WTF is wrong with me?...
Im 98% done with my 83 Tbird and Im already jumping into the next project. My GF of almost 4 yrs has been saying she is ready to get a new car and we spent a couple weekends out looking at rides for her but I guess Im just to picky because everything she found I shot down as overpriced,total garbage or I just didn't like. Just joking with her I told her she should just let me build her a new car and to my surprise she was open to the idea!
Well lucky for me I didn't have to look hard or far to find the perfect car. Last year a buddy brought me his beautiful car to strip and convert into a nasty sleeper. Plans changed after I stripped the car of all its drivetrain,suspension,wiring and he decided to go a different direction. This left me with a beautiful empty shell of a car sitting in my backyard while he decided what to do with it. Well we talked and struck a deal and now this will become my GF new daily ride. Its a 85 XR7 that is MINT. The interior looks like the day it was build. No rust anywhere,power everything and straight as an arrow. This is a pic from before he brought it to my place.
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/deathbypsi/cougar/FullSizeRender_zpss2pkdnxy.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/deathbypsi/media/cougar/FullSizeRender_zpss2pkdnxy.jpg.html)
So this is where the project name comes from. My 47 yr old cougar driving a 32 yr old Cougar...see what I did there? lol
Here is the car as it sits today.
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/deathbypsi/cougar/IMG_3532_zpsuw7tplbk.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/deathbypsi/media/cougar/IMG_3532_zpsuw7tplbk.jpg.html)
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/deathbypsi/cougar/IMG_3533_zpsyuptr9k6.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/deathbypsi/media/cougar/IMG_3533_zpsyuptr9k6.jpg.html)
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv173/deathbypsi/cougar/IMG_3534_zps3txkbwou.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/deathbypsi/media/cougar/IMG_3534_zps3txkbwou.jpg.html)
So its a real XR7 2.3t auto car but now all of that is gone now so I put the call out to all my buddies that I was in need a complete drivetrain and harness. Not what I planned but the best offer I got turned out to be the best I think. I bought a 90 LSC 5.0,aod,harness and ecm with 80k on them for $275. So it wont be going back to a turbo car but I think this is my best bet to keep her happy so I don't have to deal with all the teething pains of driving a 2.3t car daily.....and trust me nobody knows more about that than myself!
So stay tuned for a sweet resurrection of a cool little ride!
Nice!
Sweet!!!! Looks like my '86 before I got it painted.
Sweet!
V8 for the win !
Nice!!
But, the LSC harness is intertwined with the ABS and air suspension system, you'd be wayyyy ahead sourcing a '86 Bird/Coug EFI harness...
Nice.
Going to need a shorter driveshaft as the Mark VII AOD is longer than the Mustang/Thunderbird/Cougar AOD.
Your ride looks great!
Keep us posted. You've got a perfect starting platform.
-Hate to see that happen to it, but hey, congrats on a super nice car. That car bounced around 4-sale on other forums and Ebay about 3-4 yrs ago, b4 i bought my '86 TC. I checked it out and it was as nice as you say. Hated the auto, but did like the car. couldnt come together and it kinda fell off the radar. I know you will enjoy!
Trust me I would have left it all original if that's the state I got it in. I cant justify rebuilding a stock 2.3t and a C3 for the kind of money it would take to make it 100% trouble free for Lisa. Now a 5.0 and aod I feel the reward vs investment is worth it much more. I can rebuild the whole 302 for what a new replacement t3 turbo would cost me. And I don't see using a non overdrive trans as the best idea either.
I agree. My black bird is getting to the point of rebuilding the 2.3 & transmission or do a 5.8/aod swap.