Hello everyone, I was just given an 1987 Cougar XR-7 as a gift from my uncle and was trying to find as much information I can on this car. Ive only seen it once which was today but was told all it should need is a battery recharge to get it started. I also need to buy new tires seeing as its winter and 3 of them were dead flat. It comes with the 5.0 V8 and I wanted to know where I could find as much information on this engine as possible. I would really like to be able to work on this car seeing as I believe it has potential?? I do not know if its an anniversary edition but it has digital gauges if that says anything. Im coming from a 95 grand am to a V8 RWD so Im kind of happy, but what weirds me out is that it has 4 more cylinders than my old car but it makes the same hp. Whats with that???
Its older then you grand-am and its sport sedan not a mustang. It will handle nice being that it has bigger sway bars then the LS model. Give her some credit, it makes 250 ft-lbs. Thats alot more then your grand-am.
Oh trust me no disrespect to the engine, I just thought that was odd for a V8 even for this year. What are some good performance mods for this engine?
Rearend gears 3.45s or 3.73s, remove the airsilencer in the fender well, electric fan, and mustang headers and H-pipe.
Would it be a good idea to swap to a HO 5.0??
That would be a great idea.You won't be dissapointed.And if it's an Anniversary Edition, it will have 20th gold plated badging, and leather/suede seats. What color is it?
What are some necessary things that need to be done when looking for and doing the swap? Any good websites on this??
This is the best site
EVER LOL. Do a search for HO swap, it's been done over and over, everything you need to know is here.
This is a good web site. Many of guys here have done HO swap. Just search and read.
indeed.. an HO swap is the best first step to take.. it gives you a great base motor to work with.. i'm not knocking the SO (non-HO), they're still decent motors, but the HO's just have a lot more potential on a stock bottom end. but my number 1 suggestion is get an HO and take a little time to change a few things like the cam, heads,
VALVE SPRINGS, etc
anyway.. welcome to the site!
I guess its most likely regular 87 then. Its all white with blue suede seats. No gold badges though.
Do a search under the search function, there is an unlimited amount of information listed on the swap.
Go with a explorer/mountainer 5.0 swap since you'll be buying headers anyway.. Better heads and intake than HO motor. Put a good cam in it and use the accessories, brackets, timing cover from the old motor and be happier than HO swap for about the same $$
Trust me Ive been reading pages and pages on the forum about different things. Im not a noob when it comes to using forums but I do appreciate when I can come across answers a little easier. What years are good to choose from and what is the average price for doing the swap.
average price on the swap depends on your local junkyard.. it's a real shame you're not closer, i have an HO out of an 89 stang GT just sitting there, ready to go minus the EFI junk.. there's also a yard by me with a couple of 5.0 mountaineers/explorers and a complete motor would only cost you 175 without the accessories.. i've seen some yards charge as much as 900 for a running motor, so it all depends on your source
Welcome....I would start your reading here, http://www.coolcats.net/ (http://"http://www.coolcats.net/")
and then find all the info to swap, and mod over here
For a basic H.O upgrade,it can be done pretty cheap.
-H.O cam
-factory '86-'93 Mustang headers and H-pipe (Or aftermarket)
-Speed density H.O computer
-'87-'93 H.O upper intake/throttle body and EGR spacer
-19# injectors
-gaskets
-water pump
-double roller timing chain
-E-7 heads
-finish off the exhaust behind the h-pipe.
I'd bet it can all be done for $300 or so if you can get most of the parts locally.Maybe a little more if you have to buy online. .
It all depends on your skills and budget as to which way would be best for to to go (Explorer/Mountaineer engine, or the H.O upgrade). The H.O upgrade can be easily done over a weekend. What can you do mechanically? Are you on a fairly tight budget? Shop around,and it will amaze you how cheap factory Stang parts are.
I wil say my mechancial skills are pretty good if iknow what I gotta do or ill just take tuff apart till there's nothing else lol...I did all the work on my grand am..never took it to a shop and was always working in a compact engine bay. I haven't started her up yet but if its low miles I might just do the conversion instead of engine swapping
I'd get it running and do a few bolt ons, work your way up to a HO sawp. That's kind of what I'm doing. I have GT40 heads, roller rockers, HO cam, 19lbs injectors and what is listed in my seg. I'm waiting tell I can afford to rebuild the engine and find a HO computer.
Prob. the best thing to do, before you sink money into performance mods, is to replace all the wear and tear stuff. And before you really get to driving it, check the TV cable bushing, if it's missing that AOD will go to very quickly.
1 important thing vinny didn't mention about changing the cam.. if you decide you want a performance cam, you have to watch what you're doing.. HO pistons have valve reliefs.. non-HO's don't, which throws off PTV(piston to valve) clearance.. i don't know what the max cam size is for an SO, so i can't throw a number out there.. i've never had an SO that made it any further than the s yard
Honestly, the pistons really are not that big of an issue. The stock SO pistons are dished, even if only very slight. I don't think it would be much of an issue, not enough for me to swap the engine out anyways. You could always put in your own valve reliefs, by notching the pistons.
yeah but who wants to do all that? lol it weakens the surface of the piston.. HO pistons have a thicker deck than the SO's to better suite the reliefs.. it doesn't make a huge difference on cam size, but you still have to watch
lol you definately came to the right website this IS the site when it comes to these cars, you should go with better rear end, H.O. swap and i PROMISE there wont be much a grand am could do against it.....except maybe park easier.