let me see what I can do for ya.
By the way here is an extensive breakdown on most of the t-5's built for use in fords
Note that the 95-97 use the same T-5 the 94 is different and so is the 94.5 I also stand corrected on the torque rating.
LOOK FOR THE METAL TAG ON THE REAR TAILHOUSING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THEN LOOK FOR THE 3 DIGITS AFTER THE 1352, THOSE 3 DIGITS ARE THE TRANSMISSION ID #
Ford World Class Transmission identification
Trans ID # / Application / Torque capacity/Gear Ratio's/reverse/Speedo gear/input length/ Pilot Dia.
* This is part number that can be found only on the aluminum tag, bolted to the extension housing. Each part on the trans has a similar part # but that is for that specific part, it will not help you to id transmission.
M/S = Motorsport or Ford Racing A/M= Aftermarket
Notes: (a) Ford ms m7003a (b) improved steel (c) aftermarket (d) carbon fiber 3/4 blocker (e) cobra tapered roller pocket bearing. (f) Ford ms 7003x (g) Ford ms7003z All input splines are 1 1/16- 10T All Output Spline are 28 T
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jandmmustangs on November 12, 2010, 06:42:29 PM
I have a more extensive listing somewhere on this laptop. When I find it ill post it up. It could be useful as a sticky.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on November 13, 2010, 06:49:24 AM
What are you doing to the V-6 now to get 200-230 hp from it? Have you thought about a 5.0 swap?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 13, 2010, 07:11:09 AM
Quote from: vinnietbird;341548
What are you doing to the V-6 now to get 200-230 hp from it? Have you thought about a 5.0 swap?
Ok, 230 is probably a little excessively exagerated, but to say 200 is not at all. How?
-porting, exhaust, intake, fuel, roller rockers, ac and smog delete, m.t., timing...... and trust me, that much will do it too. Says me? no. Says mr. dyno.
Have I thought about a 5.0 swap? I hopw thats a smart ass question vinnie.:giggle: A whole year I've been on this forum talking about my V6 and the fact that I wan't to build the out of it and I DONT want to put a v8 in it and you missed it?:p heres the story man:
Quote from: sarjxxx from my cardomain page
When I got this car, I was not a fan of the stock 3.8. No power, no tourque, no speed, and most importantly, no reliability. That engine was constantly having problems. Mostly with the cooling system, due in part mostly to age and most likely not enough good maintanence.
Eventually it blew a freeze plug right out of the side of the block, emptying all the coolant fluid nearly instantly, and unknown to me, causing a very quick overheat. Well, the hot engine did what hot engines do, and started to miss and then seized nearly instantly. The engine was toast, but I had to much sentiment in this car by then, so I decided to replace it.
Not long after I bought the car I had planned to swap in a Mustang 5.0HO, however when this happened I was not in the best financial situation, nor did I have the time required for such an involved operation. So I decided to replace the v6. I searched all over and found a rebuilt on e-bay for $1000 delivered.
Finally finished work on the new engine, after 3 weeks and $2000! In the process, nearly 90% of the engine bay has been replaced, reworked, or upgraded, or removed.
(this all happened in the beginning of 2009)
I no longer want to swap in a V8. Partly because of all the time and money I put in to the one I have, but also because with some serious work and tlc, the Ford 3.8 can actually put out some serious power, without sucking all the gas of a big heavy V8, plus I find it pretty neat to have a powerful V6 when everyone around you is running big V8's.
Trust me, I know it would be easier and cost effective to put in a HO but I don't care. I'm not after something easy and boring that everyone else on here has done. I want to build the out of my V6, just because I can. And when I'm done with it, my N/A split-port motor WILL keep up with your HO's. And trust me, even as it sits right now, it will whoop a stock SO.
And when I boost this engine, you guys better have boost too or I guarantee you will get stomped. 400hp/450tq is not a made up number. thats real proven dyno numbers. Can it reach a boosted big block? NO. Can it whoop the out of some v8's while still looking like a sleeper? Yes.
Am I being a little frustrated here, yes. Sorry, nothing personal, I'm just tired of explaining it to everyone.
Thank you, and good evening.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jandmmustangs on November 13, 2010, 08:06:56 AM
Bro, have you snooped around on this site at all?
http://www.supersixmotorsports.com/
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 13, 2010, 06:17:41 PM
yeah i've tried but my acrobat reader isn't upgraded enough to handle the pdf pages and I don't feel like spending money to upgrade it.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on November 13, 2010, 06:53:40 PM
Hey,I can respect a V-6. My favorite has always been the Buick GNX. Holy that car was awesome.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jandmmustangs on November 14, 2010, 07:22:49 AM
I found that info on T-5's for ya
Here's some light reading for you. Taken from Modern Driveline
Not All T-5's are Created Equal Not all Borg Warner/TREMEC T-5's are the same. The first T-5 five speeds were introduced to market in 1981, in all things, a AMC Spirit/Concord. In 1983, T-5's were introduced to Fox body Mustangs and are still used in the 3.8L V-6 Mustangs. The T-5 is the only American made standard transmission to span more than 20 years of production. Because of the large quantities of T-5's produced, many parts are interchangeable. There are now over 200 different T-5 transmission assembly part numbers and still counting.
World Class & Non-World Class There are two basic kinds of T-5's, Non World Class (NWC) and World Class (WC). The first T-5 was non-world class. In 1983 and 84 Ford used the Non-World Class T-5 to improve the Mustangs performance and gas mileage. All the V8 NWC boxes had 2.95 first gear set with .68 overdrive. All the main output shaft gears and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, gears riding on a solid output shaft with deep oil grooves to provide lubrication. The lower counter gears spin on straight cylindrical bearings with a thrust washer in front to provide support when under load. All the synchronizer rings are made of solid bronze which are of different size than those found in a would-class T-5. It is because there is no bearing under each gear and the bronze synchro rings that the NWC use the heavy 70w gear oil. Torque rating for the NWC was 265ft/lbs.
1985, Ford introduced the World Class T-5 installed with 3.35 first gear set with a .68od behind the 5.OL. T-5 was also used behind both the standard 2.3L with a 3.97 first gearset and the SVO Mustang. SVO received a one year only 3.50 first gear ratio as the 3.97 gear ratio was too low for the added power of the turbo charged 2.3L. No longer were 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears spinning on a solid output shaft as needle bearings were installed under each gear to reduce drag. The lower counter gears saw tapered bearings to replace the bronze thrust washer. All main shaft synchro's were fiber lined steel rings to improve rings friction surface while 5th remains bronze. By improving the surface friction the synchro slows the gear faster making for smoother shifts. The design remained the same until 1989. Torque rating remained the same at 265ft/lbs.
1990 to 1993 the stock Ford production V-8 WC T-5 was upgraded with stronger 3.35 gear set by increasing the nickel content to produce a harder, stronger gear. 2nd and 3rd gear ratios were decreased slightly tp provide more torque to the rear wheels. Synchro linings on 3rd, 4th were improved by changing from fiber linings to carbon fiber to further improve the friction surface resulting in better high rpm shifts. A longer throw shifter was installed to "make shifting easier". The speedo drive gear was changed from 7 tooth to 8 tooth. The 8 tooth was a step backwards when installing lower rear axle ratio greater than 3.55 as the driven gear is limited to 21tooth count. Yes, 23 tooth gears are available but do not last long as the teeth are thin and do not mesh correctly. Torque rating jumped to 300ft/lbs.
When the 93 Cobra was introduced, so was the "Cobra Spec" T-5. It was the first T-5 with a front tapered output bearing and steel front bearing retainer. The Cobra boxes also received a reverse gear brake and synchro assembly where there was none before. Just about everything else remained the same. Torque rating was increased to 310ft/lbs.
1994 and 95 were the last two years Ford used the T-5 behind a V-8. With the introduction of the SN95 Mustangs, the bell housings in both 3.8L and 5.0L were made deeper to place the T-5 shifter in the correct location to the body. This in turn made the input shaft longer. The neutral safety switch was eliminated, as it was no longer needed. The GT 5.0L Mustangs received the standard input shaft bearing and aluminum bearing retainer, where the Cobras continued with the tapered or "cupped bearing" input shaft and steel front bearing retainer. Torque ratings for both remained the same as the 93 T-5 models. 4 cylinder T-5s were no longer needed when the 3.8L V6 motor came along and was replaced with 3.35 first gear ratio and a .68od. The only difference between the 3.8L and standard 5.0L T-5 was the input shaft length. Changing input shaft of the 3.8L T-5 with 93 input shaft, will result in a 93 and early spec T-5. Everything else remained the same.
Today's V-6 Mustangs sports the last of the T-5s. The T-5 behind the 3.8L is a 3.35 first gear set with a .68 over drive. What makes these different from the rest is the electronic speedometer trigger. No longer is there a mechanical driven cable system. It has the longer input shaft equipped with a steel front bearing retainer and reverse synchro brake assembly. Torque rating is 300ft/lbs.
Ford also used the T-5 in 2.3L cars through the years. While the 4 cylinder T-5 may appear to be the same, they are not. Most 4 cylinder T-5s received a 3.97 gear set with a .79 overdrive and small input pilot bearing shaft. Four cylinder T-5's should not be used behind a V-8, even when the pilot bearing id is decreased to match. Simply put, they will not hold up. Torque rating ~240ft/lbs. Besides first gear is much too low to be usable behind a high horse power car.
The "Z" Spec T-5 In 1993 Ford started offering a new service unit to the motorsport crowd. The "Z" spec T-5 (Ford part number 7003Z, also sometimes referred to as "World Class T-5". Most folks, associate the term "World Class" as meaning the best, however world class T-5 were introduced in 1985 as stated ealier. The T-5z is a 1993 Cobra T-5 with 2.95 first gear set and .63 over drive. It has the best of everything. Hardened gears, short throw factory shifter, steel front bearing retainer, and tapered output shaft bearing ands a seven tooth speedometer gear. Best of all it has a torque rating of 330ft/lbs based on 100,000 mile usage. The stock T-5Z can handle up to 450 hp when not drag raced.
Aftermarket Super Heavy Duty T-5's Now that after market companies offer new and improved gearsets, T-5's can now handle up to 600hp and are used in drag racing on a regular basis. The advantage of this setup is the small platform which will spin up faster than a heavier TREMEC or Richmond transmission.
Borg Warner and TREMEC About 1998, TREMEC bought the T5 product line from Borg Warner and have produced the T5 used ever since. Note that the transmission is the same although the case stamp will say TREMEC or Borg Warner depending on who manufactured it.
So as you can see not all T-5's were created equal. T-5's are a smooth shifting, strong, light weight transmission that can be used for daily driving, spirited driving, or all out racing. How you set up your T-5 is important so you get the most from it.
One last piece of important information. ALL World Class T-5 use ATF oil and NOT heavy gear oil or Redline MTL! All NON-World Class T-5 use 70 wt gear oil. We recommend high quality Synthetic oil as it lasts a long time and over a larger operating temperature. It is important to change the oil in your transmission based on how you use the vehicle. If the vehicle is your daily driver then changing the oil every two to three years is fine. However, if the transmission sees regular track duty and pushed hard, then once or twice a year is in order. When we rebuild transmissions, we can tell when the oil has been changed often as the parts are much cleaner with less over all wear. There is no filter inside the manual transmission only a magnet at the bottom to pick up the metallic particles in the oil, the only metallic parts in a transmission is the gears or bearings. Oil is cheap, transmissions are not!
TAG # VEHICLE APPLICATION CODE REV 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 1352-001 AMC 1982-83 Passenger Car 258 L6 1352-002 AMC 1982 Jeep CJ 258 L6 1352-003 Never Released 1352-004 Nissan 1983 280z 2.8 L6 turbo E ? 3.50 2.14 1.38 1.00 0.78 1352-005 GM 1984-86 Chevette 1.6 L4 D 3.76 3.76 2.18 1.36 1.00 0.86 1352-006 AMC 1982 passenger car 1352-007 AMC 1982 Eagle 258 L6 1352-008 AMC 1982 Eagle 2.5 L4 1352-009 Never Released 1352-010 GM 1982 S Truck 4-6 Cylinder P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-011 Never Released 1352-012 GM 1982 S Truck 2.4L Diesel C 3.39 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-013 GM 1983 T Truck 4-6 Cylinder C 3.39 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-014 GM 1983 T Truck 4 Cylinder all C 3.39 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-015 GM 1983 Camaro/Firebird 2.8 V6 E 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.86 1352-016 AMC 1982 Jeep CJ 2.5 L4 1352-017 AMC 1982 Jeep CJ 258 L6 1352-018 Ford 1983-84 T-Bird/Mustang 2.3 L4 Turbo C 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-019 AMC Passenger Car 1352-020 AMC Jeep 1352-021 AMC Passenger Car 1352-022 AMC 1982 Jeep 1352-023 AMC Jeep 1352-024 AMC Jeep 1352-025 AMC Jeep 1352-026 AMC Jeep 2.1 L4 Diesel 1352-027 GM 1983 Camaro/Firebird 2.5 L4 H 3.39; 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.73 1352-028 GM 1983 Camaro/Firebird 5.0 V8 G 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.73 1352-029 AMC 1983 1/12 Jeep XJ 2.5 L4 1352-030 AMC 1983 1/12 Jeep XJ 2.8 V6 1352-031 Ford 1983 T-Bird/Mustang 2.3 L4 1352-032 Nissan 1983 280ZX Europe 2.8 V6 Turbo D 3.76 3.76 2.18 1.36 1.00 0.86 1352-033 GM 1983 S10 Truck 2.0 L4 2.8 V6 E 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.78 1352-034 Ford 1983 SVO Mustang 5.0 V8 C 3.39 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-035 AMC 1983 Jeep CJ 2.1 L4 Diesel 2.2 L4 U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.73 1352-036 Never Released 1352-037 Never Released 1352-038 Never Released 1352-039 Never Released 1352-040 AMC 1983 Jeep XJ 2.5 L4 1352-041 AMC 1983 Jeep SJ 2.8 V6 1352-042 GM 1984-85 S-10 Truck 2.8 V6 A 3.76 4.00 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-043 GM 1984-85 S-10 Truck 2.8 V6 A 3.76 4.00 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-044 AMC 1983 1/12 Jeep CJ RHD 2.1 L4 Diesel 1352-045 AMC 1983 Eagle 2.5 L4 1352-046 AMC 1983 Jeep CJ 2.5 L4 1352-047 Nissan 1984 280ZX 2.8 L6 Turbo J 3.15 3.35 2.08; 1.38 1.00 0.78 1352-048 AMC 1984 Eagle 258 L6 1352-049 AMC 1984 Eagle 2.5 L4 1352-050 AMC 1984 Jeep CJ 2.5 L4 258 L6 1352-051 AMC 1984 Jeep CJ 258 L6 1352-052 AMC 1984 Jeep CJ 2.1 L4-D-2.2 1352-053 AMC 1984 Jeep CJ RHD 2.1 L4-D 1352-054 GM 1984 Camaro/Firebird 2.5 L4 K 3.76 3.76 2.18 1.42 1.00 0.72 1352-055 GM 1984 S Truck 1.95 L4 Isuzu C 3.39 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-056 GM 1984 S Truck 2.0 L4 C 3.39 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-057 GM 1984 S Truck 1.95 L4 C 3.39; 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-058 GM 1984 S Truck 2.0 L4- 2.8 V6 P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-059 AMC 1984 Jeep XJ 2.5 L4 1352-060 AMC 1984 Jeep XJ 2.5 L4 1352-061 GM 1984 Camaro/Firebird 2.8 V6 E 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.78 1352-062 GM 1984 Camaro/Firebird 5.0 V8 G 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.73 1352-063 Never Released 1352-064 Never Released 1352-065 Ford 1984 Mustang/Capri 5.0 V8 U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.63 1352-066 ? 1352-067 Ford 1984 SVO W/Hurst 2.3 EFI TC P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-068 Nissan 1984 300 ZX NA/EUR J 3.15 3.35 2.08; 1.38 1.00 0.78 1352-069 Nissan 1984 300 ZX NA/EUR J 3.15 3.35 2.08; 1.38 1.00 0.78 1352-070 GM 1984 1/2 Camaro/Firebird 5.0 V8 IG4 IG9 G 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.73 1352-071 GM 1985 Camaro/Firebird 2.8 V6 P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-072 GM 1985 Camaro/Firebird 5.0 V8 U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.63 1352-073 Never Released 1352-074 AMC 1985-86 Eagle 258 L6 1352-075 AMC 1984 1/2 Eagle 1352-076 AMC 1985-86 Jeep CJ 2.5 L4-258 L6 1352-077 AMC 1985-86 Jeep CJ 258 L6 1352-078 AMC 1984 1/2 Jeep CJ 1352-079 AMC 1985-86 Jeep CJ 2.1 L4 Diesel 1352-080 Nissan 1985 300 ZX TC 3.0 V6 T 3.15 3.35 2.08 1.38 1.00 0.78 1352-081 Nissan 1985-86 300 ZX Europe TC 3.0 V6 T 3.15 3.35 2.08 1.38 1.00 0.78 1352-082 AMC 1985 Eagle 1352-083 GM 1985 Camaro/Firebird 2.5 L4 R 3.76 3.78 2.18 1.42 1.00 0.72 1352-084 GM 1985 Camaro/Firebird S 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.78 1352-085 AMC 1984 Jeep XJ 1352-086 AMC 1984-85-86 Eagle 2.5 L4 1352-087 Never Released 1352-088 Never Released 1352-089 Never Released 1352-090 Never Released 1352-091 Never Released 1352-092 Never Released 1352-093 Never Released 1352-094 Never Released 1352-095 Never Released 1352-096 Never Released 1352-097 Never Released (Australian Ford?) 1352-098 Never Released 1352-099 Never Released 1352-100 Never Released 1352-101 GM 1985 M-Van 4.3 V6 S 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.73 1352-102 GM 1985-86 2.5 L4 R 3.76 3.78 2.18 1.42 1.00 0.72 1352-103 Never Released 1352-104 Never Released 1352-105 Never Released 1352-106 Never Released 1352-107 GM 1985 S-Truck 2.2 L4 Diesel R 3.76 3.78 2.18 1.42 1.00 0.72 1352-108 GM 1985-86 T-Truck 2.5 L4-2.8 V6 P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.72 1352-109 Never Released 1352-110 GM 1985 S-Truck 2.5 L4-2.8 V6 R 3.76 3.78 2.18 1.42 1.00 0.72 1352-111 Never Released 1352-112 Never Released 1352-113 Never Released 1352-114 Ford 1985-86 T-Bird/Mustang/SVO 2.3 TC L4 WC P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.81 1352-115 Ford SVO 5.0 V8 WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.68 1352-116 Ford 1985-86 SVO Mustang 2.3 EFI TC L4 WC S 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.78 1352-117 Never Released 1352-118 Never Released 1352-119 Never Released 1352-120 Never Released 1352-121 Never Released 1352-122 Never Released 1352-123 Never Released 1352-124 Never Released 1352-125 Never Released 1352-126 Ford 1985 Mustang/Capri 5.0 V8 WC V 3.15 3.35 1.93 1.29 1.00 0.80 1352-127 Never Released 1352-128 Never Released 1352-129 Never Released 1352-130 Never Released 1352-131 Never Released 1352-132 Never Released 1352-133 Never Released 1352-134 Ford 1986 UK-SVO Sierra 2.0 L4 TC WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.80 1352-135 Never Released 1352-136 GM 1985 S-Truck 2.2 L4 Isuzu R 3.76 3.78 2.18 1.42 1.00 0.72 1352-137 Never Released 1352-138 Never Released 1352-139 Never Released 1352-140 Never Released 1352-141 Ford 1986-87 Mustang/Capri 5.0 V8 EFI WC V 3.15 3.35 1.93 1.29 1.00 0.68 1352-142 Ford WC W 0.71 1352-143 Never Released 1352-144 Never Released 1352-145 GM 1985-86 S-Truck 2.5 L4-2.8 V6 R 3.76 3.78 2.18 1.42 1.00 0.72 1352-146 GM 1985 S-Truck 2.8 V6 P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-147 Never Released 1352-148 GM 1985 M-Van 4.3 V6 S 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.73 1352-149 GM 1986 M-Van 4.3 V6 S 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.73 1352-150 GM 1986 Camaro/Firebird V 3.15 3.35 1.93 1.29 1.00 0.68 1352-151 Nissan 1986 300ZX North America 3.0 Turbo V6 T 3.15 3.35 2.08 1.38 1.00 0.75 1352-152 Never Released 1352-153 Never Released 1352-154 Ford 1987 Mustang/Capri 2.3 L EFI WC X 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.85 1352-155 Ford 1987 T-Bird Cougar 2.3 L4 Turbo WC X 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.79 1352-156 GMC 1986 V6 F Cars 2.8 V6 LB8 P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-157 GMC 1986 V8 F Cars .9 V8 LG4-LG9 U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.63 1352-158 GMC 1986 L4 F Cars 2.5 L4-L09 R 3.76 3.78 2.18 1.42 1.00 0.72 1352-159 GMC 1986 F Cars 5.0 V8 LG4 WC (cancelled) 1352-160 GM 1986 F Cars 5.0 V8 L69 WC (cancelled) 1352-161 GM 1986 Berlinetta 2.8 V6 LB8 P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-162 Ford 1987 Mustang/Capri 2.3 L4 EFI WC X 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.79 1352-163 BTR WC S 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.78 1352-164 GM 1986 M-Van 4.3 V6 S 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.73 1352-165 Ford 1986 Mustang 5.0 V8 WC V 3.15 3.35 1.93 1.29 1.00 0.68 1352-166 GM 1987 F Cars LB9-308 U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.63 1352-167 Ford 1986 1/2 T-Bird/Cougar 2.3 L4 Turbo WC P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.81 1352-168 Ford 1986 1/2 SVO Mustang 2.3 L4 Turbo WC S 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.78 1352-169 Ford 1986 1/2 Mustang/Capri 5.30 V8 WC V 3.15 3.35 1.93 1.29 1.00 0.68 1352-170 GM 1988 M-Van 2.5 L4 P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.72 1352-171 Never Released 1352-172 Never Released 1352-173 Never Released 1352-174 Cosworth Sierra WC 1352-175 GM 1988 F Car B9 Racing 5.0L V WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.73 1352-176 GM 1988 F Car lO3 TBI 5.0L V8 WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.63 1352-177 GM 1988 F Car LB8 2.8 V6 WC P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-178 GM 1987 F Cars LB9 U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.73 1352-179 GM 1989 M-Van 4.3L V6 S 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.73 1352-180 GM 1989 M-Van 2.5L P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.72 1352-181 GM 1987 F-Car V6 P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-182 GM 1987 F-Car LB9-308 U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.63 1352-183 GM 1987 F-Car LB9 U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.73 1352-184 Ford 1988 Sierra 2.0 L4 Turbo WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.80 1352-185 GM 1987 F-Car V8 U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.72 1352-186 GM 1989 S-Truck 2.5L R 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-187 BTR LB9 1352-188 BTR WC 1352-189 GM 1989 M-Van 4.3L V6 S 3.39 3.50 2.14 1.39 1.00 0.73 1352-190 GM 1989 M-Van 2.5L L4 P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.72 1352-191 GM 1989 T-Truck 2.5L L4 P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.72 1352-192 GM 1989 S-Truck 2.8L V6 Only R 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.79 1352-193 GM 1989 S-Truck 2.5L L4 Only P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-194 Ford 1989 Mustang 2.3L EFI WC X 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.79 1352-195 GM 1989 F-Cars L89 5.0L V8 WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.73 1352-196 GM 1989 F-Car LO3 TBI 5.0L V8 WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.63 1352-197 GM 1989 F-Car LB8 2.8 V6 WC P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-198 Isuzu Rodeo WC R 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.81 1352-199 Ford 1990 Mustang 5.0L V8 WC Y 3.15 3.35 1.99 1.33 1.00 0.68 1352-200 Ford 1989 SVO Mustang WC (After Market) U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.63 1352-201 GM 1990 S-Truck P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-202 Ford SVO WC (Aftermarket) U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.80 1352-203 Panther Solo WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.80 1352-204 Ford Mustang 5.0L V8 WC Y 3.15 3.35 1.99 1.33 1.00 0.68 1352-205 Melroe Spray Coupe WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.73 1352-206 GM 1992 S-Truck 2.5L L4 P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-207 Ford WC X 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.79 1352-208 Ford 1992 5.0L Mustang WC Y 3.15 3.35 1.99 1.33 1.00 0.68 1352-209 Ford 1992 2.3L Mustang WC X 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.79 1352-210 GM 1993 MY-F Car 3.4L V6 WC Z 3.53 3.75 2.19 1.41 1.00 0.72 1352-211 GM 1992 S-Truck 2.5 L4 R 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.72 1352-212 GM 1992 1/2 MY-F Car WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.73 1352-213 GM 1992 1/2 MY-F Car WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.63 1352-214 GM 1992 1/2 MY-F Car WC P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-215 Isuzu 1993 Rodeo 2.0L L4 WC R 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.81 1352-216 GM 1993 MY 2.2L S-Truck WC P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-217 Never Released 1352-218 Ford 1993 MY GT V8 5.0 WC Y 3.15 3.35 1.99 1.33 1.00 0.68 1352-219 Ford 1994 1/2 MY SN95 5.0L WC Y 3.15 3.35 1.99 1.33 1.00 0.68 1352-220 Ford 1994 1/2 MY SN95 3.8L WC V 3.15 3.35 1.93 1.29 1.00 0.72 1352-221 GM 1993 MY S-Truck 2.5L WC A 3.76 4.00 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-222 GM 1993 MY S-Truck 2.8L WC R 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.72 1352-223 BW 4x4 WC P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-224 Never Released 1352-225 Ford WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.80 1352-226 Ssangyong FJ Vehicle 4x4 WC 1352-227 FSVO No Rev Brake WC 1352-228 GM 2.8 V6 WC P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.76 1352-229 Melroe Sprayer WC 1352-230 Never Released 1352-231 Never Released 1352-232 GM 1993 MY S 2.8L WC R 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.72 1352-233 GM 1993 MY 2.5L P 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86 1352-234 GM 1993 MY 2.8L 1352-235 Never Released 1352-236 Ford 1994 1/2 MY SN-95 3.8 V6 WC V 3.15 3.35 1.93 1.29 1.00 0.73 1352-237 Ssangyong WC 1352-238 Ford Mustang 3.8 V6 WC V 3.15 3.35 1.93 1.29 1.00 0.72 1352-239 Ford 1992-93 Mustang 5.0 V8 WC Y 3.15 3.35 1.99 1.33 1.00 0.68 1352-240 TVR Griffith Veh 4.3 V8 WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.73 1352-241 Never Released 1352-242 Ford 1994 Mustang Cobra 5.0 V8 WC Y 3.15 3.35 1.99 1.33 1.00 0.68 1352-243 Ssangyong WC 4 X 4 1352-244 Ssangyong 1994 Korenda Diesel WC 1352-245 GM 1994 Camaro/Firebird V6 WC Z 3.53 3.75 2.19 1.41 1.00 0.72 1352-246 Ford 1994 Mustang 5.0 V8 WC Y 3.15 3.35 1.99 1.33 1.00 0.68 1352-247 GM 1996 Camaro/Firebird V6 WC Z 3.53 3.75 2.19 1.41 1.00 0.72 1352-248 TVR WC U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.80 1352-249 Ford Mustang All 5.0 V8 WC (see below) U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.63 1352-250 Isuzu 1996 rodeo 2.6 L4 WC R 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.81 1352-251 Ford 1993-prior Mustang 5.0 V8 WC (see below) U 2.76 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.00 0.63 1352-252 Isuzu 1995 1/2 WC R 3.70 3.97 2.34 1.48 1.00 0.81 1352-253 Ford 1994-95 Mustang 5.0 V8 WC Y 3.15 3.35 1.99 1.33 1.00 0.68 1352-254 P/Tech Megestar 4x2 Lotus 2.2 TB WC Y 3.15 3.35 1.99 1.33 1.00 0.83 1352-255 Ssangyong WC 1352-256 Ssangyong WC 1352-257 Nissan 4X4 WC w/ 1354 T-case Mount 1352-258 1998 Isuzu Rodeo WC w.81 OD 1352-259 1352-260 1999 Mustang WC (w/elec.speedo) 1352-261 Ssangyong Diesel 1352-262 Ssangyong Gas
Note: the "code" column of the chart simply corresponds to the common first-through-fourth gear ratio combinations.
According to some sources, the 1352-249 tag indicates the Ford Motorsports "T5z" transmission, which was specially built for racing applications. The same sources indicate that 1352-251 is the same transmission as a 1352-249, except assembled by Tremec after Borg-Warner stopped production. __________________
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 14, 2010, 11:15:01 AM
ahhhh..... ok, really cool. thx much
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Haystack on November 14, 2010, 12:03:50 PM
I think it would be alot easier to find a 95+ t-5 in a yard and swap the input shaft.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 14, 2010, 06:24:08 PM
I would still need to have a <95 trans to get the input shaft from.....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 21, 2010, 11:01:30 PM
got my shorties on the car today.
I've had a pair of factory "headers" for a 3.8 mustang for months now buy I've been holding off on putting them on cause I thought one of them was modified. (ebay special). Well, after looking at the ones on my 96 more closely, I realized its actually supposed to be like that. So I threw them on just for the hell of it, see what they sound like.
In the process of sawzalling the old exhaust off, since the old studs and nuts were heat welded on, I did accidentally cut into a tranny cooler line... course that wasn't that big of a deal b/c I'm not going to be needing them anyway :D
Course, when I went to put the spark plugs back in after switching the manifolds out, I realised I had put the ps gasket on upside down, so when I was taking the last bolt back out of the head, it snapped off. :punchballs:
I also found out that while the DS fits great, the ps is going to need a little modifying if I'm going to hook a downpipe up. Apparently the stud is outside of the chassis. and the collector opening just barely clears by the skin of my teeth. So if I'm gonna hook up a pipe, its gonna take some modifying right there.
Still not sure if it'll come to that though, cause I stll plan on grabbing up a set of longtubes and seeing if I can make them fit. Those are what I'd rather have on there. But for now, I think I'm just gonna run around with the open shorties for a while. Man those sob's are loud - and fun!:D:D:D
I am thinking that just for now, I am going to go ahead and pull the AOd out of the car since either way it has to come out. I'm gonna start tearing it apart out in the driveway to see if I can figure out what went wrong. maybe I can fix it pretty cheap and get this thing running again, while I build up more funds to put the 5 speed in.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on November 21, 2010, 11:34:00 PM
You should post a vid of the sound.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 22, 2010, 06:05:01 PM
as you wish...................
But, I warn you all in advance. Because I know I'm going to get flamed if I don't.....
The crummy cell phone camera, DOES NOT DO IT JUSTICE. Just so you know, it doesn't actually sound quite this bad. It does capture the loudness correctly though.
Kieth you're just gonna hafto come hear it for yourself man.
In the beginning the crazy loud biiiiiiiinng is b/c I got a text.
The video got cut short in teh end too cause I accidentally hit the button.
Ok... Enjoy! or not:
View My Video (http://tinypic.com/r/fxxkb9/7)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on November 22, 2010, 06:14:36 PM
I think it sounds good, and like I said, I'll be able to head up there in a few weeks and hear it FO REALZ.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 88CougarGT on November 22, 2010, 06:16:48 PM
Your neighbors must love you.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on November 22, 2010, 06:51:34 PM
It actually sounds better than I had expected.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 22, 2010, 06:56:49 PM
Quote from: 88CougarGT;342743
Your neighbors must love you.
especiallysince I've been revving it since yesterday....
Quote from: 1Bad88tbird;342750
It actually sounds better than I had expected.
it sounds really powerful. Too bad I don't have a tranny to test it out with....:punchballs:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on November 22, 2010, 09:13:50 PM
I'm sure you will soon.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: turbo_88_XR7 on November 22, 2010, 09:22:15 PM
LOL it sounds exactly like my 4.3 in the sonoma with a hollow cat and no ler
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 22, 2010, 09:23:55 PM
nah not in person... my buddys got the exact same truck and setup and they do not sound the same. close though
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: turbo_88_XR7 on November 22, 2010, 09:27:03 PM
well mine has a bit of sneaky stuff under the hood.. so it sounds a bit different than his lol
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 22, 2010, 09:52:21 PM
Quote from: turbo_88_XR7;342795
well mine has a bit of sneaky stuff under the hood.. so it sounds a bit different than his lol
like.....?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 88CougarGT on November 22, 2010, 10:12:09 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;342803
like.....?
Dead bodies...mostly.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: turbo_88_XR7 on November 22, 2010, 10:43:32 PM
Quote from: 88CougarGT;342810
Dead bodies...mostly.
SHHHHHHH!!! no one's supposed to know :X
lol comp cam, ported heads, OEM headers off a newer 4.3 and an ECU re-burn.. lol
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 23, 2010, 04:27:02 PM
yeah he's gonna pick up a set of lt's very soon... can't wait to see what happens to it then.
is your 4.3 carbed or cfi?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on November 23, 2010, 08:14:29 PM
well since I love to overpost on here I feel like I should say that I have begun removing the AOd from the car.
After I get it out I'm going to attemp to take it apart and figure out what broke inside.
Then maybe I'll stick it back in just for fun until I actually get ahold of the t5 I want.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on December 16, 2010, 09:47:07 PM
...well...
Landlord called me up today and basically said I either gotta get the car running or get it gone.
Well, needless to say it ain't gonna get running by the end of the week, so gone its getting.
Gonna have to tow it over to my moms house and let it sit until I can come up with $ for a tranny....:(
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: turbo_88_XR7 on December 16, 2010, 09:50:49 PM
that's why i hate renting.. boy if my landlord saw my yard now LOL
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on December 16, 2010, 09:53:14 PM
//much sighing//
yeah but its understandable....when we signed the lease, it did say "no working on cars in the driveway".... and it has been sitting there since august.....:rolleyes:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on December 16, 2010, 10:20:29 PM
That sucks Steve! I'm glad my House is mine. Of course if the neighbors complained about the sport the police could tag it and I'd have to get it gone to. Luckilly I have cool neighbors.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on December 26, 2010, 04:49:19 PM
well it looks like I'll be able to keep the car here as long as I don't leave any parts around. So in the meantime I picked everything up and stuck it in the car and the closet and everything's pretty.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on December 26, 2010, 04:52:00 PM
Get that thing running so you can bring it to Dyno Day, next year :headbang:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on December 26, 2010, 10:17:23 PM
well man I'm certainly going to try. I'm hoping to have it running in about 3 months. but I just have far too many monetary constraints. mainly being the fact that I don't make enough;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: turbo_88_XR7 on December 26, 2010, 10:20:47 PM
you can never make enough, unless you're raking in the cash (literally with a rake) like bill gates lol
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on December 26, 2010, 10:26:39 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;347199
well man I'm certainly going to try.
There is no try, only do ;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 06, 2011, 07:48:57 PM
Ok so I just got a TON of interior parts from 1bad88tbird today, as you can see.
So, for those of you who have been following this thread, here's whats going to happen.
Well, first of all I'm gonna get busy putting all this stuff in the car.
Then, well, I have decided to put an AOd back in the car.
yeah, yeah, I know. But it will be floor shift, and I don't think it'll be permanent. Right now I just wanna get this thing running again. I'm looking at about a month till I get the trans and this thing runs again.
Then its gonna be a whole lot of suspension/wheels/tire/brakes/all-things-mechanical-and-not-engine-related regiment. I've got a lot of work to do to get this thing road worthy. Right now it needs to struts SOOO BAD and all 4 tires are shot. It needs an alignment reallyreallyreallyreally bad. And it could really use a lot of brake work. I need get the rear end converted to disc and the front needs an upgrade. I'm thinking a new booster is in order too. Oh yeah, and the alternator is shot so bad to the point that its actually draining my battery even when the car is off. So that needs replacing too.
so, yay. Lots of work ahead. But, I'm really hoping to have it road worthy enough to be able to bring it to dyno day. If not I'll at lest be coming in the bird.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 08, 2011, 07:43:25 PM
So I got some things done today:D
Got started putting in all that stuff from Jay and looky, now I've got a console! Still needs some stuff, like a lid...and a shifter....and a new switch panel....but for the most part its all in and working.
I started by getting the seat out of the car and cutting that consolette off with nothing more than a HACKSAW.
and then I got to work putting the console in. Started by test fitting the console and finding the marks for my brackets and making sure all wiring worked properly.
Then I got to work getting the floor ready for the brackets. I COVERED the brackets in spray paint the night before to get rid of all that rust:yuck: I don't know why ford didn't paint them from the factory.
I also installed a super nice set of lighted mirror sunvisors, and got a new socket for the light that lights up the words on headlight switch panel. Then I got to work putting all the new shiny trim pieces in... this is what was left over after the work....
And thats what I've accomplished so far. Hopefully in about a month I'll have a tranny and a new alternator in this thing and have it running. I cant friggen wait.:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: hypostang on January 08, 2011, 08:15:44 PM
Looking good man , I love having the console in my car now .
BTW does your car have ANY options?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 08, 2011, 08:20:05 PM
lol, nope. just power mirrors, and I think the only reason it had that was cause you couldn't get manual mirrors on both sides from the factory, which it needed to pass NY inspection and be road legal.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on January 08, 2011, 08:43:27 PM
I can't wait to read a reply here, that says, "here it is at such and such place, man it's awesome to have it driving again!" :headbang:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 08, 2011, 09:46:03 PM
well thats funny cause I cant wait to write a reply that says the same thing:giggle:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on January 08, 2011, 11:04:14 PM
Wow Steve you've been busy! I guess you didn't need any pics after all. I couldn't get to it today. I had to work untill 11 then came home and shoveled snow, then I relaxed a while before going to my parents.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on January 09, 2011, 06:39:35 AM
Great work !!! I think I have a really nice red console lid in the garage somewhere. I'll look into it. I wish I could make some progress,but it's sleeting today,probably followed by a little snow.....and it was 65 yesterday. Crazy Oklahoma weather.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 09, 2011, 12:25:41 PM
Cool thanks guys:D
I'm going to try to get some better pics up later today, now that its daylight. Now you'll be able to see what good all those panels went to Jay;) But now its off to IHOP I'll catch you guys in a couple hours.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 09, 2011, 03:19:22 PM
Ok, enjoy. I'll be updating next time with progress on the transmission:burnout:
Hey vinnie, let me know on that console lid. Hcor's got on on the ebay site but if you can beat his shipped price you've got a sale;) Also, I seem to remember at one point seeing that you make new plates for the console switch panels or something? If that was you, let me know I could obviously use one:rolleyes:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on January 09, 2011, 07:20:24 PM
I don't make the platyes,I have the decals. You paint the plate gloss black...apply the decals....cover it all with satin clear (a few light coats),and enjoy. $8.00 for them. As far as the console lid,it's in excellent shape. I have no idea what Hcor is selling his for,and I really don't want to compete. I'll take $40.00 shipped. If that beats his,Okay. If not,sorry about that. They are really getting hard to find in great shape any more.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 13, 2011, 11:07:39 PM
No I wasn't trying to inspire competition... just wanted to know what you were asking. As for the plates, unfortunately what I really need is a plate not decals. So if anybody has a plate that is just P/M and P/W for 87/88 style let me know.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thunderjet302 on January 14, 2011, 12:37:39 AM
Quote from: Scott D;348902
I can't wait to read a reply here, that says, "here it is at such and such place, man it's awesome to have it driving again!" :headbang:
Quote from: sarjxxx;348912
well thats funny cause I cant wait to write a reply that says the same thing:giggle:
I can't drive mine for another 3ish months. I have to wait till all the road salt is gone........
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 15, 2011, 10:59:17 AM
got the turbines painted. Now they just need some tires....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on January 18, 2011, 05:46:36 PM
Man,that is an UGLY alternator. In a few days,you'll be able to fix that with something a lot prettier.LOL.LOL.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on January 18, 2011, 05:47:53 PM
the motor looks lop-sided now....lol
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 18, 2011, 06:07:17 PM
Lookin' good dude. I can't wait 'till I get rid of the air pump in my Lincoln (gonna do it and the new exhaust at the same time) to free up some room on the pass. side.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 18, 2011, 06:09:03 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;350098
Man,that is an UGLY alternator. In a few days,you'll be able to fix that with something a lot prettier.LOL.LOL.
Oh I can't wait:D:D:D
Quote from: daminc;350099
the motor looks lop-sided now....lol
Yeah, it really does. :wtf:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 19, 2011, 08:01:40 PM
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on January 19, 2011, 08:11:25 PM
Looks good Steve! She's comming along nicely.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 19, 2011, 08:17:38 PM
Thx bud! There's gonna be a shifter in that hole in a couple weeks;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on January 19, 2011, 08:34:17 PM
Gee, I wonder where that's going to come from? haha! I just hope the weather straightens up before I have to climb under it to unhook the cable. We're expecting 3-6 inches of the white stuff by friday.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 24, 2011, 09:52:38 PM
Now on the two unfortunate sad side notes, it seems the alternator wasn't my whole problem. Apparently the FPOS alt that was draining my battery before, actually ruined my 4 month old battery. Time to get rid of this wamart battery and get a real Duralast.
AND, the alternator pulley won't stop squealing. I thought it was cause the bearings were bad int the old one, but aparently thats not the problem since this one is a brand new reman. I think maybe its got something to do with the new belt configuration but really the angle of the belt is not much different than before. This is upsetting to say the least. I'm definitely going to have to do some playing with it to figure out whats going on. I'm kinda thinking maybe I will have to get a shorter belt and change the angle of the tensioner so that it gets more downward deflection out of the belt from the alt.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on January 24, 2011, 10:43:42 PM
For the squealing,make sure the tensioner is tight enough. Mine was doing that after I had installed the smog delete pulley and the a/c (after having a/c delete for years),and I had forgotten that the tension was moved over a tad bit (I drilled a new hole for the mounting peg),and all I had to do to fix the issue was to put it back in the factory spot. Good to go.
Looking good under the hood.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 24, 2011, 10:50:28 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;350779
Looking good under the hood.
lol you rhymed. All thanks to you buddy:D
Yes, I'm thinking about trying to change the tension. I'm also toying with the idea of a longer belt to change the deflection angle, and maybe get more belt coverage and a lower angle so its pulling more in the downward direction instead of just to the left.
I've got a few things to test out. I need to get a battery first though, cause having to jump it every time I test it is a real pain in the ass.....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 30, 2011, 05:38:25 PM
Ok so I got the squealing fixed. Turns out my P/S pulley was about 3/4" out of line with the rest of the pulleys and it was causing rubbing. It was actually causing my belt to shed fibers, that's how I noticed. Anyway, tightened it up correctly and all is well. Now I just need a battery and the thing will be good to go. ....oh yeah, and a transmission and a shifter and some exhaust. But we're getting close! I'm reeeaaalllly hoping to have this thing ready and on the road in time to make it up to DynoDay this year, and I think its going to happen. Btw, its going to cost me ~$360 to register this car again here in FL.:yuck:
Also I got ahold of the guys over at AutoMeter and got some finish dimensions for my guages so that I could design the proper setup for them on my cluster. Well, as it turns out, it is impossible to fit 4 2-1/16" and 2 3-3/8" gauges without losing part of one somewhere. The dimensions given are for the holes to be cut, not the finish face dimesnsions. So I got a template drawn up to the best I could. Turns out the top two are going to have to be cut out of the bezel a little bit for them to properly fit and be seen. Trust me, I worked on this for hours, with 3 different designs, it is impossible to get them to all fit in there.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on January 30, 2011, 08:08:41 PM
I just think you're having way to much fun! You're doing a good job with it!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 30, 2011, 09:05:09 PM
haha thanks! Yes, I am having fun, but not as much as I would like! Unfortunately the funds dried up for a little bit so any real progress is getting pushed back but I'm supposed to get slammed with overtime next week and for a few weeks so maybe I'll be able to put this thing in D before Feb is over:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on January 30, 2011, 10:10:57 PM
So, did you leave room for the trim rings on those gauges?! I'm glad someone has checked this out, because I'll have to get some gauges before long since I had to unhook the speedo for the trans swap. Got those cards today, they look great! Thanks again!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 31, 2011, 07:19:03 PM
Cool glad to hear you like em:D
Yes, thats what I was saying, the template I drew up there is for the finish dimensions of the guages. Thus - Yes, I did include the room for the trim rings;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on January 31, 2011, 07:49:07 PM
Those gauges are gonna cost. I'd personally hold off on them until most everything else is done....especially if yours are working pretty good. That's a lot of cash that could be applied elsewhere. I've seen a couple of these cars with aftermarket gauges. Nice stuff. I'll keep the factory stuff for now. Maybe one day I'll swap them all out.......maybe.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 31, 2011, 08:50:31 PM
Yeah, I know, believe me $300 is not something I want to spend on simply cosmetic changes right now. But, its too exciting just to ignore:rolleyes:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on January 31, 2011, 11:05:28 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;351387
Yeah, I know, believe me $300 is not something I want to spend on simply cosmetic changes right now. But, its too exciting just to ignore:rolleyes:
Please, enlighten me as to where you are gonna get a complete gauge set with senders for $300! I'm looking at basic Autometer's for ~$500.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on February 01, 2011, 08:15:01 AM
Every once in a while,there are some decent prices on Ebay if you buy them all separately.although $300 for 6 gauges does sound pretty cheap. If you're on a mission to do it,then I wish you good shopping,and I'm really interested in the results..
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 01, 2011, 08:26:11 PM
uh heh heh heh yeah.... I meant $400:dunce:
And that's not including senders, most of the stock senders will work, with the exception of oil which I have to install since I only had a warning light. I'm not sure about temp sender but I think its ok.
And yes, that's a number gathered from e-Bay scavenging. IF you're interested, the set I'm going with is AM's Street Rod Designer Black I series. And of course they're going to be getting a red backlighting.
On another note, I'm pretty sure the car will be running before the end of Feb. I've got a massive overtime week ahead of me this week and prolly another good sized week next week so I've got a few immediate debts to take care of and then its going to be full on to get this trans in and everything working.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 11, 2011, 07:14:00 PM
Ok so I got a new battery today and she fires right up like a champion. The JY is pulling the trans out of the donor bird tomorrow morning. I'm waiting on the shifter to get here and then first thing in the morning I'll be cutting that into the floor and installing it. Then I've gotta get the car jacked up and get that tranny swapped out. More progress tomorrow.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on February 11, 2011, 07:32:25 PM
Making progress....Congrats !!! Measure a lot before you cut into that floor. I can't wait to hear more. I remember when I did the floor shifter upgrade on my second Bird about 12 years ago. Loved it. Good luck !!!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 11, 2011, 07:49:34 PM
All that cutting makes me nervous!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 11, 2011, 08:48:57 PM
heh, yeah. me too.:(
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: flylear45 on February 11, 2011, 08:49:57 PM
Quote from: 1Bad88tbird;352662
All that cutting makes me nervous!
Shoot, you're not trying if you aren't cutting!:welder::D
Sounds like good progress.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 12, 2011, 08:17:58 PM
******sigh********
So I've pretty much accomplished nothing today. Due partly to my own laziness, partly to a lack of proper planning, and partly to cirspoogestances beyond my control.
First, I have no shifter. Not my fault, not sellers fault. UPS's fault. Oh, we'll deliver it by the end of Friday. (actually we're gonna change it to monday at the last second, but we're not gonna tell you that:D):flame:
Second, I have the wrong TV cable. Anyone who decides to pull a AOd from a 89/90 Tbird/Cougar, for the floor shift conversion, know this: The TV cable IS NOT compatible with your current setup. Even if you have an 88.:mad:
Third, it sucks working on your car in the cold.
Fourth, make sure you have a pair of jack stands BEFORE you begin your job.:rolleyes:
Now, I did accomplish a minuscule amount of work though. I did manage to get the hole cut in the floor for the shifter, and I got the new trans ready for installation. But, I do still have to get the old one out. Which I will begin promptly, just as soon as I procure a set of jackstands......................
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on February 12, 2011, 08:32:47 PM
Scissor jack? I haven't used one of those in YEARS. All floor jacks for me. and jack stands....always. The TV cable from a Stang will work,also mark VII and of course our 5.0 cars with EFI. One piece at a time. It'll get there. Did you already swap the tail shaft seal and the seal around the front?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 12, 2011, 08:42:25 PM
Yes, floor jack. I have the scissor jack from my bird that I used at one time to hold the car up for about a week and I thought about it but I would rather have two stands to hold it up since I'm going to be doing some serious (heavy) work. I would just use two jacks but of course I'm going to need my good one to help lower the transmission safely. I wanted to go out and buy a set of jack stands, which I really should have in my possession by now, but it just wasn't in the budget for this week. Unfortunately, I think I missed a few things when I planned this out. And its really starting to look like I won't get anywhere for a couple more weeks again:mad::punchballs:
As far as the TV cable goes, actually 5.0 and stangs won't work. They use a whole different type of connector from what I've read, not to mention there are no 5.0 anything around here that still has a motor/trans in it. There is a 88 3.8 cougar in the yard where I got this one from but the trans is gone. I think (hope) they left the TV cable. But I still don't know even if that one will work because they are set up for column shift and of course the location of the TV lever is different in that case. Were there ever factory floor shifter 3.8's?
As far as the tail seal I'm not sure if I have to or not, I was going to wait until I got the other one down and check and swap then if I had too. And I don't know about the front seal you are referring to?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on February 12, 2011, 08:57:24 PM
Mine came from a Stang (When I had an AOD). I've seen two different kinds, and they both worked for my car through 4 AOD's. My original TV cable (when my car was a column shifted) was left as is when I did the floor shift swap. It worked on mine.
Is there a rental place around there? If so,rent a tranny jack. Makes the job wicked easy. Cost me $15.00 for the weekend. Makes placing the tranny a breeze...like two extra hands. Something for you to think about. Sometimes spending a few dollars for a LOT of ease is well worth it.
Be very careful under there.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 12, 2011, 09:02:44 PM
I think you misunderstood me. The cable that I have connects to the tranny just fine, but the connector that goes to the TB arm is different, and it is different with all 5.0 cars. We (3.8's) have a metal piece up there already IIRC, and don't have the same problems that you guys do with it breaking or whatever. Its a whole different thing.
As far as the tranny jack, I don't really need it as I have a floor jack and will have about 2-3 people over here doing absolutely nothing except catering to my every command to help me out with it. They all owe me for fixing their stuff lol. Besides, all the rental (store)s around here are closed on weekends anyway. I might be able to get a loaner from AZ though, and get my money back after I'm done.......
And yes, I plan to be very careful. I'm a real cooch about working under 3000 pounds of metal for some reason;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on February 12, 2011, 09:06:15 PM
OH, the throttle body connector. Gotcha, and, I was typing all that and was thinking "5.0" the whole time. You's doing a 3.8. Holy . My head has been removed from my butt, I can think clearly now.LOL. Have you checked Ebay? I'm gonna go look right now.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on February 12, 2011, 10:24:26 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;352755
******sigh********
So I've pretty much accomplished nothing today. Due partly to my own laziness, partly to a lack of proper planning, and partly to cirspoogestances beyond my control.
Shoot, even I got SOMETHING done today! Heck I even posted pictures! :D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 12, 2011, 11:00:54 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;352766
OH, the throttle body connector. Gotcha, and, I was typing all that and was thinking "5.0" the whole time. You's doing a 3.8. Holy . My head has been removed from my butt, I can think clearly now.LOL. Have you checked Ebay? I'm gonna go look right now.
heh cmon man all those engine pics.... you should know that LMAO
no, haven't checked ebay. I think I can get one on here if I need to. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get that one from the other car at the yard. I'm gonna check that first.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 12, 2011, 11:40:52 PM
Yeah Steve you better be carefull when you're working under there. And I would defenately use jack stands! I was using a scissor jack once while changing the front brakes and the car ended up falling. Luckily my legs weren't under it, I was alone then and would've been stuck until my neighbor would've gotten home. Jack stands are alot safer.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on February 12, 2011, 11:56:21 PM
So when are you dropping a HO 5.0 into this panther, dude?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 13, 2011, 01:55:18 AM
right after you complete that two-cylinder bolt-on and beat me with it;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on February 13, 2011, 07:15:40 AM
Quote from: sarjxxx;352771
heh cmon man all those engine pics.... you should know that LMAO
no, haven't checked ebay. I think I can get one on here if I need to. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get that one from the other car at the yard. I'm gonna check that first.
I know, I know. I was just in the clouds apparently. I'm glad you have helpers for the job. I always hated swapping out those AOD's. The T-5....not so bad. As far as floor shifted V-6 cars go, I saw only one in my life. It was either an '87 or '88 that I almost bought a few years back. I wish i would have. Very oddball car.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 13, 2011, 11:28:13 AM
I know what you mean man. As far as I care, the worst part is the fluid changes. Nothing worse than ATF:yuck:. Worst automotive fluid ever. Except for that fishy rear diff fluid.:barf:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on February 13, 2011, 07:16:06 PM
Glad to seethat you're tranny is finally going to be coming soon....I can't wait for a ride.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 13, 2011, 10:15:16 PM
Yes, unfortunately it won't be ready anytime soon. Lack of planning and proper tools/equipment/parts has forced me to put this off for at least tomorrow. And even after that I still have to put exhaust and a tag on it.:rolleyes:
Here are a few teaser pics of what little I did accomplish at least:
Everything is buttoned up and ready for a test drive tomorrow. Wanted to do it tonight but once again its like 11:00 at night and well open headers don't sit too well with neighbors who enjoy there sleep lol.
I'll post tomorrow with a good pic of the new finished interior, and progress on the test drive. I'm having some difficulty getting the cable attached to the shift lever but I do currently have the ability to shift to N and D and thats all I need:burnout: I can put on the ebrake and shift it by hand underneath if I have to back up or whatever.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Bruce M on February 19, 2011, 07:35:30 AM
Congrats! I would like to put a floor shafter in my car.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: cougarman on February 19, 2011, 08:07:21 AM
Just an fyi, just to be safe. Fords can sometimes still be able to back up, even with the e-brake on. Congrats on the progress !!!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 19, 2011, 08:45:07 AM
Congrats Steve it's looking good!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on February 19, 2011, 09:46:56 AM
Awesome!!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: flylear45 on February 19, 2011, 03:23:26 PM
Hooray!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on February 19, 2011, 04:30:03 PM
Nice work. Progress feels good doesn't it?. I'd space the shifter up a little so it's not as flush with the console. That's just my opinion based on my floor shifted cars. Keep up the good work.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 19, 2011, 09:52:18 PM
[COLOR="darkred"]It works!!!!![/COLOR]
Black Panther is go for launch. Got the shift brackets rigged up for now and test drove it down the driveway and back a few times. (long driveway...apartments)
For the first time since July, the cat has moved itself under its own power:D
Everything seems to be fine. Seems to shift into gear just fine, the shifter is free and feels good, and don't feel any kind of slippage. Unfortunately, I still don't have a tag so I couldn't take it out on the street and really test it. I would have just swapped tags for a bit but I have no tailpipes on it, just open headers, so its LOUD, and I did not want to risk attracting the attention of those blue and red lights.
Here are some daytime pics of the new insides. Now I just need to clean up and get some sport seats:D
Much credit due to 1bad88tbird jay for supplying about 95% of the parts for this whole console and shifter swap.:bowdown:
I feel like I'm mostly over the hump of this project now. Save for the turbos which will be going on much, Much, MUCH later, all the hard stuff is done. The next part of the hump will be to get the exhaust fixed up which will not really be that hard, just a LOT of money. I'm looking at over $400 to get everything finished up geezus. But, after that its all down hill from there.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 19, 2011, 10:12:01 PM
That's awsome Steve! Thanks for the props! I agree with Vinnie your shifter looks like it's sitting a little low. Or is that how you decided to set it up?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 19, 2011, 10:16:53 PM
That's how I wanted it. Its about 1/8" below the top of the plate. I like it like that, plus it worked out that I didn't have to shim it any.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 19, 2011, 11:18:50 PM
That's cool then. Did you get the linkage to work? You mentioned it wasn't quite right earlier.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 20, 2011, 12:25:41 AM
Yeah. It took a little bit of rigging but it'll do for now till I can get the right part. What happened was the MN12 shift lever was setup differently from the fox AOD lever. It's made to accept a different type of fastening bolt. I just had to file mine down a little and shove it through, then I made a zip-ties shim.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on February 20, 2011, 12:51:05 AM
Quote from: sarjxxx;353393
. I just had to file mine down a little and shove it through, then I made a zip-tie shims.
Lol, I love zip-tie shims! I've definitely done that before!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on February 20, 2011, 04:42:53 PM
I'm happy for you man! A trip here is in order!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 20, 2011, 07:17:57 PM
Hah! As much as I would literally love to, there's no taking that thing out on the real road for about another $350. Still needs a tag. Oh and then I gotta get exhaust.... and brakes.... and tires.... and a whole bunch of other stuff but those are the necessities.
I did take it out on the closest road though, do drive it up and down the block basically. I took it up to about 40 and got into 3rd gear and it feels great. It is SOOOOO LOOOOOUDD though! oh its funny how loud it is. But it shifts smooth, and downshifts right when it should, and I don't feel any slippage or clunking or anything out of place really.
I have to get used to the floor shifter though. I like it, but I'm used to the feel of the one in my bird and they're totally different. They pull through the gears a little differently, and of course they're shaped different and its further away. And my 4R70W doesn't have a TV cable so I have to get used to the feel of the heavy pedal again.
Right now, I can't decide whether I want to spend my next money on the exhaust or get it licensed so I can drive it while its still super loud lol. As much as I would like to drive it now I think I will go for the exhaust since it will be the biggest financial hit and then I will be completely over the hump.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on February 20, 2011, 07:29:56 PM
It works great, and you got it from where? No way a junkyard trans actually works correctly!
I'm actually kinda mad at my setup right now, it just doesn't seem as smooth as I had imagined. Oh well, more "adjustments".
And if I have to take this trans out again, I am definitely having the exhaust redone! But I should probably figure out what to do with the manifolds, whether I leave them stock or switch to shorties.
I'm really glad to hear it's all smooth after the work you put in. Good job man!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Loaded87IROC on February 20, 2011, 07:57:04 PM
Great work!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 20, 2011, 09:50:51 PM
Quote from: jrad235;353473
It works great, and you got it from where? No way a junkyard trans actually works correctly!
I'm actually kinda mad at my setup right now, it just doesn't seem as smooth as I had imagined. Oh well, more "adjustments".
And if I have to take this trans out again, I am definitely having the exhaust redone! But I should probably figure out what to do with the manifolds, whether I leave them stock or switch to shorties.
I'm really glad to hear it's all smooth after the work you put in. Good job man!
Thanks!
The guy said it shifted great when I asked him about the car. That was before I even mentioned the trans. Said he drove it but it had NO brakes lol. btw I'm about to send you a PM. I think you'll be interested in it.
Oh and thanks IROC
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 03, 2011, 10:59:54 PM
So that's my randomness for today. Hoping to have a tag by next weekend.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thewestie on March 03, 2011, 11:18:08 PM
Looks Good. How come no rear tag thought Florida cars were tagged for life?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 04, 2011, 04:50:26 PM
Huh?? Where did you here that? In florida its $350 to get a tag and then another $65 to keep it every year. And if you drop insurance you better get rid of that tag or your going to jail. So since I dropped insurance on it when I got the Thunderbird, I ditched my tag and put it on the bird too. So i'm going to re-insure it next week and on Friday I'm going to go drop the 400 bucks for a new tag:yuck:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on March 04, 2011, 05:11:27 PM
And when are the new tires with those turbines coming?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on March 04, 2011, 08:12:18 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;354516
Huh?? Where did you here that? In florida its $350 to get a tag and then another $65 to keep it every year. And if you drop insurance you better get rid of that tag or your going to jail. So since I dropped insurance on it when I got the Thunderbird, I ditched my tag and put it on the bird too. So i'm going to re-insure it next week and on Friday I'm going to go drop the 400 bucks for a new tag:yuck:
Wow! That's outragious!!!!!! I don't know how anyone can afford a car down there! That's just crazy!!!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 04, 2011, 10:40:28 PM
Quote from: RunninWild;354520
And when are the new tires with those turbines coming?
List of most important things to be done in the order they shall be done:
1. Tag - next week 2. Exhaust - around 2-3 weeks 3. Tires w/ turbines - prolly end of March/mid april 4. Front struts - guessing May 5. Rear brakes - prolly end of may/beginning of june; hoping to tie in with TC rear end swap/disc conversion
All that needs to be done to get her roadworthy to make the trip up to DD this year. Being as its in August, I don't see any reason why it won't happen.
After I get the new tires on I'll prolly bring it down to your place. Lovin' the new sigpic btw.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thewestie on March 04, 2011, 11:03:13 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;354516
Huh?? Where did you here that? In florida its $350 to get a tag and then another $65 to keep it every year. And if you drop insurance you better get rid of that tag or your going to jail. So since I dropped insurance on it when I got the Thunderbird, I ditched my tag and put it on the bird too. So i'm going to re-insure it next week and on Friday I'm going to go drop the 400 bucks for a new tag:yuck:
Ouch the last time I was talking about tags in Fla was 20 years ago. I thought $50 every 3 years in. Mass was high. Anyway its looking good.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 04, 2011, 11:08:54 PM
geez well now its looking like the tag is going to get put off....:punchballs:
I just went to go look at adding the car to the insurance and now its showing that I've got a $250 payment due on the 8th when I just paid it on the 21st, and another due on the 20 of this month:wtf: that's going to put a damper on things....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 12, 2011, 05:34:35 PM
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on March 12, 2011, 05:46:11 PM
SWEET !!! I think you need to slow them down a tiny bit. But very nice. I remember installing the kit on the Sport some time ago. It's still my favorite addition to the whole car.
You're getting closer by the week. What's next on the list?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 12, 2011, 05:50:07 PM
Well depending on whether or not I can get the truck I'm looking at on Monday, I will be getting a tag. Either way getting a tag is next but if I cant finance this truck then I will have the extra cash to shell out for the $360 piece of stamped sheet metal. After that I'm waiting on my stupid headers to get here so I can get some tailpipes on this beast. I ordered them a week ago and they still haven't shown up. I'll give him a few more days then I'm contacting him.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on March 12, 2011, 05:54:26 PM
Sweet! Looks good Steve. I have the Thundercat ones on mine. Can you use the original lights if you want instead of the leds?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 12, 2011, 06:05:56 PM
Absolutely. They're just replacement 3157 bulbs. Can get them at any major auto parts store.
I in fact hate them though. They only shoot straight ahead, and have no side or rear firing LED's so all you see are the bulbs. They suck at lighting up the housings. I want to get a new set from V-LED's or SuperBrightLED's.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: flylear45 on March 12, 2011, 06:12:15 PM
Looks cool. :cheers:
I see what you mean about the LED's being a straight on deal. Kinda dim at an angle.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 12, 2011, 06:18:26 PM
Yeah. I can't wait to get the new ones but at $50 a pair 6 lights is a lot of money. I've got more important things to take care of first:p
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on March 12, 2011, 06:27:08 PM
Looking awesome, dude!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on March 12, 2011, 06:53:28 PM
Quote from: Scott D;355249
Looking awesome, dude!
x2 on this!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 12, 2011, 11:33:50 PM
Thanks:D
Here's a quick nighttime vid. Much better at night.
[video]http://tinypic.com/r/dqkdon/7[/video]
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 31, 2011, 08:04:22 PM
My headers FINALLY CAME. So I stuck em on today. Now I can actually finish the exhaust. These fit like they're supposed too and have 2-1/2" collectors. Oh yeah baby.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: hypostang on March 31, 2011, 08:43:33 PM
Sweet !!!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: flylear45 on March 31, 2011, 09:16:22 PM
Great news! Things are definitely moving in the right direction.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 87cougar on March 31, 2011, 09:49:02 PM
Sweet man! What kind did you get? and are they LT?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 31, 2011, 10:24:58 PM
Quote from: 87cougar;356885
Sweet man! What kind did you get? and are they LT?
Right, I guess I should have mentioned that:dunce:
Here ya go: [thread]30050[/thread]
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 87cougar on March 31, 2011, 10:35:45 PM
That is awesome man!!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 31, 2011, 10:53:24 PM
thxs guys:cool:
I guess to expain my previous post would help also.
I ordered these from an eBay seller who aparrently runs a salvage yard and sells parts. Anyway, the two were seperate listings but I ordered them at the same time, and paid for them on a single invoice. I paypal'd the guy on 03/04 and confirmation of shipping on 03/15. I was about to message him about it but he got to me first. I'm like, ok, musta had a bad week or something. Whatever, let it go. So 3 days later, 1 (ONE) shows up. WTF? I looked over the shipping confirmation, only one was supposed to be sent out. WTF? So I wait another 2 days, thinking MAYBE he'll send confirmation on the next one. Nope. Message the guy and I said hey, I know stuff happens, but why the heck would you send out half my order and hold out on the rest? Could you please send me some communication here so I know what's going on? I said I don't want to give you a negative rating so if there's a good reason for whatever's going on let me know. I wait three more days, never got a reply but I did finally get shipping confirmaition on my whole order, yes, 2 headers, on 03/23. Now, here it is 03/31, 8 days later and if finally showed up.
Well, I haven't gone over to eBay yet to leave seller feedback and I've never left negative feedback, but he will be getting a big fat NEGATIVE.
Oh, did I mention he charged me $29.99 in total shipping charges?
And it's not like he had to pull the off the car either b/c the pictures of the item's were exactly what I recieved, and they were by themselves, probably taken down off of a shelf, and then put back for easy access.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 88CougarGT on April 01, 2011, 10:23:02 AM
$30 in shipping for a pair of LTs could be what he paid. Punch it into UPS or check the sticker. I've been accused of pumping up S&H before (when I sell on ebay). I usually bill a couple bucks above shipping for shipping materials (Boxes, foam, tape, driving back and forth to USPS). I've received some nasty emails about how the box showed up and the sticker read $17.86 and I charged them $20. I don't sell alot, so I typically am making special trips and whatnot unlike summit or somebody. Sometimes I have to buy a box to ship the item.
I just imagine a pair of LTs comes in a huge box and weighs at least 20#. Don't get me wrong, $30 still seems kinda high.
Also, where are the pics?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on April 01, 2011, 11:19:43 AM
$29.99 sounds about right. Shipping charges have gone up again. It's not cheap anymore.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on April 01, 2011, 04:57:15 PM
Well actually, they were shorties, not longtubes.
Secondly, I wasn't complaining about the fact of how much he charged me, but the fact that he charged me that much and I didn't get my stuff for almost a whole month later with no explanation.
Its hard to get pics of them worth a but there are a few pictures on the thread I linked to in post #265 above.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on April 01, 2011, 05:36:06 PM
I agee. That's way too long.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on April 03, 2011, 09:49:07 PM
So I've finally figured out what I want to use to complete my exhaust....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 88CougarGT on April 03, 2011, 11:52:07 PM
Those sound pretty good. I might snap up the Stainless one for my 67 coupe. I was thinking about resonators and a pair of Spintech lers.
I had a flowmaster 50 series with a flowmaster resonator on my Tbird SC. Sounded mean. It was the perfect level of noise, not annoying at cruise. People were always mistaking it for a v8. I don't think it sounded like a v8. Just a nice, low, gravely tone.
I have a pair of flowmaster knockoffs on my 5.0 cougar but they have too much drone. I guess this is a typical problem with chambered lers.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on April 29, 2011, 10:22:59 PM
So I 409'd all that oily shiznit that builds up on my paint off and then I bought a buffer and waxed the bejeezus out of it and this is what I wound up with. I'm happy. I also removed my cowl trim piece and painted it and that looks much better too. But I didn't take a picture of it:rolleyes:
I only wish the sunlight had still been out and I could have gotten some good pictures. I had no idea my paint was still that good under all that purple build-up. I reeaaaaeeeeaaaaeaeeallly hope I can come up with some cash to get a tag on this thing soon cause I'm DYING to drive it again.
I called up the local tire shop to see how much it would cost just to remove the py tires I have and remount them on my turbines just so I could get the look since I don't have any money to replace the tires right now and they said it would be about $80 and I said oh ok nevermind.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: flylear45 on April 29, 2011, 10:29:18 PM
Wow, Steve! She really cleaned up nice! The elbow grease payed off big time.
I actually think those wheels look pretty good. It'll at least get you through for a while in good style.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: flylear45 on April 29, 2011, 10:32:26 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;357134
So I've finally figured out what I want to use to complete my exhaust....
Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of that sound. It's a bit too raspy for my old fogey tastes.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on April 29, 2011, 10:38:18 PM
Yeah those wheels are actually in pretty decent shape and they don't look bad, no, but I just love the turbines so much more. I can't wait to put them on. Plus they've been sitting in my computer room for about a year and a half and my wife is going to kill me if I don't get rid of em:p
As for the exhaust, yeah, I've changed my mind on that again and am just going to go with a 3" in - dual 2.5" out Flowmaster 50 series. Which is still loud and raspy, but better. Kinda. I like it like that though. Nobody else really seems to but eh that's just my taste;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on April 29, 2011, 10:43:13 PM
Looks good... you'll have to stay on top of it with the waxing... or it will probably start going back in about a month.... my Merc Monarch had the same problem.. I found that the cheapest wax back then did the best job.... it helps to keep it out of the direct sun and rain too... if possible
I like the wheels on it too
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on April 29, 2011, 10:46:43 PM
I'm thinking I will have to wax it at least every other week for a while till I get a nice build up and unfortunately the only way to keep it out of the sun, weather, and trees, is to use a car cover. Of course by doing that I risk scratching the out of it too so I'm just gonna have to deal with it.
Hey you guys can have my wheels after I get them off if you want;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: flylear45 on April 29, 2011, 10:48:52 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;359027
I'm thinking I will have to wax it at least every other week for a while till I get a nice build up and unfortunately the only way to keep it out of the sun, weather, and trees, is to use a car cover. Of course by doing that I risk scratching the out of it too so I'm just gonna have to deal with it.
Hey you guys can have my wheels after I get them off if you want;)
That's funny. I was thinking I'm going to have to get a pair of 15's to mount slicks onto.
As for the exhaust, stuff like that is very personal. You like what you like, and it's all cool.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on April 29, 2011, 10:56:21 PM
Quote from: flylear45;359028
That's funny. I was thinking I'm going to have to get a pair of 15's to mount slicks onto.
I just thought the same thing
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on April 30, 2011, 07:03:48 AM
Quote from: flylear45;359028
That's funny. I was thinking I'm going to have to get a pair of 15's to mount slicks onto.
As for the exhaust, stuff like that is very personal. You like what you like, and it's all cool.
I have the wheels, I just need the tires....after I finish all the other friggin' cs on the Sport.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thunderjet302 on April 30, 2011, 02:57:44 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;359015
So I 409'd all that oily shiznit that builds up on my paint off and then I bought a buffer and waxed the bejeezus out of it and this is what I wound up with. I'm happy. I also removed my cowl trim piece and painted it and that looks much better too. But I didn't take a picture of it:rolleyes:
I only wish the sunlight had still been out and I could have gotten some good pictures. I had no idea my paint was still that good under all that purple build-up. I reeaaaaeeeeaaaaeaeeallly hope I can come up with some cash to get a tag on this thing soon cause I'm DYING to drive it again.
I called up the local tire shop to see how much it would cost just to remove the py tires I have and remount them on my turbines just so I could get the look since I don't have any money to replace the tires right now and they said it would be about $80 and I said oh ok nevermind.
Is the paint on your car clear coated or just regular paint?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on April 30, 2011, 04:38:34 PM
Quote from: thunderjet302;359058
Is the paint on your car clear coated or just regular paint?
Honestly I'm not sure:hick:
I really don't think so at times b/c if I let it sit it builds up all that oily purple/black/blue stuff on it but if I take a bottle of 409 or something similar, (b/c a regular car wash solution will not work), then the paint actually shines up quite nicely. Its hard for me to tell. But the fact that I don't have any clear coat peeling off, on any part of the car, anywhere, at all, really makes me think that I either never had, or no longer have any.
I do have a notion that it has been repainted in the past, just because that paint seems way to orangey to be factory. I mean look at that picture above, that I took of me in the door, you can see the orange peel. Thats not bad waxing, its the way the paint looks.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on April 30, 2011, 04:40:21 PM
Ok so I'll send a pair of wheels to Daminski and a pair to Flylear?:D They can be yours for the price of shipping.:deal: Shipping might be a little expensive though.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on April 30, 2011, 05:16:34 PM
I had my turbines shipped.... about $160 for the 4.... and that was from the next state over too
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 09, 2011, 07:57:51 PM
Cleaned up the interior a couple weeks ago and painted the switch panel for now. So here's your random pic for the day.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on May 09, 2011, 10:37:55 PM
You need decals for the center console panel.HEY !!! I have those !!! Also, your passenger side door handle cup is busted. HEY !!! I have one of those !!! Anyway, after looking at your pic, I need to clean the Sport. After the hail damage, I am going through a pouting stage until I start body work, then I'll get my mojo back.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 10, 2011, 03:58:34 PM
Actually thanks for the offer(s) but I'm swapping them out for different stuff anyway so its nbd. The switch panel is getting a different panel altogether and the door panels are getting swapped for PW panels so I'll just fix that stuff when I get around to the swaps... no sense in doing it twice;)
I didn't know about hail damage... that sucks brother.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 18, 2011, 11:30:27 PM
So here's all I've managed to accomplish in the last 2 weeks :rolleyes:
I've had these for-friggen-ever just never got around to putting them on.
Money's been tight for a while now but I seem to have a lot of work coming up so hopefully I can get a tag on it and some exhaust and start driving it again.:cool:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on May 18, 2011, 11:55:34 PM
Money is tight........I live that every day for the Sport. I am selling off parts I don't need right now to get some parts she does need. It's just another day in the life of the Sport's life. It seems to work,though.
By the way, nice flappage.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: flylear45 on May 19, 2011, 06:58:20 AM
Quote from: sarjxxx;360209
So here's all I've managed to accomplish in the last 2 weeks :rolleyes:
I've had these for-friggen-ever just never got around to putting them on.
Money's been tight for a while now but I seem to have a lot of work coming up so hopefully I can get a tag on it and some exhaust and start driving it again.:cool:
Flaps look nice. Hope the work pans out and you can get her back on the road!
BTW, Thanks for the offer on the wheels, but yeah.......shipping would be a killer.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thewestie on May 19, 2011, 08:46:13 AM
Nice flaps I was thinking of getting some for the bird
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on May 19, 2011, 09:12:26 AM
I need some for the back. I hate removing the melted rubber from the fenders.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 347Thunder on May 19, 2011, 09:25:28 AM
me too!!!:mullet::burnout::burnout:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on May 19, 2011, 09:26:40 AM
It's one of those things I hate to do, but glad I have a reason to.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thewestie on May 19, 2011, 04:14:47 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;360240
I need some for the back. I hate removing the melted rubber from the fenders.
I saw a product at a local speed shop that brushed on clear to the rear quarter and after burn outs it power washed of it was marketed originally as a liquid bra. After a new clutch and 500 mile break in on the tremec Ill give it a shot Ive got 4 old tires in the yard on snowflakes :)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on May 19, 2011, 04:15:55 PM
Saran wrap is super cheap and works great. I used it when I took the other Bird to the track. Just clings to the car, peels right off.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thewestie on May 19, 2011, 04:19:37 PM
I like it. That's my new budget after the paint and tremec Super Cheap
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on May 19, 2011, 05:10:09 PM
"Super cheap" is my budget every single day. Makes building fun, and teaches you how to be very resourceful.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 19, 2011, 11:13:14 PM
..."I hate removing the melted rubber from my fenders".... You guys are all so modest:flip:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on May 19, 2011, 11:18:22 PM
No...no...no.....I mean it melts from the hot Oklahoma rubber roads.....yeah, that's it.LOL.
Even with the V-6 and good gears, you'll tear the tires up.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 19, 2011, 11:25:31 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;360328
No...no...no.....I mean it melts from the hot Oklahoma rubber roads.....yeah, that's it.LOL.
Even with the V-6 and good gears, you'll tear the tires up.
Hey, that's right. Don't count out my 6-banger to early. Even before I did anything to it I could squeal that PS side tire all day long...:hick: And I'm telling you what, as soon as I get a tag on it, and dammit I mean the very DAY, I'm taking it out to a deserted road out here somewhere and doing a burnout vid. With the open headers too :burnout: Got a feeling it'll be a one-tire-fire though cause I still need that TC rear end....
All 4 tires are bald and the rear brakes are shot so I got NO reason not to burn em up:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on May 20, 2011, 05:34:36 AM
My first Bird had the 3.8. Great engine. Never let me down.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 24, 2011, 03:43:37 PM
So, still being out of money, I have resigned to getting around to doing more things that require no dinero.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: flylear45 on May 24, 2011, 04:11:17 PM
That looks familiar!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on May 24, 2011, 05:11:53 PM
Nice work !!! I LOVE no-buck mods. That's how I've done a lot for the Sport. Thinking and then thinking some more and toss in some creativity can really come up with some cool ideas. I just got an intake and new injectors, and made $165.00 doing it. That money went towards gaskets and other necessary items. It takes a lot of swapping and dealing and making offers, but the worst thing that can happen is the guy with the parts will say no.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 24, 2011, 08:04:40 PM
Quote from: flylear45;360590
That looks familiar!
It should:D When I went to get it the other day the guy at NAPA knew what I wanted but couldn't find it lol. So he says "I'll tell you what, I can have one here tomorrow though." Then he says, "wait a minute...." comes back 30 seconds later with a box of em and said they moved em. lol.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 24, 2011, 08:06:37 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;360596
Nice work !!! I LOVE no-buck mods. That's how I've done a lot for the Sport. Thinking and then thinking some more and toss in some creativity can really come up with some cool ideas. I just got an intake and new injectors, and made $165.00 doing it. That money went towards gaskets and other necessary items. It takes a lot of swapping and dealing and making offers, but the worst thing that can happen is the guy with the parts will say no.
hey vin, you only need to sell 3 more items to make your feedback score match your feedback % :D 100 feedbacks AND 100% positive? right on.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 24, 2011, 08:11:30 PM
"supposedly".... I'm supposed to get dropped into some massive overtime this weekend and so maybe I'll be able to get this thing out on the road in a couple weeks. Oh yeah and I forgot to mention the gigantic crack in my radiator on the red bird that's been plaguing me for weeks, well instead of getting a new radiator I went and got some $5 epoxy (you know, the kind you knead...and need) and sealed that bad boy up. Not a drop getting through now what was a 2 gal/day sized leak.:cool:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on May 24, 2011, 08:47:18 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;360611
hey vin, you only need to sell 3 more items to make your feedback score match your feedback % :D 100 feedbacks AND 100% positive? right on.
Awesome, I really didn't notice....buy some stuff from me !!!!!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 24, 2011, 09:24:00 PM
Can't bro, I'm out of money...remember? lol:giggle:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on May 24, 2011, 09:40:56 PM
After the over time. I don't care what you buy. Just buy it.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: flylear45 on May 25, 2011, 09:46:40 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;360612
"supposedly".... I'm supposed to get dropped into some massive overtime this weekend and so maybe I'll be able to get this thing out on the road in a couple weeks. Oh yeah and I forgot to mention the gigantic crack in my radiator on the red bird that's been plaguing me for weeks, well instead of getting a new radiator I went and got some $5 epoxy (you know, the kind you knead...and need) and sealed that bad boy up. Not a drop getting through now what was a 2 gal/day sized leak.:cool:
Wow, nice job on that. Getting it CLEAN enough is the hard part.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 25, 2011, 11:18:46 PM
Quote from: flylear45;360663
Wow, nice job on that. Getting it CLEAN enough is the hard part.
Soft bristled wire brush worked nicely.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 01, 2011, 05:09:36 PM
I finally got the title back for my cougar. I had a title loan on it ever since I put the new engine in it 2 years ago and when I bought the truck they paid the rest of it off and put it on my new loan so I got my title back the other day.
I got the center caps for my turbines and they're all painted and ready to go but I still don't have tires. I was going to buy my tires back from the j/y off my old tbird and I told the guy that but I told him I didn't need them right away and so by the time he got ready to pull them well he happened to come in late that day and his boss had already pulled them to drag another car to the yard that had no tires or something so now I'm still waiting and am kinda wondering if I am actually ever going to see them. Anyway that was my big plan for this month to surprise everyone with but looks like I'll still be waiting on that one.....
I had to take my battery back again too. It still under warranty so that was nbd but I guess I need to start the car more often cause this is the 2nd time this has happened to me since its been sitting. I would start it more often but its so loud with no exhaust on it that I try not to so I don't drive my neighbors crazy...
I'm really hoping to get this thing running before the baby comes cause well, one: my truck has no backseat for the carseat and two: I'm for sure not going to have any money to put in it after it's born lol
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on July 03, 2011, 11:00:31 AM
I had my daughter in my car for a little while, but the AC sucked. She came home from the hospital after being born in that car, and so did I when my mom had me 21+yrs ago :) I take her out in it every once in a while when I'm in CC. She goes "Daddy's Thunderbird is FAST." If only she knew...
You plan on redoing your AC?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 03, 2011, 09:58:36 PM
I don't. The car will mostly be a night/weekend cruiser when its up again and then a little bit when we can't use her car to carrry the baby and i need to go somewhere or whatever. AC isn't that big of a deal for me, I'm used to the heat. I didn't have it for 2 years of driving so I don't miss it. I might do it eventually but it will be the very last thing I do to it. As in after paint.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 04, 2011, 08:38:52 AM
i was good without a/c as well. Didn't have it for 11 or 12 years, but it was pointed out to me by my wife that although I was o.k. with it, her and anyone else suffered while they were in the car. Good point. Plus, sweating your a$$ off every summer day sucks when you're going somewhere. Start gathering the parts you need to get the a/c done. Gotta take care of the family too on cruising days.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Bruce M on July 04, 2011, 12:31:02 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;362777
i was good without a/c as well. Didn't have it for 11 or 12 years, but it was pointed out to me by my wife that although I was o.k. with it, her and anyone else suffered while they were in the car. Good point. Plus, sweating your a$$ off every summer day sucks when you're going somewhere. Start gathering the parts you need to get the a/c done. Gotta take care of the family too on cruising days.
Good point, You may be fine but your newborn may not. Babys can't handle heat long, they dehydrate fast and it can cause brain damage.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 04, 2011, 12:34:35 PM
I started from scratch getting mine all together, and actually, I found some killer deals on Ebay and was able to get the whole thing done pretty cheap.The a/c parts are actually easy to find and the prices surprised me, and I'm probably one of, if not THE, cheapest person on the forum. You may need the car for something and you gotta take care of the family. It doesn't use enough power to make a difference.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 04, 2011, 11:57:05 PM
the sh*t's honestly beyond my comprehension. If I have the AC done, it will be by somebody else.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on July 05, 2011, 05:50:50 PM
Steve: If you're looking to redo your AC, you'll need one of those awesome-no-longer-produced HR980's for your 3.8-that's what mine has. Sometimes there are some on ebay, and I actually have a spare somewhere, but when I took it to the AC guy, he said it wasn't going to work because of the position of something I can't recall..
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 05, 2011, 06:12:03 PM
I bought and installed the new compressor and condenser, and let the pro do the rest. He made custom lines, and they were cheaper than if I had bought them pre-made. SWEEEET !!!! I have about $350.00 invested in my a/c system including the brand new condenser, reman. compressor, misc. bits, lines and service.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 05, 2011, 08:46:24 PM
how did you install the condenser? when I did my heater I tried to remove the condenser but I couldn't figure out how to get it out... that's the biggest reason I gave up on it...
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 05, 2011, 08:49:27 PM
Hey VINNIE! How about a polished 3.8 intake? :D :cool:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 05, 2011, 08:59:02 PM
The condenser is in front of the radiator. The evaporator behind the dash can be a bear. I thought mine was bad, but the a/c people flushed it out and said it was fine. Yours may be fine as well. They have special stuff they clean them out with.
The 3.8 upper can look great polished. i did one a long time ago. Took a little time and patience, but after I smoothed it out, it went pretty quick. Made a HUGE difference on the engine as far as looks went. I also had a set of factory aluminum valve covers for it. Remove the mold lines, smooth it all down, and polish....easy.Easiest if you fins a second upper (dime a dozen), and polish it while you are still able to do what you have to with the car.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 05, 2011, 10:31:10 PM
Oh duh yeah I meant evaporator. No mine is definitely bad. I guess you don't recall but I cut my lines off because they were twisted and cracked, so yeah.... I will be needing a new one.
I'm not going to actually poslish my intake. The one in the pictures is new though. I cleaned it up real nice before I threw it on. It looks so nice it looks out of place lol. I'm not going to go full on with the polishing b/c I've currently got my eye on a s/p setup so it'll all be going away soon....:D
A note, btw, for anyone who for whatever reason, ever gets the idea in their head to replace their 3.8 intake with one from a mustang, like I did, well every thing will bolt up 95% exactly the same except for one problem: You will need 20" of 3/4 heater hose to re-route the hose since the new intakes don't have that idiotic pass-through in the main intake to the heater. You know, those stupid little pesky hoses that are like 4 inches long and PITA to get to/change? well they're gone and now you'll actually be using a single hose and routing it under the intake. Which actually is nice b/c now you don't have freaking HEATER WATER PASSING THROUGH YOUR INTAKE????? like you did before. I mean, really... who was the one who came up with that bright idea in the first place? was it for gas mileage? well anyway, now its better. Oh and you'll need a vacuum cap cause the late model intake has two vacuum ports where we have one... which is where the MAP sensor connects.
Just a little random 3.8 fyi.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thunderjet302 on July 06, 2011, 12:00:17 AM
Quote from: vinnietbird;362873
I bought and installed the new compressor and condenser, and let the pro do the rest. He made custom lines, and they were cheaper than if I had bought them pre-made. SWEEEET !!!! I have about $350.00 invested in my a/c system including the brand new condenser, reman. compressor, misc. bits, lines and service.
Did you run a stock T-bird condenser? I have heard that with a R-134A conversion they don't cool as well in stop and go traffic. Apparently the trick is to run a SN-95 condenser, which is bigger to compensate for the R-134A.
I still have my 23 year old R-12 system running. I pray every summer that it won't die.....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 06, 2011, 06:35:07 AM
You'll have to pull the heater core box out, and literally, but carefully, cut it open to get the evaporator out, then once the new one is in, reseal the box.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 06, 2011, 05:05:14 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;362916
You'll have to pull the heater core box out, and literally, but carefully, cut it open to get the evaporator out, then once the new one is in, reseal the box.
Well that's um.... stupid.
I'd like to meet the guy that invented that design.:beatyoass:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 06, 2011, 05:10:50 PM
Or get a whole unit from a car that has had it's system intact and just swap the whole box out, but add a new heater core while you're doing it.....or have the a/c shop weld new ends on the cut lines.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on July 06, 2011, 07:12:14 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;362938
Well that's um.... stupid.
I'd like to meet the guy that invented that design.:beatyoass:
These cars weren't supposed to outlast the heater core
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 06, 2011, 08:05:04 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;362939
Or get a whole unit from a car that has had it's system intact and just swap the whole box out, but add a new heater core while you're doing it.....or have the a/c shop weld new ends on the cut lines.
That's more along the lines of what I was thinking of. Only problem is you usually have no idea if it was any good in that car either.....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 06, 2011, 09:32:59 PM
There's a LOW mileage one in the car at the yard I got my dash from. '86 model...same thing. The interior was MINT until I got hold of it. 100% stock. It would be easy to get to as well. The dash is gone and in the Sport. LOL.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 06, 2011, 11:06:55 PM
Well you should get it for me and hold it for me for about 10 months when I'll be ready to install it;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 07, 2011, 06:36:17 AM
No problem.........but you have to pay now. Holding the part for 10 months is easy. I'll hold it for 10 years if you want.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 347Thunder on July 07, 2011, 12:48:41 PM
I just took out the a/c box out of my car evap is about 6 years old, and the heater core is 3 years old, both worked when I disconnected. I just capped them off, If you want it come and pick it up no charge blower motor works as well. let me know because it might go to the trash tomorrow or tuesday.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 07, 2011, 04:53:45 PM
You'd better take that deal. The gas to go get it is cheaper than shipping that big heavy monster plus the cost of it. Get it !!!!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 347Thunder on July 07, 2011, 05:27:37 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;362985
You'd better take that deal. The gas to go get it is cheaper than shipping that big heavy monster plus the cost of it. Get it !!!!
I know I hope my car will go just a little faster:mullet::burnout:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 07, 2011, 05:43:10 PM
I like fast, but I need comfy as well.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 07, 2011, 07:44:58 PM
Heck yeah I'll come get it. PM me your # again I'll see if I can come down this wkend. Prolly Sunday. Thanks!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 07, 2011, 08:13:37 PM
So vinnie should be happy about this:D:
Got rid of the old giant V6 logo and got the rest of the new edge badge
And for those of you that missed the intake well here's some more pictures cause I love it lol its so shiny it doesn't look right in my engine bay:cool:
The part that makes me sad is that my WHOLE engine used to look like this about 2 years ago:rolleyes:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 07, 2011, 08:22:15 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;363000
So vinnie should be happy about this:D:
Got rid of the old giant V6 logo and got the rest of the new edge badge
Give me a minute.....................
Yeah, that's better. I'm not a fan of engine call-outs, but, I can bend a little at times.LOL.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on July 07, 2011, 09:04:28 PM
that little intake is so stinkin cute....but in a manly sort of way of course
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 07, 2011, 09:28:12 PM
Yeah, a stinkin' cute manly way. Like a really sensitive muscled up midget kind of way.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 07, 2011, 09:29:37 PM
By the way....here's the idea....make a to fit the V-6 lower....a tank for the driver side, a throttle body , and tubes in the middle. Yes, fits the stock lower, but LOOKS like a tiny GT-40....like a GT-30......make one.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on July 07, 2011, 09:32:19 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;363005
Yeah, a stinkin' cute manly way. Like a really sensitive muscled up midget kind of way.
:rollin:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 07, 2011, 10:27:50 PM
You know whats funny is that I have literally considered doing that with a gt 40 intake... you know just chopping off one tube on each side lmao. God I've considered putting in a V8 just so I can have one of those super shiny GT-40 intakes....homina homina homina.
Of course the part that upsets me is that a week after I ordered the new intake I realized I shouldn't have cause now I'm getting split port intakes for it. Oh yeah did I forget to mention that? well now I did:evilgrin:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 07, 2011, 10:37:21 PM
Well, first of all, GT-40's are painted, not polished. Second, they cost WAY too much to chop up, and besides, nothing would line up with that sweet little V-6 lower (LOL...LOL)...and third, they really do RAWK !!!. I have one in my trunk right now, along with a lot of other sweet GT-40 stuff.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 07, 2011, 11:23:47 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;363018
Second, they cost WAY too much to chop up,
That's the reason I never did it:rollin:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 20, 2011, 10:16:10 PM
So here's a video for you:
http://youtu.be/M7tgn2fc9CA
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 21, 2011, 08:50:10 AM
Yep, time for exhaust to be installed. Any good ler shop should be able to fix you up from the headers to the rear. I'm about to have new lers installed on the Sport soon. Still trying to decide which ones I want.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 21, 2011, 08:41:27 PM
Yeah, problem is I need a tag to drive it up to the nearest ler shop. Besides that, I'm going to be putting new heads and intake on it in less than a month if everything turns out right, and it will be easier the least stuff is in my way lol. Just unbolt the headers and pull them right out :D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 24, 2011, 04:01:01 PM
I've been getting around lately to fixing more of the irritating little things that bugged me when I was driving the car but were never serious enough problems to actually deal with....
First of all I fixed my DS door lock, which I broke once trying to jim into the car. I snapped the little plastic lever off the lock. Second, I got around to repairing my windows. Neither one rolled up correctly and the PS had snapped off of the connectors. Well I epoxied it back together and oiled up all the rollers and track and cranks. Everythings good now. I also got brand new correct crank handles. Then thirdly I got new door latch bolts with the plastic bushings attached so now the doors clunk shut instead of rattle shut. Got the window spacer in on the driver side which was missing too. I took my door handles out and bent the slot in the door a little to tighten the tab back up and rebolted both handles which were all loose. Used to have to slam the handle out to get the door to open. Added a couple of screws to my door panels to tighten them down too since all my tabs are broken. I need to get hold of some new fabric though. And then of course I put the cupholder thingy in there. Still working on that.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 24, 2011, 04:22:23 PM
That darn cup holder....... The more I look at it, the more something is missing. I think it needs to be flush mount with the panel itself. It looks like there should be a door, but isn't one. It'll come together. needs some fine tuning. As far as the door handles (inner) being harder to open, I loosen the bolt that holds it to the door, pull the assembly forward as far as possible, then tighten the bolt. It tightens the rod, making the door open a lot easier. Just my tip for the day. Glad to see you are making progress. It's the little stuff that drives me crazy as well.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 24, 2011, 04:25:25 PM
Oh no I got the door handles fixed. The problem was not the rod, just the fact that over the years the handle and the assembly had both come loose and were wobbly. I just had to tighten everything back up.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 24, 2011, 04:30:52 PM
Well, then that's a good thing.LOL. If you were closer I'd love to help you work on the car.........................and remove the Cougar emblem from the dash...........................................
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on July 24, 2011, 04:34:41 PM
LOL, you could help me remove the dash from the car, but.........the COUGAR emblem is um, well....STAYING;) It'll look much better after the dash cap is on and the ugliness above it goes away. Hey, come on, the 83/84's had it, why cant I?:cool:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on July 24, 2011, 04:43:59 PM
I'll think about letting you keep it and I'll inform you when my decision is made.LOL.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on August 16, 2011, 10:37:17 PM
Wifey says I'm getting a tag for my b-day Woo Hoo :D That's awefully nice of her cause I need that $350 for some exhaust instead of a plate:cool:
I fiddled around and painted some rusty stuff under the hood the other day and that's really about all I've accomplished lately... that truck payment is freaking killing me:toilet: I need to get ahold of some sidework or something.... Anyway, unrusty pic tomorrow or the next day...
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on August 17, 2011, 05:14:12 PM
I haven't done much of anything either. ordered new front signal lights and inner lights for the TC front end and now I'm wicked broke. Funds are less than zero. Oh well, nothing new. The good side of it....I'll have new parts on the shelf waiting for the new paint, then I'll have cool stuff to install. Hopefully by the time paint is done, i'll have a few more parts purchased and shelved as well.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on August 17, 2011, 06:19:28 PM
I'm slackin too....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on August 17, 2011, 06:23:25 PM
I'm sure we'll make up for lost time soon enough. Once fall gets here, and the temps dip down to a cool 90 degrees or so, I'll be going crazy sanding the Sport. I'd like to see your Cougar painted Sarjxxx. Do some bodywork and run it to Maaco. For now, I'm spending some time surfing the internet looking for parts. I still need a new Mach 1 chin spoiler and a couple of other small bits. I'm not too worried. I know I'll get what I need, I just don't know when I'll get them. Time to sell parts again.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thunderjet302 on August 18, 2011, 03:57:49 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;363001
Yeah, that's better. I'm not a fan of engine call-outs, but, I can bend a little at times.LOL.
What's wrong with 5.0 badges on fenders?
I think sarjxxx would be better off with 3.8 badges on the front fender vs the V6 badge on the deck lid.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on August 18, 2011, 04:08:00 PM
I think 5.0 fender badges are over done and if you have a V-6...no badges at all.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thunderjet302 on August 18, 2011, 04:11:37 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;365451
I think 5.0 fender badges are over done and if you have a V-6...no badges at all.
But ten no one nows I has de 5.Oh! ;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on August 18, 2011, 04:15:17 PM
I tell everyone around here who asks that I have a 3.8 V-6 with a loud exhaust.LOL.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on August 18, 2011, 11:01:41 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;365378
I'd like to see your Cougar painted Sarjxxx. Do some bodywork and run it to Maaco.
Well, first off I've never done body work, so maaco could probably do a better job than I lol. And considering that HUGE dent under my passenger quarter I'd rather wait and just take it to a real paint and body shop and get it done 100% the first time around.
Besides that, my paint is actually pretty decent. There's a few spots where the topcoat chipped off and primer's showing through, but they're tiny and I rattle canned em (very carefully) anyway so you can't really tell. But when the thing is acutally clean, and waxed, it really brings out the shine. If you look a few pages back, I posted pics from when I waxed it... it still nice. [SIZE="5"]pg. 28, post# 274[/SIZE]
Paint will be the last major thing I do to this car. It's too easy to F--K up $2000 with so much mechanical work left to do.
Quote from: thunderjet302;365450
I think sarjxxx would be better off with 3.8 badges on the front fender vs the V6 badge on the deck lid.
I'm saving those spaces for the "3.8 HIGH OUTPUT" once I get the turbo(s) in
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on August 19, 2011, 10:11:35 PM
ok so here's the promised pic. Nothing special, just a little painted rust and some cleaning. Painted up the bracket that holds on the MAP sensor and the headerpanel bracket/hood safety latch, and the hood safety lever itself and well the hood latch too.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on August 19, 2011, 11:41:13 PM
What picture?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on August 20, 2011, 12:59:51 AM
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: flylear45 on August 20, 2011, 09:40:45 AM
Looking pretty spiffy under there! All the little stuff adds up. It's the thing to do when money gets tight. Make a little progress here and there, anyway.
I agree, the paint looks pretty decent when it's waxed up. Certainly presentable enough.
If mine wasn't 3 different colors I'd have driven it as it was. Unfortunately, I had a black front and rear bumper and a red driver's fender. Just too :mullet:.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on August 20, 2011, 10:19:56 AM
Quote from: flylear45;365581
Looking pretty spiffy under there! All the little stuff adds up. It's the thing to do when money gets tight. Make a little progress here and there, anyway.
I agree, the paint looks pretty decent when it's waxed up. Certainly presentable enough.
If mine wasn't 3 different colors I'd have driven it as it was. Unfortunately, I had a black front and rear bumper and a red driver's fender. Just too :mullet:.
Wouldn't it be sweet to kick the out of some ricer with your car all those different colors? :)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: flylear45 on August 20, 2011, 10:37:26 AM
Quote from: RunninWild;365585
Wouldn't it be sweet to kick the out of some ricer with your car all those different colors? :)
I suppose. The TR7 is fun for that. :evilgrin: I try to be good on the streets, though.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on August 20, 2011, 12:06:37 PM
Quote from: RunninWild;365585
Wouldn't it be sweet to kick the out of some ricer with your car all those different colors? :)
Here's the Sport when we were out kicking around ricers before the temp paint job it has now....
I'm getting some O/T next week so hopefully I will finally be able to get it up to the exhaust shop to get some pipes put on and get it one step closer to back on the road:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on December 14, 2011, 11:02:07 PM
All those lights remind me of.........well.........rice............................................Now for a huge wing, fart can out back and a lot of stickers.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on December 16, 2011, 01:50:08 AM
Actually I'm going out Saturday to get pipes put on and I'm getting a Skunk2 ler with it. :rollin:
JK anyway they really don't look rice in person. The camera doesn't do it justice. I've had several car people see it in person, and no one has thought they were anything less than AWESOME. But Vinnie you will always be picky so I get it.:p:p
oh and I can't put a giant wing on it. Its a cougar, not a thunder-BIRD lol
Of course, if I liked it I shoulda put a wing on it I guess :giggle::rollin:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on December 18, 2011, 01:57:04 AM
Well I took the car up to the shop to have exhuast done today and was going to have a nice little vid for you guys but wouldn't ya know it, the guy didn't even get to it. I had to use my father in law's flatbed to get it up there since I don't have a tag yet, which was fine except he needed the trailer after I was done and was going to have it filled up for a few weeks, well the guy at the shop said that he'd be able to do it in about two hours. Two and a half hours later I go back up there and he hasn't even touched it.
Apparently the car in front of me needed waaaaaaaayy more work done than originally antited so he hadn't had time to get to it. So that didn't work out to well with the trailer situation... Fortunately he said that he could put off his business with the trailer till Monday so hopefully these guys will be done with my car early enough monday morning that I will be able to pick the thing up in time. Good thing I'm working nights...:rolleyes:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on December 18, 2011, 05:55:09 PM
Hope the exhaust gets done for you. I know you've been wanting that for a long time. Nice to se you making some progress on the old Cat. It's a long process sometimes, I understand that.
Oh, buy the way...Me.....Picky? LOL.LOL.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Shadow on December 18, 2011, 06:03:35 PM
2 hours? sounds like he's going to put py crush-bend pipe on there, what the care came with stock.. unless he's super, and i mean SUPER, efficient with his bender.. i've never seen an exhaust shop open on a sunday, that's a weird 1 for me.. lol
oh.. and.. IT'S ABOUT TIME lol
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on December 20, 2011, 05:14:00 AM
Nah they weren't going to be open on sunday, I'm not quite sure where you got that from?
Anyway, now its looking like closer to the end of the week before I get it back b/c he called me up today before he started on it wanting to know if I had the s to connect the downpipes to the headers. I said, no, I thought those were a pretty universal piece. He says they're definitely not and so then I'm stuck waiting longer as he went about trying to procure some of the correct s.
Turned out he couldn't get any so I had to call up Bill at Supercoupeperformance cause he's the only person I know of who would be able to get me some on short notice, and get some from him. I'm ordering them in the morning so hopefully with overnight shipping I'll be able to get those things here by weds and hopefully get my exhaust done. Geeeez what a frekken hassle this has turned into.....:punchballs:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Bruce M on December 20, 2011, 06:03:50 AM
If I took my car to a "exhaust shop" and they took as long to get started and didnt have the parts, I'd take it somewhere else. A good exhaust shop would have just about any you could think of. My friends shop has a wall of s.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on December 21, 2011, 01:09:17 AM
Quote from: Bruce M;375902
If I took my car to a "exhaust shop" and they took as long to get started and didnt have the parts, I'd take it somewhere else. A good exhaust shop would have just about any you could think of. My friends shop has a wall of s.
Yeah I considered that but my car is illegal right now, as I have no tag, no insurance, and no exhaust on it. So not only am I a cop magnet, but if I do get pulled over for noise, he's not going to like what else he finds out either lol. So without the trailer, my options are VERY limited. I consider myself lucky that he was willing to keep the car at his shop while I wait on the parts to get here on Thursday. (his shop is very limited on space)
I did find it odd that he didn't have the correct s though. He was basically trying to tell me that when I purchased my headers they should have come with the lower s. Now, granted those are only the second pair I've ever bought, and both were used, but I've NEVER heard of headers being shipped with the s. They're always on the x-pipes or y pipes or whatever you buy for downtubes after your headers, but I have never seen them with headers. Is that usually the case, or is he for real?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Shadow on December 21, 2011, 01:17:51 AM
your headers are off an SN95 stang, aren't they? he should definitely have those on-hand if he's any kind of reputable shop.. the only headers i've ever bought that came with s were long tubes, which are a completely different design than what you have.. there's no 'ball and socket,' just flat 3 bolt s with a gasket inbetween
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on December 29, 2011, 10:30:04 PM
So I got it back!!! Had to drive it back with the wrong tag but oh well what are ya gonna do. I had so much fun bringing it back. This was also the first time I've had it out on the open road since putting the new transmission in, and let me say, it works absolutely as it should. It so nice to have my car back. I've gotten so used to driving that slow ass truck all the time. It feels really good to feel that front end lift up a little and to be pushed back in the seat. :evilgrin: Oh how I miss it. I will be getting a tag very soon now. I can't stand it any longer :crazy:
I finally got it back from the shop and it sounds good:D Had them install a 2.5" custom bent system all the way from the headers back. Custom fabbed catless y-pipe, into 2.5" Thrush Welded ler, and turndown right under the rear bumper.
I also got my new dew wipes from "evintho" yesterday and was able to install them today. They look great:D:D Sooooo much better than my cracked up broken nasty ones. Also got my drivers side seatbelt from 87IROC the other day and it went in so quickly and easily. Looks great, now I'm halfway there on that problem. Attempted to fix my wipers so that they seat properly and actually cover the whole windshield but I've still got to work on that. Too much angle on the blades when they're at park. At least they don't go down and try to clean my cowl trim now.
I took a new video of my sequentials, a long one with a every possible light combination, and there is a night video with it also. Haven't had time to clean it up yet but here it is:
And as a treat, while doing my sequentials, I figured why not include my front end light modifications also. Here is what I did to the front lights, if you have not seen it yet:
I also decided to Seafoam this thing today, and clean the upper end. Its been sitting for so long, and started so rarely, I figured it needed it. This video you may be wise to mute though....
But the real cherry on top of the awesomeness that was today is that I am 99% sure that I now have a pretty good head gasket leak on my 30,000 mile old engine. Which you can pretty well see in the exhaust video. Oh, , wait a minute, head gasket, it that's not a good thing :( ......
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on December 29, 2011, 11:13:13 PM
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on January 01, 2012, 10:27:46 AM
I think it sounds great, man! I'll be up whenever I can..my last semester starts soon, but I won't be working at all so I should have some spare time on weekends hopefully.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Shadow on January 01, 2012, 10:32:05 AM
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 01, 2012, 11:04:36 PM
Quote from: RunninWild;376652
I think it sounds great, man! I'll be up whenever I can..my last semester starts soon, but I won't be working at all so I should have some spare time on weekends hopefully.
Hey thx I'm glad SOMEBODY likes it:D
So I've takent the car out for a few illegal rides and I've realized a few things....
1. I didn't realize how much I missed that feeling of the front end pulling up and being pushed back in the seat.:evilgrin:
2. My headlights SUCK
3. I've got a LOT of noise coming through. Mostly road noise. I don't know if its because of the suspension or what.
4. I've got a lot of work left to do.:toilet:
I've got to get this thing road legal. I can't stand it especially now that it's actually driveable. It'll definitely be out on the road again soon.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on January 02, 2012, 06:11:05 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;376781
1. I didn't realize how much I missed that feeling of the front end pulling up and being pushed back in the seat.:evilgrin:
You are talking about a V6, right? :poke:
None of my V-6's have ever gave me that feeling... If the front end is pulling up, I would look into putting some new shock absorbers in there :flip: haha ;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 02, 2012, 06:19:47 PM
That's because the only v6 you've ever driven that makes almost as much torque as mine does is offset by the addition of about 1000 lbs;):burnout:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: hypostang on January 03, 2012, 09:32:12 AM
I think It sounds good
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 03, 2012, 03:23:59 PM
Quote from: hypostang;376894
I think It sounds good
Thanks!
Believe it or not, a lot of research actually went into the setup that I chose.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 06, 2012, 08:57:38 PM
Well I took the car out for a little fun today, and I think I burned off what was left of my tires... It might be time for a new set....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on January 06, 2012, 10:06:07 PM
Quote from: Scott D;376842
You are talking about a V6, right? :poke:
None of my V-6's have ever gave me that feeling... If the front end is pulling up, I would look into putting some new shock absorbers in there :flip: haha ;)
Mine actually did, and I would spin the tire off it too.. My car was insanely quick for a v6. but I'll stick with my replacement motor..... apparently is strikes fear in people, just hearing it idle now.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 06, 2012, 11:37:53 PM
Quote from: daminc;377161
Mine actually did, and I would spin the tire off it too.. My car was insanely quick for a v6. but I'll stick with my replacement motor..... apparently is strikes fear in people, just hearing it idle now.
Yeah, look at the pic above your post lol. I'm not nice to mine either.
.......and, I talked to my friend at the JY and he says I can get the Windstar heads and intakes for about $200 so if I ever get my freakin W2 back and if I have enough left over after getting a plate on my car, that's the next thing to happen so I will have an even quicker little 6er here soon. Or maybe not. I do need tires. Argh delimnas...
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Romeo2k on January 07, 2012, 12:48:12 AM
Keep us posted if you do that, Been wondering how well a Windstar upper engine swap would go.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Scott D on January 07, 2012, 03:15:00 PM
Depending how quickly you can budget the new tires after the Windstar intake, I would go the intake route first. No telling how much tread you'd end up taking off of a new set of tires after that one ;-)
The biggest part is, you're having fun w/the car & I seriously dig that!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Shadow on January 07, 2012, 04:03:58 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;377157
Well I took the car out for a little fun today, and I think I burned off what was left of my tires... It might be time for a new set....
ah, the tire is fine.. just break out the needle and thread kit.. lol
but i definitely agree with scott.. the most important part is, you're having fun with the car.. hope you finally get her legal with your income tax money
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 29, 2012, 02:19:58 AM
Well, I've gotten a little done lately.
First, I spent a night installing my final set of LED's in to the car, at least for a while, under the armrests. They are totally hidden and look really freakin cool. That process also coincided with the installation of the signal wires to my taillights that are required in order to get them to only sequence with the turn signals instead of also pulsing with the brake lights. The brake light thing was kinda cool except that my brake light switch doesn't really work all that great, so they tend to burst very rapidly which is confusing to whoever would be behind me, so now the brake lights function normally and only the turn signals sequence. Just like one of those shiny new mustangs:hick:
I also finally got around to installing a proper thermostat relay for my electric fan, instead of the always-hot-on-run relay setup that I had had on it before. While I was in there I traced out a vacuum line with a gigantic freakin hole in it and replaced that sucker. Now my idle is MUCH smoother:D And I gave it a nice good washing and waxing for the first time in about a year the other day. I got a nice chrome downtip for my exhaust too.:cool:
But perhaps the thing I am most excited about is that I just scored a pair of brand spankin new NOS inner marker lights for the front end.:banana: No more heat cracked pitted lenses for us! Was it a stupid purchase that I really can't afford this week? Yes. Did I get a really sweet deal on a pair of lights I probably won't see come up again for another year? Yes. Paid about $30 with shipping for one side, and about $38 for the other side. Suhweet:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on January 29, 2012, 08:12:21 AM
Good to see you're getting some things done for the Cougar. As I always say, one piece at a time. Where did you get the lights from? Oh, and surely you could put more LEDs on the car. How about on the steering wheel, and on the outside mirrors, and the windshield wipers, and the core support, and the throttle body..........? LOL.LOL. Just kidding. I made myself laugh though. LOL.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 29, 2012, 11:08:05 AM
hah hah hah hahhhhhh......... not.:beatdown:;)
Honestly you can't knock em till you've seen em in person. All the lights on the car are totally hidden except for the ones on the hood and trunk for well, obvious reasons. Believe me, I spend hours and hours going over ways to make the car unique without making it rice. They look pretty slick you'd be surprised.:cool:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on January 29, 2012, 11:44:43 AM
Oh yeah, I saw those. Good score. I gotta give you a hard time about the LED's. LOL. I'm just glad you're getting the car pieced together. What's left that you need to do?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 29, 2012, 11:52:04 AM
way too much. Whats up on the top of the list right now is new tires and also rear brakes but I'm trying to skip working on the brakes and just go straight to TC rear. I also badly need an alignment and front struts. Then there's some misc interior stuff to be done but nothing to keep it from being fun to drive. I also need to get in there and get my thermostat housing off b/c I broke a bolt off trying to replace my t-stat and now the housing is leaking so that's something I need to get fixed before I start going on any long trips. Thinking I might actually get to that today or sometime this week.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on January 29, 2012, 12:00:38 PM
Get out there and get to work. I'm swapping my O2 harness and sensors as soon as the temp comes up some more. Still a bit too cold for me out there today.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 29, 2012, 12:54:16 PM
Yeah I would but the only reason I might not get to it is cause we just got back from breakfast and now were about to go out to Silver Springs. (one of our local nature parks). Its sort of an every other month sunday tradition. We prolly wont get back till about a hour before sundown... then I got sunday cs to do blah blah blah.... but who knows I might fit it in there;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 01, 2012, 02:44:24 PM
Its official....
I might have to let my truck get repo'd to do it lol, but the cougar will be legal and on the road again before the end of next week. :banana:
As for that stuck tstat bolt well its being a real bitch. So far there is no hope to get it out. I even welded a nut on the end of the bolt to have something to attach a wrench to... well it broke the end of the bolt off before I was able to turn it at all. That MFer aint coming out without a drill. I think I'm just gonna go down to my local JY and pick up another intake. It would be far easier at this point.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 347Thunder on February 01, 2012, 02:50:02 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;379181
Yeah I would but the only reason I might not get to it is cause we just got back from breakfast and now were about to go out to Silver Springs. (one of our local nature parks). Its sort of an every other month sunday tradition. We prolly wont get back till about a hour before sundown... then I got sunday cs to do blah blah blah.... but who knows I might fit it in there;)
Did you goto the silver springs Ford show
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 01, 2012, 06:05:29 PM
That would be no on account of the fact that i am an idiot and forgot all about it for the second year in a row. it would help if they would actually advertise it at yhe park as we go almost every month but over there they act like the event doesnt even exist...
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 02, 2012, 11:47:39 PM
Well its been an interesting two days...
It all started yesterday, when after welding a nut to the bolt to try to turn it wasn't even enough to get it to budge, and it then broke the weld, I decided it was time to take the intake off and do something about this problem. After getting the intake(s) off, I discovered another whole problem. It turns out, that all the water I was getting from my tail pipe and all the sputtering on startup, was in fact not condensation, as I had hoped.
I had originally thought I had a head gasket promlem, but I had no water in my oil, and on oil in my water. So I just let it go for a bit, since I'm not driving it on a reguar basis it was not a big deal. So anyway, while removing the intake-head bolts they were all coming out all mucky and wet and gross. After I got the intake off, I found out the real problem. Turns out the intake gaskets had failed and the reason I was not seeing any water in my oil / vice versa, was that it was leaking from the water jacket in the intake straight into the intake ports, and into the heads... well you get the idea.
So that began a long journey to cleaning off all the old gaskets (which annoyingly enough were only 2 years old), cleaning up the heads and intake and block, and cleaning out the intake runners. What did this have to do with water leaks, well nothing really, but it was nasty in there so I wanted to clean off all that gunk and let my air flow more freely. Any way, after fighting for ever with the bolt that holds the FPR to the back of the block I got the fuel lines out of the way and was ready to reinstall pending new gaskets and stuck-bolt-free intake. This began the other part of my journey.
tstat bolt just would not give up. So I attempted to cut the stem off so I could drill it out. Only problem being that my hacksaw blade was so dull that I literally could not cut even my own skin with it. So I just whacked it off with a hammer. Luckily I got a nice flat break right at the face of the intake so it wasn't hard to get a drill started. After going through it multiple times with bigger bits I realized this bolt was not coming out. So I went down to AZ and picked up a reverse thread drill bit set and a tap set. Reverse drilled it as close as I could get and then tapped it out at the same thread and size as before, and it actually worked out favorably. I then took my new tap and chased every hole in my block, which made reinstallation a whole lot easier. btw, if anyone's curious, it seems that almost every bolt size in this engine is M8 - 1.25.
So anyway, long story long, after fighting with the gd fuel lines and injectors for a freaking hour because they just didn't want to keep the fuel in the lines, I got everything reinstalled, with new gaskets, and while I was at it replaced the ACT sensor, which was OEM and toast, and also the coolant temp sending unit, also OEM. I did the ECT sensor about a year ago so I left it alone. After everything was back together I turned the key and she fired right up, no sputtering or bogging down on accel like before. Runs like a champ. So I think its safe to say the problem has been solved.
Oh and what was cool is that I got to put my hood lights to their first real test. I've fiddled around under the hood with them on before but a solid two nights working in the dark for hours really showed me how good of an investment they were. I never once had to pull out a secondary light source. And they're so bright that if I keep my tools near to the car I can see everything I need.
So far the only strange problem I'm having is that my temp sending unit is way out of range, throwing my guage all the way to its stop. I don't know if I got a faulty unit or what. Anyone ever had that happen?
Ooh and one of my lights came today and yes sir it is beautiful. Now if I can just get outer parking lights and headlights to match:cool: Feeling pretty good about these. They're my first ever NOS purchase so its kindof a big deal to me lol.
Oh sorry for the book about pretty much nothing I just feel like this is the first thing I've accomplished lately so I wanted to talk about it:p
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 03, 2012, 12:44:55 AM
Sweet Steve! You're really making some progress!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on February 05, 2012, 11:08:42 AM
When I first saw the length of this post, I was fearing the worst. But after reading it, I'm glad it's all buttoned up and smooth running.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: nbzimmer on February 05, 2012, 01:17:32 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;379606
Ooh and one of my lights came today and yes sir it is beautiful. Now if I can just get outer parking lights and headlights to match:cool: Feeling pretty good about these. They're my first ever NOS purchase so its kindof a big deal to me lol.
Definitely a nice score on those inner lights. I gotta start watching Ebay better, I'd a jumped on those too if I had seen them. I see there is still one side available but I hate to buy it unless I know I can get a full set.
As far as headlights, you probably saw this already but there is one side available here (http://"http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lincoln-Continental-89-94-Mercury-Cougar-87-88-Headlamp-Lens-light-NEW-LEFT-/260948565600?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUA%26otn%3D5%26pmod%3D260938076462%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D6119076846522975270"). He had several OEM sets of both so you might contact him if you are interested to see if he has any more of the other side. I ordered a set from him and they showed up in two days and look great.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: nbzimmer on February 05, 2012, 01:35:14 PM
So I looked around a bit and found another listing for the other side so I jumped right on them. Thanks for posting where you found them!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on February 05, 2012, 01:48:48 PM
Nice work, and glad to hear you made some serious progress on the Cougar. I'm going to be pulling my intake soon to swap the lifters and cam. Got a few bits I'll be swapping. So now that this work is done on your car, what's next?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 09, 2012, 01:06:55 PM
Quote from: nbzimmer;379809
As far as headlights, you probably saw this already but there is one side available here (http://"http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lincoln-Continental-89-94-Mercury-Cougar-87-88-Headlamp-Lens-light-NEW-LEFT-/260948565600?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUA%26otn%3D5%26pmod%3D260938076462%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D6119076846522975270"). He had several OEM sets of both so you might contact him if you are interested to see if he has any more of the other side. I ordered a set from him and they showed up in two days and look great.
I did see that thread pop up a week or two ago, and as much as I would LOOOOVE to c00ch those up I just do not have the money right now.
Quote from: nbzimmer;379811
So I looked around a bit and found another listing for the other side so I jumped right on them. Thanks for posting where you found them!
Glad I could help:)
Quote from: vinnietbird;379814
Nice work, and glad to hear you made some serious progress on the Cougar. I'm going to be pulling my intake soon to swap the lifters and cam. Got a few bits I'll be swapping. So now that this work is done on your car, what's next?
What's next will probably be trying to figure out what to do about my toe-in which is so far out you can see it if you look at the front of the car, and also doing something about my tires which are mostly bald and the one good one I have has a huge bubble in the tread that I do not trust.
Btw, for anyone that likes to keep track of this project, and all progress that has, or has yet to be made, the very first post if you don't remember, has a few well made lists of the various steps of this project, and I also update regularly with completions. I like to have it for myself to keep track as well;)
also I finally got that stubborn ass rear seatbelt bolt out also. Here's how:
And then on top of things, here's the best part of all....
.....I got a tag on it and ITS LEGAL!!! Still waiting on my custom plate to come in but its got a temp plate on it now and I'm taking this thing everywhere. Man I forgot how much fun this car is. Unfortunately I used most of my tax return on the $400 licensing fees so now I'm $1200 behind on truck payments. This means that work on the car is going to have to come to a screeching halt while I collect some overtime up to get back on track with my truck.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 11, 2012, 06:04:20 PM
so I've been doing some more no cost "restoring" activities. First I got rid of a bunch of noise in the car from where my spare tire was not bolted to the side of the trunk like it's supposed to be, that made a big difference. And I also fixed my trunk my moving the torsion bars a slot up so now the trunk opens all on it's own:D I'm so excited about that lol. Now I can actually push the button and watch the trunk open all the way up, instead of having to go pick it up! Oh and I didn't have to do the plunger handle thing or whatever... I just used a set of vice grips.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 11, 2012, 06:39:48 PM
Mine have been tightened but it didn't help. My spoiler is too heavy. I even have to prop it up at car shows so it'll stay open.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 11, 2012, 10:16:57 PM
Be careful mentioning spoilers in a thread that Vinnie pays attention to:giggle:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 11, 2012, 11:54:41 PM
That's okay, we don't have to agree on everything.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on February 12, 2012, 08:34:37 AM
I heard that.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on February 12, 2012, 08:47:57 AM
that's why I had to take mine off... because of the extra weight, and Vinnie....lol
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 12, 2012, 09:33:51 AM
Hehehe! Nope not going to do it's on mine to stay. lol! That was one of the first things I did to it. I had mentioned in another thread about how if for some reason I decided to take the louvers off it just wouldn't look right to me, it would be the same with the spoiler. But of course I like the way my Bird looks so nothings comming off. I may be adding some things this year though.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on February 12, 2012, 10:00:39 AM
It is all about personal taste....that's approved by me first.LOL.LOL.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 12, 2012, 10:32:55 AM
I think I might be exempt since I've had it for so long. lol!! We're talking almost 22 years.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on February 12, 2012, 11:52:09 AM
There is no statute of limitations.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 12, 2012, 05:56:45 PM
So my tire decided to blow on me lastnight. I've had a little bit of a bubble in my tire for a while now, nothing to really worry about, but yesterday it decided to prominate itself and I had a bubble in the interior sidewall of my tire the size of a freakin baseball. Didn't have a jack and it was 7:00 on a saturday night so there was nowhere to go except to AutoZone to buy a freakin jack:punchballs:. Anyway it blew before I got there, scared the out of me but it was just the sidewall on the outside of the belts so the tire survived and was actually holding air but leaking slowly. I decided to swap to the spare anyway just to be safe. Now I can't drive it cause there was nowhere to get a tire today:toilet:
Found out after I removed the tire that the reason it got worse, because the tire (which was oversized to begin with) had been rubbing against my strut and was wearing the sidewall out, and it finally just came to a head.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on February 12, 2012, 06:16:45 PM
Now you have a new jack.LOL. I never use a donut. Always carry a full size spare. In the end, the car is still coming along, and progress is being made. Now you get a new tire as well. Nice.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 12, 2012, 07:37:03 PM
That sucks Steve. At least you know when you get tires for it it's not going to have to sit there. You can drive it now since you got it legal. And it didn't do any damage. When I first started reading this I thought you were going to say it came apart and beat up your fender or quarter. I'm glad that wasn't the case.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 12, 2012, 09:04:31 PM
Quote from: 1Bad88tbird;380525
That sucks Steve. At least you know when you get tires for it it's not going to have to sit there. You can drive it now since you got it legal. And it didn't do any damage. When I first started reading this I thought you were going to say it came apart and beat up your fender or quarter. I'm glad that wasn't the case.
I thought it was going to at the time but I was going very slow because I knew it was about to pop so I think that helped it from flying apart.
And actually I won't be getting new tires for it. I can't afford a $400 set of new tires right now, so a $20 used is gonna have to do till I put a whole set on the new wheels.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 12, 2012, 09:25:13 PM
Nothing wrong with that. Whatever it takes to keep you going.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 26, 2012, 10:09:33 PM
So not much going on lately... I have had to change my timing gasket out since the very ride that I took to test my new tire out the freakin thing blew on me. I don't know what the heck the deal is with all my gaskets failing on me. Every gasket on the motor was replaced brand new when I did the engine swap two years ago. I also got some new rear brakes yesterday but um, yeah not much going on...
Did take a trip down to hang with Runnin_Wild this weekend though...:)
And last night I said what the hell and decided to put the buttstuffog cluster that I've had for like 2 years into the car. I got everything repinned tonight and installed the thing...
I'm kinda wishing I hadn't done it though, since my gas and temp guages are apparently not functioning. Also I attempted the tach mod to get it to work properly for my v6 and that did not work out either, as you can see I'm still running my aftermarket tach because of that.... The speedo seems to be correct though, although I had nothing to properly guage it by, it seemed correct when I went for a test drive. Also I ordered new senders for my oil and temp hopefully the new temp sender will get the guage working since it is a different number from my stock one. As far as the oil sender though, I'm wondering if I actually needed it... Does that look like the correct oil pressure at idle normally? At first when I turn it on it goes up to near the top but still in the NORM range and then slowly drops back down to about center there.
Oh yes, and one more thing... A quick PSA brought to you by me... When replacing brake shoes, always be sure to TIGHTEN THE GD LUGNUTS ALL THE WAY BACK DOWN otherwise you will be pulling of the road in a hurry, hearing all sorts of weird ans scary noises and thinking your 7.5" is about to grenade on you:dunce:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Shadow on February 28, 2012, 01:33:34 AM
that's funny.. i had the same tach in my cougar LOL
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: cougarman on February 28, 2012, 08:45:47 AM
If you had a electronic cluster before, the gas level sender in the tank is different also.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on February 28, 2012, 05:35:45 PM
no I only had a base cluster I'm good:)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 03, 2012, 08:23:41 PM
Ok so I got a new sender for my temp and oil, threw the temp sender on and now it works, but its showing a lot higher than I like.... My old cluster/sender was showing me just to the start of the norm mark, just past C. This one is showing about 3/4 the way up once fully warmed up... is the new one just more sensitive, or was my old one bad? Idk.. btw the new sender has a red ring at the top, not a white one like my orignal, or a black one like some of the replacements I've seen.
I also got some TC swaybars today, got the front all painted up. Had to order the main bushings for the front since no one carries 1 5/16 bushings in poly....:(
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on March 03, 2012, 09:11:08 PM
My temp sensor did that. I took it back and exchanged it. The second one was good. I got one for a '90 Mustang GT.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on March 03, 2012, 09:13:32 PM
I never trusted them... I have real gauges in my car for that stuff along with the stock sensors
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on March 03, 2012, 09:24:54 PM
I'm about to as well. Going to install new gauges for water, temp and amps. Gotta figure out where I want them. Not sure yet. It'll take me two months to figure that out.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on March 03, 2012, 09:37:01 PM
Mine fit Perfect in the upper cubby
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 03, 2012, 10:44:26 PM
Quote from: daminc;382902
I never trusted them... I have real gauges in my car for that stuff along with the stock sensors
$450 from now I will be doing the same thing
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on March 03, 2012, 10:49:36 PM
wow, are they that much now?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on March 03, 2012, 11:37:29 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;382896
Ok so I got a new sender for my temp and oil, threw the temp sender on and now it works, but its showing a lot higher than I like.... My old cluster/sender was showing me just to the start of the norm mark, just past C. This one is showing about 3/4 the way up once fully warmed up... is the new one just more sensitive, or was my old one bad? Idk.. btw the new sender has a red ring at the top, not a white one like my orignal, or a black one like some of the replacements I've seen.
I also got some TC swaybars today, got the front all painted up. Had to order the main bushings for the front since no one carries 1 5/16 bushings in poly....:(
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't the stock OP gauge kind of a "dummy" gauge? I *think* it just senses for pressure, and as long as it senses some kind of pressure the needle on the gauge will move to around the same spot everytime. I know it's like that on the mn-12's, not sure about the Fox's. The new sensor may read different from the old and another new sensor would read different than both.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Shadow on March 04, 2012, 01:30:45 AM
Quote from: 20thanniver-ls;382914
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't the stock OP gauge kind of a "dummy" gauge? I *think* it just senses for pressure, and as long as it senses some kind of pressure the needle on the gauge will move to around the same spot everytime. I know it's like that on the mn-12's, not sure about the Fox's. The new sensor may read different from the old and another new sensor would read different than both.
don't believe so.. the original motor in my rusty, twisted pos cougar lost oil pressure and it showed the decrease on the stock gauge that pretty much matched the sunpro gauge on the pillar
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 04, 2012, 04:39:51 PM
Quote from: Shadow;382920
don't believe so.. the original motor in my rusty, twisted pos cougar lost oil pressure and it showed the decrease on the stock gauge that pretty much matched the sunpro gauge on the pillar
Yeah I agree cause mine does fluctuate when the motor gets hotter. What i'm wondering is if I have the correct sender, or if I need to install that giant golliath behemoth of a sender that I ordered...
The strange thing is that the little one works, I'm just not sure if works correctly. I think it might be inverted. I hope i don't have to install the giant one, I don't think I have room for it. I will have to tilt it in order to not hit my PS bracket coming off the head.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 04, 2012, 04:41:01 PM
Quote from: daminc;382913
wow, are they that much now?
They are for Auto Meter's.....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on March 04, 2012, 06:34:05 PM
For Oil: The big one is an actual "variable" sender, and the little one just senses a certain amount and calls it good. For example, I have a large sender for my Stewart Warner gauge and it senses from 0-125 P.S.I. I have a small one for my fuel pump switch, and once it hits 7 P.S.I It's good.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 04, 2012, 07:15:00 PM
Well taking that into consideration, then here's a question.. Why does my gauge fluctuate when using the small sender??
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on March 04, 2012, 08:10:26 PM
Something to do with small variances in electrical conductivity? if S/W and Autometer could use small senders, don't you think they would?
Also, I would like to clarify "Fuel pump switch". When the oil pressure hits 7 PSI, it turns the fuel pump on, and it continues to run until the engine drops below 7PSI, at which point it turns off.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 04, 2012, 08:11:10 PM
Hey I was just wondering
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on March 04, 2012, 08:17:56 PM
That's ok. :)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 10, 2012, 09:52:39 PM
Well I think I done did a diddle that can't be undiddled.
I'll have some daytime pics tomorrow and hopefully a vid of the new exhaust that I didn't tell anyone I was doing either.:D
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on March 10, 2012, 10:28:51 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;382973
They are for Auto Meter's.....
wow. the set in my car were like $75 back in the day
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on March 10, 2012, 10:30:28 PM
Looks nice You should paint the inside trim to match the red interior... it would blend right in
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on March 10, 2012, 10:31:27 PM
Good job !!! I have actually thought of doing that with the Sport. Maybe one day.maybe not. I'm on the fence with that. We had one installed in Gayle's Neon ( years ago), and she loved it, and it never ever gave us an issue at all. It would be cool to have that open air hole on great days. Where did you get yours? How much (you can share that info !!!).
And the exhaust, did you install it or have it done? Turn downs or tips installed. Pics son, but details now.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on March 10, 2012, 10:32:44 PM
I should put one in the vert
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Shadow on March 10, 2012, 10:35:07 PM
Quote from: daminc;383552
I should put one in the vert
:giggle:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on March 10, 2012, 10:36:12 PM
Put one in the hood over the intake.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 10, 2012, 10:37:25 PM
Quote from: daminc;383552
I should put one in the vert
good luck with that. I know if any one can do it it's you :rollin:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on March 10, 2012, 10:39:48 PM
If I install one, I think I'll remove the dome light for a slightly larger sunroof, and install a new mirror with lights on the bottom. Hmmmmm.......................I have some thinking to do.
I'm sure I'll chicken out though............but maybe not.................but probably.....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on March 10, 2012, 10:40:28 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;383557
good luck with that. I know if any one can do it it's you :rollin:
If you have time to type this, you have time to answer some questions and pass along some details.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 10, 2012, 10:41:45 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;383550
Good job !!! I have actually thought of doing that with the Sport. Maybe one day.maybe not. I'm on the fence with that. We had one installed in Gayle's Neon ( years ago), and she loved it, and it never ever gave us an issue at all. It would be cool to have that open air hole on great days. Where did you get yours? How much (you can share that info !!!).
And the exhaust, did you install it or have it done? Turn downs or tips installed. Pics son, but details now.
I got mine from 1bad88tbird. He pulled it out of another car and sold it to me. The model though was actually an Inalfa F700. It BAARRRRRREEEEELLLLLLYYYYYY fit in there. I had to measure for like 20 minutes to get it and it still wasn't possible without taking the dome light out and letting it overlap a bit. In fact, if I didn't already know that Jay had taken it out of another car, I don't think I would have attempted it.
As for the exhaust I really didn't do antying except make good use of my new reciprocal saw and dump it at the ler. It sounds sooooooo much better, and I could swear I've got just a liiiiiiiiiiiiitle bit more power :giggle: (although I actually could have... you should have seen the bends in that tailpipe:yuck::beatyoass:)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on March 10, 2012, 10:49:54 PM
Gayle got her roof through, of all places, JC Whitney. She is NOT a car girl, but she looked for one, found it, and bought it all by herself. I was proud. I know, that if I do get one, I'm waiting til subframe connectors installed. I'll feel safer that way. Overkill? Probably.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Shadow on March 10, 2012, 10:52:33 PM
reciprocal saw? 'round here, we calls dem sawzalls or god in electric power tool form :hick:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 10, 2012, 11:08:04 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;383559
If I install one, I think I'll remove the dome light for a slightly larger sunroof, and install a new mirror with lights on the bottom. Hmmmmm.......................I have some thinking to do.
I'm sure I'll chicken out though............but maybe not.................but probably.....
Yeah the problem is you can't remove to dome light. Well you can remove the dome light but you can't install a larger sunroof. There is a lateral brace that runs the width of the roof right above the dome light. In fact that's what it screws too. That is the reason I couldn't move mine back. I would HIGHLY reccommend not getting one any wider than 16" which is what mine was and as I stated, it BARELY fit. And if you do get one that wide, make sure it's curved along the length. If not, you will hit your sunvisors (and by that I mean the recessed areas in the headliner where the sunvisors rest that you cannot remold to make fit in your roof trim) in the process if you go the full 16". If it's a rectangle you will have to probably go down to < 14". As for the length, unless you get one that is seriously curved I wouldn't get one any longer than 32" either. Mine is 31" and it where the ends are the roof takes a huge dive towards the doors. Any more length and I don't think it would have seated properly. It barely did as it was, and it did have a vertical curve (pitch/peak) to it.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 10, 2012, 11:11:32 PM
Quote from: Shadow;383564
reciprocal saw? 'round here, we calls dem sawzalls or god in electric power tool form :hick:
Yeah but you know a sawzall is technically a Milwaukee Tool product. Just like a skilsaw is made by Skilsaw Tool Co. And I am very brand loyal to Hitachi. So much so in fact, that I refuse to call my tools by their common names lol. And they're only the God of Tools when BATTERY POWERED hahahah they are good for EVERYTHING... the WD-40 of power tools :giggle:
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on March 10, 2012, 11:24:55 PM
I have a tiger-saw
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Shadow on March 10, 2012, 11:26:07 PM
WD-40 sucks! pb blast all the way.. and above, you have your words for your measurements crossed.. width would be from door to door, length would be from the front of the car to the back lol
Quote from: daminc;383573
I have a tiger-saw
i believe that's what mine is lol
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on March 10, 2012, 11:34:51 PM
Good job Steve! it looks great! When I had the one put in my Fusion he moved the dome light to the fron of it in between the sunvisors. I can't rember for sure but I think the Sport your's came out of had the dome light where your's is. I'm glad it turned out for you. I would never do it myself. I'm too afraid to screw something up. Once you cut it there's no going back.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 11, 2012, 01:03:57 PM
Quote from: Shadow;383574
you have your words for your measurements crossed.. width would be from door to door, length would be from the front of the car to the back lol
No I was referring to the object itself, in which the terms are correct, length being the longest dimension, and width being the smallest dimension. Geometry was my favorite class in high school.;)
Quote from: 1Bad88tbird;383577
I would never do it myself. I'm too afraid to screw something up. Once you cut it there's no going back.
That's exactly what I was thinking. lol When I drilled that hole in the roof I knew it was too late to. I was terrified lol I spent like 30 minutes measuring.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 11, 2012, 01:08:14 PM
Ok well its been all rainy and py today so the term SUNroof doesn't really apply but I was able to get some pics of the daytime view.
And here is the exhaust.... I'm going to say this once, and you're going to have to take my word for it: THE CAMERA DOES NOT ACCURATELY CAPTURE THE SOUND. The mic was overdriven from the sound so it sounds all shiznitty on the camera because it's so deep. The sound when I'm showing the rpm's is the closest to how it really sounds but still not right. I will do a takeoff/pass video soon, that will get it much better.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Kitz Kat on March 11, 2012, 01:46:16 PM
Sounds like it got a whole in the ler. Put a 8 in there if you want 8 sound. I'm messin with ya, It's cool.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: cougarman on March 11, 2012, 02:11:16 PM
Sounds good, is there a reason you didn't go duals?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 11, 2012, 03:18:53 PM
Quote from: cougarman;383622
Sounds good, is there a reason you didn't go duals?
duals sound like doo doo on a 6
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Shadow on March 11, 2012, 04:17:17 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;383629
duals sound like doo doo on a 6
NO COMMENT! lmao
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on March 12, 2012, 03:17:47 PM
I can say that I've heard this car in person and it sounds AWESOME. Love the sunroof btw! Looks like I need to take a trip up there this week. (I'm on spring break...)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on March 12, 2012, 10:17:31 PM
Quote from: RunninWild;383766
I can say that I've heard this car in person and it sounds AWESOME. Love the sunroof btw! Looks like I need to take a trip up there this week. (I'm on spring break...)
Well its sounds much better now. Yes, you DO need to come up here this week! Text me
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: RunninWild on March 13, 2012, 08:04:50 AM
I'll see if I can get away from the wifey.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on April 05, 2012, 07:20:26 PM
ok so I got a few small things accomplished. Managed to get my underdash lights fixed, turns out that's just a wire that came loose. Got a turn signal switch swapped in so my head lights will stop flashing randomly but now I'm having more problems so I'm currently awaiting a replacement then its try again. And I also finally got in there and got that oil sensor swapped out but what's funny is its pretty much reading the same on the guage. about center at startup/idle, then goes down to about 1/4. Does that seem right?
I got my TC swaybars all installed and pretty a while back too. Now here's what I've learned:
Less body roll = equals better turning = more sliding = holy shiznit stop over correcting before you hit a tree. or a car. or a mailbox. or just look like a freakin dumbass.
And now, I hope you guys are ready to shiznit your pants.
I, Steve, aka sarjxxx, aka the guy who puts far too many badges/logos no his car, am actually removing badges. Yes, I've decided that since my cougar head fell off the DS rear pillar, I like it better without it. And I've got more than enough cougar identification already, so I will be pulling the PS one off, filling the holes, and painting it up nice and pretty.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on April 07, 2012, 10:26:39 PM
Wow no responses to that. I was expecting a torrent lol
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on April 07, 2012, 11:35:48 PM
Lol, sorry buddy. Pics or it didn't happen!!! (Been busy, sorry)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: daminc on April 07, 2012, 11:43:06 PM
baby steps....one badge at a time. Thats the only way to cure the sickness.. lol
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Beau on April 07, 2012, 11:54:17 PM
pics! lol
I plan to have a self-adhesive V8 sticker (from an Explorer, so it's "factory stuff") and leave the Ford emblem on the back, but that's it.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on April 08, 2012, 12:07:52 AM
Well, I was going to comment, but was afraid that with all these emblems coming off, that more lights and random Autozone chrome stuff from the rice isle would go on. Don't forget, there's a fender that needs to be repaired. Tend to that, THEN add more lights and rice.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Bruce M on April 08, 2012, 08:07:08 AM
Quote from: vinnietbird;386280
Well, I was going to comment, but was afraid that with all these emblems coming off, that more lights and random Autozone chrome stuff from the rice isle would go on. Don't forget, there's a fender that needs to be repaired. Tend to that, THEN add more lights and rice.
:laughing::makefun: There is so many people here that put that on their cars, but they go way over board.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on April 08, 2012, 03:22:23 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;386280
Well, I was going to comment, but was afraid that with all these emblems coming off, that more lights and random Autozone chrome stuff from the rice isle would go on. Don't forget, there's a fender that needs to be repaired. Tend to that, THEN add more lights and rice.
omg don't worry vinnie nothing else is going on lmao and I have never put anything chrome from the rice aisle on my car ;) As for the fender I'm not messing with that until the body work/paint phase which is still at least a year away.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on April 09, 2012, 12:07:14 AM
well here's some fresh wash and wax pics plus I thought you guys might want a look at how it looks with the sunroof actually closed for once
and here's a repost of the burnout vid I put up in the other thread. Just thought you guys would like to see that a pretty much stock 3.8L could actually do it lol.
and here's a repost of the burnout vid I put up in the other thread. Just thought you guys would like to see that a pretty much stock 3.8L could actually do it lol.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on June 04, 2012, 10:49:11 PM
Looking good !!!!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on June 04, 2012, 11:08:11 PM
That's just cause you can't see it up close :rollin:
On a somewhat related note, I think I am going to take off my red pinstripes. There all broken and chipped and anyway. They look like up close, so I think I will ditch them. Get a more clean look.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on June 04, 2012, 11:33:05 PM
I have had some thoughts about painting the Sport black when I'm ready for the re-paint. My pinstripes, if I go with a nice black (probably Honda black), will be a nice gray to match my wheel centers.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on June 04, 2012, 11:43:37 PM
No doubt black looks nice but you will lose that one-of-a-kind ultra distinct Vinnietbird green stands-out-from-all-crowds effect ;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on June 04, 2012, 11:46:35 PM
Yeah, I do agree. Jerry and I spoke of this as well, and even at that time, the green was still the top choice. Once I get the hood and trunk on, the body work will go fast. Time to start gathering funds.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on June 04, 2012, 11:49:33 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;391559
Time to start gathering funds.
I'll get you some soon :) btw was the price you quoted for me shipped or is that more
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on June 05, 2012, 12:07:54 AM
Shipped. I have a bunch of model cars and other things I've got to get on Ebay. I actually have a BIG box full to the top of vintage (meaning EARLY 70's and older) Avon cologne decanters all shaped like cars, never used, and still in the boxes. Those have to go. One dollar at a time. Time to call some salvage yards and start hunting parts as well. Gotta get my game face on !!!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on June 13, 2012, 07:56:18 PM
0-60 in 8 seconds and all the way into 3rd gear. I guess the new spark plugs helped. Oh and while changing spark plugs I discovered that I have contracted the strut tower cancer on my right side. Great.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Bruce M on June 13, 2012, 08:19:42 PM
I think your speedo is off. LOL just kidding.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on June 14, 2012, 03:55:39 PM
its a little bit off. about 5 mph at that speed. I timed 8 sec at 65. If I could get a 3.55 in there I would quit chirping at takeoff and plus some functional front struts would help too. Now if I could just get that 1/4 time.....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 05, 2014, 03:08:41 PM
So..... I've been absent a while!
Still around, still have the car. Just haven't had regular access to the forums. Progress is slowly moving forward on the Cougar. Taking one step forward, and one step to the left... or something like that, you know how it is.
Anyway, managed to get ahold of a TC hood thanks to fellow member Keith, and got the turbine style wheels on also. Hood still needs a lot of body work but it's on and looks cool lol. I'll get some pics up at some point :)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 05, 2014, 03:26:23 PM
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 05, 2014, 03:30:09 PM
so here are the only decent pics I currently have, one from the Silver Springs annual Ford show, before the TC hood, and then another right after I got it on....
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: jrad235 on May 05, 2014, 07:46:44 PM
Nice man! I think a few of us took a bit of a break from the forums, so no big deal. Glad to see you are still around.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 05, 2014, 07:50:57 PM
Yep, ditched internet service at home, so we've been managing through 4G service lol. Kinda hard to navigate forums regularly with a smartphone lol. But, now I got myself a new job and I spend a fair portion of the day doing nothing and have complete internet access so, hello again guys!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Haystack on May 05, 2014, 08:35:42 PM
I only use a smart phone. the stupid updates to photobucket have made pictures almost impossible though.
glad to see ya around still man.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on May 05, 2014, 08:52:15 PM
Welcome Back !!! I was just wondering about you the other day. Hope all is well. I've been putting the Sport through many changes too. Good to hear you're back.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on May 06, 2014, 12:27:03 AM
Hey Steve! Cars looking good!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 06, 2014, 10:12:47 AM
Hey thanks guys, it's nice to see all of you are still around as well :)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on May 06, 2014, 05:21:50 PM
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thewestie on May 06, 2014, 07:45:14 PM
Glad to see the cat again
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 25, 2016, 11:01:53 PM
I'm back again! So I've been procrastinating a lot over the last year and a half or so. Spent about a year working 70+ hours/week; Just didn't leave me much want for fixing the poor ol' cat up. Plus everytime I get ready to start on it something else comes up...blah blah blah you guys know how it goes... Anyway, I just had to spend a bunch of money to get the poor thing towed out of my driveway and thankfully I towed it to my parent's house for storage instead of the junkyard so I'm getting ready and geared up to get back in action.
I just ordered a new ECU since mine decided to fry out and I've got a nice new (actually very old but you know what I mean) clutch pedal setup sitting by my front door. Yep that's right, I'm doing the 3.8 T5 conversion for realsies this time. Spent too much time driving 5/6 speed trucks that now that I'm back in an auto I miss it big time so yeah the coug's gonna get it. Plus it will open me up for all the engine work I want to do that will be hampered by trying to make it all work with an old school AOD.
Got my eyes on a mustang trans I need to pick up soon and a couple other things so hopefully this beast will be back on the road by summer time if all goes according to plan (we all know it won't but a man can dream;)) and I'll have some more updates coming soon. Wooooo!
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Haystack on January 25, 2016, 11:51:40 PM
Let me know if ya need any help with the t-5 stuff.
I loved my sn-95 t-5 and it practically bolted into place. I will be replacing the tail shaft and 5th gear with a 85-98 tail housing and get rid of the oss and get a vss in there for a functional speedo, eventually.
Welcome back. I haven't forgotten about those 87-88 manual doors either... I'd still trade ya straight up for power junk anyday.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 25, 2016, 11:56:47 PM
I may need some help once I get there. I've done a good bit of research on it and I think I'm ready for it but we'll see. At least the car isn't my daily anymore so I have some time to get everything I need and time to do it right. I'm really excited to start slamming some gears.
As for the doors, yeah I'm still down. On a related note, my new truck is manual everything and it's much worse because even with my height, (I'm 6'3" not too far from yourself iirc) I still have to literally get out of my seat to roll down the pass window or mash the door lock lol.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Haystack on January 26, 2016, 12:48:29 AM
Yup, I am about 6'5. My current 86 has manual everything, deleted all the power stuff myself.
The 3.8 trans swap should be really easy. Stang flywheel clutch pressure plate ($175 for the clutch and pressure plate, ouch!) Fox pedals and clutch cable and a mini starter, or grinding down your old starter so it fits and you are pretty much there.
Worst part was the pedals. The bolt that held me up forever was the one above the steering column you have to get to when you do a heater core. Bet I could do the swap in 4-5 hours and have it driving now.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on January 26, 2016, 11:00:06 AM
I pulled my steering comlumn. Made the pedal swap really easy. I also pulled the driver seat. I have a pedal assembly in the garage I'm about to sell asap for funds. I've been uber broke.I don't have a V-6, I have the 5.0, BUT, still love a 5 speed.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 26, 2016, 04:09:33 PM
Yeah I pulled the steering column before back when I had to remove the shifter shaft (say that 5 times fast) for the old column shift setup. Probably going to do that this time around as well. Too bad I didn't know about the pedals vinnie... I like to keep the funds in the community but I did by it from some guy called Cougarman...
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: vinnietbird on January 27, 2016, 08:39:08 AM
Grab parts wherever you can. I'll be selling some more soon here on the forum to pay for some other parts I bought some time ago. I hate being broke all the time.
Back on topic....Just get busy on the car, make it what you want it to be. I had to do a ton of work on mine. New trans, rebuilt engine, new exhaust, etc....yes, it was all done with great parts and it's all very much upgraded, but, it's because all my other stuff was turning to . The car is finally where I want it to be. I'm pretty content. Right now I'm dialling in everything for dyno day in a week and a half.
I hope this year gets you a lot closer to your goal on the Cougar. One step at a time.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thunderjet302 on January 27, 2016, 03:51:42 PM
Needs more V8 ;)
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: JeremyB on January 28, 2016, 11:27:38 AM
3.7 Cyclone would be cool. Or a 3.5 Ecoboost. 3.8 Esshag V6 not so much :p
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: Haystack on January 28, 2016, 01:24:10 PM
The 3.8 can be needed up pretty easily, its just way more expensive. Even a sc swap would get you easily into the 13's. There is a ton of potential in a 3.8. Just not cheap.
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: sarjxxx on January 28, 2016, 03:27:56 PM
Quote from: thunderjet302;453554
3.7 Cyclone would be cool. Or a 3.5 Ecoboost. 3.8 Esshag V6 not so much :p
3.7 indeed. I have that motor in my F150 and it has blown me away at the power that a v6 can really make, which to put in perspective, at 302 HP is MORE than the previous gen 4.6 V8 made, and I get better gas mileage too!
Quote from: Haystack;453555
The 3.8 can be needed up pretty easily, its just way more expensive. Even a sc swap would get you easily into the 13's. There is a ton of potential in a 3.8. Just not cheap.
Absolutely. Not cheap for sure but then again is engine building EVER cheap?;) But there is a lot of hidden potential in that motor, it just requires boost to unlock it. It is a torque monster once you throw a decent turbo setup on it... I've seen an SC that put over 900hp/950ft-lbs to the wheels with the right turbo setup. Me? I'll be happy if I can get it around 350hp. That's more than enough for me. I'm not building a strip king here, just something to be FUN on the street is all I need:D
Plus it's mostly unique. I mean if I wanted to do an HO build I might as well build a Mustang right!? :shakeass:
--------------------
In other news my "new" ECU came in yesterday so hopefully I'll be able to go this weekend and see if I can fire it up still... Probably not though due to the state of the battery; Does anyone know how long a battery can sit with a discharge before it becomes permanently useless?
Title: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS
Post by: thunderjet302 on January 29, 2016, 12:07:41 PM
Quote from: sarjxxx;453558
3.7 indeed. I have that motor in my F150 and it has blown me away at the power that a v6 can really make, which to put in perspective, at 302 HP is MORE than the previous gen 4.6 V8 made, and I get better gas mileage too!
My wife's 2012 Mustang has the 3.7 Cyclone V6 and 3.31 rear axle (we ordered it that way). It scoots pretty good. It's only a couple of ticks behind the Thunderbird through the 1/4 mile....
A 3.7 Cyclone or 3.5 Ecoboost out of a wrecked F-150 would be crazy fun in a Fox Thunderbird/Cougar. Almost as fun as a 5.0 Coyote swap :shakeass: