I found a nasty surprise underneath, and there was a little rust too.
If anyone was wondering if you should peel one of these carriage roofs off. All I can say is I'm glad I did it before I threw a bunch of money in this thing because this car is done. The c-pillar is buckled on the passenger side and the roof is bent down about a 1/2". I took the sail panel off the inside, and the unibody structure inside is definitely bent so it would take more than just welding on a new quarter panel to fix it.
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/12-28-11/PC141104.jpg)
This roof was held on with a bunch of rivets and black glue that I sed off with a gasket ser and tediously stripped the rest with carburetor cleaner and a scotch-brite pad. After that I filled the holes with spot putty and sprayed it Oxford white.
I didn't even try to make the bodywork look nice; I just wanted to keep the water out and make it all white.
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/12-28-11/PC280981.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/12-28-11/PC280982.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/12-28-11/PC280992.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/12-28-11/PC280991.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/12-28-11/PC280984.jpg)
It's really soft right here; I just threw some filler on to fill it up.
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/12-28-11/PC280985.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/12-28-11/PC280986.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/12-28-11/PC280987.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/12-28-11/PC280988.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/12-28-11/PC280989.jpg)
The crease where the roof is bent.
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/12-28-11/PC280990.jpg)
The plan for this car now is to just drive it and use it as a parts car for the next Cougar I eventually buy.
Looks good from about 10 feet away. White cars dont show imperfections as much. I painted my girlfriends black maxima white because the body was rough. Now you cant even see any of the dents.
Well it does look better overall...a good 20 footer.
But that passenger side rear quarter just defies logic. It's shoved over at least an inch more than factory specs. New one on me, that's for sure...
that's why i can't stand those stupid carriage roofs, besides the fact that they look uglier than hell in my opinion.. you never know what lurks underneath until you peel it off
I guess that really feeds into my friend's dad's and uncle's (both bodymen for the last 30 years+) matching opinion on vinyl tops "only reason they left the factory like that was to cover up a screwed up roof!"
Replaced the timing chain and gears a few weeks ago at 114,xxx miles. Also needed a MAP sensor.
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/04-09-12/0407122139.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/04-09-12/0407121506a.jpg)
New Cloyes timing set FTW.
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/04-09-12/0407121723.jpg)
Plastic timing gear FTL.
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/04-09-12/0407121723a.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/04-09-12/0407122139.jpg)
Well, the new fuel pump I installed last December decided to die after 4 months. At least it's still under warranty.
There's some advantages to having a car that's destined to be a parts car.
Redneck fuel pump access cover! :mullet:
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/05-03-12/P5031984.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/05-03-12/P5031985.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/05-03-12/P5031986.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/05-03-12/P5031987.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/05-03-12/P5031988.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/05-03-12/P5031990.jpg)
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/1986%20Cougar/05-03-12/P5031991.jpg)
When I changed the original fuel pump in December it took 7 hours doing it the correct way fighting with rusted bolts and balancing the tank on a jack, whereas this took 1 hour haha. I have to say I'm starting to lean more toward making the access cover on cars I care about. Maybe make a more professional access cover with a proper hinge, a rubber gasket, and screw everything down securely?
I got lucky when I pulled the top off mine, no rust, just sloppily applied factory bondo to cover up the welds.
It really looks like there should be an access cover there from the factory. Of course, dropping the fuel tank is ridiculously easy on these cars. (Especially when you don't have any tail pipes like me)