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Topic: Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED (Read 12610 times) previous topic - next topic

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #30
turbines look best on 4eye cougars. :headbang:

are you plannin any performance mods to the 3.8, or leavin it stock?
a nice split-port swap would be cool, maybe a 4.2 ;)
gumby - beauty may fade, but stupid is forever!

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #31
eric,
just saw the car, man.  it's a beaut!  i like the stance you take on it also.  to each his own.  nobody runnin' down to make a payment for you, are they.  when they do then listen, maybe.... great find though....congrats
-'87 turbo coupe with only 740 ORIGINAL miles.... :dunce:
-'86 turbo coupe, 5sp. Cali Car.......:cool:

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #32
Quote
are you plannin any performance mods to the 3.8, or leavin it stock?
a nice split-port swap would be cool, maybe a 4.2

Nope, sticking with stock. It runs pretty good now...I had to dump quite a bit into new heads so I at least want to get some use out of them. My mechanic and I did some detective work; the original heads were warped AND cracked, meaning the car was repeatedly overheating and cooling down, probably on short trips. The town where I got it is very small, highest speed limit I found was 35mph. So it's likely this problem existed for 5 years or more. And we know the engine sat for awhile due to some rust deposits we found. Within a few weeks here, the engine went from noisy and rattling to almost smooth as silk, just by driving it a little. So that's fate telling me to leave well enough alone LOL.

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #33
thats a nice find, even the door molding was'nt ripped along the bottom either.  Did you find a build sheet yet?

I had two 84's , one with a 3.8 leather top and the other with a 5.0.  Seems like my taste for the 84 isnt so tarnished after all since looking at yours.

I feel very sad for the dozen or so sitting in my local jy, one says XR7 on the side badge where the coug should be.  Its black and the 4 banger sitting there with no head.

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #34
Yeah, I did rescue the build sheet the other night, when I took the seats out for cleaning. It's not in good shape (surprise!) but everything is readable.

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #35
Congratulations on the sentimental (and  clean) purchase.  I have a few of those on my list.

Quote from: EricCoolCats
And I love this frickin' car. I loved my first one to death. The love never diminished over the years. It's been 15 years since I sold the other one. And when this car fell into my lap, all those old feelings resurfaced, and I NEVER lost that love. See, I love the CAR. I don't CARE what's under the hood. I won't love the car any less with a V6 than with a V8. It's not a perfect car...but it's perfect for ME.



It's refreshing to see such enthusiasm for the Fox Aero Cougar in its base, stock form. Especially coming from someone who has influence on the tone of our community.
"lol.. because not too many people care for that style of car"
[size=-2]Click on paw print \/[/size]


 

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #36
Hey everyone, thanks for the continued kind comments. And thanks to everyone from this board that came out to Carlisle '07 and got to see the car. I really appreciate the fact that you stopped by and talked with me. I hope that the '84 has left some kind of impression on you.

And if you didn't make it to Carlisle...well, that's okay. I'll leave another impression on you now. :D

Let me start by quoting myself:
Quote from: EricCoolCats
Within a few weeks here, the engine went from noisy and rattling to almost smooth as silk, just by driving it a little. So that's fate telling me to leave well enough alone LOL.

I had absolutely no idea how foretelling that statement was. I really haven't driven this car much since it's been running normally. Lots of local around-the-block test drives, a few times across town for repairs, once to work...but that's about it. So I decide to make the 250-mile trip to Carlisle my biggest test drive yet. I had faith. And , how I ever got rewarded...

Started off Friday 6/1 with a full tank of gas (20.6 gallons). We stopped 160 miles into the trip to fill up my Mountaineer, which was towing the convertible. Now the whole time, the gas gauge never dipped below Full in the '84. I decided to put gas in it, since we were stopped. It took 5.4 gallons.

That's 29.629 miles to the gallon.

I'm thinking, man...that is incredible! What is up with this car?! We went the rest of the way to Carlisle, and the car was parked at the fairgrounds all weekend. On Sunday 6/3 we stopped on the turnpike again for gas, and I said, "Hmm...maybe that was just a fluke. Let's see what we have now." We had gone another 160 miles. It took 4 gallons.

That's 40 miles to the gallon.

I'm at the pump, still saying, "Nooooooo, that just cannot be. The pump just shut off early." I crammed in another half gallon before it came spilling out of the filler neck.

Corrected, that's still 35.5 miles to the gallon.

Right now I just got home from Carlisle, there's 158 miles on the trip odometer, and it's just over 2 miles to the gas station. I'm filling it up in the morning, and then I'll get the full trip average and post it here.

Keep in mind that this is a 3.8 with fresh heads. Maybe that is making the incredible leap in fuel economy. But also remember that the car has a C5 transmission--with no overdrive. ;)

Further updates forthcoming...

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #37
Hahaha yeah, I remember filling up my car after the HO conversion for the first time and thinking "What?  There's no way...."  I guess these cars just get surprisingly good gas mileage.

In fact, right now I have 290 miles on my trip odometer since my last tank up.  I normally run the car down to 1/4 tank, and I normally put about 12-13 gallons in.  I still have a little ways till it's at a 1/4 tank, and dad and I even did 4 passes at the drag strip on this tank.

But over 30mpg is insane!  I hope it keeps it up!

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #38
That's awesome Eric. My i-4 Hyundai got 30-33 mpg this trip but that's loaded down with 3 people with the AC running full song.
 To do that and better in a 23 year old car is friggin awesome.

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #39
The Crown Vic gets about 19-20/gallon and I'm almost afraid to know what the Fila will get. But 40 MPG man, congrats. I kninds want a 3.8 now

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #40
My 83 got 23MPG once.  I was proud, now it gets like 15MPG.  My 88 with the 3.27 rear and the 5 speed was in the 30's but its got a 1/4 million miles.
One 88


Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #42
Hey guys,
I got about 16mpg on the ride down to Carlisle, probably due to the fact that I was driving slow as heck because of the rain.. I did have my AC on for awhile so I guess that's not too bad in a car with that much HP.... Now on the way back that's a little different story...lol
I think I got about 14-15 but I did hit 120 mph a few times just to see how the car felt on the PA turnpike.... let me say all the gas I sucked down there is nothing like blowing past some Stangs.... ha ha..
1987 Cougar XR7 308 S/C
Trick Flow Heads/S-Trim/42lb. Inj./Stg. 1 cam/4.10 Detroit Locker,Yukon Axles,T/A Rear End Housing,CHE Upper Control Arms,Chucks Poly motor mounts,
Working A/C -- BBK Shorties/ H-Pipe/ Flowmasters/ Eibach Springs/SSM lift bars/ Max Motorsports subframe connectors/3300 stall convert/ etc....... list keeps going
Lots and Lots of Parts to make you go FAST !!
2008 Mustang GT - - Dark candy Apple Red
Roush Louvers;18" Polished Bullit Rim;3.55 Posi;Hood Scoop;Pypes Exhaust

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #43
shiznit I'm happy when the trip minder on mine says 16 mpg :hick:
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Eric's 1984 Cougar - UPDATED

Reply #44
Quote from: GrowlXR7;151723
Hey guys,
I got about 16mpg on the ride down to Carlisle, probably due to the fact that I was driving slow as heck because of the rain.. I did have my AC on for awhile so I guess that's not too bad in a car with that much HP.... Now on the way back that's a little different story...lol
I think I got about 14-15 but I did hit 120 mph a few times just to see how the car felt on the PA turnpike.... let me say all the gas I sucked down there is nothing like blowing past some Stangs.... ha ha..


And I forgot to say Eric's cougar's were awesome.... Nice Job...
1987 Cougar XR7 308 S/C
Trick Flow Heads/S-Trim/42lb. Inj./Stg. 1 cam/4.10 Detroit Locker,Yukon Axles,T/A Rear End Housing,CHE Upper Control Arms,Chucks Poly motor mounts,
Working A/C -- BBK Shorties/ H-Pipe/ Flowmasters/ Eibach Springs/SSM lift bars/ Max Motorsports subframe connectors/3300 stall convert/ etc....... list keeps going
Lots and Lots of Parts to make you go FAST !!
2008 Mustang GT - - Dark candy Apple Red
Roush Louvers;18" Polished Bullit Rim;3.55 Posi;Hood Scoop;Pypes Exhaust