Title: Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)
Post by: MY83T on April 12, 2014, 09:04:58 PM
Post by: MY83T on April 12, 2014, 09:04:58 PM
So i had a very busy and productive day today, fixed a few annoying issues and some broken interior parts. I changed out my passenger A pillar trim, and removed 3 screws. One towards the lower dash by the door, and 2 screws above the door frame. I went to replace with a un-broken one that was just sent to me, but this one, although the exact color, had 4 holes not 3. I checked the part number, and sure enough they are the same except for the first digit for the year. I drilled out a hole for the 4 th screw, just thought its a very odd change for one year only of car production in 1988. T-bird owners, you have the same anomaly?
Title: Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)
Post by: thunderjet302 on April 13, 2014, 06:48:16 PM
Post by: thunderjet302 on April 13, 2014, 06:48:16 PM
Got a picture? I'm pretty sure my Thunderbird only has three screws in the A-pillar trim. It's a very early build '88 (September 87).
Title: Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)
Post by: Haystack on April 13, 2014, 10:43:45 PM
Post by: Haystack on April 13, 2014, 10:43:45 PM
X2. I looked at my 86 cougar and 87 bird and didn't see what you were talking.about.
Title: Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)
Post by: MY83T on April 13, 2014, 10:51:45 PM
Post by: MY83T on April 13, 2014, 10:51:45 PM
I will snap a few side by side pics for you guys to compare.
Title: Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)
Post by: thunderjet302 on April 14, 2014, 12:17:17 PM
Post by: thunderjet302 on April 14, 2014, 12:17:17 PM
I looked at my Thunderbird and the A-pillar trim has 5 screws: three above the door, one near the windshield, and one where the A-pillar trim meets the kick panel trim. So apparently this was a running change. I'm guessing the 4 screw one you have is the same as the one in my car.
Title: Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)
Post by: MY83T on April 16, 2014, 01:28:33 PM
Post by: MY83T on April 16, 2014, 01:28:33 PM
So i was wrong in that its a 4 vs 5 screw issue. Both pillars i am posting here came out of 87 Cars with blue interiors. Mine (4 holes) XR-7 and the Other is from a clean LS (5 holes) My pillar trim have a little leather style sheath around the bottom where it makes contact with the side of the dash, the 5 hole versions don't have this peel off material but have a round rubber bumper in place. Both version have a hole for the rubber bumper.
Title: Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)
Post by: thunderjet302 on April 16, 2014, 03:46:15 PM
Post by: thunderjet302 on April 16, 2014, 03:46:15 PM
Hmm. Must have been a running change. Perhaps the earlier one is pr0ne to cracking or warping?
Title: Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)
Post by: EricCoolCats on April 16, 2014, 04:50:10 PM
Post by: EricCoolCats on April 16, 2014, 04:50:10 PM
That's what I'm thinking also. As there was a propensity for the panel bubbling out at that area, that's probably why the extra screw was added.
Are the part numbers embedded on the backside the same?
Are the part numbers embedded on the backside the same?